Saf newsletter issue 13 december 2013

South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Allaince Newsletter

Issue 13: December 2013

S outh As i a n F orum of the

Evangelical Alliance

connecting, uniting, representing

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

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

Unhampered giving this Christmas

Reflecting on the work of SAF in 2013 has made me realize how much you have ‘given’ in terms of support and prayers. As ever, we are passionate about building unity and resourcing the Church in mission and I want to personally thank you for making this possible!

Having young children, I often find myself getting caught up in the commercial aspect of Christmas; attending pantomimes, shopping for extended wishlists and eating mountains of rich food. I am certainly not against enjoying the ‘festive spirit’ but on reflection I can see that the significance and wonder of the Christmas story can very easily be sidelined when one slips into the consumerist lifestyle.

This year I deliberately chose to prayerfully reflect on the birth of Jesus and what struck me over and over again is just how much God is a Father who ‘gives’. Of course, in the birth of Jesus we see a God who gives Himself for the sake of humanity so that we might have life.

But fast track to the rest of Jesus’s life and we see that the ‘giving’ character of God is continually present; be it in teaching, healing, discipling or listening to others. Wherever he went, Jesus was swamped by crowds in search of wisdom and healing. And even in the face of fatigue Jesus did not refuse their requests.

From the outset God comes to give. In Luke 2:11 the angel of the Lord says: “Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you.” The angel proclaims that this good news will “cause great joy for all the people” and yet we know for God this is to be the sacrifice of all sacrifices for it will end up at the Cross.

Such is the immensity of God’s giving that He focuses His eternal, limitless self on us. Jesus came into the world for us, lived a life in service of us, and went to his death for the sake of us. It is difficult to comprehend a God who made the heavens and earth and everything in it, giving on such a scale.

It all seems so illogical but then that is the nature of God and His overwhelming generous grace.

With all this resonating, my wife and I have decided not to buy each other presents this year but instead give the money we would have spent on each other to Operation Rudolph, an initiative run by Christians across Watford that will make 500 hampers for families facing a difficult Christmas.

Please don’t be fooled into thinking we are always like this.

This is just the start for us. It is not a lot compared to what Christ gave for us but we hope we are able to grow in living lives that are not for us but for others. That is our prayer this Christmas.

God bless you.

Manoj Raithatha, national co-ordinator of the South Asian Forum This post appears on the Christmas Starts with Christ campaign blog, which the Evangelical Alliance is part of.

Pod Boghal: How I met Jesus Pod (Pardeep) Bhogal is head of communications for UCCF: The Christian Unions. He was brought up in a Sikh household and tells his story of meeting Jesus.

What was your background growing up?

My parents emigrated from India in the early 1970s and this was before I was born. They were practising Sikhs at the time and that’s the religious and faith background I was brought up in. I was born in Nottingham City Hospital in 1975 and both my sister and I attended an all-white school. As such, English became my first language even though we spoke Punjabi at home and went to the gurdwara on a regular basis.

When did you first hear about Jesus?

We had an elderly neighbour called Lilly. She was a Christian and became a very dear friend of the family. This was during a time when racial tension was quite high and so her warmth and friendship was all the more appreciated. Lilly invited me, my mum and my sister to a viewing of Jesus Christ Superstar at the local church. That was my first memory of meeting Jesus and – as an eight-year-old – I was captivated by Jesus and the gospel narrative even though I didn’t understand large parts of it (like why Jesus died at the end of the movie).

So how did you become a Christian? What was it that compelled you to turn to Christ?

This is a sad story. When I was 12 years old my parents went through a very difficult divorce. This was made all the more complex as divorce within our – culturally Indian – family context was unheard of. My mother found herself isolated from the family and local community and this was a very painful time. Mum was eventually befriended by a Christian

SAF profiles its work, partners and resources in the quarterly Newsletter and on our website saf.eauk.org

colleague called Anne. Anne would visit us weekly and pray and read the Bible with my mum. She’d also help my mum do all the practical tasks my dad used to do like pay the electricity bills, manage a budget, etc. My mum eventually became a believer – as did my sister. I – however – felt very angry at God and the world.

It wasn’t until I was 19 years old that a Christian friend of my mine offered to read through a gospel with me and that’s when I met Jesus again.

I had – for many years – been friends with Christians my mum and sister had met through the local church. I was always impressed with how kind they were to our family and how they’d taken care of my mum and sister in light of dad not being around. I considered that perhaps this joy and patience they had in abundance might have been because they were Christian. Whatever it was, I was miserable and I wanted it too. So, I agreed to read John’s gospel with a friend.

I was struck by Jesus’s kindness, generosity and warmth to outsiders. We talked about the question that had bothered me since I was eight – why did Jesus die? The journey towards becoming a Christian took a long time. But, in the end, I got my answers and could offer no more resistance. I was 24 when I became a Christian.

How did your family react to the news?

My dad once said to me: “Son – if you want to be religious, what’s wrong with your own religion [Sikhism]?” I replied: “It’s not what I WANT to be true, but what I’m persuaded IS true.”

What is life like now?

I work for UCCF – a national organisation that gives students the opportunity to meet Jesus. I have been privileged to lead a number of people to Jesus in this role and have received a theological education second to none because of my association with the charity. I’m reminded every day of God’s kindness to me in pulling me out of the destructive lifestyle I was headed towards because of my anger and the shaky start I’d received growing up. I have seen and experienced for myself how God is truly a Father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow and give thanks that – of all the people that need help in this life – He chose to rescue me.

Follow @podbhogal on Twitter or watch his testimony here: http://bit.ly/Itk0H9

Southampton churches set the bar on fostering When churches in Southampton heard that the city council were facing huge budget cuts, they called a meeting for church and community leaders. Those who came heard about many of the issues facing the city, one of which was a passionate plea from a councillor for more fostering and adoption from faith communities.

Following the meeting, churches committed to 21 days of prayer and reflection on what had been shared by the council.

After this, it was decided that the Church should be proactive in finding 40 new foster placements for children in care. In March, they presented Southampton’s fostering team with 40 keys, each key representing a home they plan to find for vulnerable children. The keys, mounted on a plaque, with the Bible text, “God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6), now hangs on the wall of the council building as a visible reminder of the pledge the churches have made to step up to meet this need.

Last week we heard that in just a few months there have been more than 40 families from churches in Southampton who have started the assessment process to become foster carers.

These are astonishing results and news of this is sending ripples throughout local authorities in the UK. The Home for Good initiative, spearheaded by Care for the Family, CCPAS and the Evangelical Alliance, frequently receive phone calls and emails from local authorities desperate to work with churches in their area! As a church leader, will you step up to this challenge?

A shortage of foster carers and adoptive families is not a problem unique to Southampton. In the UK, 4,600 children are waiting to be adopted and 9,000 new foster placements are urgently needed. The good news is that there are more than 15,000 churches in the UK. Imagine if one family in each church started to foster or chose to adopt, and other families wrapped around them to offer support. The lives of thousands of vulnerable children would be transformed – and the churches would be known for being good news in the community.

What could you do in your area for children who desperately need a home for good?

1) Visit the Home for Good website, to find out about a nationwide initiative to engage the Church with fostering and adoption.

2) Join with churches across the UK by taking part in Adoption Sunday. Whether it’s a 10-minute slot or an entire adoptionthemed service, once you’ve signed up, we’ll provide you with all the ideas and resources you need to make it happen.

3) Speak to other churches in your area and see if they’d be willing to explore further what, together, you could do in your area. Then, contact the Home for Good team who would be delighted to meet with you and talk further about the possibilities.

Krish Kandiah, Evangelical Alliance, executive director: England / churches in mission

South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance

Indian blossoms A dynamic partnership between Prospects and Mukti Mission has led to the opening of a special school.

Mukti Mission has been a Christian refuge for thousands of destitute women and girls since its foundation in 1889.

The word Mukti means salvation, freedom or liberation, and many of the women and girls would certainly have died without the love and support of Mukti.

Instead they have thrived, and many have gone on to train for rewarding careers such as medicine and teaching, making a Christian difference in their nation.

The point of contact with Prospects is the special school at Mukti’s headquarters site in the state of Maharashtra. With a single basic classroom it was woefully inadequate for the girls and young women with learning disabilities. Prospects raised the funds and a custom-built school with multiple, wellequipped classrooms was opened at the beginning of 2013.

Prospects’ CEO Paul Ashton was there for the opening.

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But it’s not just in India that Prospects is making a difference.

Prospects’ aim is to bring the fullness of life that Jesus promised in John 10:10 into the lives of as many people with learning disabilities as possible. At present about 350 people are in supported living services provided by more than 700 Prospects staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Throughout the UK Prospects partners with churches in more than 200 places, supporting them to run discipleship groups.

Many people with learning disabilities have become Christians as a result. Their joyful and infectious faith has enriched the churches they belong to beyond expectations.

Prospects is very much a family-oriented organisation.

By providing specifically Christian support it appeals to families where sons and daughters have been brought up as Christians and want to continue living in a Christian environment when they leave home. Prospects equips churches not only to minister effectively among people with learning disabilities, but to give their families the support and encouragement they need to access and enjoy church life and fellowship.

Tony Phelps-Jones is director of ministry for Prospects and author of the book Making Church Accessible for All, accessible worship material and other resources.

Please visit the Prospects website www.prospects.org.uk and find out how to:

“I couldn’t hide my emotion as the plaque was unveiled,” he said. “Pooja was standing next to me and she was really excited to be taking part. The joy on the faces of the children as they entered their new school for the first time has left me with a memory I will never forget.”

• Support Prospects’ partnership with Mukti Mission

In the summer, Mukti had another Prospects visitor. Helen Guyan teaches at a special needs school in Scotland. She was thrilled at the difference the new school had made to the students.

• Request a speaker or training for your church

“The girls have made huge progress since my first visit two years ago; 10 times more than I would have expected to see.

I was touched by how willing both staff and students were to try new things – so enthusiastic. The girls really valued the experiences.”

Helen had taken toys and equipment to add to the school’s resources. An induction hob made cooking safer so Soni could make and serve tea for everyone. Parachute games helped the children with physical agility and encouraged them to use their voices.

The cookery classes worked both ways. “Nikita was so confident that she taught me how to roll chapattis,” said Helen.

“Nikita also loves dancing to music on the new CD player, and even enjoys The Cumberland Reel!”

Some of the older students now have jobs. “Latika works in the mailing department of a local firm. She’s proud of her work and delighted that she’s graduated from school uniform to wearing her own clothes.”

Helen’s husband Bill sorted out lots of building snags and helped with many practical tasks. Helen and Bill got to know Mukti leaders Lorraine and Anil Francis during their last trip to the UK. Their visit to Mukti was invaluable for the school, but Helen says the blessing is mutual. “Our involvement in Mukti has been great for us. We’ve been so enriched!”

• Enquire about support for a relative with learning disabilities • Browse or buy resource materials • Find your nearest church-based group

Bangladesh fire highlights need for united campaigns for garment workers There has been international outcry since the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh in April, which claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people. Campaigning across the UK has fought to improve the rights of vulnerable garment workers.

And it is working!

The Anglican Alliance, an international organisation working in development, relief and advocacy, are part of a global coalition of churches1 who are urging consumers in the UK to put pressure on their retailers and see conditions for workers in Bangladesh changed. Over 90 companies, including New Look, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety.

A further 20 companies, mostly based in America, have signed a similar agreement. This is excellent progress.

And yet together these cover just 2,100 of the 5,000 garment factories in Bangladesh, and still many workers are left unprotected due to loopholes in the signed agreements. A

SAF profiles its work, partners and resources in the quarterly Newsletter and on our website saf.eauk.org recent fire at a textile factory near Dhaka in Bangladesh, which killed more than ten people, highlights the continued need for this campaign. The Deputy Manager at the Aswad Composite Mills factory, Molla Boadnuzzamah, said that British high street brands Next, Primark, George, Gap, H&M and Morrisons had been using the factory that caught alight after a machine overheated. This particular factory escaped inspection as the signed accords refer only to registered garment factories who have contracts with clothing brands, and not to the textile companies to whom the work is often outsourced.

New centre for Christian engagement with Muslims

Poor conditions for Bangladeshi garment workers are welldocumented: long hours, a lack of sanitation and poorly constructed factories make working in the industry a risky business. Despite a booming clothing market, extremely low wages mean that the people making our clothes struggle to survive. The textile industry accounts for 45 per cent of all industrial employment in Bangladesh but makes up just five per cent of the total national income. In real terms, the average garment worker earns just nine pence per hour – only 14 per cent of a realistic living wage.

Rev Phil Rawlings has been engaging with Muslim communities for more than 20 years in the Manchester area, first as vicar of St Brides, Trafford, and now as diocesan interfaith director in Oldham, and he has been teaching NTC students how to understand and share their faith with their Muslim neighbours. He has long had a dream of equipping a wider range of Christians and churches.

As consumers, Christians in Britain are implicated in this injustice, and yet sometimes feel unable to offer any tangible help. But the Church can respond. Anglican Bishop Paul S Sarker, moderator of the Church of Bangladesh, offers this advice to the Church in the UK:

Now, through the support of generous friends of NTC, financial resources are available to develop the vision.

Since 1 September Rawlings and Swanson have begun the establishment of the Manchester Centre for the Study of Christianity and Islam. The goals of the centre are to work through teaching, learning, equipping, and facilitating encounter and reflection on the relationship between Christians and Muslims, in the following ways:

“Importers and buyers should not stop their garments business in Bangladesh. At present the garment manufacturing sector is the second largest foreign exchange earner in Bangladesh. A large section of the poor people in our population is surviving on this sector.”

As an alternative to boycotts, Bishop Paul suggests heightening advocacy for Bangladesh at home in the UK. Following his work providing practical support to those injured and bereaved in the collapse, the Anglican Alliance, together with the Church of Bangladesh Group, has produced a resource pack to equip Christians to do just this.

The pack calls on Christians to “be a voice for the voiceless” and put pressure on retailers to stop this injustice. The resource is already being used by churches and student societies in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US, and includes a template letter which can be sent to your retailer to ask them to make a change. Real life stories from the garment workers are also included, as well as statistics highlighting the desperate need for justice.

To find out more about the campaign, visit our website at http://anglicanalliance.org/pages/8376 The global coalition of churches in the Church of Bangladesh Group includes: Anglican Alliance, Church of Bangladesh, Church Mission Society, Church of Scotland, Council for World Mission, Diocese of Llandaff (Church in Wales), Methodist Church in Britain, Oxford Mission, US (United Society) 1

Nazarene Theological College (NTC), Manchester, has announced the establishment of the Manchester Centre for the Study of Christianity and Islam. This undertaking is a major milestone in a shared vision that goes back many years.

Over the same time period Dr Dwight Swanson has been encouraging the college to develop its academic programme to prepare students for ministry among Muslims, a concern flowing out of living in Longsight, Manchester, with its approximately 50 per cent Muslim population, and his involvement in the teaching of pastors in the Arab world.

• at the grassroots, to engage people and churches and to raise awareness of the need for Christians to encounter Muslim people and develop an understanding of the Islamic faith, traditions and practices.

• to develop specific classes and programmes that explore ways Christians can encounter and engage with Islam in local and global settings.

• to partner with others to train people engaged in mission.

• to develop research-led practice in relation to Islam and Christianity; providing specialist resources to the global church with academic excellence.

The driving force of this project has been the desire to equip the local Church for mission. Out of this has developed a full MA course in the subject area, details of which will be announced soon, pending approvals for the course. Along the way an expanding network of partnerships have developed— and continue to grow—with churches and theological colleges in Muslim majority parts of the world.

The official launch of the centre will be held on 3 March, 2014, with Dr Philip Lewis, lecturer in peace studies at the University of Bradford and interfaith advisor to the Bishop of Bradford, as the keynote speaker.

South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance

Sari N Chips relaunched as eBook “Must Asians in the West lose their cultural identity?”

This is the question that begins Ram Gidoomal’s Sari ‘N’ Chips. The answer that comes in the following 150 pages is delivered with a mixture of wellresearched statistics, entertaining anecdotes and most importantly, real life experience.

Described as “shrewd and compassionate...full of fascinating insights”, the book, which is now available on Kindle for just £2.50 describes how Ram was caught between an Asian and Western culture on arriving in the UK. Few Asians will have experienced all the trials and tribulations that Ram has, but the vast majority will find many of the author’s experiences familiar.

Add your voice to the biggest evangelical movement in the UK We’re looking for more voices.

We’re looking for more people who want to shape the evangelical movement across the UK, people who want to help us speak to government and make sure that the Evangelical Alliance brings real, lasting change to people and communities.

Join us. We’re better together. eauk.org/join-saf

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Dedicated to all immigrants, refugees and ethnic minorities, wherever they may be, the book which was first published 20 years ago, continues to be hugely relevant as it deals with many issues that Asians face in the UK today. These issues include family practices, religious beliefs, language, food and even personal hygiene.

The aim of the relaunched ebook is twofold: to let Asians know they are not alone in the cultural challenges they face, and to help non-Asians develop relationships with their Asian neighbours.

Published by South Asian Concern, the book ties in with the charity’s aim to equip South Asians to become disciples of Jesus. Director Kevin Wren said: “The launch of Sari ‘N’ Chips in ebook form comes at an exciting time for us.

“South Asian Concern is looking at new and innovative ways to connect with churches and support them in their interaction with south Asians and we believe that this ebook, along with our other resources, is a great tool to aid understanding, compassion, support and connectivity and I highly recommend it.”

Available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sari-NChips-Ram-Gidoomal-ebook/dp/B00FKWJS8I