Editorial

Steve Cole

Welcome. This edition of Artisan looks at Addiction and once again I am grateful to our writers who have helped unpack this issue in an honest and insightful way. If this is your first experience of Artisan then it’s worth knowing that we have been producing these publications for a number of years. In the past we have looked at issues such as Ambition, Rejection, Money, Sexuality, the Bible.

The main corporate expressions of Artisan are the industry prayer events in a growing number of cities. In London people involved in the Media, Arts and Fashion industries have been meeting most months for nearly ten years with three words as the call and passion. Unity, Humility and Prayer. This vision is now also happening in other cities in the UK and the US with more coming on board soon in other parts of the world.

As you may know we also hold these collaborative prayer events in New York with the next event on October 8th. I read recently about the life of Jeremiah Lanphier who in 1857 was a New York City businessman who was desperate to see transformation in the city. In response to this he began a businessmen's prayer meeting on Fulton Street, Manhattan on September 23rd, 1857. The meetings began slowly, but within a few months, 20 noonday meetings were happening daily throughout New York.

Before long the New York Tribune and The New York Herald issued articles on the meetings, officially making them the city's biggest news. Within months thousands of business leaders were meeting daily to pray and these prayer meetings were springing up across America. From this foundation of prayer nearly one million people became Christians out of a population of 35 million including 10,000 people becoming Christians weekly in New York for a season.

There are many stories of God bringing transformation through our biblical obedience to Unite, Humble ourselves and Pray for each other, our industries and our nation. This I believe is a pivotal and central role that we have – to come together and stand before God on behalf of the industries that he has placed us in. This means that whatever your professional scenario you are an important catalyst for change as you are able to pray with greater industry understanding and knowledge.

In the same way God transformed the business community in New York I believe God’s nature and desire is to do the same within every sphere of influence including the media, arts and fashion industries. I am not interested in building brands or empires I simply want to see a generation involved in the heart of the industries with a passion to pray.

In this edition of Artisan we are looking at Addiction. A gritty issue that will no doubt open up all kinds of feelings and emotions within us.

In Don Williams’ lead article he quotes Dr Drew Pinsky who describes addiction as the “predominant health issue of our time”.

According to research for The Observer 89 percent of the 28 musicians behind the top 10 bestselling albums of all time have admitted regular illegal drug use. The same source suggests that one person in thirteen in Britain is dependant on alcohol.

According to the UN the estimated number of regular users of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs worldwide is around fifty million.
One of every eight Americans has a significant problem with alcohol or drugs, with 40 percent of the group having a ‘dual diagnosis’, or concurrent mental/ nervous disorder (SAMHSA).

10 percent of adults surveyed admitted to internet sexual addiction: 28 percent of those are women (internet-filter-review.com).

In recent times there has been a growing awareness of email addiction with some people admitting to their lives shaped around the send and receive button. Patricia Wallace, a techno-psychologist, believes part of the allure of email for adults as well as teens is similar to that of a slot machine: "You have intermittent, variable reinforcement," she explains. "You are not sure you are going to get a reward every time or how often you will, so you keep pulling that handle.”

My friend Ewan wrote this when I first registered on Facebook and whilst I haven’t succumbed to this state yet, I can totally relate to what he is saying and found it very funny:
“You find yourself staring, eyes red from lack of blinks, mouth dry from lack of water, hoping that if you look into one person’s profile you might find that missing cyber friend that will edge you towards the 100 mark, the 200 mark, the 300 mark… no proviso, I've seen this person, I even think I've spoken to them… click… “

We all approach this issue on the same level playing field. None of us have the right to make judgments. My hope is that the articles in this publication are an encouragement and a springboard into Christ and his power, grace and love.

Love to you all

Steve Cole