Stiller's Zac's Place Blog

Paying Tribute ....

2012-06-01T02:40:00.001+01:00

Baz had been involved at Zac's Place since our early gatherings as 'Zac's Place - Church In A Pub?' at Ellingtons around 12 years ago. Since being based at George Street, his fingerprints were all over the place as he helped with many practical jobs around the venue. Security guy, key holder and all round Mr Reliable, Baz leaves a big hole in the community of Zac's Place since his sudden death.

For Baz's family, the road looks like a hard one ahead at the moment - but together we continue to make a difference for those we love and for those we share the road with and those we pick up along the way - that's the way Baz lived, if you knew him, that's why you knew him - don't let that fire go out folks.

The following video was put together by another of us at Zac's Place, Liz.

Ribbons Of Grace

2012-05-21T23:21:00.000+01:00

Something from the archives here - filmed in the lead up to the 2000 Olympics - but the sentiment still stands as the olympic flame begins it's journey in Britain - even more so, as for many of us at Zac's Place, we try to get our head's around the sudden death of one of our number this week.

Zac's Place - Some History

2012-04-29T02:29:00.001+01:00

How did Zac's Place start? ... here's an extract from our website

Some of The Earlier History ...

As a result of an established and ongoing ministry within the biking and arts communities, a need became apparent to provide a forum for Christian community and discipleship among them. Questions were being raised, amid priestly roles being fullfilled, among groups of people somewhat removed from many church expressions - we wanted to find a way to make a deeper connection and therefore create an opportunity to see change in peoples lives. After discussion among a few interested folk, other missional minded church leaders and drawing from Sean's experience within God's Squad, (whose history dates back to the Jesus Movement era of the late 60's), Zac's Place - "Church in a Pub?" began to gather each sunday night in the Autumn of 1998. The question mark was important as we didn't know what, if anything, it would develop into.

It needs to be understood, this wasn't just taking what happens in many churches on any given Sunday and dumping it in a bar. That would have been a futile exercise. It was building up from the grass roots, using language and images that related, without compromising the message and growng into a community of people wanting to follow Jesus and serve others. It would be fair to say that many encouraged the venture, but it was not without it's critics and to some extent, that remains.

Live music and the natural communal atmosphere of a bar helped us create a forum for building relationships with the many and varied folk that came. Sean's punchy and topical talks, based on the bible, managed to connect with some of of the most hard nosed cynics.

Over a seven year period, pretty much every Sunday night, using four* different bars in Swansea city centre, a mixed bag of bikers, musicians, students, rough sleepers, walking wounded spiritual refugees and truth seekers gathered. People found Jesus in community, in the brokeness of fragile lives, where the common ground was level ground; poverty of spirit. Some folk were encouraged in their recovery from addictions and we worked alongside local and national agencies, others whose faith had been battered by negative church experience had their wounds tended whilst others found a level of communication they could relate and respond to to see their christian faith develop. Some people are still around, for some it was an important staging post others were travellers passing through.

It was also a time of immense creativity, so much so we worked with HTV Wales on a mini series of 5 programmes featuring live music, poetry, interviews and reflection from Sean. We ran stages of live music, by invitation of promoters, in Swansea city centre and also at a festival in Singleton Park and have occasionally taken Zac's Place out on the road for events.

Eventually we had a dilemna. Many of those attracted to us had significant issues of addiction that they were wrestling with. The pub, whilst the best place to meet people is not the best place for everything. The search began for a sacred space of our own.

In 2003 we bought an old Gospel Hall, in Swansea city centre, which had shut it's doors the previous year. Over the next few years Zac's Place became known as "A Church For Ragamuffins" continuing on the same principles that it started with; an open door and a warm welcome to all. Bible teaching, discipleship and serving the poor and vulnerable continue to be the main stays of activity. It continues to be a mission church very much at home on the margins.

Finding Us In The Past ....

* You may have found us hanging out in smokey bars at at the Subteranea Bar, The Green Dragon, Ellington's at the Duke of York and The Office

Zac's Place - A Safe Haven

2012-04-03T01:09:00.001+01:00

Newsletter Extract .....

"Swansea has a great many services for homeless and vulnerable people. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to access statutory and voluntary services. Some are excluded because of their past or current behaviour, social or financial reasons but some exclude themselves, choosing not to accept such help or support. It is on these occasions that the care offered by Zac’s Place comes into its own.

Every weekday morning at 8 am the doors to Zac’s Place open to provide an essential outreach service to those who are sleeping rough with tea, housing advice and respite from the weather. At least twice a year Zac’s Place accommodates the so called “Homeless Health Days” run in conjunction with Swansea School of Medicine when homeless people can have a health check, flu vaccinations and foot care. Every Thursday evening is the coffee bar providing an opportunity to sit in the warm, have a hot drink and enjoy the fellowship of others.

For some people Zac’s Place is the only safe haven in their lives. Here they find help, the love and support of others and, importantly, acceptance of who they are and the life that they are leading. It may not seem much, but for many, it is a lifeline."

Janet Keauffling, Nurse for the Homeless and Vulnerable Adults - based at Cyrenians Community Centre, High Street, Swansea.

Spring 2012 Newsletter Available

2012-03-28T12:04:00.000+01:00

The Spring 2012 edition of our Exousia Trust Newsletter, 'Keep The Faith' is available for download at this link below.

NEWSLETTER DOWNLOAD

Some previous newsletters are available for download on the media page of the website HERE
Thank you for your ongoing interest and support.

BBC Documentary - Swansea: Living On The Streets - PART 2

2012-03-13T11:09:00.001Z

The second part of the series of programmes is available on BBC iPlayer for the next fourteen days. In it there's some familiar faces and also you get to see a glimpse of where Zac's Place fits in along with the other agencies working alongside those in housing crisis - Caer Las, The Wallich and Cyrenians. You can find the programme HERE

BBC Documentary - Swansea: Living On The Streets

2012-03-06T10:45:00.002Z

Some familiar faces and places feature on a current BBC 1 Wales, factual series "Swansea: Living On The Street".

(Photo: BBC Website) Filmed over the past few months, the makers built up relationships with those on the streets and those providing support, these programmes should be well worth watching. I was really impressed with the attitude of the programme makers and I do hope that the programmes stimulate some thoughtful discussion, shatters some stereotypical attitudes and encourages a pro-active response. All the programmes will be available, (UK Only), on BBC iPlayer and you can find all the links HERE

Never Mind Innocence, It's About Incompetance.

2012-02-16T00:28:00.000Z

Whitney Houston singing a rather ragged version of 'Yes Jesus Loves Me' at a party just hours before her death, brought back to memory a similarly tragic scenario at Zac's Place just a few years ago. Julie was no Hollywood star though, she was penniless and slept rough - hers was a life that had also descended into chaos and chemical dependancy. As she wrestled with her demons, not under the gaze of paperazzi, but local hacks filling space about stories of 'worthless junkies', she too recalled the words of the old sunday school song her father used to sing her to sleep to. Just a few days before she died on the streets of the city we live in, she bellowed them out, in one of our gatherings after her ravaged feet had been bathed by friends that cared deeply for her.

Julie and Whitney could not be more different, but it would appear that there was also plenty of common ground. Not least of all, an underlying recollection that no matter how messy it has all got - maybe, just maybe, this Jesus could still possibly be a friend that would stick around. Despite the heartache, the pain and the struggle somehow there was a fragment of fragile faith intact enough to hold on to the faintest hope, that there was someone who still loved them, regardless.

The day after Houston's death, Bruce Springsteen kicked off the Grammy awards, where she would have been present, with his anthemic new track 'We take care of our own'. Everything about it can seem triumphalistic, but with a deeper look into the lyric, the irony becomes apparent with typical Springsteen insight. We say we take care of our own, but when it comes down to it, we too often don't. We do when it suits us. As long as it doesn't cost us any money, time or emotions. Houston was devoured by a music industry that went onto to feed on fresh meat and will continue to have scant regard for anything other than the dollars. Julie lie dead on the city streets as pedestrians passed on by, as a result of trying to numb the pain of way too many trauma's.

The beauty and the tragedy of this simple but beautiful old hymn, "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know" is in it's origins. It began as tender words in novel I believe, written to comfort a dying child. I can't also help hearing the Saviours words encouraging us to embrace his love - not qualified by our innocence, but our fragile incompetance. We do continue indeed to be weak; but He is strong. Here indeed is the "love that has not forsaken me" that Springsteen calls for.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
 For the Bible tells me so.
  Little ones to Him belong;
  They are weak, but He is strong.

Big Issue Article on Julie and Homelessness in Swansea.

Whitney Houston - Not the last performance, but an earlier more complete recording of Jesus Loves Me.

Bruce Springsteen - We Take Care Of Our Own

Scandinavian TV Interview (2009) ....

2012-01-24T10:59:00.002Z

One from the archives - filmed in 2009 in Finland for a Swedish language programme broadcast in Scandinavia. In conversation with my Finnish club brother, Isak, who was hosting the series at the time. It covers some of what it means to be in God's Squad CMC and how it's understood among our mates both within the church community and out on the road. (The audio gaps I assume are edited out for music copyright reason at a guess).
Original link can be found here.

A Love That Crosses The Greatest Of Divides

2011-10-25T03:15:00.000+01:00

A short reflection based around the story of the Good Samaritan - filmed for Fresh Expressions - original web site link here

Phil James - New single released this week ...

2011-10-05T22:20:00.002+01:00

Our good friend and staunch Zac's Place supporter since our beginnings in 1998, Phil James, has a new single out this week.

It's already had BBC Radio 2 play and is BBC Radio Wales record of the week.

It's available on iTunes here

Beach Baptisms ...

2011-09-19T00:02:00.001+01:00

‎Had a great evening baptizing some of our folks from Zac's in the ocean last night - cold wind, choppy waves, turning tide, full moon, sun setting - hugely symbolic of life amidst stormy waters. Strong rips that push you around, but a determination to battle through. A real milestone for all those involved and much to be thankful for.....

Prayers for the hurting

2011-09-16T22:57:00.003+01:00

‎.... Prayers for those, just a few short miles away, bereft of hope in these hours, for those whose wounds and scars will run as deep and dark as the very mines that swallowed their loved ones - when well meaning words and media lenses are hollow and invasive; may they have those who will just sit with them, walk with them, cry with them and carry them ......

News Item

News from the margins ...

2011-08-12T19:43:00.003+01:00

Here's a couple of news items from this week - not necessarily connected, but they could quite easily be......

The first is at this link from the Swansea Evening Post website today - a feature on a legendary minister to the margins some years back Maverick Preacher Leon.

The second - a Sky News item with two guys commenting on the recent riots in London and beyond ....

The Truth Shall Make You Beige?!

2011-07-29T22:20:00.001+01:00

We've just had our last Thursday evening Zac's coffee bar/soup kitchen before taking a break for the month of August. More than any other year previously, I think all of our volunteers will be glad of a breather, and the neighbours also.

It's been a rough eleven months, with repeated poor behaviour and violent scenes from many of those seeking support. Negotiating has become increasingly more difficult as many of the symptoms of the current drug use habits exhibit some pretty extreme psychotic patterns of behaviour. None of this of course is any different to what the city centre experiences across the board. But sometimes you can't help thinking, it's not just our guests banging their head's against the wall.

As well as taking a breather, the volunteers will also be taking stock and looking at how we can change things to improve the overall experience, without diluting a heartfelt desire to love those on the margins.

If there are occasionally any doubts as to whether things are worth all the aggro, I was served up a tangible reminder, just last weekend thundering down a German autobahn, that it's worth sticking with it.

On the road trip with fellow God's Squad members, to southern Germany, for the club's gathering of our chapters around Europe, it dawned on me once again, what an incredible collection of characters and stories we are. Addressing the club as a whole and looking at a sea of faces or taking a snapshot glimpse into my rear view mirror at the smaller group of twenty two headlights following in tight formation; the stories of the transforming grace of God abound. For some, vital signs of life have emerged from absolute carnage - precious tales of survival in a last chance saloon. Others have faithfully grafted in service and sacrifice for the Lord for years, there's some around now I call brothers, who when we first met hurled insults our way years ago. There are faces that are lived in, tattoos that are as autobiographical as any book, scars aplenty, many battles still to be won - but there is a tenderness of heart and humility of spirit that only comes from an encounter with the servant Jesus. Truly a pleasure to share the road with such pilgrims, especially when other aspects of ministry have brought frustration in recent days.

Chaotic? Yup.
Uncomfortable? Certainly.
Humiliating? Sometimes.
Beige? Never!

A Warm Welcome

2011-07-20T20:57:00.001+01:00

Recent weeks have seen seen fleeting, but significant visits, on the road away from Zac's Place.

Returns to Holland and USA and setting off for Germany shortly have made it an unusually high mileage month.

Was great to be in Michigan visiting the God's Squad family there. Time included pastoral visits, preaching, soup runs, community meals and opportunity even allowed for a trip to hell!

I continue to have the old quote from the cricketing missionary, CT Studd written in the inside cover of my bible .... "some want to live within the sound of church and chapel bell, but I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell".

True to form the periphery of Hell turned out to be a great place of meeting new people and 'warm' hospitality! Even got an invite back ....

'How about I get a seaside bar with Mary, and just preach at weekends...'

2011-04-22T01:25:00.004+01:00

Wrote more than usual on here last Easter .... this time around the thought continues. But here's a song instead - yup, I guess 'he could have got a bar and preached at weekends'. Love the layers in this song.

Zac's Place Yass, Australia; Set To Open On Good Friday

2011-04-20T11:13:00.004+01:00

After months of hard work by our dear friends Glenn and Ros and the God's Squad Chapter in Southern NSW, and friends, Zac's Place is set to open it's doors in Yass. Glenn and Ros's time with us in Swansea was pivotal in deepening their desire for mission on the margins. To return home to Australia and expand the vision and put into practice what they encountered whilst in the UK, is a truly precious thing indeed. Check out the links below and sign up to follow the development of this exciting venture.

Glenn and Woody at the 'bar' - with a familiar looking colour scheme going on there!

The following news article gives a helpful introduction....

Yass Tribune: Zac's Place To Open It's Doors

A direct link to the related website can be found HERE. Please take a look at it and consider supporting it in whatever way you can.

Zac's Place Australia Web Site Launch

2011-04-09T01:06:00.004+01:00

Further to the previous post regarding Zac's Place developments in Yass, NSW Australia - here's the link to the associated web page - www.zacsplaceinc.webs.com.
Here you will find options for signing up for news, facebook page, donations, pictures and info as it happens .... including the opening on 22 April, 2011.

For Zac's Place stuff in the UK, you'll still find everything here www.zacsplace.org.

Zac's Place set to open it's doors in Australia

2011-03-11T09:29:00.005Z

Glenn and Ros Stewart's time with us in Swansea had a huge impact, on them and us, while they were here. Since returning to Australia, they have been putting the experiences they had in Swansea to good use in their homeland and a new adventure now unfolds ....

The Yass Tribune begins their article with these words....

God’s Squad is riding into town to set up a place where those living on the fringes of our society can find themselves at home.
The old St Clement’s community hall/tennis clubhouse is being transformed into Zac’s Place, an outreach centre which is unashamedly Christian in ethos and completely committed to extending a hand to local people in need.

The initiative is derived from a model in Swansea, Wales, where a church for ragamuffins was founded by the European president of the God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, Sean Stillman.

Glenn Stewart, president of the Southern NSW chapter of God’s Squad, and his wife Ros have spent some time in the UK learning the tricks of the trade and growing their passion.

They have applied this experience to establish Zac’s Place in Yass, which they define as being “all about community”.

God’s Squad, which primarily exists to minister among the biker fraternity as a relevant and accepted expression of the Christian Church, has been working in the Yass Valley for about eight years. Mr Stewart said the nondenominational group has identified a need here but is also willing to be flexible in the service it will offer the community.

The doors of Zac’s Place will be open to everyone - men, women, young adults and the elderly. You don’t have to be a member of a motorcycle club or a church to find solace at the facility, which will act as a ‘drop-in centre’.

To read the rest of the web edition of the article, go to this LINK at the Yass Tribune

To read a pdf version of the front page feature of the article, which is a little longer than the web version, go to this LINK.

Stars Shining Bright

2010-12-23T23:54:00.001Z

Mary, Joe, the Shepherds and the Magi. As I reflect on four of the main players in the nativity story, I am reminded of their varied journeys.

Their starting points were all very different - a Godly young woman conceives, her confused fella needs angelic encouragement to stay at her side, unreliable shepherds are trusted first with great news and star gazers follow a long complex path.

Whatever their starting point and whatever their journey entailed, they all ultimately found themselves gathered around Christ - that in itself must have seemed light years away from their initial steps of their journey into the unknown.

The Christmas message - Immanuel; 'God with us' at it's grass roots, continues to meet us where we are, not where we think we should be.

However you choose to celebrate Christmas this year, I pray you will leave room for interruptions, for sign posts, for whispers of grace along the way of our many and varied life's journeys. Cheers for your support, your friendship & your encouragement over this past year.

I would also like to take this opportunity of thanking our many volunteers at Zac's Place over this past year. On this bitterly cold night I have just returned from our Thursday night soup kitchen - we have friends there who are in desperate trouble who see few signs of hope. I am so grateful for a loyal team of willing helpers who roll up their sleeves in 'spare time' and muck in: so to the school care taker, the teacher, the accountant, the vet, the social worker, music teacher, carpenter, metal worker and students - I salute you and thank God for you. You and others continue to be stars shining bright in a dark place.

Our Neighbourhood, Our Issues & Our Attitudes

2010-11-17T01:37:00.004Z

Ours is a city, like many others, with many complex social issues. Issues of addiction, prostitution, binge drinking, street violence, dysfunctional abusive home environments, unemployment and homelessness are all evident without having to look very hard.

We can either choose to ignore the issues, eradicate the issues with draconian laws or vigilante behaviour; or work together taking responsibility not just to make things appear better, but also to make a meaningful difference.

These issues do not become problems over night, neither will they be solved overnight. Our city is served by several agencies supporting those with issues of addiction - all of which have very dedicated staff working flat out amid increasing demand. We also have the reality of a local social services system that has been on special measures in the recent past, where again dedicated social workers are pushed to the limits with high case loads. Cutbacks in policing are possible and the increase in the number of licenced premises, 24 hour availability of alcohol in supermarkets and corner shops do little to encourage constructive changes in the way people behave and how we challenge and change antisocial behaviour.

The heroin addict sticking a needle in his arm, on the pavement as kids walk past on their way to school in the morning, has a moral responsibility of choosing where he or she injects. But the responsibility is to be shared across the whole community. The same principle can apply to those who choose to issue licences for alcohol to be served 24 hours a day in a corner shop or to withdraw funds from essential services that are tackling very ugly issues.

The reality is we need to wake up and smell the coffee folks. There is only so long a self centred, money grabbing, ego tripping culture can survive before the wheels fall off. The ugly nature of many of our social problems are what happens when society loves things and uses people, rather than loves people and uses things.

Maybe writer G.K. Chesterton was right when he wrote in response to The Times’ invitation to write an essay on “What’s Wrong With The World?”. Dear Sirs, I am.

THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE HEARTBEAT OF ZAC'S PLACE (Part 1) - featuring clips from Rick Elias & Rachel Taylor-Beales

2010-11-05T11:56:00.004Z

Since the beginnings of Zac's Place way back in 1998 in a smokey Swansea basement bar, music has had an important role. These days we don't get chance to put on many gigs, (Barry McGuire recently), but for the first seven years much of what we did revolved around weekly sunday night gatherings in four different bars with great live music an integral part of the communal gatherings.

Coming up over the next few weeks I'll put a few posts up with video and maybe audio clips looking at some of the artists who we have had the pleasure of sharing the journey with. They'll include seasoned pro's and emerging artists who have since matured into established musos in their own right, artists from this city and overseas, genres of folk, rock, metal, dance and jazz - who do you remember, what would you like to see and hear again.

As a starting point here's two clips - one from Nashville based Rick Elias who I met, via Sam Horner, when he was gigging in the UK with A Ragamuffin Band. Rick kindly returned to play two songs on our TV shows with HTV Wales and also in the bar. Here's a recent home recording of his, of an old song 'Blink'. Enjoy.

Of all the cries that come from within the spirit of folks at Zac's Place is is, 'please don't push me away, don't forget - don't pass me by'. The following recording of Rachel Taylor Beales live at our HQ in 2008 shares the angst, frustration and the search to make sense amid the chaos. Rachel and her husband Bill continue to be great friends and inspiring artists, based in Cardiff - 'Please Don't Pass Me By' ....

Check back in the coming weeks for some more clips and don't forget to check out John Smith's podcast - where there is his message from the night with him guesting back in August ....

Part 2 from 'The Office' archives .... with John Smith

2010-10-03T22:25:00.004+01:00

Here's Part 2 of John Smith's banter from back in August 2002 when Zac's Place gathered in 'The Office' - they were great times and this particular night was no exception. Smithy opened up the 'Old Book' and shared a couple of stories in the packed out public bar - bikers, musicians, artists, believers, seekers and cynics among them . . . . for a few moments the pool table, pinball machine and the bar fell silent . . . .

have a listen and ponder ... if you like it ... share it among your friends.

VINTAGE ZAC'S PLACE LIVE FROM 'THE OFFICE' -'If you can't handle the organized Church - create a disorganized one...!'

2010-09-28T14:47:00.003+01:00

Whilst sorting through some old recordings, I came across a disc from August 2002 when Zac's Place was gathering on a Sunday night in the public bar of The Office pub in Swansea city centre. On it was an interview with John Smith and following that a short reflection from the Bible. The link below is for the interview and covers questions on being jailed and facing excecution, life influences and church struggles.

What's remarkable, is that this was recorded in a public bar to a mixed audience of around 150 people - bikers, musicians, artists, believers, seekers and cynics among them . . . . for a brief moment the pool table, pinball machine and bar fell silent . . . grab a few minutes and take a listen . . . .

You can also find John's own podcast here: http://john-smith.podomatic.com/
(Part two of this recording will eventually be posted there)

A direct link to the podcast can be found HERE.