South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Allaince Newsletter
Issue 14: March 2014
The South Asian Forum (SAF) is a grouping within the Evangelical Alliance, set up to provide a place for South Asian Christians in the UK to encourage, support and equip each other for mission, and to represent their concerns to government, media and the wider Church. With the support of both individual members and church members totalling more than 20,000 people, SAF is steadily growing. Visit saf.eauk.org to get involved in supporting this wonderful
Discovering Jesus through Asian eyes An interview with Kizzy Horner, project manager for South Asian Forum and a new course for Asians Can you tell us a bit about your background? I previously worked for the Evangelical Alliance as a project co-ordinator for four and a half years. I was responsible for increasing the Alliance’s presence and profile through a range of events and marketing. I have been privileged to work for a number of Christian organisations over the past nine years including the Bible Society, the Conservative Christian Fellowship and Christian Concern in the areas of project management, event management and marketing communications. The positions God has given to me have opened amazing doors and enabled me to meet some incredible individuals. I have been very blessed. What are you involved with outside of the Alliance? Outside of the Alliance I have a ministry called SENT (Sending Evangelists into Nations and Territories), which is a vehicle for the Lord to use in opening up nations to a move of His Spirit. The ministry has a call to restore, equip and strengthen believers in knowing and demonstrating the love of Christ, the power of the holy spirit, so that nations can be released into their destiny and the will of the Father. It is truly a call to partner with God to disciple nations. Last summer I got married – to someone that I actually first met working for the Evangelical Alliance! I have been spending time settling into married life. We are seeking God to know what He desires for our lives and together we look forward to a continuous adventure with God in the nations He will send us to. What made you apply for the project manager role of the Discovering Jesus through Asian Eyes course? I was delighted to have been selected for the role of project manager for the Discovering Jesus through Asian Eyes course. I believe that this course has come from the heart of God and I want to be part of what He is doing through it. God has given me a strong burden for the Church in Pakistan as well as other Asian countries. I see this role as being strategically linked to the work God wants me to do in the Asian world. I am excited by the opportunity to really increase the influence of the evangelical Church in these nations.
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ministry by becoming a member of SAF. Once you become a member, you will receive idea, the Alliance’s bi-monthly magazine, as well as regular newsletters from SAF detailing our progress. If you are already a member of the Evangelical Alliance you can add SAF to your Alliance membership at no extra cost. In this instance please send an email to saf@eauk.org
Can you tell us more about the Discovering Jesus through Asian Eyes course? This new eight-week course developed by SAF and more than 25 partners is being published by the Good Book Company and presents an incredible opportunity for churches and Christian organisations to share the message and love of Jesus with the growing Asian community in the UK. It is the only course of its kind that explores the key questions that the main religions of the South Asian and East Asian Diaspora have about Jesus. There are two great features of this course, which are its simplicity and flexibility. The course can be tailored to suit a group discussion or an informal conversation over a coffee. The course is designed for use among churches with little knowledge of engaging with Asians of other faiths and those with considerably more experience. There will be training days on running the course for churches and Christian organisations coming up later in the year – so do watch out for these! Discovering Jesus through Asian eyes is being launched in May 2014. For further information or to register your interest, please email k.horner@eauk.org
SAF profiles its work, partners and resources in the quarterly Newsletter and on our website saf.eauk.org
Leprosy - a 21st century scourge
from her because her hands had become ‘clawed’ because of leprosy.
What disease is easily curable yet disables if left untreated and sees those affected rejected by their families, employers and communities and pushed to the very fringes of society? The answer is leprosy.
So in order to feed herself and her mother, Vidya opened the shop in the evening for sex work. At risk of HIV and violence, she waited until it was dark when the men had had enough to drink and did not notice her leprosy-affected hands and feet. The Leprosy Mission is now helping Vidya piece together her life and provide her with training so that she can earn an honourable living.
Despite there having been an effective cure for leprosy since 1982, stigma surrounding the disease remains akin to biblical times in parts of the world today. It is a disease shrouded in myths and misunderstandings. For instance, despite more than half of new leprosy cases found globally each year being diagnosed in India, 85 per cent of the population of Delhi still believes leprosy is incurable. Tragically, people widely believe leprosy is a curse for something they have done in a previous life and even the beggars shun those affected by this mildlyinfectious disease. The Leprosy Mission is an international Christian development organisation transforming and empowering the lives of people affected by leprosy. There are around a quarter of a million new cases of leprosy diagnosed each year and more than three million people globally are living with permanent disabilities as a result of late treatment. Leprosy causes nerve damage and, if left untreated, leads to a loss of sensation in the hands and feet meaning everyday activities are fraught with danger. Burns go unrecognised and stones in shoes unnoticed, causing ulcers to develop and leading to the shortening of limbs. Leprosy also damages nerves in the face, causing problems with blinking. Robbed of this simple action a person can go blind. Inspired by the love of Jesus, The Leprosy Mission diagnoses, treats and offers specialist care, including reconstructive surgery, to leprosy patients as well as education, vocational training, housing and sanitation. Pictured is 28-year-old Vidya in India who was forced into prostitution as the only way of feeding herself and her mother – just because she had leprosy. Vidya thought her ticket out of poverty came five years ago when she was given a loan to set up a small business selling material. But no one would buy
The Leprosy Mission’s focus is increasingly to help people affected by leprosy become self-sufficient. Its Challenging Anti-Leprosy Legislation (CALL) project in India has enabled thousands of leprosy-affected people to access 6,200 state benefits since 2010. Although poverty is widespread – India still remains home to a third of the world’s poorest people – state benefits are increasingly being made available, including government job schemes. People affected by leprosy, however, often have such low self-esteem that they do not see themselves as part of society. The Leprosy Mission works to build these people’s confidence as well as help reintegrate them into mainstream society. A CALL project worker told Dhondhi and his neighbours in the Rajiv Gandhi Kushth Ashram leprosy colony about the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. This is a government-sponsored welfare scheme promising 100 days of employment to every unemployed person living below the poverty line. Following efforts to boost their self-confidence, individuals applied to the scheme. They were assessed to see if they were physically fit to work as labourers and issued with government Job Cards. The government officer also asked the local bank manager to open accounts for the Job Card holders, a requirement of the scheme. The bank manager, however, refused to open accounts for Dhondhi and his friends when he found out they lived in a leprosy colony. Members of the CALL team then met with the branch manager and explained that Dhondhi and his neighbours were completely cured of leprosy and were fit and capable of working. The government office also put pressure on the bank manager and the incident was even reported in the local newspaper. The bank manager eventually apologised and opened accounts for Dhondhi and his friends. They now earn enough to support themselves and other members of their community and are optimistic about securing permanent work after completing the 100 days the scheme offers. For more information visit www.leprosymission.org.uk
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South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance
The Mahabba Network About us The Mahabba Network started eight years ago as a partnership of many churches in Oxford seeking opportunities to introduce local Muslims to the gospel. Mahabba is not an agency: our model is a prayer-based relational network which equips local churches with mentoring and training materials (like Friendship First), helping church leaders to train ordinary members of churches to relate to Muslims in love and be able to explain the gospel clearly. We no longer hold that this is the domain of experts in Islam, and have shown over the years that the most successful means of reaching Muslims is through mobilising hundreds of ‘ordinary believers’. By expanding the network we will see Christians across the UK motivated to reach out in love to the thousands of Muslim people who are now living among us. The Mahabba prayer model consists of a partnership between groups of churches. It creates a learning environment in which thousands of Christians can participate in one of the greatest mission opportunities in present times. The need The number of people identifying themselves as Muslim in the UK has grown by almost 70 per cent in 10 years, from 1.6 million in 2001 to 2.7 million in 2011. Many Christians are focused on the effects of ‘Islamisation’ and on the ‘persecuted Church’, responding with fear and alienating themselves from face-to-face interaction with their Muslim neighbours. Mahabba encourages Christians to “Face the Facts, but not Fuel the Fear!” We face missing one of the greatest opportunities of our time – to unveil Jesus to Muslim people. We believe Mahabba could be equivalent in the realm of ministry to Muslims to what Alpha has been for the broader Church. Too often churches in Britain are ill-equipped to assist people who wish to convert, whether they come from atheistic or other faith backgrounds. There is very little training available to help with mentoring those from other faiths coming to Christ. It is so important to hear the voice of these believers from other backgrounds and ensure that they are
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not ‘over-extracted’ from their faith background. Remaining in their community will enable their witness to touch others of their faith background. United prayer is our foundation Mahabba networks are built on prayer. Mahabba Oxford saw no converts for two years, but as a result of constant prayer about 40 people came to Christ over the next five years. Numbers have been difficult to record as Oxford is such a transitional place. However we have seen a regular flow of people coming to Christ, especially among the Iranian fellowship we helped plant in Oxford. Just one of the women who came to Christ – a Turkish Imam’s daughter – has personally led many to Christ in Oxford, some of whom have been Muslims. As a ministry we are spurred on by regular stories from around the other networks which have been planted. In Manchester, in the space of just three days, a young man from Pakistan walked into the cathedral asking to convert. He was met by a retired priest who led him to Christ but then phoned to ask what he should do next; a Saudi woman walked into a church and asked to become a Christian – the local clergy sought advice on how to help her; a Somali man shared with his Christian friend that he wanted to become a Christian. The friend approached a local network and we were able to offer help and guidance. Mahabba expands Mahabba has already been identified by both Global Connections and CRIB (Christian Response to Islam in Britain) as the most fruitful model in the UK to replicate in other cities with a high Islamic presence. Our goal now is to scale up the positive Oxford experience across the country. So networks have now been launched in 20 cities across the UK, as well as spreading across to France, Belgium, and Scandinavia, and this summer we were asked to share the model in the US, and Canada, Australia and South Africa. Our goal over the next 12 to 18 months is however to concentrate on the UK, and have 50 operating Mahabba networks across the UK. Find out more at www.mahabba.co.uk
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SAF profiles its work, partners and resources in the quarterly Newsletter and on our website saf.eauk.org
A long journey home Kerala is the smallest and most beautiful state in India, yet, in area, it is bigger than Britain. I was born there in a very devout Hindu family. As far as I can remember, I always loved God, believed in God and was willing to serve Him in whatever capacity He wanted me to. I always prayed to Him and asked His guidance before any major decision I had to take in my life. If anyone had come to me then and said that I would be reading the Bible and following Jesus, I would have panicked and given any contribution to a Hindu Temple to stop me from becoming an untouchable and to rescue me from becoming a Christian, such was my ignorance about Jesus. Christianity was offensive to me because of Christians, the cross and the cost, in that order. I was ignorant of the fact that children of Christians are not automatically Christians and that they have to make up their own minds to follow Jesus and be added into the family of God, by God himself, before they become real Christians. So I was looking at nominal Christians and saying to myself, ‘in no way I am going to be one of them!’ Then I looked at the large, tall statue of the crucifix outside the Catholic College at the University in Kerala and I felt sorry for the poor bloke hanging up there. I had the revelation of someone being crucified, but no-one interpreted to me that He died for me, in my place, so that God could forgive me, even me, a bad Hindu and be the Just God. If someone had explained to me that he suffered all that in order to take the punishment I deserve, I would have immediately bowed down to Him, worshipped Him and been willing to do whatever He wanted me to do. My impression was how is a mere man hanging dead on a cross going to solve the problems of the world. To me that was ignorant idolatry - worse than Hindus. The third offensive thing about Christianity was the cost. For a Hindu to become an untouchable, it was unthinkable. Not only me, but the whole family would be down-graded. Unless they threw me out of my home and refused to let me come back. I did my engineering in India and worked my way to England to be better qualified and further my professional skills, to then go back to India for a better job. I was 10 years at sea, rising from Junior to Chief Engineer and then I got married. So I had to leave sea to gain my extra first class engineer’s qualification at Newcastle to take up the prime job of Senior Engineer Surveyor with Lloyds Register in London at their Head Office in 1961. I became a member of the British Nuclear Energy Society and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects, a Chartered Engineer, and also a fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineers. I have worked in London ever since. It was in March 1965 when I was doing a spot of shopping in my lunch break, that I happened to walk into Bishop’s Gate at 1 pm, right in the centre of the City of London. To my surprise I saw hundreds of city gents in their pin-stripe suits, bowler hats (you don’t see a bowler hat in London now!) and ‘stiff upper noses’ all rushing through a cubby hole at Great St Helens. I followed them out of curiosity and landed up in a
big packed hall with hundreds of men, some even sitting on the concrete steps. They ushered me in and all I could see in the corner was a big table with sandwiches, fruits, cakes and delicious food. So I sat down wedged between the city gents wondering ‘what next?’. Then I realised that I was in a church and I panicked! You wouldn’t have seen me dead in a church; but I couldn’t get out and had to sit down and suffer for half an hour! Can you imagine over 500 people coming to a church in five minutes, Managing Directors, Brokers, Underwriters, Bank Managers, Solicitors, Accountants, Clerks, Engineers and others. Men and women listening to a 20 minute talk from the Bible and then lunch. I sat down and heard for the first time that Jesus died for me, the Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, those who go to church and those who don’t, so that I may know God today and all I had to do was to come to Him and receive it as a free gift. Not what I can do for God that is important, but what God has done for me. I knew, if I had died on that night as a Hindu, I would have to face God as my judge ending in reincarnation. A chink of light gave me the hope that I can avoid all that. I didn’t have to sit for a final exam with God (I hated exams and do have nightmares about them sometimes). I can get a pass mark now and avoid my final! So I prayed then and there ‘I will have a try’ – I didn’t know any Christian prayers. So I went back to my office and asked my Australian colleague how I can get one of his religious books to know all about Jesus. To my surprise I found out that he went to St Helen’s church every Tuesday. He had been sitting behind me at work and praying for me for two years and he didn’t have the guts enough to ask me to go with him. I am glad he didn’t ask me because if he had asked me that would have been the end of the story, because Hindus don’t go to church. He gave me a bible with a bookmark in John’s gospel advising me to read it from there. I am glad he did, because if I had started from the beginning I would have soon given up. It took me a long time to fully understand, but as an engineer I was curious, so what I understood I accepted, but what I didn’t I waited for an explanation and prayed. After 42 years I am still learning but I am following Jesus today because real Christianity is true and Jesus has never let me down once, even though I have had to go through some tough times including suspected cancer of my spine. If I was not 100% convinced that Jesus lived, died, rose again from the dead and that he is fully God and will one day come again to destroy all evil and establish His Kingdom, I would have given up Christianity a long time ago. Everyone is free to find out, if it is true we can accept it, if not, we must reject it. But for me, to be threatened with death is to be threatened with heaven. As a Hindu I knew about God, but as I now follow Jesus, I know God personally. You may fool everybody but one cannot fool oneself. I know God as my saviour, friend and master. Vijay Menon
This article was first published in Men Of This Age by Christian Vision for Men.
South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance
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Naujavan hits the road measure it’s not ‘out to steal young people’ as a few people sometimes fear. It is a central place where many young Asian people can gather throughout the year, for something relevant to them, be a valued member of a nationwide community and get fuelled up for their journey of faith. In fact the ongoing prayer is that by engaging with all of the Naujavan content – be that events, resources or online media – these young people would be further inspired, developed and equipped to serve in their current local church. The Naujavan driving passion is to see young Asian leaders raised up, reaching back into the communities they’re from. Who better than an Asian Christian to speak into the lives of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh friends? We believe God is raising up this generation, one person at a time. Naujavan are hitting the road for their Spring Tour in April. Over several weekends they’re hosting nights of worship, prayer, teaching, art and storytelling. Following up on the tour nights over the past few years, these evenings display a unique window into the life of the British Asian Christian scene. Blending together just the right mix of music, people and food there’s an identity crisis that’s quietly being dealt with here – and while it’s aware of the cultural setting it’s not defined by it. It’s firmly fixed on Christ. These nights are ideal for young believers but also those from other faith backgrounds. The heart of the message is always rooted in the gospel and for friends from this background that are seeking, there’s no better place to bring them. Drawing those from the UK Asian churches as well as many ‘lonely’ Asian Christian’s this place is a one-of-a-kind gathering that’s growing in more ways than one. Last year, Naujavan, released their Unique & United EP celebrating 15 years of the work. As 2014 unfolds they’re not only pushing on with the central events, but are also developing a discipleship course tailored to the British Asian community. Events are a great starting point, but if there’s to be any sense of growth it must be followed up by local churches. These churches are the key to lasting change in the lives of these young people. Naujavan strives to work in partnership with many different local and national groups to offer as much support to those within their community wherever they might live. So is Naujavan a church? It’s certainly part of The Church, but in terms of it’s operation and location it’s not, and by that same
Alongside the tour nights, Naujavan are running their ‘Charged Sessions’ and also have their annual weekend away in October this year. These times are open to anyone in the target audience (16 to 30-year-olds) that wants to go that little bit deeper in understanding the Bible, its application and the power of the holy spirit. Tackling some of the specific questions and experiences of being British, Asian and Christian there are specialist teachers and on the ground practitioners offering their input. Naujavan is a community of young people that are learning to follow Jesus and lead others to him along the way. If you’d like to find out more: www.naujavan.com TOUR (Tickets - £5 at the door, £4 if you book online) 4 April - BEDFORD
Bedford Pentecostal Church, Roise Street, MK40 1JE
5 April – BIRMINGHAM
Calvary Church, Albert Road, Handsworth, B21 9JY
11 April – WOLVERHAMPTON
All Nations Christian Centre, Temple Street, WV2 4AQ
12 April – HARROW
Glebe Hall, Loretto Gardens, Kenton, HA3 9LZ
CHARGED SESSION (Tickets – £5 online booking ONLY) 28 June - Hope in Relationship, with Steve Uppal WEEKEND (Tickets – Room options and booking online ONLY) 17-19 October – Hope to the Word
with Al Gordon + others tbc.
SAF profiles its work, partners and resources in the quarterly Newsletter and on our website saf.eauk.org
The Biggest Birthday Party Ever 29 May – 8 June 2014
communicates something of the message of Pentecost in your community. The Pentecost Festival team can provide • A united brand to work under with web listings for party events • 30 downloadable models for mission to help you shape your party • 70-page manual with guides on liaising with your council, marketing and budgeting • Lists of performers, artists and musicians • a host of resources from bunting to tracts to follow-up material •Speakers to help train your church to host missional events
Putting Pentecost back on the map
Join the party!
Pentecost Festival London was launched in 2008. Over five consecutive years, hundreds of events drew tens of thousands of people to central London to discover the meaning of Pentecost. The events took place in coffee shops, parks, theatres and night clubs, as well as iconic venues such as Leicester Square, the O2 arena, Marble Arch and even a boat on the Thames.
STEP 1: Apply online at www.sharejesusinternational.com/ tbbpe/ and pay the registration fee
In 2013, the festival went national under the tagline ‘The Biggest Birthday Party Ever’ across 23 London boroughs and five other regions across the UK.
STEP 3: Plan at least one party event for your community for the week from 1 – 7 June
Pentecost has long been the forgotten Christian festival but we think it’s time we re-discovered the celebration of Pentecost and over the next few years, we want to see it celebrated across this nation. To make a bigger splash, we believe it is important to connect hundreds of churches in working under one banner. Andy Frost, festival director of Pentecost, said: “Help us rediscover Pentecost in 2014 with 100s of parties across the UK celebrating the Church’s birthday with those that may never normally enter our buildings.” Four reasons why Pentecost is important 1. Pentecost is a celebration of life. As Peter preached at the first Pentecost, 3,000 people responded to the message of good news and joined the Jesus movement. Pentecost is in its very essence a celebration of new life. 2. Pentecost is a reminder that all are welcome, whether we are Jew or Gentile, black or white, young or old, and that we can know our Father in heaven as the holy spirit is available for all people. 3. Pentecost is our birthday. It was at Pentecost that the holy spirit ignited the disciples to be the Church. We celebrate our own fellowship’s anniversary but, as one Church, we should also celebrate our corporate birthday together! 4. Pentecost is a call to share the Christian faith in the language of today. In Acts 2, the disciples were supernaturally empowered to communicate the good news in different languages. Today, we need to share Jesus relevantly. Pentecost resources Having run the Pentecost Festival for six years in London, we want to help resource you to run your own local party that
STEP 2: Explore hosting a worship and prayer night on Thursday, 29 May, Friday, 30 May, or Saturday, 31 May, to start your week on the right foot. Or if you are in London, Birmingham or Sheffield, come and join the worship events we are hosting with Worship Central in those cities.
STEP 4: Host a special Pentecost Sunday service on 8 June., Join us in celebrating ‘The Biggest Birthday Party Ever’
What is Crossing London? Crossing London is the biggest united Christian mission in over 20 years. It’s an initiative by church leaders across the denominations in London and the home counties to see Christian leaders throughout London renewed and empowered by the holy spirit for mission; to see Christians experiencing a fresh confidence to talk unashamedly about their faith and love for Jesus; to encourage Christians to share in prayer through a range of gatherings and prayer initiatives; to see churches helping to restore broken communities and to witness thousands of men, women and children coming to know Jesus and see the whole of London touched by God. Crossing London is exciting and unique in that it doesn’t represent just one denomination, age group or ethnicity. Through Crossing London, churches from the Anglicans to the Pentecostals to the Methodists to the Baptists will be united across the London boroughs and the wider home counties which border the capital city. We have a five-fold strategy to involve all leaders, individual Christians of all ages and churches in Crossing London, and to provide opportunities for people to meet with Jesus:
South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance
• Encouraging leaders – through a series of events and initiatives which draw leaders together on a regular basis including masterclasses and prayer breakfasts • Equipping Christians – through training to help people share their faith and reach out into their communities • Engaging communities – to encourage people to get ready to host events in their communities for people who are not churchgoers • Encountering Jesus – through up to 200 events to be held in Autumn 2014, including some large-scale and small local events at which people will have an opportunity to hear about and meet Jesus • Empowering prayer – all Crossing London efforts, events and initiatives are undergirded with prayer. Crossing London’s mission director is Andy Frost, who leads Share Jesus International and the Pentecost Festival. Find out more at www.crossinglondon.co.uk
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The verse above helps us understand that the skill needed is the wisdom and ability to sharpen the edge of the axe. To sharpen a blade you need something tougher than the blade, a stone or iron, then some water to stop it over heating and some oil to keep it running smooth. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 In our serving the Lord it is easy to become weary. Wisdom would say to us, STOP! Pay attention to your edge, develop your leadership. Take time from working to invest into becoming better, sharper and more effective. Iron - Represents godly relationships Water - Represents water of the Word Oil - Represents the Holy Spirit. Fuel the Fire Leaders Day With this in mind we have a number of Fuel the Fire Leaders Day this year. The aim is to help leaders sharpen their edge and to fuel their passion for the Lord. When: Friday 4th April 2014
Have you lost your edge? Steve Uppal
Friday 11th July 2014
If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 10:10
Friday 14th November 2014
Picture a person cutting down trees with an axe; the job gets more and more difficult as time passes. Greater strength is used but fewer results are seen. What used to take 1 hour now takes 2 but with even more effort exerted. The mistake being made is that instead of stopping the work and sharpening the axe, this person believes trying harder and exerting more energy will do the job. This result is exhaustion and potential injury, not to mention the poor results.
Who: Steve Uppal, Jarrod Cooper and other guests to be confirmed. Venue: All Nations, Christian Centre, Temple Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AQ Price: £12 - Lunch and refreshments included. Register: www.allnations.org.uk/leaders-day-april