Neighbours Worldwide - issue 1

REACHING OUR MULTI-CULTURAL SOCIETY

NEIGHBOURS WORLDWIDE STORY setting up a charity shop was either impossible or pointless. And all sorts of y husband and I first questions had a vision for setting crowded my up a charity shop and head and made community centre fourteen years me feel very afraid. ago. We had been working with Would the local people buy old people of different faiths in our stuff instead of new? Would we area since 2002, but realised that for our work to develop, we needed find enough volunteers? What if leaders of other faith groups didn’t a neutral place – not a church or like what we were doing? But at someone’s home – to meet people, every step, God has challenged us pray and hold Bible studies. We spent a lotof time praying, planning to pray and trust him to provide.

Our shop opened on 14 April 2014 and discussing ideas and decided and we’re already reaching that a combination of a charity people from all sorts of ethnic shop and a community centre backgrounds. Many of our visitors would meet the need best. come regularly ‘I don’t know what the future holds, but and tell their I know the work is in God’s hands.’ friends to come Esther too! Others stop to chat and tell their stories. Of course, when It’s been a long journey from anyone shows an interest, we there to finally opening the shop.

We found the perfect shop unit, but gladly share what we believe. I don’t know what the future holds, but I the landlord wanted to charge us know the work is in God’s hands. more rent than we could possibly Whatever happens, we will get afford. People responded very negatively to our vision and told us through by faith.

Seeing a vision from God become a reality can take some time…

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things you should know

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Neighbours Worldwide (NW) is a ministry of WEC International.

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 youthwork, 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 prioritise befriending individuals and sharing the good news in the context of these relationships.

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‘You gave me confidence.

You helped me.

There’s a peace here I don’t experience anywhere else.’

STORY Sharing Jesus in Birmingham

‘If you want to get to know your neighbours, just smile and say “hello”. You’ll be surprised who will talk to you.’

Neighbours Worldwide’s partnership with a church in Birmingham has had a life-changing effect, for one young man in particular.

Gareth, NW team member in Birmingham

‘God has called me here from my country. I’m still here and by God’s grace I will finish here.’

Joshua, NW worker

‘We’re just a tool that God uses. We’re really nothing spectacular, but God is alive and is at work here.’

Maartje, NW worker in Wolverhampton

Luke grew up in an inner-city area of Birmingham, with no real background in the Christian faith.

He was a normal teenage boy: good-natured but known to be a bit of a handful. Things began to change for Luke when he and his twin brother wandered into a youth club at a local church, run with the support of Neighbours Worldwide workers. There, the boys experienced the fun and friendships they were looking for, but also something more. When the brothers heard that the church had another weekly youth meeting which looked in more depth at what it meant to follow Jesus, they asked if they could give it a try. Eventually, as they encountered God in this group, Luke and his brother decided to become

Tony Hisgett/flickr.com

Zainab, English student

Roof tops in Birmingham city centre

Luke knew countless people living around him. He was uniquely placed to invite other young people in the area to come along to church. Now aged 21, Luke is planning to train as a youth pastor, committing his life to sharing Jesus with ‘Luke is committing his life to sharing teenagers.

Jesus with teenagers.’

‘My greatest encouragement is Christians and get baptised. But this seeing people come to Christ and is far from the end of the story. grow,’ comments Gareth, a member Luke was so inspired by his of the NW team in Birmingham. It’s new-found faith that he was so exciting to see young Christians desperate to share it with anyone like Luke growing in their faith and who would listen. Having lived his sharing it with their friends. God whole life in the same community, truly is at work in our church.

THE WORLD AT YOUR DOORSTEP

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT ...

NW worker Audrey shares how an English class has made a difference to one woman This class is about so much more than learning a language. We share life together. You’ll find Muslims and Sikhs eating together here, and only the kingdom of God can bring people together like that!

This atmosphere makes a real impact on people. Soraya, an older Indian lady, was quite antagonistic when she joined the class. She had a very negative attitude towards Christians, because she equated Christianity with British society.

I tried to get to know her and to gently challenge her perspective.

Now Soraya is different. She’s warmer towards us and the people around her. She even brings biscuits to class to share around at the tea break! She’s experienced generosity from us and now she wants to show it herself.

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nglish class is a great platform to build friendships with people to the point where they will be open to hearing the good news from us. At the same time, this is a chance to demonstrate good news as well as telling it. We’re helping people with a clear need. A lot of local people are immigrants and some are here because they’re fleeing conflict or persecution. For an indefinite stay in the country, you have to pass an English test, so a class like this is invaluable to people who want to stay here but don’t speak the language.

‘Many of our students are Muslims, so it’s not realistic to expect them to convert, even after some years, unless God does a miracle.

But when they see the goodness of Jesus, something will happen.

We’re here to sow the seed and that seed has God’s life in it.’

Claire Wood Illustration

STORY

Team member Raheem tells us how God is at work through English classes

‘English club is a chance to demonstrate good news as well as telling it.’ Raheem

Get to know the neighbours in four easy steps to people you see in your neighbourhood at school gates, parks, gyms, or in supermarket queues. Why not get involved in English conversation classes?

gifts to mark festivals, seasons and special occasions.

Go carol singing and give away small presents. Organise family-friendly events like a film evening with free food and popcorn, a beach trip or a picnic with games.

with shopping, job searches, debt management, form-filling and phoning council departments. Start a mother and toddler group, an after-school club, a youth group or a coffee morning.

in return. Your neighbours may welcome you into their own homes. Enjoy getting to know their families and finding out more about their culture and beliefs.

THE WORLD AT YOUR DOORSTEP

IN THE

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 break – between one month and two years. l Join us as a full time worker.

For more information, please contact Neighbours Worldwide at the address below.

The Neighbours Worldwide charity shop and community centre is open for business in Birmingham! After nearly ten years of praying and planning, the team finally opened the door earlier this year. The centre serves the community, providing high-quality used goods but also building relationships between the NW workers and local residents, allowing them to hear the good news.

AND FINALLY...

A new building for the Asian Church

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he Asian Church in Wolverhampton is thriving, with well over 100 regular members and highly effective outreach leading to a steady stream of new believers from Asian backgrounds. But this vital work suffered a devastating blow in March when the church’s building was gutted in a fire. The church are now searching for a new home.

‘Please pray we will find a new building,’ asks NW worker Maartje. ‘We’re raising money and believing God will provide for us. Our God is a God who does miracles. The existence of our church proves that.’

STORY I was drinking two litres of vodka and smoking £40 worth of cannabis every night. I also had an eating disorder and my weight had dropped to five stone. At the same time, I was trying to raise two kids on my own. The turning point came when someone told me about a children’s club at the church. To begin with, I was just glad of something for my kids to do, but as I got to know the NW team, I got to know Jesus, too. I started reading the Bible and going to church.

Eventually I became a Christian. Within a year, I had given up the drink and drugs and I was back to a healthy weight. God has literally saved my life.

T 01753 278102 E neighbours@wecinternational.org.uk wecinternational.org.uk/neighbours Neighbours Worldwide is part of the WEC International family Registered Charity nos 237005 and SCO37715