South Asian Forum - September 2012 Newsletter

heE v a nge l i c a l Al l i a nc e Sout hAs i a nF or umoft Ne ws l e t t e r

I s s ue8:Se pt e mbe r2012

TheSout hAsi anFor um ( SAF)i sagr oupi ngwi t hi nt heEvangel i cal Al l i ance, s et upt opr ov i deapl ac ef orSout hAs i anChr i s t i ansi nt heUK t oenc our age, s uppor t andequi peac hot herf ormi s s i on, andt or epr es ent t hei rc onc er nst ogov er nment , medi aandt hewi derChur c h.

Wi t ht he s uppor t of bot hi ndi v i dual member sandc hur c hmember st ot al l i ngmor e t han15, 000peopl e, SAFi ss t eadi l ygr owi ng.

Vi s i t www. eauk. or g/ saft o

get i nv ol v edi ns uppor t i ngt hi swonder f ul mi ni s t r ybybecomi nga memberofSAF. Onc ey oubec omeamember , y ouwi l l r ec ei v e i dea, t heAl l i anc e’ sbi mont hl ymagaz i ne,aswel l asr egul ar news l et t er sf r om SAFdet ai l i ngourpr ogr es s .

I f y ouar eal r eadya memberof t heEv angel i c al Al l i anc ey ouc anaddSAFt oy our Al l i anc emember s hi pat noex t r ac os t .

I nt hi si ns t anc epl eas e s endanemai l t osaf @eauk. or g

CLAASwel comesbai l f orRi mshaMasi h

Sout hAsi anFor um Updat e

Khal i dChi s ht i , t hei mam whos pear headedt hebl as phemy c har geagai ns t Ri ms ha, wasl at erar r es t edons us pi c i onof pl ant i ngev i denc eagai ns t her .

J udgeMuhammadAz am Khan or der edherr el eas eands et bai l at 500, 000r upees( ar ound £3, 308) .

Heal s oor der edt hat s hebepl ac edunderpr ot ec t i v e c us t odyast her ei sc onc er nf orhers af et y .

Thi smont hi t wi l l bet woy ear ss i nc eSAFt ookupr es i denc eat t heEv angel i c al Al l i anc eandwhat af r ui t f ul t i mei t hasbeen!

At t hel at es t c ount 93c hur c hesand13or gani s at i onshav e bec omemember sof t heSout hAsi anFor um, aswes eekt o uni t et oget heri ns peak i ngout agai ns t t heper s ec ut i onof Chr i s t i ansandc ol l abor at ei nr eac hi ngout t ot hos eof ot her f ai t hswi t ht heGoodNewsof Chr i s t .

Thepr of i l eof t heFor um hasmos t c er t ai nl ybeenr ai s edt hr oughanar r ayof r ec ent medi aoppor t uni t i esi nc l udi ngPr emi erRadi o, UCB, Gl or yTV andRadi o4.

Thel at t erpr ov i dedagr eat oppor t uni t yf orSout h As i anFor um t ohi ghl i ght t hepr ogr es st hat t heChur c hhas madei nt hi sc ount r yi nt er msof c onnec t i ngwi t ht heSout h As i anChr i s t i anc ommuni t y .

Wi t hl i s t eni ngf i gur esof ar ound onemi l l i onpeopl eont heRadi o4s how, wepr ai s eGodf oral l t hedoor sHei sopeni ngf orust ov oi c eourc onc er nsand as pi r at i ons .

Ac our t j udgehasgr ant edbai l t oRi ms ha Mas i h, ay oungChr i s t i angi r l f r om a s ubur bof I s l amabadi nPak i s t anwhowas ac c us edof bl as phemy .

Mas i hhass pent t hepas t f ewweek si namax i mum s ec ur i t ypr i s onaf t erbei ngac c us edby nei ghbour sof bur ni ngpageswi t hKor ani c v er s esont hem.

Herc as emadei nt er nat i onal headl i nesbec aus e of hery oungage-s hewasr epor t edbyherf ami l yt obe11y ear s ol d-andr epor t edl ys uf f er sf r om Down' sSy ndr ome.

Bl as phemyal l egat i onsar ev er ys er i ousi nPak i s t anand ex t r emi s t shav ei nt hepas t t ak enmat t er si nt ot hei rownhands whenc our t shav eov er t ur nedc har gesandr el eas edt heac c us ed.

TheCent r ef orLegal Ai d, As s i s t anc eandSet t l ement ( CLAAS) P h o t o c o u r t e s yS p i r i t u a l I N s p i r a t i o n w e l c o me s t h e r e l e a s e o f Ri ms habut r emai nsc onc er nedf orher s af et yandt hewel f ar eof t hewi derChr i s t i anc ommuni t y , whi c h r emai nss ubj ec t t oac c us at i onsof bl as phemybas edonl i t t l eorno ev i denc e.

Nas i rSaeed, CLAASUKc oor di nat or , c omment ed: " Thec har ge of bl as phemyagai ns t Ri ms haMas i hwasbas edonf al s e ev i denc eandt hi si snot anunc ommonoc c ur r enc ei nPak i s t an.

Sadl yt hebl as phemyl awsar ef r equent l ymi s us edt os t i rup ani mos i t yandhat r edt owar dsChr i s t i ansandev ent ot ak et hei r l andorpr oper t y . " Wewi s ht ot hankt hePak i s t ani andi nt er nat i onal pr es sf ort hei r k eeni nt er es t i nt hi ss t or yandf orbr i ngi ngi t t ot hewor l d' s at t ent i on.

Thi shasc er t ai nl ypl ay edapar t i nRi ms ha' sr el eas e.

Ther ear e, howev er , manyac c us at i onsof bl as phemyagai ns t Chr i s t i ansandot hermi nor i t i esi nPak i s t ant hat nev ermak et he newsheadl i nesands omeof t hes enamel es sv i c t i mspayt he pr i c eof t hes eunj us t l awswi t ht hei rl i v es .

Ev ent hos ewhodonot f al l v i c t i mt oex t r aj udi c i al k i l l i ngsf ac et hedeat hpenal t yory ear si n pr i s onswher et hec ondi t i onsar et er r i bl e.

Weappeal t ot he Pak i s t ani gov er nment t or ev i ewt hes el awswi t hur genc yand i mpl ement r ef or mst hat wi l l br i nganendt ot hei rmi s us eandt he s uf f er i ngof mi nor i t i es . " Nasi rSaeed Di r ect or , CLAASUK www. cl aas. or g. uk

Ov ert hec omi ngmont hswel ookf or war dt of i el dt es t i ngt he Jesust hr oughAsi aneyesc our s e.

Thi sdi s c us s i onc our s ef or As i ans eek er si sbas edont heques t i onsi nt heJ es ust hr ough As i aney esbook l et andc ov er st opi cs uc has" What i s Chr i s t i ani t y ?" , " Howc anwer el at et oGod?" , " Whoi sJ es us ?" , " Doweneedf or gi v enes s ?" , " I sJ es ust heonl ywayt oGod?" , " Canwet r us t t heBi bl e?"and" What woul dneedt oc hangei f I f ol l owJ es us ?"Al t houghi t hasnot al way sbeeneas yt o or gani s edi s c us s i onc our s esamongs t Sout hAs i ans , we bel i ev ewi t ht henewgener at i onof Br i t i s hAs i ansi t i snowt i me t ol aunc hanewc our s ewhi c hwoul des pec i al l yappeal t o s t udent sandpr of es s i onal s .

I fyourchur chi si nt er est edi n pi l ot i ngt hi scour sepl easecont actCl i veThor neat ct hor ne@t al kt al k. net Aswel ookt ot heNewYearourmandat ewi l l c ont i nuet obe oneof bui l di nggr eat eruni t y .

AsJ es uspr ay si nJ ohn17v er s e 23, ‘ Mayt heybebr ought t oc ompl et euni t yt ol et t hewor l d k nowt hat y ous ent meandhav el ov edt hem ev enasy ouhav e l ov edme. ’ Tof i ndoutmor eaboutt heSout h Asi anFor um andhowt obecomea member , pl easecont actManoj atm. r ai t hat ha@eauk. or g Manoj Rai t hat ha Nat i onal Coor di nat or , Sout hAsi anFor um oft heEvangel i cal Al l i ance

of i l esi t swor k, par t ner sandr esour cesi nt hequar t er l yNewsl et t erandonourwebsi t ewww.

SAFpr eauk. or g/ saf

Event s

Asi anMi ssi on Par t ner shi pDay

Caf éDesi Caf éDesi , r unbySout hAsi anConcer n, pr ov i dess pac ef or y oungadul t st os oc i al i s eandex pl or ei s s uest hat wi l l hel pt hem gr owi nt hei rper s onal andpr of es s i onal l i v es .

Sat ur day29Sept ember

Naz ar eneTheol ogi cal Col l ege, DeneRoad, Di dsbur yM202GU Thi si st hef i f t hi nas er i esof dayc onf er enc esdes i gnedt obr i ngus t oget hert os har eourex per i enc esandt oenc our ageeac hot heri n r eac hi ngout t oSout hAs i ansi nt heUK. Theyar ef oral l whoar e i nv ol v edi ns uc hout r eac h, whet herf r om mai ns t r eam c hur c hesor Sout hAs i anc hur c hesoranyot her s .

Thedayi ncl udes: •Shar i ngbyex per i enc edpr ac t i t i oner sof goodpr ac t i c ei n r eac hi ngSout hAs i answi t ht hegos pel .

•Al ookat r es our c es .

•Oppor t uni t i est omeet ot her sof v ar y i ngex per i enc eandt of or m par t ner s hi psf orout r eac h.

Ram Gi doomal , c hai rof t r us t eesof Sout hAs i anConc er n, wi l l be t hek ey not es peak erandi t i sourpr ay ert hat t hewhol edaywi l l be ani ns pi r at i ont oal l whowi s ht os t ar t out i nmi ni s t r yt oSout h As i ansandanenc our agement t ot hos eal r eadydoi ngs o.

Doj oi nus!Pl easer egi st erassoonaspossi bl e, usi ngt he l i nkt ot heGl obal Connect i onswebsi t e: www. gl obal connect i ons. co. uk/ amp1209 Oryoucancont act AnnBower , Gl obal Connect i ons abower @gl obal connect i ons. co. uk

Nepal i out r eachoneday conf er ence Sat ur day6Oct ober2012

10.

30am –4pm Chr i st Chur ch, 151Gl eadl essRoad, Heel ey, Shef f i el d, S23AE I NF/ UKandNepal i Net wor kUKi nv i t ey out oaoneday c onf er enc et oi ns pi r emi ni s t r yt oNepal i peopl ei nt heUK.

Whi l et het eac hi ngsof J es usandSout hAs i anc ul t ur ear ek ey par t sof Caf éDes i ’ set hos , ev ent sar eopent oev er y one, r egar dl es sof f ai t horet hni c i t y .

Soev ent shav eaSout hAs i an f l av ourandgi v eaChr i s t i anv i ewpoi nt , but al l ar ei nv i t edt o s har et hei rv i ews , r es pec t f ul of t heper s pec t i v esof ot her s .

Caf éDes i i snot aphy s i c al pl ac et houghweof t enmeet i nCaf é Et er no, Cov ent Gar den.

The‘ c af é’ par t of ournamei smor e about t hec onc ept of meet i ngt oget herandc hat t i ngabout t hi ngsov erac upof c hai .

Ev ent sv ar y , but t hemos t c ommont y pehasbeendi s c us s i on ev eni ngs .

Wet ak eat heme–f orex ampl e, i dent i t y , s uc c es sor r el at i ons hi ps–andi nv i t eas peak ert ot al kabout i t br i ef l y .

The r emai ni ngt i mei sdev ot edt odi s c us s i ngt het opi ci ns mal l gr oupsov ers omes nac k s .

Af t ergi v i ngf eedbac k , peopl emay c ont i nuec hat t i ngf orawhi l e, orgoonf orameal ordr i nk s t oget her .

Ther ehav eal s obeenf i l m ni ght s , i nf or mal Chr i s t mas andEas t ers er v i c esandpur el ys oc i al ev ent s , wher ewe’ v e gones t r ai ght f ort hemeal ordr i nk s , c ut t i ngout t hedi s c us s i on par t !

Cur r ent l yCaf éDesi event sar et aki ngpl aceever yquar t er .

Thel at estwasachar i t ygar denpar t yi near l ySept ember .

I fyouwoul dl i ket of i ndoutmor eaboutCaf éDesi , vi si t : www. sout hasi anconcer n. or g/ r esour ces/ det ai l _2/ caf e_desi orcont actadmi n@sout hasi anconcer n. or g

We' l l hearf r om Nepal i peopl edes c r i bi ngt hec hal l engesof l i v i ng i nt heUK, hav edi s c us s i onwi t hpeopl edoi ngmi ni s t r ywor k amongNepal i si nBr i t ai n, andal s os har er es our c est oenabl e mor emi ni s t r i est ohel pNepal i si nourownnei ghbour hoods .

Thi sc onf er enc ei sal s of orc hur c hl eader sl ook i ngt odoout r eac h t oNepal i si nt hei rl oc al i t y .

We' l l hearabout howt oi nt egr at e Nepal i si nt oaUKc hur c h.

I f t her ear eNepal i peopl el i v i ngneart oy ouandy ou' dl i k et o bef r i endt hem, s har ef ai t h, under s t andt hei rneedsanddo s omet hi ngt ohel pt hem, t henpl eas ec omeandj oi nus !

Nochar gef orent r y, butpl easebr i ngyourownl unch.

Formor ei nf or mat i onpl easecont actI NF/ UK: ukof f i ce@i nf . or g. ukor01214722425

Phot o: LeaCs ont os

SAFi skeent ocol l ectst or i esofSout hAsi ansand chur chest hatr eachoutt oSout hAsi ans.

Pl easeshar e yourst or yatsaf @eauk. or g

Sout hAs i a nF or umoft heE v a nge l i c a l Al l i a nc e

Onkar ' scal l t omedi a mi ni st r y

" Bef or eI f or medyoui nt he wombI knewyou, bef or e youwer ebor nI setyou apar t ;I appoi nt edyouasa pr ophett ot henat i ons. " Jer emi ah1: 5

WhenI went t omyl oc al c hur c hc al l ed I l f or dHi ghRoadBapt i s t c hur c hf ort hef i r s t t i me, I hear dt hes er mononJ er emi ah1.

OnkarSi ngh AsI wasl i s t eni ngt oi t , I f el t t hat s omet hi ng washappeni ngi ns i deme.

I f el t t hat God wass peak i ngt omeabout what Hewasc al l i ngmet odoi nt he f ut ur e.

I k newt hat t heGodwhos av edmehadapl anf ormebut t o beapr ophet t ot henat i onswass omet hi ngi nc onc ei v abl e.

I di dnot r eal l yt hi nkmuc habout t hi sf oraf ewy ear sbut t hewor d r emai nedwi t hme.

Onedayoneof myf r i endsar r angedf ormet o gi v emyt es t i monyonaChr i s t i anTVpr ogr ammec al l edRev el at i on.

I went t ot hec ent r al Londons t udi oswher eI met f ort hef i r s t t i me Pam andherhus bandSar f r azwhower et hepr es ent er sof t he pr ogr ammeI wasappear i ngi n.

I nt heFr i dayni ght l i v epr ogr amme c al l edChur c hWi t hout Wal l sI gav emyt es t i mony .

I t went s owel l t hat I begant or ec ei v ef ur t heri nv i t at i onst oappeari nt hepr ogr amme.

Somet i mel at er , Pam andSar f r azhadav i s i onenc our agi ngt hem t ot ak et hegos pel t oSout hAs i ansands oont hedr eam of hav i nga 24/ 7As i anChr i s t i anTVc hannel wasbor n.

On10t hof Mar c h2008 Gl or yTVwasl aunc hedonSk y832.

Fol l owi ngt hi s , Pam andSar f r azas k edmet opr es ent pr ogr ammes r egul ar l y .

I nt hel as t f oury ear sI ’ v epr es ent edmanydi f f er ent pr ogr ammes , i nc l udi ngl i v epr ogr ammesi nwhi c hat es t i monyi s gi v en, t opr ogr ammeswher eI i nv i t et hev i ewer st ogi v et hei r pr ay err eques t ss ot hat I c anpr ayf ort hem l i v eonai r .

Todayy ouc anv i ewGl or yTVt hr oughout Eur opev i as at el l i t eand gl obal l yv i at hei nt er net .

I nmypr ogr ammes , I r ec ei v ec al l sf r om manyc ount r i eswi t hi nEur opeandwehav epeopl ewhowat c ht he c hannel asf arasCanada, USAandAs i a.

WhenI l ookbac konmyj our neywi t ht heLor d, I s eet hat hi spl ans ar ebei ngf ul f i l l edi nmyl i f e.

I i ndeeds peakt ot henat i onst hr ough t hi smedi ami ni s t r y .

TheLor dhadapl anf ormyl i f eandHehas br ought i t t opas s .

Hehaspos i t i onedmet os er v eHi m wher eI c an t ouc hnat i onswi t ht hegos pel of ourLor dJ es usChr i s t .

Hehas gi v enmet henec es s ar ys k i l l st odot hi s .

I gi v eGodt hegl or yHe des er v esf orus i ngmei nt hi sway .

Godi ndeedus est hel owt hi ngs i nt hewor l dt oac c ompl i s hhi smos t hol ypur pos es .

Ands oI enc our agey out ohol dont ot hat whi c hGodi sc al l i ngy ou t odoi ny ourl i f e.

Godi sf ai t hf ul t oHi spr omi s esandwhent her i ght t i mear r i v esHewi l l openadoorf ory out hat noonec ans hut .

God bl es sy oual l .

OnkarSi ngh Youcancat chOnkarSi nghonGl or yTVSky832ont he secondandt hi r dWednesdaysofeachmont hat8pm.

Vol unt eer sneeded

f orr esear chi nt ot he exper i encesofpai nf orol der peopl ef r om di f f er entf ai t hsand cul t ur al gr oups

ogh onBal esyofAr t oscour Phot

Test i mony

Be c omeame mbe r-www. e a uk. or g/ s a f

At t heUni v er s i t yof Leeds , Sc hool of Heal t hc ar e, r es ear c hi s bei ngunder t ak ent oex pl or ehowpai ni sex per i enc edand ex pr es s edi npeopl eof di f f er ent f ai t hs( Chr i s t i ani t y , Hi ndui s m, J udai s m, Si k hi s m andt heI s l ami cf ai t h)andc ul t ur es .

Chr oni c pai ni sv er yc ommoni nol derpeopl eaged65andov erand hasbeens hownt obepoor l yc ont r ol l ed.

Mak i ngs ens eof pai n i sc l os el yt i edt or el i gi ousbel i ef sf ors omepeopl e, andwe bel i ev et hat under s t andi ngmor eabout c ul t ur eandr el i gi onwi l l hel pt os uppor t heal t hc ar es t af f i ngi v i ngabet t ers er v i c ef or ol derpeopl es uf f er i ngl ongt er m pai n.

Wear eunder t ak i ngas er i esof i nt er v i ewswi t hol derpeopl e whohav ec hr oni cpai nf r om f i v emaj orf ai t hgr oups .

Thi swi l l al l owust odev el opeduc at i onal mat er i al f ors t udent and qual i f i edheal t hpr of es s i onal s , andac l i ni c al i nt er v ent i ont o i mpr ov epr of es s i onal s ’ c ommuni c at i onabout pai nwi t h di f f er ent gr oupsof ol derpeopl e.Tak i ngpar t i nt hes t udywi l l i nv ol v epar t i c i pat i ngi naoneof f , f ac et of ac ei nt er v i ewl as t i ng bet weenhal f anhourt oanhour , dependi ngonwhat y ouhav e t ot el l us .

Sof arwehav er ec r ui t edandi nt er v i ewedov er40 peopl eac r os st hef i v ef ai t hsi nLeedsbut woul dal s ol i k et o i nc l udeSout hAs i anpeopl ewhoar eChr i s t i ans .

I fyouar e65year sand overandhavechr oni c pai n( pai nwhi chhasl ast edf oratl east3 mont hs) , l i vei nYor kshi r e andwoul dl i ket odi scuss t her esear chf ur t herand/ orr ecei vemor ei nf or mat i on, pl easegeti n t ouchwi t hDrJi l l Edwar ds Tel 01133431194or Emai l j . edwar ds@l eeds. ac. uk

Sout hAs i a nF or um

Whi t ee l dHous e , 186Ke nni ngt onPa r kRoa d,L ondon, SE114BT| t e l 02072072100, www. e a uk. or g/ s a f

Resour cesf ormi ni st r y

Cont empl at i on, t hegospel Si n:weneedt ot al k andevangel i sm abouti t !

Thehear t of Chr i s t i ani t yi st hat webec omel i k eJ es us . " Ver year l yi n t hemor ni ngwhi l ei t wass t i l l dar k , J es usgot up, l ef t t hehous eand went of f t oas ol i t ar ypl ac ewher ehepr ay ed. "( Mar k1: 35)

I wasdeepl ymov edbyt hi s pamphl et . ( Don’ t beput of f by t het i t l e.

I t ’ sac t ual l yabout s omet hi ngt hat al l of usex per i enc e. )

What c anwes ayabout t hi s ?J es uswasaper s onof pr ay er !

Hewasa c ont empl at i v e –hewent onhi sown( s ol i t ude)andhewent wher ei t wass i l ent .

Howdi dhepr ay ?

“ What i sy ournor mal r eac t i on t os omeonewhos i nsagai ns t y ou?”as k sKumar Raj agopal an.

Hes har es f r ank l y : “ Of t enmyr eac t i ons i nc l udehur t , anger , des i r ef or anapol ogyands omef or m of r es t i t ut i on. ”

Wec ans ayf r om t heev i denc eof hi smi ni s t r yt hat l i k eot herJ ewi s h r abbi shemedi t at edonSc r i pt ur e: wek nowt hat heans wer edSat an f r om t heWor dof Godwhenhewasbei ngt es t edi nt hedes er t .

Thi si s ac ont empl at i v epr ac t i c e.

Wek nowt hat hedi dn’ t j us t of f erupa s hoppi ngl i s t of i nt er c es s i onsbec aus ehet ol dust hat hes pent t i me l i s t eni ngt oGod: " I t el l y out het r ut h, t heSonc andonot hi ngby hi ms el f ; hec andoonl ywhat hes eeshi sFat herdoi ng. "( J ohn5: 19) Thi sl i f eof pr ay ers awhi m bei ngf i l l edwi t ht heHol ySpi r i t .

Af t erhi s40 day si nt hewi l der nes sLuk et el l sust hat : " J es usr et ur nedt oGal i l eei n t hepowerof t heSpi r i t . "( Luk e4: 14) I f wewant t obel i k eJ es us , andbef i l l edwi t ht hepowerof t heSpi r i t wet ooneedt obec ont empl at i v epeopl e.

I nt er es t i ngl yi nourc ul t ur e t her ei sas pi r i t ual r ev ol ut i ongoi ngonout s i det hec hur c hwher emany peopl ear ebec omi ngi nt er es t edi ns i l enc e, s t i l l nes sandc ont empl at i v e ormi ndf ul pr ac t i c es .

Thi si sbei ngs eeni nps y c hol ogyi nf l uenc edby Buddhi s t mi ndf ul pr ac t i c esandmuc hwi deri nc ul t ur e.

Thi sgi v esusanoppor t uni t yt oput Chr i s t i anc ont empl at i v e/ mi ndf ul pr ac t i c esont hemap, andi nt hemar k et pl ac eof ourc ul t ur e.

Wec an engagei nc ont empl at i v eev angel i s m bec aus emanypeopl ear e as k i ng‘ what ar ey ours pi r i t ual pr ac t i c es ?’

Thi si ses pec i al l yt r uei f y ou hav eHi nduorBuddhi s t nei ghbour swhomayhav et hei rownmedi t at i v et r adi t i ons .

But hegoesont ot el l howr ec ent l yGodhasc hal l engedhi s ‘ nor mal ’ r es pons e.

I t beganwhens omeonehur t hi m badl y andhef oundt hat hi sr es pons ewasf ul l of s el f r i ght eous nes s andc ondemnat i on.

TheHol ySpi r i t t aught hi ms omenew per s pec t i v es .

Fi r s t her eal i s edt hat s i naf f ec t sGod-f armor e t hani t af f ec t edhi m.

Thi spr of oundt r ut hl edhi mt obe c onc er nedf orGod’ spai nandGod’ sgl or y , andnot j us t hi s ownhur t .

Thenher eal i s edt hat hes houl dbec onc er nedf or t hos ewhohadhur t hi m andt r ul ypr ayf ort hem.

Fi nal l yhe l ear nedt ol eav ei t al l i nGod’ shands , ev eni f t heot herper s on di dnot r es pond.

Al l t hi sc oul donl yhappent hr ought hewor kof t heHol ySpi r i t .

I t wasv er ypai nf ul at t i mes , but al s obr ought gr eat l i ber at i on andj oy .

I f wear et oengagei nc ont empl at i v eev angel i s mt henweneedt obe peopl ewhoc ont empl at e.

Oneof t her eas onsI hav ewr i t t enABookof Spar k s : ASt udyi nChr i s t i anMi ndf ul l nes si st oenabl eChr i s t i anst o bec omepeopl eof c ont empl at i on, but al s ot ohel pt hem engagewi t h c ont empl at i v eev angel i s m.

Thebooki t s el f c anbegi v ent ot hos ewho ar ei nt er es t edi nc ont empl at i v e/ mi ndf ul pr ac t i c es .

Thi spamphl et mov esandc hal l engesbec aus ei t r i ngss o t r uet oex per i enc e.

Kumars har eshi sf eel i ngsv er yopenl y andc hal l engedmet os eekas i mi l ars ens i t i v i t yandt r ans par enc y .

Thebookc anal s obeus edt ohel pmov epeopl e i nt os pi r i t ual t r ans f or mat i onandps y c hol ogi c al heal i ng.

Ther ear emanydepr es s ed, anx i ousand f ear f ul peopl ewhoc oul dbes et f r eebyl ear ni ng howRomans12: 2c anbeput i nt opr ac t i c e: " Do not c onf or m anyl ongert ot hepat t er nof t hi swor l d, but bet r ans f or medbyt her enewi ngof y ourmi nd. " Byex pl or i ngJ es us ’ t eac hi ngonwat c hf ul nes si n Mar k ’ sgos pel ourf r i ends , f ami l yandnei ghbour s c anbegi nt oex per i enc et hei nt er i orf r eedom t hey ar er eal l yl ook i ngf or .

Byl ear ni nghowt o‘ t ak e c apt i v eev er yt hought andmak ei t obedi ent t oChr i s t ’ ( 2Cor i nt hi ans10: 5)peopl ear eabl et oc ent r et hei rl i v es , not onf ear , but ont hel ov eof God, whi c haswek nowdr i v esout al l f ear .

Si n:weneedt ot al kabouti t !bySi vakumarRaj agopal an i savai l abl ef r om Amaz oni nKi ndl ef or mat .

ShaunLamber t ABookofSpar ksbyShaunLamber ti savai l abl ef r om Amaz oni n pr i nt edandki ndl ef or mat s.

Robi nThomson

I f y ouar eawar eof r es our c esus ef ul t oSout h As i ansi nt heUK, pl eas ec ont ac t Manoj Rai t hat haon m. r ai t hat ha@eauk. or g