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September 2012

This issue:Signs of Hope Seen Ash Barker

News, Updates and Stories from all 9 UNOH Teams in 5 Cities

ISUM: Significant Events

UNOH Publishing: Slum Life Rising Launched and Cooking With Poo Wins Award

UNOH Equipping 2013 Supplement

Some signs of hope are more easily seen than others. Take Saiyuud ‘Poo’ Diwong, for example, as she and husband Pi Kare help excited tourists out of their van and lead them down narrow laneways to their cooking school in Kong Toey slum to teach traditional Thai cooking. Kare and Poo’s gifts and passions are celebrated not just by this latest batch of customers, but worldwide now too. ‘Trip Advisor’ had the cooking school as the Number 1 attraction in Bangkok for a number of months (number 2 is the Grand Palace!). In March, ‘Cooking with Poo’ cookbook won the Frankfurt Book fair award for ‘Oddest Title of the Year’ and the worldwide media, especially comedians like Jonathan Ross, Stephen Fry and Andrew Denton couldn’t resist the possible gags and puns. When BBC did a recent radio interview about the cookbook the reporter asked, ‘Did you know “Cooking with Poo” was Googled over 25 million times?’

 Yet, something deeper stirs. These outward signs of success, however fun and impressive, are not the most important signs of hope to be seen here. It was only five years ago our neighbours were in

survival mode as increased rice prices, stress and then debt threatened to slowly rip their family life apart.  Exhausted, drained of confidence, even when Anji suggested a cooking school, such an alternative could not even be imagined. Anji kept on, however, and eventually both saw the new possibilities and stepped out in faith together. Focused outside support from Entrust, reporter Aela Callen and a host of volunteers combined to helped launch the school and cookbook, in addition to Helping Hands, which helps other neighbours start businesses too. The family flourished. To see Poo’s Christian faith and leadership develop in Namusgan worship each Friday night, leadership seminars and helping her staff and others start new businesses inspires us too. Poo was recently on a panel when my ‘Slum Life Rising’ book was launched at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand and was asked by a reporter why she still lives in Klong Toey if she didn’t need to? ‘My husband and two boys can afford days off and holidays together now. We’ve never had them before. I want to see others get the opportunities I have had.’ Poo

now dreams of starting a retreat centre by a river where people can go to enjoy holidays and days off out of the chaos from the slums. New found well-being is not horded, but shared imaginatively. That movement is where hope really lives. 

 The Hebrew word used for ‘hope’ (see Ps. 130:5-7) can also be literally translated ‘rope’ (see Josh 2:17-19). Biblical hope is a metaphor of pulling a good future into the present. What God is doing in Poo and Kare’s life is a kind of rope of hope for me and so many others now too. Jean Vanier once said that L’Arche communities were, ‘Not so much a solution, but a sign.’ Likewise, UNOH workers and our neighbours are NOT the final solution for urban poverty, but rather a sign of hope to grab hold of for what God will do more fully among the urban poor. We know joy, beauty and justice will finally and fully come, because in places like Klong Toey, we’ve been close enough to see, hear and touch the signs. Lord, let your Kingdom Come, Your will done, in urban neighbourhoods as in heaven... and start with us!        

Hope seenby Ash Barker, UNOH International Director

Signs of

Poo thriving in her teaching

Poo with husband Kare and sons Best & Boss

Hope seenby Ash Barker, UNOH International Director

UNOH celebrates 20 years since our founding next July, 2013. However, as UNOH workers retreated and Members and Reference Group came together on July 11, 2012 we focussed primarily on imaging afresh where Jesus wants us to be in the future, especially by 2018. What new neighbourhoods, leadership and pathways is God inviting us into? Here are some important directions we agreed upon.

1. New Goals required: Given the vast urban needs and the resources God has entrusted us with, could we double the number of UNOH neighbourhood based teams from 9 to 18 and from 5 cities in Asia-Pacific to 10 cities, including cities in new continents like Europe, Africa and The Americas by 2018? This will stretch us and require risks of faith, but is possible in God.

2. New Leadership required: A new UNOH Service Team was identified over the last six months, agreed upon and commissioned on July 14. These experienced UNOH members have special leadership gifts we need in this new era: Chris MacCartney (UNOH Asia Director), Jon Owen (UNOH Pacific Director), Matt Godfrey (UNOH Equipping and Formation), Peter Blair (UNOH Covenant Resources), Lisa Owen (Operations Manager) and Jodie MacCartney (Communications Director). Ash Barker’s role as International Director is now concerned with supporting this team, as well as opening up opportunties for new networks, cities and catalysts.

3. New Pathways required for multiplying UNOH teams: Some current UNOH workers identified they need to stay put, sharing Jesus as stable neighbours, doing whatever is possible to see local fruit mature, but also to help prepare and send out new UNOH teams. For others, the challenge is to be sent out, developing a team to relocate their lives to sow new seeds of hope in new neighburhoods. We also need to make it simpler for new catalytic people to join UNOH and be quickly released to follow their dreams into new, burgeoning, urban harvest fields. Investing in a new generation of potential urban mission workers in new iniatives like ‘The Jacob Way’ (young men’s month-long experience) and ‘The Crossing’ (young adults camp for future catalysts) were also identified as crucial ways forward.

Can you join us in this fresh hope? To find out ways you can pray, fund and/or go in deeper with this new era of UNOH see unoh.org

UNOH hopes afresh

Signs of

UNOH workers had a chance to reflect, refresh, laugh, cry... and let their hair down in July at team retreats held in Bangkok (Bangkok & Mae Sot teams) and Phillip Island (Aus & NZ teams).

LOOK WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH NEIGHBOURS IN...

MT DRUITT (SYDNEY) Mount Druitt Central Team and the crew from Calala Street Community Garden taught local kids how to turn newspaper into plant pots at Dawson Public School Expo Day.

BIDWILL (SYDNEY)Bidwill cooking group were delighted to receive a visit from celebrity chef Matt Moran who grew up in Blacktown. Matt chatted, tasted, encouraged and gave cooking tips which were eagerly received.

NOBLE PARK (MELBOURNE)There is always a lot of laughter and fun at the weekly girls club gatherings

SPRINGVALE (MELBOURNE)Free Burma Cafe is now open for business, serving up delicious Burmese food in the relaxing Cafe atmosphere!

DANDENONG (MELBOURNE) Over the past few months, Ashleigh Newnham (above, second from Right) has been facilitating a ladies sewing group which runs out of the UNOH office on Thursday nights. This initiative runs in conjunction with the South East Migrant Resource Centre.

MANUREWA (AUCKLAND)Soaked to the skin! A crazy frenzy of refilling water pistols, balloons, taking the slide and a giant catapult at a massive water fight one “Souf Pac” youth group event, couldn’t deter leaders and kids from having fun.

MAE SOT (THAI-BURMA BORDER)After months of rain, dams & creeks burst their banks and flowed to meet the already swollen border river about 8m higher than normal. The street where the team lives became a canal with boats the preferred mode of transport. The team helped neighbours move possesions higher, prepared sandbags for others, and transported clean drinking water for neighbouring factory workers.

ROM GOW & LOCK 3-6, KLONG TOEY (BANGKOK)The teams combined to enter a Mother’s day fun run in a park near our community. Seeing our team of local leaders enjoying each other’s company while contributing to a good cause is a real sign of Hope!

The opportunity to escape the daily grind of slum life was so refreshing for our house church when forty of us crammed into 3 cars to enjoy beautiful space, trees, splashing in a pool, eating good food, singing around the campfire and cooling off in waterfalls.

Thanks Jim & Julie Reiher

It is with sadness that after 5 years as UNOH’s Training Co-ordinator, we farewell Jim Reiher. Jim and his wife Julie leave a remarkable legacy to UNOH Training and UNOH as a whole. We are so grateful for the way Jim has overseen the formal part of UNOH’s training, with huge input into Sub Merge training becoming accredited, overseeing Companions of Hope and co-ordinating the many seminars, bible studies and open nights held in Melbourne, among many other wonderful contributions to the life and ministry of UNOH.

Jim and Julie: a massive THANK YOU for blessing UNOH Training and the whole UNOH community. We love you and you’ll be dearly missed! Many blessings for your new role at ACCESS, and we are sure you will be a blessing to them as you have been to us.

New UNOH web-site launchedThanks to Les Colston, Andy Steele and Jodie MacCartney, an amazing new UNOH web-site has been launched. Please go to www.unoh.org and see UNOH’s latest pictures, news, training, publishing and events. One new feature is a secure and easy way to use online giving page to support workers, teams and projects.

Dr Slum

Ash was surprised to receive his PhD certificate in an academic gown by his supervisor Dr. Ross Langmead at the UNOH Commissioning service in Melbourne, July 14th. Ash missed his official graduation at the MCD University of Divinity in May, but there was a lot of joy in the room that night as Ross and Ash marched down the aisle in full academic regalia, nodded to each other and Ross passed the PhD certificate to Ash. Ross also gave the UNOH commissioning address.

UNOH workers serve Jesus by living as part of small, adaptive and multiplying teams in neighbourhoods facing urban poverty. Here are some of their recent stories.

Signs of Hope

Somethings a brewing...by Alisha Faulkner, UNOH Lock 3-6 (Klong Toey slum, Bangkok)

Something new is brewing in our neighbourhood.In Just two weeks we have seen a dream turning into reality. It all started one afternoon chatting with some of the young Thai staff about new possibilities and opportunities. The idea of a cafe emerged and suddenly there was a lot of excitement in the room but it didn’t end there. Over the next couple of

days we kept talking about it and with each conversation more excitement grew. Suddenly we weren’t just talking about it but Chai Yo, Kook and I were out on the motorbike looking for possible locations. Within three days, we stumbled across an incredible location as a result of accidently turning right instead of left.

As one of my team mates labelled it, this was a “Gaccident”, a God-accident. With the location secured we continued planning and dreaming of what the cafe could be. Chai Yo and Kook are passionate about seeing other young people, like themselves, have opportunity to relate to people and life outside

the slum. Our vision is that the cafe will be a safe environment for young people to work, gaining experience and confidence with every cup of coffee served. Hopefully the cafe will be a stepping stone to future employment and broadening their horizons. It is a sign of hope for the young people in our community, that they are not forgotten. We are so excited about what God is doing here in Klong Toey!

Hope from the ground upby Matt Godfrey, UNOH Mt Druitt (Sydney)

When we first started the community garden alongside our house in Mount Druitt, we had a BBQ to meet all those interested in being involved. About half way through, a guy came walking up our driveway with a blue singlet, a worn leather hat and a pick and shovel over his shoulder. He marched in, threw the pick and the shovel into the dirt and with a big smile said, “How ya going! I’m Joe and I’m hear to dig!”

As Joe and I got chatting he told me about living in Mount Druitt as a young child. His most vivid memory was of the day they ripped the side out of all the local

dams to make room for housing. He remembers walking around and seeing eels and turtles squirming and dying in the shallow mud. “Ever since that day,” he said, “I’ve just wanted to make something beautiful in Mount Druitt again, and I think this garden could be it.”

We first met Joe nine months ago and since then we’ve been working together with a few other locals to build a fantastic community garden. Having a community garden doesn’t change everything in our neighbourhood, but as our first ever spring approaches and we anticipate much life and goodness pushing up through the soil, it’s not hard to feel that there is hope.

Signs of Hope, sometimes we find themby Jon Owen, UNOH Bidwill (Sydney)

Four years ago, things weren’t going so well for “Jill”. A long set of relationships were breaking down over minor misunderstandings that revealed major hurts and the beautiful young girl with no home, but big dreams, that we had taken in had gone from blossoming in our household and hearts to being dragged back into old, destructive, yet seductively familiar ways of coping with pain and grief. The drugs and the drama were winning again and as she was drifting away, we painfully had to watch her participate in her own demise.

Fast forward to now. Lisa got a text from Jill, now a young woman, asking if

we could meet at Blacktown Westpoint for a coffee - she had so much to tell us.

We didn’t recognise her at first. Before us was a healthy looking, smartly dressed young woman. She told us of the miraculous path her life had been taken on in the last few years; meeting a loving man, getting through TAFE and getting the job she always dreamed of - and a promotion! She then complained about mortgages and renovations and hopes for the future, normal stuff I suppose for most of us, but music to our ears to hear it come from her.

Then she looked us nervously in the eyes, “I am so sorry for all I put you through back then” her eyes welling with tears. “You were always worth it, we love you with all our hearts, that’s how God loves you” was all we could respond with as we were both choked up.

Sometimes, through all the pain and toil and struggle, there is redemption, and it is ALWAYS worth it - and sometimes, we are lucky enough to find out about it!

Hope in the darkest places by Jodie MacCartney, UNOH Rom Gow (Klong Toey slum, Bangkok)

Finding signs of hope at the Immigration Detention in Bangkok can feel, well, hopeless. Our one hour visits each week feel like a drop in the ocean of their despair. Reports from guards and detainees alike, say the conditions of this ‘lockup’ are worse than any other prison in Bangkok. Many are arrested and seemingly forgotten, some left for years on end. The hopelessness is almost palpable - like hungry wolves, they’ll jump at any sniff of potential good news. “I heard I can change my nationality, all I have to do is sign a document, then I’ll get out”, or “The

guard said if I give him 20,000 baht, he’ll get me out”. Desperation will make them believe anything.

As part of my weekly routine, I waited for ‘Lily’ (a Vietnamese woman who spoke Thai), in the hot, noisy ‘shed’ that is the visiting room. Looking through the faces on the other side of the fencing, I finally spot her behind the bright orange uniforms waving frantically, with a beaming grin! We push forward to the fence to greet one another. Frustrated by the metre that separates us, her voice is almost inaudible over the ever-increasing noise of 60+ detainees and visitors, eager to talk with one another and make the most of that measly hour.

This week though, I notice something about her. She seems lighter, almost joyful. I think she must have news of her release but no, as usual, nothing.

As I strain to listen, pressing up against the bars, she begins to tell me stories from inside. Not the usual, despairing, sad stories. She tells me of amazing stories of answered prayers, of the Spirit moving and detainees hearing about Jesus for the first time. Miraculous healings. Divine interventions. New believers. Her next statement surprises me most “I’m so glad I got sent here. I wouldn’t know Jesus if I never came here”. This is where she found hope! She rejoiced that God would choose to use her, a “nobody”, in amazing ways, to share the love and hope she had found with new detainees, and to spread this good news!

Who would have thought that such hope would spring from this dark place? I give thanks for the gift of Lily and her reminder that our hope is in Christ alone!

Small bridges to friendship between Thailand and Burmaby Rod Sheard, UNOH Mae Sot (Thai-Burma border)

Two unusual friends play, just four minutes bike ride from the Thai-Burma. Their usual game is Lego in our room. Or they can be seen riding bikes together outside our row of migrant worker houses. MinKine from Burma lives next door and Gop from Thailand, a few doors down. Neither speak the other’s language, however over the last six months, since Gop arrived, they’ve started exchanging phrases in each other’s language as they play Lego together such as: “what’s that?”,

“you’re cheating”, or “you did that well”. There’s a lot of pointing and gesturing, but there’s also the universal language of 8 year old boys playing that bridges the national language barrier. Both of them have come from the same background of parents working in factories. Perhaps this helps them to see each other more clearly than the usual nationalistic divide.

In Mae Sot, this divide involves Police targetting Burmese workers on the road or factory workers striking against Thai owners over pay and work conditions. In these two 8 year old boys, east and west meets here on the border in friendship. A sign we have more in common with “the other” than we are often able to see. Thankfully, we often have these two in our room to remind us to see our humanity in “the other”.

Be the change you want to see in the Worldby Dave Tims, UNOH Manurewa (Auckland)

A buzz of excitement and anticipation filled the room as all eyes were fixed upon the TV, anxiously waiting for the ‘Randwick Park Warriors of Change (WOC)’ to come onto the screen.  Their story became a focus, following a Maori (Indigenous) TV crew becoming aware of the work a bunch of local 16- 21 year old young people were doing, to bring change in their community. 

A hush came over the room as Puhi, a young 19 year old, spoke confidently and clearly in front of the camera. No-one could believe this was the same young man that came walking into the WOC

group six months ago, with his head down, very shy and afraid to speak.  “I would never talk because I was too scared,” said Puhi. Since joining WOC,  “I have realised I can connect and get involved with the kids.”

WOC is a group of young leaders who voluntarily run a week-long holiday programme each term and who run a weekly youth group for 10- 14 year olds called ‘Souf Pac’. Not only has this WOC crew caught the attention of local residents, but the Manurewa Local Council acknowledged their efforts at a ‘Volunteers Awards’ evening.  

Puhi is one of the WOC members whose life and transformation has been an inspiration and hope for many who have come to know this young man. His courage to overcome his shyness, to speak up and also work with his disability of cerebral palsy is an encouragement to us

all. His commitment to get alongside local kids has been a testimony of hope and faith in action. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLX92neG2n8&feature=player_embedded

Flowers in desert placeby Sharmila Blair, UNOH Dandenong (Melbourne)

It can’t have been easy for Chloe. 22 years old, afraid and alone, all the way from Adelaide, seeking to start her life afresh. Her first port of call was a Supported Residential Accommodation unit, and from there on her mental health went

on a steep downward slide. She was in and out of psych hospitals and had made several attempts on her own life. Despite moving into a UNOH household in Noble Park with good support and a stable environment, things continued to unravel for her.

She moved out and into boarding houses that felt like hell on earth. She describes it as a roller coaster ride, having support and then losing it for reasons beyond her control, or as she now realises,

self-sabotage. Hope was fading fast. Just recently, we all gathered to

celebrate her 24th birthday: friends, support workers, both Noble Park and Dandenong UNOH teams and her parents from Adelaide! There was much to celebrate: not being in hospital for several months consistently, co-operating with the help around her and wanting to make the most of her life. She’d found friends who’d stuck by her and not given up on her.

Chloe is an intelligent and amazing young woman with a beautiful heart. She’s enrolled back at TAFE and is an active participant in our Dandenong women’s bible study group. She knows the journey before her is not an easy one - just recently she told me she’s admitting herself back to hospital for some rest and for doctors to reassess her medication and diagnosis. But there is hope in this, for us and for Chloe, that good things are still to come.

A Fragile Hopeby Brad Coath UNOH Noble Park (Melbourne)

‘They have taken away my youth.’ As he spoke these words, I could see something of the depth of pain that ‘Ramesh’ carried as I visited that afternoon a few months ago in the immigration detention centre. Ramesh is one of a group of Sri Lankan men some of us have been visiting over the last six months. Having all suffered persecution and oppression in Sri Lanka because of their Tamil ethnicity, they each at one time or another have made the ultimate decision to brave the ocean and flee their country as refugees. Having finally arrived in Australia, some after years in Indonesia, this group of Tamil men have already been given refugee

Creating signs of hopeby Peter Dekker, UNOH Springvale (Melbourne)

“It’s really amazing what has been accomplished!” is often expressed when people come into the Free Burma Cafe. And it is! This project has been a joint effort from the start - through the many people God brought across our path at just the right time. The project was of course brought about through the hard work of all of the UNOH Springvale team, not to mention the Broader UNOH family who gave us permission to start this project and the moral support to get it done. It was also the hard work of many of our dear Burmese friends and neighbours, they were there throughout the whole process as they took hold of this project and called it their own.

But what has really blown us away was the joint efforts of so many UNOH supporters, some of whom gave up multiple weekends, days off and leave

time to help out with the project, volunteers who helped co-ordinate the catering enquiries, who pulled strings and introduced people and called in favors to get this project done. It was the sacrificial giving, of individuals and groups like Gospel Resources, who took a risk and gave financially. It was the many, many churches and individuals who got behind the project and had our team out for catering, and the support of our local Uniting church who allowed us to use their kitchen as our base of operations before the cafe was open. Through it all there has been an amazing ground swell of support from so many, a real sense of getting behind us to see this project get up and running. Our Burmese neighbours

have flourished through the dignity, respect and love that was afforded them despite their cultural and religious differences. We are truly blessed to have had the privilege of watching the self respect and pride in our neighbours grow throughout their dealings with you all!

I have truly seen hope in the amazing potential of a mobilised and inspired church to see transformation, dignity and empowerment come into the lives of some of the most marginalised and easily forgotten people in the world.

The Free Burma Cafe is open for business at 178 Springvale Road, Springvale. VIC (03) 8555 9396. www.freeburmacafe.com.au 

status, and yet are still kept in detention after three years, with no end in sight. Having been given adverse security findings by ASIO in a process in which they have no access to the reasons for the findings nor avenues of appeal, they have no chance to defend themselves and no place to go.

The psychological and emotional impact this treatment is having on them is devastating. Suicide attempts are common. All are heavily medicated with anti-depressants. Some have wives and children in Sri Lanka or Indonesia whom they haven’t seen for up to six years.

Yet hope is rising. One of our friends there has initiated a case, currently being fought out in the High Court, challenging the legality of keeping people in indefinite detention. If successful, it will have positive ramifications for the fifty or so

detainees around Australia in the same situation.

Over the last few weeks, our friends’ spirits have lifted, but hope is fragile. ‘I don’t want to hope,’ said one, ‘because I don’t want to be disappointed.’

Each time we visit these men, we we are met by their gracious hospitality with their meagre resources, we laugh together at our feeble attempts to learn Tamil, and as we leave, we join hands to pray. Standing with them, sharing in their hunger and thirst for justice, I sense the presence of the convicted criminal from Nazareth in our midst. I pray that they will be strengthened by the One who prayed for strength in the Garden. And I pray that they will know the hope of the One who was vindicated by God on that Sunday morning. Please pray with us.

To help Christians come together to face the unique challenges rising urban poverty pose, Ash Barker has become the first Convener of the newly formed ‘International Society For Urban Mission’ (ISUM). ISUM’s purpose is to be a fellowship of urban Christians committed to seeking God’s Shalom in cities, especially Majority World cities, though active reflection, personal solidarity and leadership development. In light of this purpose, the first two significant ISUM events are soon to take place.

New Urban World JournalIn November the first edition of the New Urban World journal will be launched with theme focus ‘the rise of the urban poor’. This magazine style journal will help to amplify the views and voices of urban mission thinkers, practitioners and leaders. This edition includes contributions from Tony Campolo (Philadelphia), Jayakumar Christian (Chennai), Viv Grigg (Auck/LA) and Rosalee Velloso Ewell (Sao Paulo/Birmingham). See www.newurbanworld.org to subscribe and become a member of ISUM.

Summit for Urban MissionJanuary 26-29, 2013 in Bangkok, ISUM, in conjunction with Micah Network, will hold the first Summit for Urban Mission with the theme ‘Integral Urban Mission’. Contributors include Shane Claiborne (Philadelphia), Ruth Callanta (Manilla), David Bussau (Syd/Manilla), Wallace and Mary Kamau (Nairobi), Ash and Anji Barker (Bangkok/Melb) with Thai translation from Khun Earth and Thai worship/celebration arts (from YWAM Thailand). The first two days focus on listening to the urban poor and second two days discerning action together. The Evangelical Church of Bangkok will host the gatherings, with affordable accommodation nearby.

For more information please go to

www.newurbanworld.org or book with summit@newurbanworld.org

International Society for Urban Mission: Our first two significant events

I am a newcomer in this neighbourhood, but unlike the journey of my new friends, I have merely passed over the Nullabor from Perth to Melbourne, not the oceans. I have left behind precious relationships, but unlike my neighbours I can throw up my hands and be back by my parents’ side within hours. I am a newcomer to living amongst the poor, but I am not the same, though surely I often passed by their faces.

My God has long resided here though and His hope breaks through!

I have seen beauty in sincere offers of generosity that stretch means; in unexpected apologies for breaking the rules of our house; when skipping rope in our no-through-road; when writing a letter together to our local MP; in sharing meals and laughter; when family members make the journey from faraway refugee camps.

Both Bangkok and Sydney hosted Bob Ekblad from Tierra Nueva in May this year for Following Fire. Although Bob and his wife Grace have been leading some incredible community development work for the past 30 years, the gift they brought us was their stories of seeing the Holy Spirit at work in delivering and healing those they work with from a darkness that couldn’t be broken by anything else. Darryl Gardiner from NZ presented at the Following Fire seminar alongside Bob and dished up the truth about life among the urban poor as bluntly and (strangely) consolingly as it comes. To ice that cake we had video calls with Jean Vanier (the founder of L’arche) and Martin Robinson (UK) and some local presenters including Sharmila Blair.

More recently Melbourne and Bangkok hosted Andy and Jen Flannagan for When Helping Hurts. Andy and Jen gave us not only a theology and framework for engaging with tough neighbourhoods, but also a deep experience of God’s heart through Andy’s music and Jen’s series of first person monologues. Laurel Gore shared with us the gift of her experiences, many of them painful, of prison ministry and the Native Canadian Christian Leader Terry LeBlanc shared via a video call.

We look forward in anticipation to more inspiring and challenging seminars and opportunities to go deeper in 2013. For more information, check out the UNOH Equipping Manual on the back of this edition of Finding Life!

As hope arisesa Sub-merge reflection

UNOH Equipping 2012 news

by Camille BeckinghamThese signs of beauty are signs of hope.

As I have submerged in this community I cannot help but hold onto the future and present hope of our restoring God. That the broken, the fleeing, the newcomer, and the refugee will know and love the God who knows and loves them. The One who “puts poor people on their feet again… rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope, restoring dignity and respect to their lives- a place in the sun! “ (I Samuel 2:8 MSG). Signs of hope will not just be the absence of despair. There will be life and dreams springing from deep wounding.

May we allow Him to build His home inside our scars.

Matt Godfrey

‘Slum Life Rising’ around the world!In June and July Ash Barker visited 11 cities in Europe, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand to speak, run retreats, make connections and promote his new book Slum Life Rising. Based on his PhD thesis, Slum Life Rising was forwarded by Jean Vanier, whom Ash got to meet in Paris! Ash said of his hero that ‘Jean at 86 really glows with life and love for Jesus. I want to be like him when I grow up!’ Jean said of Slum Life Rising, ‘We cannot continue to ignore the terrible poverty and misery of the poor and hide in comfortable and secure situations. Christians from all churches must work together. Jesus is calling his followers to announce really good news to the poor. This book of Ash gives hope and a way forward. It is good news.’

A highlight of the tour was the creative collaboration with Andy and Jenn Flannagan who partnered with UNOH in London, Belfast, Bangkok and Melbourne events. Their passionate drama, music and insights found ways to touch our hearts in ways that mere ideas cannot. You can see Jenn perform at the Edinburgh fringe festival with the ‘Ruby Dolls’ and hear Andy’s new CD ‘Drowning in the Shallows’ www.andyflan.com

Ash said, ‘The response to our seven week, 11 city tour was overwhelming. We are exhausted, but many thousands of people connected afresh with God’s heart for the urban poor and the rise of slums. Some people cried, some laughed and many did both, committing themselves to go anywhere for the cause of Christ. It also resulted in opportunities for new UNOH workers, teams, supporters and lots of books sold.’ Don’t miss Ash in Melbourne and Sydney in September and October and in seven US cities in November as ‘Slum Life’ keeps ‘Rising’. Ask for Slum Life Rising at your local Christian bookshop or online from www.unoh.org/publishing or www.amazon.com

Photos from Top to Bottom:• AshpreachingatSoulChurch,NorthernIrelandwherePatrickpreached1500

yearsago!• BooklaunchwithMicahChallengedirector,JoelEdwards• AshwithhisheroJeanVanier• Andy&JenFlannagan• DrSlumwiththeproof!

In March UNOH Publishing’s ‘Cooking with Poo’ won the ‘Oddest Book Title of the Year Award’ at the Frankfurt Book fair. Anji Barker was quoted by the BBC as saying, ‘We knew the whole world loved Poo but now its official! Poo has sold over 7,000 books and her classes are fully booked out. She is not just helping to raise her own family out of poverty, but is employing 20 other poor slum residents. She is an amazing lady with

an amazing programme - thanks to everyone who voted.’ Klong Toey resident Saiyuud ‘Poo’ Diwong added: ‘Thank you everyone. I am lucky to have such a funny nickname, it helps my business a lot!’ Contrary to many media reports, ‘Poo’ is not Thai for crab, but is a shortened version of ‘shompoo’, a sweet tasting Thai fruit. You can order ‘Cooking with Poo’ or book a Klong Toey cooking class on www.cookingwithpoo.com

‘Cooking with Poo’ wins award at Frankfurt Book Fair

We are grateful to Les Colston, a Melbourne-based graphic designer, who does our Finding Life artwork ‘pro-bono’ as a volunteer with UNOH and ensures our publishing communicates well. If you need design work done on time and for reasonable prices please contact Les on les@zealartstudios.com

Funding Focus: Practical SolidarityIf UNOH is to be faithful to God’s call on us a community then how and where UNOH workers spend their time will be crucial. To pursue the doubling of teams to 18 neighbourhoods in 10 cities by 2018, our workers need their best time and attention to:1. Stay close to Jesus, giving space for spiritual disciplines. 2. Invest in neighbours, especially local leaders.3. Invest in team co-ordination so we collaborate with trust

together.4. Invest in new workers, especially those who can go to

plant new seeds.5. Advocate for God’s work among the poor to encourage,

inspire and inform the broader church to get involved.6. Some experienced workers will also need time to share

their: Specialised leadership gifts only UNOH workers can do

for other UNOH workers (eg Members Council, Team leaders, Director, Area Directors, Training and Formation Co-ordination, Operation Manager, Communications Director, Covenant Resources Co-ordinator)

How can an increasing number of UNOH workers afford such time? UNOH can and does use the multiplying model Jesus (eg, Luke 8:1-3), the early apostolic teams (eg, Acts 13:1-12) and faith missions (eg, Hudson Taylor) have used. That is for us, we seek to find partners who will stand with UNOH workers in practical solidarity. People who know us, trust us and believe in what we do enough to pray and channel God’s resources through us in a regular way.

We know that in the current economic climate, where survival of the fittest and radical individualism is the norm, this traditional, inter-dependant mission funding model has fallen out of fashion. Yet, for donors this is perhaps the purest form of giving possible as it goes directly to peers, that is, people you know and who you can make contact with to hear how it’s going. As a worker, this is perhaps the purest form of living allowance as it comes from our peers, God’s people we know, who directly support what God is doing through us. It’s a funding model that works without limits and provides the flexibility of time that workers need as their vocation and assignments change over time.

Thank-you to all those who currently stand with UNOH workers and if you don’t yet regularly support a UNOH worker please pray and consider who God might be calling you to stand with in practical solidarity.

Urban Neighbours of HopeFactory 2/6-12 Airlie AveDandenong VIC 3175

PO Box 2711Dunearn LPODandenong North VIC 3175

Phone: 03 9701 7114 Fax: 03 9701 7115 Email: unoh@unoh.org

www.unoh.org

Finding Life is the newsletter of Urban Neighbours of Hope

Editor: Jodie MacCartney

Proof readers: Ash Barker, Carter Quinley & Chris MacCartney

Design and Production: Les Colston

UNOH is urgently looking for volunteers to help with an afternoon ses-sion “asylum seeker drop-in centre” at Airlie Avenue, Dandenong.

contact: brad@unoh.org for details.

If you are interested in helping with Girls’ Club on Saturday mornings (9:30am to 11:30am), contact: colleen@unoh.org for details.(Working With Children Check is required)

If you can help with cataloguing and maintaining UNOH’s library, email davina@unoh.org. Hours are flexible and training is provided.

For all other volunteer inquiries, contact: unoh@unoh.org or call 9701 7114.

Missio Dei Discernment Retreats 2012Klong Toey, Bangkok, ThailandSeptember 19-20, 20129.30am-4.30pm each dayQuestions or bookings: chris@unoh.org Mt Druitt, Sydney, AustraliaOctober 5 - 6, 20129.30am-4.30pm each dayQuestions or bookings, contact: jonowen@unoh.org Dandenong, Melbourne, AustraliaOctober 12-13, 20121pm-8pm Friday and 9.30am-4.30pm Saturday.Questions or bookings, contact: naomi@unoh.org Englewood, Indianapolis, USANovember 19-20, 20129.30am-4.30pm each dayQuestions or bookings, contact: DougPriest@cmfi.org

Go to the website to find out more ways to get involved.with UNOH. www.unoh.org/getting-involved

Equipping 2012dates still to come

Mission Exposure CoursesMt Druitt, Sydney, AustraliaNovember 22 - 28th, 2012Questions or bookings, contact: lisapaxo@unoh.org Dandenong, Melbourne, AustraliaSeptember 21-28, 2012Questions or bookings, contact: peterd@unoh.org see UNOH Equipping supplement for 2013 dates.

Sophia Think Tank with UNOH present the Forum‘The Reign of God and the Politics of People’October 12th and 13th. 9.30 am to 4.45 pm each day.UNOH Centre for Urban Mission: Factory 2/6-12 Airlie Ave, Dandenong.Questions or bookings contact: david.wilson@biblesociety.org.au

Sub-Merge Apprenticehip | Missio Dei Retreats | Mission Exposure Course | Seminars

Sub-Merge 2013Sub-Merge is for those who are ready to dive

in and spend at least one year (minimum of

three years for Thailand) embracing life in a

neighbourhood struggling with urban poverty.

The program is designed for those who are

seriously considering a long term vocation

among the urban poor with either UNOH or a

similar movement.

What’s involved in Sub-Merge 2013? A) Neighbourhood Engagement: Sub-

Merge students will be part of a UNOH

Neighbourhood Team in either Melbourne,

Sydney, Auckland or Bangkok. As a member of

that team they will commit to being involved

in a selection of projects and activities in their

neighbourhood and possibly other areas

in their city (eg. if you are visiting prisons or

detention centers they will be out of your

neighbourhood).

B) Spiritual Formation: The only way we can

ever maintain effective engagement in tough

neighbourhoods is to stay close to Jesus.

One of the main focuses of the Sub-Merge

program is spiritual formation. Sub-Merge

students commit to the apprenticeship phase

of UNOH’s formation process. As apprentices

they not only receive mentoring, but they also

participate in morning communion, retreats,

keeping the sabbath and a bunch of other

spiritual disciplines that help us to stay close to

Jesus both individually and as teams.

C) Academic Study: vocation among the

urban poor not only requires our feet and our

hearts, but also our heads. UNOH partners

with Stirling Theological College, Tabor Victoria

and Great Lakes Christian College, where

Australian students enroll in either a Bachelors

or Graduate Diploma Program. This aspect

of Sub-Merge is compulsory for all students

capable of university level study. Students have

the option to stagger the intensive subjects

over a three year period. If you have any

questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact

us at equipping@unoh.org. Non-Australian

students are also able to do Sub-Merge through

a variety of alternative pathways.

When does Sub-Merge 2013 Begin? The Sub-Merge year begins on the 14th January

2013 where we’ll pick you up at Bangkok Airport

and drive you to Klong Toey Slum for two weeks

of orientation, experiences and the intensive for

the Radical Discipleship subject.

What do I do if I want to do Sub-Merge? If you are feeling the call to Sub-Merge contact

UNOH at equipping@unoh.org Please be aware that there is an interview

process, places are limited and there are

different conditions for different locations.

Far beyond a ‘course’...

a year of deep engagement

with God’s heart and a unique

neighbourhood. Incredibly

worthwhile. Laura

Missio Dei Missio Dei is a two day discernment retreat

for anyone who wants to create some solid

space in their lives to explore what God may

be calling them towards. The three main

questions you’ll chew on are:

Where have I come from?Where am I going? Who can I go with?

Over the two days you’ll be guided into a

number of individual and group activities that

allow you to invite God to speak into your

life and shape your future. Missio Dei is an

invaluable, insightful and sacred experience.

If you have a niggle that it would be a good

thing for you to carve out some space to

listen for what God is up to in your life then

Missio Dei could be for you.

Missio Dei dates and locations 2013:

Sydney: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th May Friday 11th October - Saturday 12th October

Contact Lisa Owen for enquiries, bookings

and details: lowen@unoh.org

Melbourne: Friday 11th - Saturday 12th OctoberContact Naomi Dekker for enquiries, bookings

and details: naomi@unoh.org

Auckland: Friday 20th - Saturday 21st SeptemberContact Dave Tims for enquiries, bookings

and details: d.tims@unoh.org

Bangkok: Friday 17th - Saturday 18th MayContact Chris MacCartney for enquiries,

bookings and details: chris@unoh.org

Check out the website for retreat dates in UK and US. For general enquiries contact equipping@unoh.org

Mission Exposure CourseImmerse yourself in a short term live-in experience of UNOH.

During this time you will: participate in active ministry with various

marginalized groups, receive input from the UNOH team, meet and

hear stories of people from different backgrounds and lifestyles

(refugees, asylum seekers, the very poor, street workers, jail ministry,

those of other religions, etc).

This has proven to be a real “taster” for people to do, in helping

them consider if they should spend more time with UNOH.

Perhaps volunteer in a more ongoing way. Perhaps become a

Companion of Hope. Perhaps do Sub-merge. Perhaps consider

an apprenticeship with UNOH... And for those who only ever “just

do” the mission exposure course - they are still changed forever.

Their appreciation for, and understanding of, different marginalised

groups expands significantly, and impacts all who take the risk of

this short journey!

For Mission Exposure Course dates please check the UNOH website

(most cities will run the MEC course in the second half of 2013,

however dates will be set by the beginning of 2013).

To register your interest or ask a question please contact the

relevant person below:

Sydney: Lisa Paxton - lisapaxo@unoh.org

Auckland: Dave Tims - d.tims@unoh.org

Melbourne: Peter Dekker - peterd@unoh.org

Bangkok: Chris MacCartney - chris@unoh.org (MEC in Bangkok is only for those who are considering joining UNOH in the near future)

UNOH Equipping 2013

Shalom and the People of God Dates: April 26th –27th, then April 29th, 30th and May 1st. Location: UNOH Centre for Urban Mission, MelbourneWhat stops our friends, neighbours and planet

experiencing the fullness of God? This intensive

explores the nature of God’s purposes in

relation to people, society and broader creation

and what stops this ‘Shalom’, this fullness,

becoming a reality.

Led by Ash Barker with UNOH workers and

Australian-based activist-thinkers such as

David Wilson, John Smith, Merryl Blair, Lynette

Leach, John Steward and Ken Luscombe.

Transforming Urban CommunitiesDates: July 5 and July 6, then July 8-10, Location: UNOH Centre for Urban Mission, MelbourneWhat can be a distinctly Christian approach to urban

community development, empowerment and

relief? This intensive aims to equip participants with

helpful insights, frameworks, tools and strategies to

see change through Jesus in local neighbourhoods.

Led by Mick Duncan with Darryl Gardiner, Terry LeBlanc,

Anji and Ash Barker and with other UNOH workers.

The Triune God and Community BuildingDates: September 27-28, then September 30-October 2, Location: UNOH Centre for Urban Mission, MelbourneGod is by nature community. How can this

theological reality inform the way we engage

fractured and alienated individuals in our

neighbourhoods?

Led by Andrew Menzies, Brian Edgar with Ash Barker

and UNOH workers.

New options for UNOH EquippingWith the new partnership UNOH has with Tabor Victoria, Stirling Theological College and Great Lakes

Christian College, three Melbourne based intensives can now be done as a two-day seminar or for credit

as a full five day subject. The seminar component is open for all on the Friday and Saturday (as traditionally

our UNOH Seminars have been), but from the following Monday to Wednesday participants can go

deeper with accredited studies including workshops, site visits, presentations, tutorials and lectures. Each

intensive is worth a full subject unit and eligible Australian students can access Fee-Help and Aus-Study.

We run these during Semester breaks to be accessible to more students.

Preparing young men to fight “There is something worth fighting for; even dying for. In

order for a boy to become a man, or for a man to change, he

must be separated from the ‘business as usual.’ He must be

tried, limited and challenged. He must be confronted with

hardness, struggle, and lack of control. Wild and abandoned

places can prepare the young man to deal with life in other

ways rather than logic, managing, controlling or problem

solving.” - Richard Rohr

UNOH is providing a unique and sacred space for young men

to ‘wrestle with God,’ where change and newness is possible.

It is a place to consider male spirituality and participate in

the Great Battle (God’s mission) to liberate and restore all

of creation.

February, 1-28, 2013Over 2 UNOH locations Bangkok (Thailand) Sydney (Australia)

Contact details:Chris MacCartney - chris@unoh.orgJon Owen - jonowen@unoh.org

www.unoh.org

UNOH Equipping 2013

28th - 30th June 2013 Adanac Camp, Yarra Junction

More details to come: www.unoh.org/thecrossing

The Crossing is an exciting new

camping experience for young Adults

(aged 18-23). The Crossing seeks to

inspire & connect a new generation

of young people for a life of radical

discipleship and a call to engage in

practical, cutting edge mission.