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
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TheSout hAs i a nF or um( SAF ) i sagr oupi ngwi t hi nt heE v a nge l i c a l i ns uppor t i ngt hi swonde r f ul mi ni s t r ybybe c omi ngame mbe rof
Al l i a nc e , s e t upt opr ov i deapl a c ef or S out hAs i a nChr i s t i a nsi nt heUKt o SAF . Onc ey oube c omeame mbe r , y ouwi l l r e c e i v ei de a , t he e nc our a ge , s uppor t a nde qui pe a c hot he r f or mi s s i on, a ndt or e pr e s e nt t he i r Al l i a nc e ’ sbi mont hl yma ga z i ne ,a swe l l a sr e gul a r ne ws l e t t e r sf r om c onc e r nst ogov e r nme nt , me di aa ndt hewi de r Chur c h. Wi t ht hes uppor t of S AFde t a i l i ngour pr ogr e s s . I f y oua r ea l r e a dyame mbe r of t he bot hi ndi v i dua l me mbe r sa ndc hur c hme mbe r st ot a l l i ngmor et ha n7 , 0 0 0 E v a nge l i c a l Al l i a nc ey ouc a na ddS AFt oy our Al l i a nc eme mbe r s hi pa t pe opl e , S AFi ss t e a di l ygr owi ng. Vi s i t www. e a uk. or g/ s a f t oge t i nv ol v e d noe x t r ac os t . I nt hi si ns t a nc epl e a s es e nda ne ma i l t os a f @e a uk. or g
J es ust hr oughAs i aney es-
Sout hAs i anFor um l aunc hesbook l et t o di s pel my t hsabout Chr i s t i ani t y TheSout hAs i anFor um haspr oduc edamy t hbus t i ngbook l et t ohel p c hur c hesr eac hout i nmi s s i on. J es ust hr oughAs i aney esi sabook l et whi c hans wer s15f r equent l y as k edques t i onsbySout hAs i ansabout t heChr i s t i anf ai t h. Tac k l i ngc ommonmi s c onc ept i onst hat Hi ndus , Mus l i ms , Si k hsand Buddhi s t sof t enhav eabout Chr i s t i ani t y , t hebook l et bal anc esan i nf or mat i v eandengagi ngt oneandl ook sat t hek eyi s s uest hat many f ac e. Manoj Rai t hat ha, nat i onal c oor di nat orf orSout hAs i anFor um ( SAF) , s ay s : ' I k nowwhenI f i r s t bec ameaChr i s t i ant hr eey ear sago, my Hi nduf ami l yandf r i endswoul das kme; ' don' t al l r oadsl eadt o heav en?' ' . ' I dec i dedt os wot upont heSc r i pt ur es oI c oul dgi v et hem r eas oned ands eas onedans wer s . I l at erdi s c ov er edt hat myf el l owSout hAs i an bel i ev er shadbeenas k eds i mi l arques t i ons . ' Thebook l et pr ov i desaus ef ul r es our c ef orc hur c hesandi ndi v i dual s t obuyandgi v eout t ononChr i s t i anSout hAs i ansast heybui l don t hei rr el at i ons hi psands peakabout t hei rf ai t h. ' Theai m of t hebook l et i st hat i t c anbeus edf ormi s s i on, ' s ay sManoj . ' I ni t wedi s pel my t hst hat maybear oundandus epeopl e' s t es t i moni esi ni t t oc l ar i f yi s s uesands howbyex ampl e, howpeopl e hav et ac k l edt hem. ' KumarRaj agopal an, r egi onal mi ni s t err es pons i bl ef orr ac i al j us t i c eat t heLondonBapt i s t As s oc i at i on, added: ' Whenev erwet r yt o c ommuni c at eames s aget her ei sal way st hepos s i bi l i t yof mi s c ommuni c at i onbyt hes peak er , mi s under s t andi ngof t hehear er andv er yof t enbot h, whi c hnat ur al l yl eadst omi s c onc ept i ons . Thi s hasoc c ur r edov ermanyc ent ur i esaspeopl ehav es ought t os har e t heChr i s t i anmes s agewi t hSout hAs i ans . Thi sbook l et wi l l enabl e Chr i s t i anst oans wert hes eques t i onsandc anbegi v ent os er i ous enqui r er s . I t i smyear nes t pr ay ert hat t hi sr es our c ewi l l hel pSout h As i ansi nt hei rj our neyt odi s c ov erJ es usast hei rSav i ourandLor d. ' Rec al l i ngt heques t i onsheas k edwhendi s c ov er i nghi sf ai t h, Ram Gi doomal , c hai r manof Sout hAs i anConc er ns ai d: ' CanI beanAs i an andaf ol l owerof J es us ?DoI hav et ogi v eupmyc ul t ur al her i t age? Thes ewer eques t i onsI per s onal l yf ac edwhenc onf r ont edwi t ht he t r ut hsabout J es us . '
Ther es our c ef eat ur est es t i moni esf r om peopl ef r om c ount r i es i nc l udi ngPak i s t an, I ndi a, Keny aandBr i t ai nwhohav ec onv er t ed f r om ot herr el i gi onst oChr i s t i ani t y . TheA5book l et c os t sj us t 50pperc opy( pl usP&P)andi s av ai l abl ef r om SAF' snewwebs i t ewww. eauk. or g/ saf . Adi s c us s i onc our s et oac c ompanyt hebook l et i sc ur r ent l ybei ng dev el oped. Someof t heques t i onsf eat ur edi nt hebook l et i nc l ude: •I sChr i s t i ani t yaWes t er nr el i gi on? •I s n’ t i t bet t ert of ol l owt her el i gi onof myf ami l y ? •Woul dI hav et ol eav emyf ami l yandc ul t ur et of ol l owChr i s t ? •What doChr i s t i ansmeanbyc al l i ngJ es ust heSonof God? av ourmenov erwomen? •DoesGodf •Whyar es omanyChr i s t i ansnot l i k eJ es us ? Thebook l et hasbeenpr oduc edi nc ol l abor at i onwi t ht hef ol l owi ng or gani s at i ons : t heLondonBapt i s t As s oc i at i on, t heRedeemed Chr i s t i anChur c hof God, t heBapt i s t Uni on, HaddonHal l Bapt i s t Chur c h, Li ght hous eI nt er nat i onal Chr i s t i anChur c hi n Sout hampt on, Al l Nat i onsChr i s t i anCent r ei nWol v er hampt on, Sout hAs i anConc er n, t heBr i t i s hPak i s t ani Chr i s t i anAs s oc i at i on, J ewel si nHi sCr own, Gl obal Connec t i ons , t hePhi l oTr us t , New Li f eSuwar t aSangat , NewLi f eMas i hGhar , Sc ot t i s hAs i an Chr i s t i anFel l ows hi p, Nauj av an, HopeandWor l dHar v es t ( UK) .
' Thi sbook l et i sat i mel yc ont r i but i onandr es our c ef orc hur c hes , i ndi v i dual sandal l t hos es eek i ngt ohel pt hei rAs i anf r i endsandnei ghbour sunder s t andwhoJ es usi sandwhat i t r eal l ymeanst o Formor ei nf or mat i on, v i s i t www. eauk . or g/ s aforemai l f ol l owandbec omehi sdi s c i pl e. ' s af @eauk . or g
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
Cal l i ngf oranendt oPak i s t an’ s ant i Chr i s t i anv i ol enc e
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Bur k i naFas os c hool c hi l dr en
Handi ngi npet i t i onsat 10Downi ngSt r eet
Pet i t i onsdemandi ngf orpr ot ec t i onf orChr i s t i ansi nPak i s t an wer ehandedi nat London’ s10Downi ngSt r eet onSat ur day , 2J ul y , f ol l owi ngapr ot es t mar c hac r os sLondonandapr ay er s er v i c ehel dout s i det hePak i s t anHi ghCommi s s i on. Member sof di f f er ent Chr i s t i anor gani s at i onswer ei nv ol v edi n t hemar c hi nc l udi ngChr i s t i anSol i dar i t yWor l dwi deandChr i s t i an Conc er naswel l asSi k handMus l i m gr oups . Thepet i t i onsbear i ngt henamesof mor et han6, 000peopl e wer epr es ent edat bot ht hePak i s t anHi ghCommi s s i onand Number10byani nt er c hur c hdel egat i on. Amongt hos epr es ent i ngt hec al l st opr ot ec t Pak i s t an’ s Chr i s t i answer eWi l s onChowdhr y , c hai r manof t heBr i t i s h Pak i s t ani Chr i s t i anAs s oc i at i on, whoor gani s edt heday ’ s ev ent s , andNev i l l eKy r k eSmi t h, UKdi r ec t orof Ai dt ot he Chur c hi nNeed, t heCat hol i cc har i t yf orper s ec ut edandot her s uf f er i ngChr i s t i ans . Speak i ngout s i de10Downi ngSt r eet , MrKy r k eSmi t h, whos e c har i t yf oc us edont hepl i ght of Chr i s t i ansi nPak i s t ani ni t s2010 c ampai gns , s ai d: ' Wear eat onewi t ht hos ewhoar eper s ec ut ed i nPak i s t anandal l t hos ewhos uf f eri nc onnec t i onwi t ht heBl as phemyLaws . Pl eas ehel pust oc hanget hes ebl as phemous Bl as phemyLaws–t heyl eadt ok i l l i ngs . ' Ov ert hel as t dec adeat l eas t 50Chr i s t i anshav ebeenk i l l edby i ndi v i dual st ak i ngt hel awi nt ot hei rownhandsaf t ert heyhav e beenf al s el yac c us edof bl as phemy–andt hel awi t s el f has beens eenasenc our agi ngat t ac k s . Codes295Band295Cof t hebl as phemyl awsi mpos es ev er e penal t i esf orof f enc esagai ns t I s l am. Any onedes ec r at i ngt he Qur ’ anc oul df ac eas ent enc eof l i f ei mpr i s onment andi ns ul t s agai ns t t heMus l i m pr ophet Mohammedar epuni s habl eby ex ec ut i on. Tr i but est o' f eder al mi nor i t i es ' mi ni s t erShahbazBhat t i wer eal s o pai dont heday . Hewask i l l edaf t erc r i t i c i s i ngt hec ont r ov er s i al l egi s l at i onandc al l i ngf orAs i aNor eenBi bi , amot herof f i v ewho wass ent enc edt odeat hbyhangi ngf orbl as phemy , t obe r el eas ed. RevDrMi c hael Naz i r Al i , f or merAngl i c anBi s hopof Roc hes t er , s ai d: ' TheBl as phemyLawsar ebei ngus edagai ns t Chr i s t i ans andpeopl el i k et heAhmahdi s[ anI s l ami cr el i gi ousgr oup] . The Bl as phemyLawsar ebadl aws . ' J ohnNewt on, Ai dt ot heChur c hi nNeed
AsI s t oodont hedr ybar r endus t ygr oundt hat s ur r oundedt he s mal l muddwel l i ngsof t hev i l l ager s , i t wasv er yhar dt oi magi ne t hat t hi st er r ai nc oul dpos s i bl ys uppor t anypl ant l i f ewhat s oev er , l et al onec r opsenought of eedt hef ami l i esof t hev i l l age. I began t ounder s t andwhyt hel andl oc k edbl i s t er i ngl yhot l andof Bur k i na Fas oi st het hi r dpoor es t c ount r yi nt hewor l dandwhy80% of peopl es ur v i v eononemeal aday . Oneof t hedeac onsof t heonl yl oc al c hur c hf orav i l l ageof 5, 000 peopl ec ameout t omeet me; at ower i ngmanwi t hhugehands andal ar ges mi l et omat c h. I nt hemi ds t of s uc hpov er t y , I want ed t oof f eri r r i gat i on, mac hi ner y , mi c r of i nanc epr oj ec t s , ahos pi t al , s oI as k edhi m -howc anwebes t s uppor t y ourv i l l age? “ WeneedBi bl es , ”heans wer ed. I wass hoc k ed. Coul dt heBi bl e r eal l yt r ans f or mt hi sbar el ys ubs i s t ent s oc i et y ?Thes mi l egot ev en bi ggerasheex pl ai nedhowgi v i ngaBi bl et oaBur k i naChr i s t i an whoc an’ t af f or doneget si mmedi at el yt ur nedi nt owor k sof c ompas s i onandk i ndnes s . Ther es t of myt i mei nBur k i naI s awt hi si npr ac t i c e. Ac hur c ht hat c oul dnot af f or del ec t r i c i t yf ort hei rbui l di ngwasof f er i ngl i t er ac y t r ai ni ngt ol oc al womenandy ounggi r l s . Apas t orwhodec i dedt o put onaBi bl ec l ubhos t ed300c hi l dr enf r om mi l esar ound. I nBur k i nat her ei sac l earl i nkbet weent hewor dof Godandt he peopl eof God, bet weens pi r i t ual c onv er s i onsands oc i al t r ans f or mat i on. Wher et hepeopl ewal kt hek ni f eedgebet ween l i f eanddeat honadai l ybas i s , t her ei sapas s i onf ort hewayof t hec r os s . TheBur k i napeopl e, nos t r anger st ophy s i c al hunger , al s or ec ogni s et hehungerf orSc r i pt ur e. I am pas s i onat eabout gi v i ngt heBur k i naChr i s t i anst heonet hi ng t heyar eas k i ngf or : Bi bl esi nt hei rownl anguage. Youc anj oi nme i nt hi sbyhel pi ngt or ai s et henec es s ar yf unds–s ee www. bi bl ef r es h. c om/ t r ans l at e. Fr om what I s awi nBur k i nai t i st hes pi r i t br eat hedwor dof God t hat i st het r ans f or mat i onengi ne. Ast heChur c har oundt hewor l d r edi s c ov er st hedept h, beaut y , c hal l engeandgl or yof t hes c r i pt ur es wear er ec onnec t edwi t ht heGodwhoaut hor edi t , t heGodwho c r eat edt hewor l dandt heGodwhoc al l sust os hi nef orHi m. Kr i s hKandi ah, Ex ec ut i v eDi r ec t orEngl and/ Chur c hesi nMi s s i on, Ev angel i c al Al l i anc e Li t er ac yc l as s
Sout hAs i a nF or umoft heE v a nge l i c a l Al l i a nc e Chr i s t i anSol i dar i t yWor l dwi de( CSW) Kaml es hwasj us t s ev en whens hewaspus hedi nt o api l eof bur ni ngr ubbi s hwhi l e wal k i ngwi t hhermot her . Thi s washerpuni s hment f orwal k i ng al ongapat hr es er v edf or' hi gh' c as t epeopl e. I r oni c al l y , Kaml es hc omesf r om t hes ame c ommuni t yast hec hi ef mi ni s t er of hers t at e, May awat i . Muc hc as t ebas edv i ol enc e goesunr ec or ded, but i n 2008al one, 33, 000c r i mes agai ns t Dal i t sappear edi nt he of f i c i al s t at i s t i c s . I nmos t c as es , per pet r at or ses c apej us t i c e, or c as ess i mpl ydr agonf ormany y ear s . Kaml es h' sc as e c ont i nues . Mat hur aDi s t r i c t , Ut t arPr ades h
Dav i dGr i f f i t hs , CSW Sout hAs i aTeam Leader
Nepal Phot o: Mar c usPer k i nsf orCSW
Fi ndoutmor eabout CSW’ swor ki nSout hAs i anc ount r i esat www. csw. or g. uk
Phot o: CSW
Asanemer gi ngs uper powerwhi c hi shomet oonei ns i xof t he wor l d’ spopul at i on, wi t hmor et han1, 600l anguages , t hef our t h l ar ges t numberof bi l l i onai r esi nt hewor l d, as pac er es ear c h pr ogr amme, at hi r dof t hewor l d’ spoor , and43perc ent of i t s c hi l dr enunder nour i s hed, I ndi adoesnot l endi t s el f t o gener al i s at i ons . I t i sequal l ydi f f i c ul t t omak egener al i s at i onsabout t hemas s i v e s oc i al i s s uest hat c onf r ont I ndi a.Chi ef amongt hem i st hei s s ueof c as t edi s c r i mi nat i on. Thepl i ght of manyof I ndi a’ s167mi l l i on Dal i t s , t hegr oupat t hebot t om of t hec as t ehi er ar c hyonc ek nown as‘ unt ouc habl es ‘ , hasc r ept ont ot hei nt er nat i onal agendadur i ng t hepas t dec ade, but i t r emai nst ant al i s i ngl ydi f f i c ul t t os ummar i s e i ns oundbi t es .Af t eral l , s omeof t hemos t power f ul peopl ei n pol i t i c sandt hej udi c i ar yi nI ndi aar eDal i t s , whi l eot herDal i t sar e c ompel l edt os uf f erappal l i ngl abourex pl oi t at i onorgr i ev ous v i ol enc ef ort r ans gr es s i ngc as t er ul es .I st hepr ac t i c eof unt ouc habi l i t ydeadoral i v ei nmoder nI ndi a? Bei ngoneof t her oot sof s oc i al ex c l us i oni nI ndi a, c as t e di s c r i mi nat i oni sof c ons i der abl ei mpor t anc et oCSW, bei ng i nt r i c at el yc onnec t edwi t hourpr i nc i pal wor kf orr el i gi ousf r eedom. Anewphot ogr aphyex hi bi t i onbyMar c usPer k i nsf orCSW, ent i t l edBei ngUnt ouc habl e, hasat t empt edt opor t r ayt heDal i t c aus enot bys eek i nganel us i v e' es s enc e' of Dal i t s uf f er i ng–an i mpos s i bl et as k , whenonei n30of t hewor l d’ spopul at i oni san I ndi anDal i t –but byopeni ngs omewi ndowsi nt ot hel i v esof af ew Dal i t c ommuni t i es , eac hof whos es t or i esi ss y mbol i cof s omet hi ng bi gger . Bei ngUnt ouc habl ei sadi gni f i edbut power f ul r emi nderof t he manydi f f er ent f ac esof unt ouc habi l i t yi nmoder nI ndi a. Someof i t i shar r owi ng, s omebanal : f r om t hey ounggi r l pus hedi nt obur ni ng as hesbec aus es hewal k edonapat hr es er v edf or' hi gh' c as t es , t o i ns er t phot oc r edi t s
t hewomanwhoc l eansex c r ement f r om adr yl at r i nebec aus ei t i s herc as t ej ob; f r om t hegi r l s ol di nt ot empl epr os t i t ut i ont ot he des t i t ut emas s eswhomaynev erhav eanyac c es st oeduc at i on. Al l ar eDal i t s , bear i ngananc i ent bur denof di s c r i mi nat i onand pr ej udi c e.But al l ar epeopl ewi t hdi gni t y , andt het i t l eof t he ex hi bi t i oni sani r ony , f ort heyar enot unt ouc habl ebut beaut i f ul . Forf ourweek si nJ uneandJ ul y , CSW’ sBei ngUnt ouc habl ewas ondi s pl ayat St Paul ’ sCat hedr al , as pec i al c aus ef orpr ay erand c ont empl at i oni nt henor mal l yempt ys pac esf l ank i ngt henav e neart hemai nal t ar .I t smes s agewasc l ear : bei ngunt ouc habl e hasnopl ac ei nourwor l d.
Chr i st i anSol i dar i t yWor l dwi dei sanor gani s at i onwor k i ngf or r el i gi ousf r eedom t hr oughadv oc ac yf orhumanr i ght s , i nt he pur s ui t of j us t i c e. Wor k i ngi npar t ner s hi pwi t hl oc al or gani s at i ons andi ndi v i dual si nar ound25c ount r i eswor l dwi de, CSW c onduc t s r es ear c h, adv oc ac y , publ i cc ampai gnsandc apac i t y bui l di ngwor k . I ns omear eas , CSW al s or ai s est hepr of i l eof br oaderhuman r i ght sandj us t i c ei s s uesbey ondf r eedom of r el i gi on.
I ndi a
Be c omeame mbe r-www. e a uk. or g/ s a f
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TheUKmedi ahar dl yev erment i onsNepal .Yet , t hi sHi mal ay an k i ngdom, or i gi nal l yt hewor l d’ sonl yof f i c i al l yHi ndus t at e, hasgone t hr oughhugec hangesi nt hel as t dec ade, whi c har eonl ynow begi nni ngt or eac hac l i max . Thebac k gr oundi st he10y earc i v i l warbet weent hear myand Maoi s t r ev ol ut i onar i es , i nwhi c h13, 000di edandt hous ands di s appear edorwer et or t ur ed–bybot hs i des .At y r anni c al k i ng c l os edpar l i ament andabandoneddemoc r ac y . Apeopl e’ supr i s i ng l edt oapeac eagr eement bet weent hes ev enpol i t i c al par t i esand t heMaoi s t s , wi t hbot har mi esr et r eat i ngt oc ant onment sandt he dec l ar at i onof as ec ul arr epubl i c . Si nc e2006, Nepal hasex per i enc edas t ut t er i ngpeac epr oc es s , mar k edwi t hf r equent f r eez esandbr i nk mans hi p.Theel ec t i onsof 2008pr oduc edaCons t i t uent As s embl y , wi t ht heMaoi s t st he l ar ges t par t yat 38perc ent , but i t hasbeeni nc apabl eof pr oduc i ng ef f ec t i v egov er nment andmeet i ngt het wobi gges t c hal l enges c onf r ont i ngi t : t hedr af t i ngof anewc ons t i t ut i onandt hei nt egr at i on of t het woar mi es . Ak eyi s s uef ort henewc ons t i t ut i oni showi t deal swi t hr el i gi ous f r eedom.Nepal i st r ans i t i oni ngf r om aHi ndumonar c hyt oa s ec ul arr epubl i c , andt hat ent ai l saf undament al r et hi nk i ngof t he pl ac eof r el i gi oni npol i t i c sands oc i et y .So, i f t het r ans i t i oni st obe s uc c es s f ul , t hec ons t i t ut i onneedst oget t hi sr i ght . Howev er , l i k ei nI ndi aandSr i Lank a, t her ei ss t r ongr es i s t anc e f r om s omei nNepal t oc onv er s i ons , es pec i al l yev angel i s m. Nepal hass eenas har pr i s ei nt henumberof Chr i s t i ans , f r om ar ound 30, 000i n1990, at at i mewhent heyhadbeenf i er c el yper s ec ut ed, t oar oundami l l i onnow, manyof t hem wi t ht es t i moni esof heal i ng. Pr opos al sf ort henewc ons t i t ut i onandf oranewpenal c odes eek t of or bi dorr es t r i c t anyper s onf r om c onv er t i nganot her , bor r owi ng l anguagef r om ant i c onv er s i onl awsi nf or c ei nf i v es t at esi nI ndi a. Thi si snot onl yi nc ons i s t ent wi t hUNhumanr i ght st r eat i es , i n c ont r av ent i onof t hegui del i nesf ort henewc ons t i t ut i on, but i t i s al s oar ec i pef ors t r engt heni ngi nt ol er anc eandj us t i f y i ngv i ol enc e agai ns t Chr i s t i ans . Fors ev eny ear s , CSW hasbeenwor k i ngwi t ht heNat i onal Counc i l of Chur c hesof Nepal ( NCCN)andt heI nt er Rel i gi ous Counc i l ( I RC)t opr omot epeac e, j us t i c eandhumanr i ght s , r ec ent l ywor k i ngs pec i f i c al l yt opr omot et hepr ot ec t i onof r el i gi ous f r eedom i nt henewc ons t i t ut i on. Theor i gi nal deadl i nef ort he c ons t i t ut i onwas28May2010, but i t hasbeenex t endedt wi c e, nowt o28Augus t 2011. CSW haspr oduc eddet ai l edbr i ef i ngs whi c hhav ebeenus edf orl obby i ngwi t hi nNepal , di s t r i but edt ot he Br i t i s hgov er nment , Eur opeanUni on, USgov er nment anddel egat i onsat t heUNHumanRi ght sCounc i l , andus edbys ev er al of t hes e t oenc our aget heCons t i t uent As s embl yt opr ot ec t r el i gi ousf r eedom. CSW wi l l c ont i nuet hi swor k , andv er ymuc hwel c omesy ourpr ay er s ands uppor t . Mar t i nDor e, CSW Sout hAs i aTeam
Sout hAs i a nF or um
Whi t e f i e 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 Pl easesendyourf eedbackont hi snewsl et t ert oManoj atm. r ai t hat ha@eauk. or g
Event s TheRi ght Way
Annual Conf er enc e-5Nov ember2011 TheRi ght Wayi swor k i ngundert heaus pi c esof l oc al c har i t i esal ong wi t hv ol unt eer sf r om di f f er ent l oc al c hur c hes .I t i sav er yuni que ef f or t bec aus ei t i sl edbyMus l i m Bac k gr oundBel i ev er s( MBBs )wi t h av i ewt opl ant i ngi ndi genous' Chur c hes / Fel l ows hi ps ' f orMBBsof Pak i s t ani bac k gr oundi nBuc k i nghams hi r e. Dur i ngt hel as t f i v edec adesi nt heUK, t her ehav ebeenv er yf ew c hur c hespl ant edwher ePak i s t ani Mus l i m Bac k gr oundBel i ev er s ( PMBBs )f or mt hemaj or i t yandwher et heyc anf i ndaf el l ows hi p s ens i t i v et ot hei rPak i s t ani c ul t ur e? Webel i ev et het i mehasc omef orGod’ speopl et o' s eet he mul t i t udes ' andbemov edwi t hgr eat erc ompas s i onf ort he900, 000 pl usPak i s t ani Mus l i msr es i di ngi nt heU. K. Ac c or di ngt ot he Oper at i onWor l d( 2001) , ' t hel oc al c hur c heshav edoner el at i v el y v er yl i t t l et or eac hout t ot hePak i s t ani c ommuni t yamongus ' . Ourv i s i oni st os t ar t ' Chur c hes / Fel l ows hi ps ' wher ePak i s t ani MBBs c anex per i enc ef ami l yandc ommuni t yof Pak i s t ani MBBswhohav e f oundf ai t hi nJ es usChr i s t ; par t i c i pat ei nwor s hi pwhi c hi ss oc i al l y andc ul t ur al l ys ens i t i v et oPak i s t ani MBBsands eek er s ; s pr eadt he t r ans f or mi ngl ov eof Chr i s t t ot hei rf ami l i es , r el at i v esandc ommuni t y i nt heUKwhi c hwi l l c r eat ear i ppl eef f ec t i nt hei rnat i v ec ount r yas wel l . Ourf or t hc omi ngannual c onf er enc ei spar t of t hi sv i s i onaswel l as wher ewebr i ngPak i s t ani MBBsandl oc al Chr i s t i anl eader st oget her t odi s c us sandf i ndout t hef ac t or shi nder i ngc hur c hpl ant i ngamong Pak i s t ani Mus l i msi nt heUK.Ther es pons et ot hec hur c hpl ant i ng 2010c onf er enc ewass oenc our agi ngandwear edel i ght edt oi nv i t e y out ot hes ec ondc onf er enc eon5November2011f r om 9. 30am, wher ewewi l l ex pl or et hemul t i t udeof c ul t ur al , s oc i al , pol i t i c al and r el i gi ousf ac t or swhi c hhav ehi nder edt hewor kt odat e, andhear howGodwi l l gui deust obui l dHi sc hur c h. Wear ehonour edt ohav e Bi s hopMi c hael Naz i r Al i asourmai ns peak er . Thepr ogr ammewi l l i nc l ude: •Soc i al , c ul t ur al , r el i gi ousandpol i t i c al bar r i er st oPak i s t ani sj oi ni ng ourl oc al c hur c hesi nt heUK •Ther eal i t i esof per s ec ut i onandf earof os t r ac i s mi nt heUK •Fi nanc esandt hel ac kof j obswhi c haf f ec t PMBBst os t ar t c hur c hesi nt heUK •Theol ogi c al t r ut hshi nder i ng/ c ont r i but i ngt opl ant i ng homogeneousc hur c hes / f el l ows hi psof PMBBsi nt heUK •Pak i s t ani Mus l i mbac k gr oundbel i ev er s( PMBBs )t el l i ngt hei r s t or i esandc hur c hex per i enc esi nt heUK Tos i gnuppl eas ev i s i t : www. t her i ght way . or g. uk Formor ei nf or mat i onc ont ac t : Amj adMahand: 07803503202 Emai l : Amj adMahand@aol . c om
J ewel si nHi sCr own&SAF As i anMi s s i onPar t ner s hi pDay26Nov ember2011
Agr eat oppor t uni t yt obui l dpar t ner s hi psf orr eac hi ngSout hAs i ans . Al l Nat i onsChr i s t i anCent r e, Wol v er hampt on Key not es peak er : St ev eUppal ( Seni orl eaderat Al l Nat i onsChr i s t i anCent r e, Wol v er hampt on) Comeandmeet agr eat t eam of ex per i enc edpeopl ewhowi l l s har e t hei rpr ac t i c al ex per i enc eof r eac hi ngout t opeopl eof di f f er ent bac k gr ounds . J oi nust ohearSt ev eandot herpr ac t i t i oner ss har i ng t hei rex per i enc eandgoodpr ac t i c ei nr eac hi ngSout hAs i ansi nt he UKwi t ht hegos pel of Chr i s t .
Thi sdaywi l l gi v ey out hec hanc et omeet ot her sof al l l ev el sof ex per i enc eandf or m par t ner s hi psf orout r eac h. Wewi l l al s obe l aunc hi ngs omeex c i t i ngnewr es our c es , i nc l udi ng: •J es ust hr oughAs i aney es-af ul l c ol ourbook l et ans wer i ng c ommonques t i onst hat As i ansof ot herf ai t hshav ewi t ht he Chr i s t i anf ai t h esf ort heJ our ney : Fol l owi ngJ es us , St ay i ngSout hAs i an •Not -abookf ory oungBr i t i s hAs i ans •Fr i ends hi pFi r s t -DVDandt r ai ni ngc our s eonr eac hi ngout t o Mus l i ms •UKDi r ec t or yof As i anMi ni s t r i es-t hel at es t updat eof an i nv al uabl ehandbook . Wehopet hat t hedaywi l l gi v eanoppor t uni t yf orev er y bodyt o dev el opnewors t r engt henedpl ansandpar t ner s hi psf or out r eac handmi ni s t r y . Chr i s t i anc hur c hl eader sandc hur c h member sar eal l wel c ome. Book i ngi ses s ent i al onwww. gl obal c onnec t i ons . c o. uk Admi s s i oni sf r eeandt her ewi l l beanoppor t uni t yt oc ont r i but e t owar dst hec os t of t hedaywhi c hi sabout £10perper s on, i nc l udi nganI ndi anl unc h.
Test i mony
I nder j i t ‘ ss t or y Asay oungmanI wasanal c ohol i canddr ugaddi c t . Mywi f e des c r i bedmeasa' s er i al gambl erandadul t er er , whowasof t en v i ol ent . ' Byt het i meI wasi nmyear l yt went i es , myl i f ewasa t ot al mes s . I want edt oc hangebut c oul dn' t . I ndes per at i onI t ur nedt oGodbyobs er v i ngr i t ual s , r es pec t i ngt r adi t i onand goi ngonpi l gr i mages . Howev ermyper s onal s i t uat i ondi dnot i mpr ov e. Myf ami l ygav euponme. At onepoi nt my mot her i nl awt ol dmeabout J es us , but I got angr ywi t hher . Dur i ngmys ec ondt i mei nr ehabI wasi ndes pai randf el l t omy k nees . I pr ay edt oal l t hegodsI k newof . I t hought may bemy mot her i nl awwasr i ght , s oI addedJ es ust omypr ay er s . I s ai d t oHi m: ' Mymot her i nl aws ay sy ouar et heLi v i ngGod. I f t hat ‘ s t r ue, I don' t want t ogoonf i ght i ng, l i v i ngondr ugsandal c ohol anymor e, I want t obegood. ' Af ewday saf t erI c ameout f r om r ehabI v i s i t edac hur c hwher e I hear dabout J es usandwant edt or es pondt ot hei nv i t at i ont o ac c ept Hi mi nmyl i f e. AsI wal k edf or war d, s omet hi ng happenedi ns i de. I f el t t hat I wasl ov ed. Al l mys hameandgui l t di s appear ed. I f el t apeac eI hadnev erk nownbef or e. I hav ebeens oberf or t hel as t t hr eeandahal f y ear s . I f eel c ompl et e i ns i deanddonot need any t hi ngmor et obehappy . I hav emet myCr eat orGod. Het al k st omeal l t het i me. I t ‘ snomor eamat t erof r ul esandr egul at i onsbut a r el at i ons hi p. AsI f ol l ow J es usf r om myhear t I f i nd Hei sc hangi ngmef r om t he i ns i de. Hei st ak i ngaway mypr i deandot herwr ong c har ac t er i s t i c s . Hei shel pi ng met ogr owt hef r ui t of Hi s Spi r i t -l ov e, j oy , pat i enc e, Phot obyJ ef f Hi r e s el f c ont r ol , andhumi l i t y .