Neighbours Worldwide - issue 3

REACHING OUR MULTI-CULTURAL SOCIETY ISSUE 3

NEIGHBOURS WORLDWIDE

God is at work in Wolverhampton…

God was also clearly at work in the renovations of the new church.

‘It was a huge process,’ Maartje remembers. ‘The building had to be fter celebrating the opening of its new building, completely gutted, but the whole community pulled together and God Wolverhampton’s Asian provided in really fantastic ways. We Church just held the first baptism had a brand new kitchen donated by service in its new surroundings. a local company, and a paint company Quietly but profoundly, God is gave us loads of paint. God gave us changing the lives of people from people to do drains, electrics, Hindu and Sikh backgrounds. plastering and windows. We ‘God has really blessed us and we want needed a new roof, to be a blessing to our area.’ Maartje prayed, and God ‘We had four ladies baptised,’ says sent someone to the church who was a roofer! So many people came to the NW worker Maartje. ‘One had a opening in July. In the end, we had to history of struggles with drink and ask a few people from the church not drugs. Another travels all the way to come so we’d have from Telford because the services are room for the visitors!’ in her language. A third lady comes from a Sikh background and just Having settled into the new building, turned 70. It’s usually harder to reach an older what’s next for the church? ‘We need to person, but she was soundly converted and get to know our area, her husband has given walk around and his heart to the Lord talk to people. God has really blessed too. The fourth lady us and we want to is in her eighties.

It’s amazing what be a blessing. We’re God is doing with praying for God’s wisdom on how best people so steeped in other religions.’ to do that.’

A

things you should know

1 2

Neighbours Worldwide (NW) is a ministry of WEC UK. The team is committed to seeing Christ known, loved and worshipped by unreached ethnic groups in the UK. Our ministry responds to the specific needs of the communities in which we work. This might mean youth work, ESOL teaching, literature distribution or even a charity shop.

We work both in and alongside local churches, increasing their reach and training them in crosscultural evangelism.

NW prioritises befriending individuals and sharing the good news in the context of these relationships.

3

4 5

‘Seeds are always being sown. We’re just waiting for the miracles – and salvation truly is a miracle.’ Raheem ‘People can be shocked to see a team of people from different nationalities all getting on and working together.’

Audrey

‘God has really blessed us and we want to be a blessing to our area.’ Maartje ‘It’s amazing to meet people from so many different backgrounds, to hear about their lives and the countries they’ve come from.’ Hannah ‘I have a strong relationship with one particular man.

I feel free to share Jesus with him, even though I know I’m challenging his views.’ Woojin

STORY Journeying with muslim seekers Leading Muslims towards Jesus can take time…

Samson is an NW worker in Birmingham, specialising in teaching taekwondo. A number of his students are Muslims, and Samson has spent several years patiently helping them to explore Christianity. Earlier this year, it was time to take the next step in this process.

‘Around Easter, I took three of my taekwondo students to Jordan for about ten days. I chose Jordan because it’s an ideal place to find out more about the origins of Islam. I wanted them to see that the historical foundations of Islam are actually quite shaky. We visited a few sights and had a good time together, but nearly every night we had serious conversations about faith. I was really

Shutterstock.com

‘A local man often brings food into the shop for us.

It’s a wonderful way of expressing friendship.’ Joshua

Take the time to offer genuine friendship to muslim friends

My purpose in taking them to Jordan was to get them closer to Jesus and, at that moment, it looked as though I’d failed! But when we got home from Jordan, one of the three asked me to arrange another trip. This time, they want to go to Korea, to ‘Committing to follow Jesus must improve their taekwondo be quite frightening. But this isn’t skills. I said OK, but they have the end of their story.’ Samson to come to a Bible conference while we’re there. They still encouraged that they were willing agreed! So my students are prepared to talk about these things. to come to a Bible conference but ‘Towards the end of the trip, we they’re not ready to leave Islam decided to climb a mountain. When behind. I guess that’s asking a lot. we got to the summit, we were tired Their faith is so tied in with their and lay down for a nap. When I woke family and their community, the idea up, I saw my students on their knees, of committing to follow Jesus must be with their faces to the ground. They quite frightening. But I know this isn’t were praying towards Mecca. the end of their story.’

THE WORLD AT YOUR DOORSTEP

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT ...

God is at work amongst immigrants in Leicester. NW worker Andy tells us more…

‘Our church’s international community began with a few Iranians who came to Christ. They introduced us to fellow asylumseekers from Venezuela, who then brought others from Iraq, Egypt and parts of South America.

Most of these have now come to faith, and we are focusing on discipling them, aiming that they will then reach their compatriots in Leicester.

‘We’re also involved with an English course, drawing in the spouses of international postgraduate students, as well as asylum seekers. Last year we started an extra module called “English Through the Bible” which opened up really important discussions about Jesus and what it means to follow Him. God used this course to work powerfully in the students’ lives, especially one who was particularly challenged

by John chapter 1.’

F

riendship First is an interactive training course, enabling Christians to approach their muslim friends with confidence, by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to be an effective witness to Jesus Christ. Friendship First has been run across Britain and beyond, transforming the way Christians relate the gospel to their muslim friends and neighbours.

As well as challenging misconceptions about Muslims and offering useful principles for connecting with them, Friendship First raises our expectations of what God can and will do through us. Through testimonies of how God is working through existing projects, the resource encourages us that to reach out to Muslims is not to attempt the impossible. God is at work.

Friendship First is distributed by the Mahabba Network, which exists to enable churches to reach out with love to their muslim neighbours. To find out more, see friendshipfirst.org.

Shutterstock.com

STORY

If you want help to share your faith with a muslim friend, Friendship First could be for you

‘To reach out to Muslims is not to attempt the impossible. God is at work.’

Three tips for sharing the good news with a muslim friend Muslims have come to Christ because someone argued with them.

This might sound obvious, but for a lot of Christians, fear is a big factor when they approach Muslims. It’s important to get past that. Speaking and acting in love makes all the difference.

Aim to win them, not to beat them. Sharing the gospel doesn’t necessarily mean winning arguments. Very few

Muslims know something of God. They know about creation, judgment and moral order, for example. If we talk about these subjects in a way that almost assumes our friends have the same peace, acceptance and forgiveness we have, they may realise they’re missing those things.

THE WORLD AT YOUR DOORSTEP

IN THE Shutterstock.com

How can you become involved? l Invite us to share about Neighbours

Worldwide’s ministry at your church or prayer group. l Equip your church to reach minority ethnic groups in your area by having us lead cultural awareness seminars. l Partner with us in prayer. l Spend time with us on a short placement – between one month and two years. l Join us as a full time worker.

For more information, please email us: neighbours@wec-uk.org

NW worker Eunha is based in a northern town, working alongside a local church to reach out to the muslim community. The church’s community centre is invaluable for building friendships, creating opportunities to share the good news. English lessons, craft classes and a mums and toddlers group all enable the church to welcome their neighbours in the name of Jesus.

AND FINALLY...

Please pray with the NW team:

l For the team running the charity shop in Birmingham.

Give thanks for growing relationships with local people and for opportunities to talk about faith. l For the team in Leicester, as they seek to build bridges with settled muslim communities as well as asylum seekers. l For our book table ministry in a West Midlands town centre. It’s proving difficult to develop relationships beyond initial conversations. l For the Asian Church in Wolverhampton; for wisdom on what activities God would have us start. l Pray for S, a muslim woman befriended by Eunha.

S is open to discussing faith, but people around her are trying to prevent Eunha from sharing the gospel.

STORY ‘I’ve come from Georgia, USA, to spend a six-week placement with Neighbours Worldwide in Birmingham. I have absolutely loved it. It’s been a privilege to see how God is using what the team are doing. And it’s so rewarding to know that the small things I’ve done have allowed the rest of the team to build relationships and share the gospel. I’ve particularly loved the mums and toddlers group! This experience has changed my life in a lot of ways. Birmingham is so multi-cultural and it’s been amazing to meet people from so many different backgrounds, to hear about their lives and the countries they’ve come from. It’s shown me that God is at work amongst all sorts of people groups.’

T 01753 278102 E neighbours@wec-uk.org wec-uk.org Neighbours Worldwide is part of the WEC International family. Registered Charity nos 237005 and SCO37715 ©2016 No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission.