For God So Loved The World featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Precious recorded and produced by Ross Gill

Well, since my last blog not only have England beaten the Democratic Republic of Congo but in the most amazing match ever they also beat Mexico. Norway and Erling Haaland are next up on Saturday.
This World Cup seems to have got everyone talking. The wonderful Bishop Jonathan of Portsmouth, who visited my church on Sunday, even referred to it in his sermon.
Last week I wrote about the DRC players praying before and after games- I also mentioned that there are a number of Christians in the England team. One, Marc Guehi could be seen on his knees praying after the Mexico game. Here are some facts about him taken from Wikipedia.
Addji Keaninkin Marc-Israel Guéhi is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team.
Guéhi came through the youth system at Chelsea and made his first-team debut in 2019 before spending a season and a half on loan at Swansea City. He joined Crystal Palace in 2021 for £18 million, becoming the club’s third most expensive signing. He went on to make over 180 appearances for the club; appointed club captain in 2024, he led them to win both the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2025.
Marc was born on 13 July 2000 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and moved with his family to Lewisham, London, England, at the age of one. He attended St George’s Church of England School in Gravesend, Kent. His father was a minister of a local church, meaning his childhood often focused on religion and education over football.] He began playing in the Cray Wanderers youth system aged six and was coached by a scout from Premier League club Chelsea. After two years with the non-League club, he signed for Chelsea and progressed through the academy. He was then signed by Crystal Palace before moving in January 2026, to Manchester City
Guéhi has been described as being defined by his Christian faith and has spoken about how “God first” was the rule in his household. Some of those close to him have described him as “extremely humble” and “low maintenance”. As of August 2025, he still lived at home with his parents and three younger sisters.
In December 2024, the Football Association indicated that they would contact Guéhi to remind him religious messaging is banned from equipment, after he played with “I love Jesus” handwritten over the rainbow-coloured captain’s armband as part of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign to support LGBTQ+ issues. In spite of the warning, Guéhi further risked FA charges by writing “Jesus loves you” over his rainbow armband in Palace’s following game.
Marc will have to be at his very best to keep his team mate, Erling Haaland from scoring on Saturday. Either way I am sure he will be on his knees, praying at the end of the game.

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The Season of Singing featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album The Season of Singing recorded and produced by Ross Gill

Taking a week off from sharing Mustard Seed videos to write this, 4 hours before the World Cup Football match between England and the DRC.
I read in Premier News the following:
DR Congo players have prayed and given glory to God, having made World Cup history.
After qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time in the nation’s history, players gathered in prayer around the centre circle before their celebrations.
Having beaten Uzbekistan 3-1, players and coaches were seen praying out loud, holding their arms out and making the sign of the cross.
“Thank you, Jesus,” winger Joris Kayembe posted on social media. “We did it together, a team, a group, a family and the supporters. Congo to the world, Congo on the map. God is great.”
A number of The Leopards players have spoken publicly about their Christian faith, including Sunderland player Noah Sadiki, who has appeared in videos for Ballers in God declaring: “Jesus is my Lord and saviour”.
“In a tournament where many chase the spotlight, it’s beautiful to see players first turn their hearts toward the One who deserves all the glory,” the football ministry shared.

I feel I should point out that England have a number of players who are Christians including Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford. However, I should also say not the whole team and coaching staff as would appear to be the case with the DRC!
A former name for DRC was the Belgium Congo and that has a special place in my heart. You can read the reason why here- Blog December 24th The Eve of Christmas Eve | Risen

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So more sharing of Mustard Seed Songs’ videos.

So just a reminder of where we are at – last week I explained that the follow up musical to Risen! The Musical was originally called Acts- The Musical. This was because it was logical for the sequel to Risen!  to be based on the book that follows the Gospels and the account of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven– The Acts of the Apostles (usually simply called Acts)

The interactions between Luke and his patron Theophilus which, in the musical,  lead to Theophilus taking a journey of faith were soon seen to be of greater importance than the historicity of Acts. It was decided, therefore, to rename the musical, Theophilus – The Musical

So In May 2023 at Bay House school, Gosport we presented a stage concert of Theophilus- The Musical and today we feature the video.

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So this week we are back to sharing Mustard Seed Songs’ videos.

The follow up musical to Risen! The Musical was originally called Acts- The Musical. This was because it was logical for the sequel to Risen!  to be based on the book that follows the Gospels and the account of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven– The  Acts of the Apostles (usually simply called Acts)

The interactions between Luke and his patron Theophilus which lead to Theophilus taking a journey of faith were soon seen to be of greater importance than the historicity of Acts. It was decided, therefore to rename the musical, Theophilus – The Musical

In today’s clip Edward Baker- Duly, playing Luke. sings of God’s amazing love for us.

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No Matter What -featuring Boyzone written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman

Taking another week off from sharing Mustard Seed videos as I recently read this story in Christian Premier News. I am not a great boy band fan and it is my wife, not me that is  soon off to a Take That concert. However, I thought the Boyzone version of “No Matter What” from the musical “Whistle Down The Wind” was really great. Also it was tragic that Stephen Gately, the co -lead singer died so unexpectantly from a congenital heart issue at the young age of 33.  So that’s why it is “No Matter What”  and not a song  from Mustard Seeds that is featured this week.

Here is the article to which I am referring:

Boyzone led fans in an emotional reunion concert on Friday, in which the Emirates Stadium joined together in the Lord’s Prayer.

Opening their Two for the Road reunion, frontman Ronan Keating took to the stage with bandmates Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy.

Many fans were quick to notice that Mikey Graham was absent from the lineup – but were delighted when he made an appearance later on in the show. Graham, who stepped away from the group after their 2019 tour, joined the stage for three songs, as well as the encore of Life is a Rollercoaster.

It is the first time the group has performed together since 2019, when personal relationships are understood to have soured after a five-night stint at the London Palladium.

But for many, the most emotional moment came when Shane Lynch led the stadium in the Lord’s Prayer, in memory of late lead singer Stephen Gateley.

Gately, who fronted the band alongside Ronan Keating, passed away in 2009 aged 33.

“I know him so well, and I know how much he would want to be in this room tonight,” Keating said.

“Thank God, his family is here tonight, Michelle and Tony, his nieces and nephews. Thank you for coming. Our brother’s spirit is alive and well.”

One fan told Premier Christian News it was a “special moment”.

“They’d asked fans to submit the names of family who had died, and they were played on the big screen. At the end of the song, we were led in the Lord’s Prayer – it was really lovely.”

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Give Us Your Heart Lord featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard from the album Where Would I Be Without You? recorded and produced by Ross Gill ( also featured in Risen! The Musical)

Taking a brief break from sharing Mustard Seed videos as I wanted to share this story from the recent Champions League Football Final – which shows there will always be a place for sportsmanship in sport.

Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos consoled Arsenal‘s Gabriel Magalhães after his penalty miss in Saturday’s Champions League final because he suffered the same painful experience at the 2022 World Cup.

Gabriel struck his penalty high after his Arsenal teammate Eberechi Eze had also missed as PSG recorded a 4-3 shootout victory after a 1-1 draw in Budapest to retain their title.

Marquinhos, 32, made headlines when, instead of celebrating with the rest of his teammates, he went straight to hug a distraught Gabriel.

Marquinhos consoled Gabriel Magalhães after his penalty miss.

“When that moment happened, the first thing I thought of was the time I missed the penalty in the World Cup [quarterfinals shootout defeat to Croatia],” Marquinhos told TNT.

“I know how difficult that moment is for a player; it’s a weight that really falls on your shoulders. There’s no way around it; it’s our responsibility, it’s our moment there.”

Arsenal went into Saturday’s final as Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years and looking to clinch their first Champions League crown in their 140-year history.

“We fight all season long,” Marquinhos said. “Even though he has had a wonderful moment, by winning the Premier League, I think they really wanted this title, too, and it’s a huge responsibility on that penalty, when a player misses like that.

“So, I simply thought about the moment I went through myself, which was very difficult, and I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him that I’ve been through it, too. I know how hard it is, that he’s had an incredible season, he deserves great things.”

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Another “lock down virtual choir video” featuring a song from what was first called Acts The Musical before it was re -named Theophilus- The  Musical- “  Still in Tears” which has its own back story.

Lucy  Stimpson- Maynard, who was Mustard Seed’s  first singer and who features in the many of these blogs,  was leaving Crofton School to move to Cambridge and had an end of term “leaving do.” As part of the occasion Lucy sang “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and her rendition, together with the fact that she was leaving Crofton, made me rather emotional. Later that evening the male school staff were in Old Portsmouth for a few “end of term beers” and I gave Lucy a ring – she asked me how I was and I replied “I’m still in tears.” The moment I said that I knew that this was the title of a new song. Two days later I took some students to Alton Towers and on the way there made up the song. To begin with the lyrics were secular with something about “There being laughter in the air as another carnival draws near but not for me as I am still in tears.”  However I soon changed the  lyrics to someone being in tears after the crucifixion of Jesus. That version was used in our first musical His Story.   I adapted the lyrics again for today’s virtual choir version based on a follower of Paul being distraught  as Paul and Luke sail away from Ephesus to Jerusalem. The lyrics have been adapted yet again for Theophilus- The Musical with the song featuring Luke as he and Paul sail from away from their friends.

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So what came next after Risen! The Musical – well it was logical – a Musical based on the next book in the Bible after the Gospels – the Acts of the Apostles.  And basically that is what we have been working on ever since albeit with a change in title to “Theophilus- The Musical”  but more of why the name change a little later.

So we start off with a video featuring a song from the Musical that was recorded during lockdown by a “virtual choir” – “I Was Sleeping In A Prison Cell.”  It is the story of Peter’s miraculous escape from prison as told  In Acts Chapter 12:1-18

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So this week we are back chronicling  Mustard Seed Songs’ videos and today we have four – all the same musical – Risen! but with subtitles in Mandarin, Spanish, Romanian and Vietnamese.

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Yes, another break this week from featuring Mustard Seed Songs’ videos as I had to share this wonderful video celebrating David Attenborough’s 100^th birthday.

I could have shared loads of facts and figures on Sir David’s life and achievements, but this weeks featured video, I think sums things up so much better than any words could.

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