Be fruitful with Jesus in your everyday
God invites you to join his glorious work
in every place, every encounter, every day
Frontline fruitfulness: Josh, refugee advocate
God works through his people wherever they are. Here’s how one Christian is joining in God’s redemptive work by listening to migrants’ stories, building bridges between asylum seekers and host communities, creating reflective spaces, and conducting orchestral performances.
When Josh Asokan was away with a friend in the Lake District, a seemingly chance encounter led to him discovering his God-given calling. Having bought a meal deal and found a scenic spot, he got chatting to some people he’d been introduced to earlier. They were Iranian, and had fled their homes because of their Christian faith. Hearing their stories sparked a desire to work with marginalised refugees. Josh then trained as a refugee lawyer and represented unaccompanied asylumseeking children in their asylum claims and tribunal proceedings. This experience, coupled with Josh’s background as a professional musician, led to the genesis of Odyssey Ensemble (odysseyensemble.co.uk), a professional
‘We create reflective spaces for people to consider their commonalities with migrants and refugees.’
orchestra dedicated to amplifying the real-life stories of refugees, inspiring empathy and respect for their inherent human dignity and value.
‘As relational beings created in the image of God, every person wants to be known and loved – and the foundation of that is being seen and heard. To date, I’ve spent over 1,000 hours in direct contact with asylum seekers. By listening to their often traumatic stories, empowering them to share their experiences through poetry, music, silent films, and other art forms, and entrusting them with creative agency, I recognise and celebrate their inherent value and dignity.
‘The discussion around refugee policy is polarised and heated; refugees are reduced to numerical problems, with xenophobic jibes commonplace and a them-and-us mentality becoming an increasingly prevalent sentiment. Through Odyssey Ensemble performances, we seek to humanise the discussion and create safe, reflective spaces for audience members to consider the common humanity they share with the refugees on stage.
‘In today’s culture, it’s rare to have an hour without distractions – with no social media, no screens, and no notifications. Set against worldclass orchestral performances, the refugees’ storytelling becomes an immersive experience, all with the aim of fostering empathy, harmony, and respect amongst host communities. Because ultimately, this is the foundation for compassionate policies. We also invest in these host communities by providing training for young musicians and giving them access to world-class artists.
‘In the coming months, we hope to perform for key policymakers in parliament and other industry stakeholders to build connections and inform public policy on forced migration.’
Imagine a world where every Christian was equipped to join God’s redemptive work in their day-to-day. Your support helps Christians like Josh live out kingdom values wherever they are, in all of life.
6Ms in action
Here are six ways Josh bears Christlike fruit through his work.
MODELS GODLY CHARACTER
Josh shows kindness and gentleness as he works with people who’ve fled a whole range of traumatic situations.
MAKES GOOD WORK
As he selects musicians, runs rehearsals, and conducts performances, Josh strives to reflect the beautiful creativity and sacrificial leadership of Jesus.
MINISTERS GRACE AND LOVE
By attentively listening to asylum seekers’ traumatic stories, Josh reflects God’s heart for the oppressed.
MOULDS CULTURE
Josh challenges dehumanising rhetoric around asylum seekers, creating spaces for people to change their attitudes and recognise their shared humanity.
MOUTHPIECE FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Through his work, Josh advocates for the inherent worth and dignity of people who are often treated with suspicion.
MESSENGER OF THE GOSPEL
When professional contacts ask Josh about his unexpected career decisions, he explains how his faith is the foundation of his work.
How LICC made a difference in my life
We asked Andrew Buchanan, Vice President Research & Development at a new biotech, how our Fruitfulness on the Frontline resource shaped his daily discipleship. Here’s what he said...
‘A few years ago, my mental health deteriorated rapidly, precipitated by the challenges of large-scale corporate reorganisation and difficult management dynamics.
‘But reading Fruitfulness on the Frontline during my sick leave, I gained a new perspective on work – it was a way in which I could join in God’s bigger mission. The 6Ms of fruitfulness were a profound part of my healing journey. As I returned to work, I did so with a framework that helped me navigate the metrics-driven environment with a kingdom perspective, seeing each action and interaction as an opportunity to bring Jesus into my workplace.
‘In particular, I was committed to moulding the numbers-driven culture to be more person-centred – whether that be writing cards to celebrate departing colleagues, taking a few minutes to chat at the coffee machine, or proactively seeking to mentor and support early-career scientists.
In doing so, I shared God’s kind, compassionate character with those around me.
‘The 6Ms had such a transformative impact on my working life. So, I’ve pursued ways to share this framework with my local church community. When running a three-part course last year, it was amazing to see a palliative care nurse, a builder, teachers, stayat-home parents, and data scientists think about how they could minister grace and love, make good work, and be mouthpieces for truth and justice on their frontlines. I’m running another course this term and am excited to see God open the attendees’ eyes to the daily opportunities they have to join in his work.
‘I’m keen to connect fellow believers on the biomedical campus and share these learnings with them, too. I’ll also be joining LICC’s Executive Toolbox course to deepen my own understanding of how I can grow as a leader and disciple in my new workplace.’
Your support helps Christians like Andrew join in God’s work, wherever they are.
Over the last decade, our Fruitfulness on the Frontline resource has inspired and equipped over 150,000 Christians to live out their faith with confidence and purpose, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel in practical ways – wherever they are, whatever they do.
But the world has changed dramatically. To ensure this flagship resource is relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing disciples of Jesus today, we’re creating a new suite of Fruitfulness on the Frontline resources, building on insights and impact since it was first launched. There’ll be a new small group course, Sunday service materials, youth and children’s group materials, a devotional journey, a revised version of the accompanying book and audiobook, and a new podcast.
Based on the transformative 6Ms of fruitfulness, this new project will empower Christians for everyday mission in a rapidly changing world.
A generous donor is matching all gifts up to £55,000 made this month to support the relaunch
Give to the new Fruitfulness on the Frontline today and double your impact.
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