Angels and black hoodies: Reflections from the G8

by Jo Frew

New SPEAK Netwerkz

Through friendships and connections across Europe some students have begun a SPEAK Network in Germany. Most of them are connected through the Jesus Freaks movement and want to get active. So rather than just talking about it for a while, they decided the first thing they would do would be to host a neighbourhood at the G8 activist campsite this summer.

Some of us travelled to be with them and take part in what they were doing. It was an awesome week where God really blessed their genuine desire to be there, alongside the activists, and their offering of hospitality in their tea tent. Activist campsites are hard work and demos are tiring so it was great to have a chill out space on the campsite and to be a part of offering peace to people.

Campaigns and Activism

After 2005 and the Make Poverty History year of high hopes and big promises from world 'leaders', there is a recognition among campaigners that asking for more promises is unlikely to yield any results. Really what is needed is a strong statement that says 'you cannot act as self appointed leaders of the world, you should abide by the conventions you've signed, meet in a fair and democratic setting (ie the UN) to draw up new ones, and be guided by your conscience'. To be fair the UK has often been the best of a bad lot, especially on debt, but we haven't kept our promises.

The slogan, 'Another World is Possible', used by activist all over the world, was a reality on the campsite. Everyone was involved in running it, sharing our chores in neighbourhoods and sending neighbourhood reps to consensus decision meetings about how the camp was run everyday. If there was ever a crisis, like people being dumped somewhere or injured by police, the word went out and people were always ready to help out. Thousands of people were trained in non-violent blockading tactics in a field as Bush flew over in his helicopter. Traditional German carpenters had built a watchtower, kitchen infrastructure, a bar and a kids playground! Every night bands would play and about 6 kitchens made vegan food for over 5,000 people who'd been walking all day. Payment was totally trust based, and no-one who really had nothing had to pay, while others gave more.

It was such an inspiration to be there, seeing people live on principles that I think Jesus taught - simplicity, stewardship of resources, community, no dominating power structures. I found new ways to live as a Christian and see how the Spirit of God is alive well outside of the church.

Angel Encounters

At the beginning of the camp, some of us from the UK and Germany gathered together at sunset - for an angel picnic - to envision and begin the work of SPEAK Angels. Angles are the divine presence in the midst of the world, bringing the love of the father, the peace of Christ and the presence of the Spirit of God. We prayed for the possibility to do that at the demonstrations, to be a visible presence for God and to draw people to him in love.

Dressing up in white clothes from head to toe felt like putting on a prayer outfit. It helped me to remember why I was there, to remember that God was with us and to pray without ceasing. Dressed in white, especially in a German demonstration, you are pretty obvious and people begin to recognise what you are doing, that you want to bring joy, peace and love that sometimes gets lost in a see of black hoodies.

As we prayed for calm in tense situations, some boys joked about how our wings would protect them. People begin to panic and no-one really knows what's going on so trying to stay in the midst as a calm group had a real impact.

One boy began to shout at me in German and all I could understand was 'fucking police'. I gave him a heart sticker but he didn't really notice it and kept shouting, then all of a sudden he looked down at what was in his hand, smiled and asked where he should stick it. He went off grinning with a red heart on his cheek, no longer shouting at the police lines making a tense situation worse.

Some angels found lost teenagers with a drunk friend, who needed her bed or even the hospital. They were in black hoodies and the police wouldn't let them past their line where a taxi was waiting on the other side. But with the angels, the police became friendly and began to help the girl and got her through to safety.

The train station in Rostock was a constant flash point, with demonstrators pouring off the train and police swarming everywhere. We spent almost two hours there one day, walking with people past police, praying for them when they got searched, really hoping God was listening to us!

We even met some Christians on the campsite while dressed as angels. They saw our clothes and told us they were praying angels too, part of a German network of people (mothers and fathers of the church!) who'd come to Rostock to pray for the G8. It was amazing to connect and know that everywhere, children of God were praying for what was happening. I felt a really tangible presence of God all week which was so encouraging when you're physically and culturally as afar away from a church as possible.