Newsletter Issue 8 : September 2012South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance

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

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 15,000 people, SAF is steadily growing. Visit www.eauk.org/saf to

Photo courtesy SpiritualINspiration

South Asian Forum UpdateThis month it will be two years since SAF took up residence at This month it will be two years since SAF took up residence at the Evangelical Alliance and what a fruitful time it has been! At the latest count 93 churches and 13 organisations have become members of the South Asian Forum, as we seek to unite together in speaking out against the persecution of Christians and collaborate in reaching out to those of other Christians and collaborate in reaching out to those of other faiths with the Good News of Christ. The profile of the Forum has most certainly been raised through an array of recent media opportunities including Premier Radio, UCB, Glory TV and Radio 4. The latter provided a great opportunity for South Asian Forum to highlight the progress that the Church has made in this country in terms of connecting with the South Asian Christian community. With listening figures of around Asian Christian community. With listening figures of around one million people on the Radio 4 show, we praise God for all the doors He is opening for us to voice our concerns and aspirations.

Over the coming months we look forward to field testing the Jesus through Asian eyes course. This discussion course for Asian seekers is based on the questions in the Jesus through Asian eyes booklet and covers topic such as "What is Christianity?", "How can we relate to God?", "Who is Jesus?", Christianity?", "How can we relate to God?", "Who is Jesus?", "Do we need forgiveness?", "Is Jesus the only way to God?", "Can we trust the Bible?" and "What would need to change if I follow Jesus?" Although it has not always been easy to organise discussion courses amongst South Asians, we believe with the new generation of British Asians it is now time to launch a new course which would especially appeal to students and professionals. students and professionals. If your church is interested in piloting this course please contact Clive Thorne at cthorne@talktalk.net

As we look to the New Year our mandate will continue to be one of building greater unity. As Jesus prays in John 17 verse 23, ‘May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.’

To find out more about the South Asian Forum and how to become a member, please contact Manoj member, please contact Manoj at m.raithatha@eauk.org

Manoj RaithathaNational Co-ordinator, South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance

CLAAS welcomes bail for Rimsha Masih

verses on them. Her case made international headlines because of her young age - she was reported by her family to be 11 years old - and reportedly suffers from Down's Syndrome.

Khalid Chishti, the imam who spearheaded the blasphemy Khalid Chishti, the imam who spearheaded the blasphemy charge against Rimsha, was later arrested on suspicion of planting evidence against her. Judge Muhammad Azam Khan ordered her release and set bail at 500,000 rupees (around £3,308). He also ordered that she be placed under protective custody as there is concern for her safety.

Blasphemy allegations are very serious in Pakistan and extremists have in the past taken matters into their own hands extremists have in the past taken matters into their own hands when courts have overturned charges and released the accused. The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) welcomes the release of Rimsha but remains concerned for her safety and the welfare of the wider Christian community, which remains subject to accusations of blasphemy based on little or no evidence.

Nasir Saeed, CLAAS UK co-ordinator, commented: "The charge Nasir Saeed, CLAAS UK co-ordinator, commented: "The charge of blasphemy against Rimsha Masih was based on false evidence and this is not an uncommon occurrence in Pakistan. Sadly the blasphemy laws are frequently misused to stir up animosity and hatred towards Christians and even to take their land or property.

"We wish to thank the Pakistani and international press for their "We wish to thank the Pakistani and international press for their keen interest in this story and for bringing it to the world's attention. This has certainly played a part in Rimsha's release. attention. This has certainly played a part in Rimsha's release. There are, however, many accusations of blasphemy against Christians and other minorities in Pakistan that never make the news headlines and some of these nameless victims pay the price of these unjust laws with their lives. Even those who do not fall victim to extra judicial killings face the death penalty or years in prisons where the conditions are terrible. We appeal to the Pakistani government to review these laws with urgency and Pakistani government to review these laws with urgency and implement reforms that will bring an end to their misuse and the suffering of minorities."

Nasir Saeed Director, CLAAS-UKwww.claas.org.uk

A court judge has granted bail to Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl from a suburb of Islamabad in Pakistan who was accused of blasphemy. Masih has spent the past few weeks in a maximum security prison after being accused by neighbours of burning pages with Koranic

SAF is keen to collect stories of South Asians and churches that reach out to South Asians. Please share your story at saf@eauk.org

Asian Mission Partnership DaySaturday 29 September Nazarene Theological College, Dene Road, Didsbury M20 2GUThis is the fifth in a series of day conferences designed to bring us This is the fifth in a series of day conferences designed to bring us together to share our experiences and to encourage each other in reaching out to South Asians in the UK. They are for all who are involved in such outreach, whether from mainstream churches or South Asian churches or any others.

The day includes:• Sharing by experienced practitioners of good practice in • Sharing by experienced practitioners of good practice in reaching South Asians with the gospel.• A look at resources.• Opportunities to meet others of varying experience and to form partnerships for outreach.

Ram Gidoomal, chair of trustees of South Asian Concern, will be Ram Gidoomal, chair of trustees of South Asian Concern, will be the keynote speaker and it is our prayer that the whole day will be an inspiration to all who wish to start out in ministry to South Asians and an encouragement to those already doing so.

Do join us! Please register as soon as possible, using the link to the Global Connections website: www.globalconnections.co.uk/amp1209 Or you can contact Or you can contact Ann Bower, Global Connections abower@globalconnections.co.uk

Nepali outreach one-day conferenceSaturday 6 October 201210.30am – 4pmChristChurch, 151 Gleadless Road, Heeley, ChristChurch, 151 Gleadless Road, Heeley, Sheffield, S2 3AEINF/UK and Nepali Network UK invite you to a one-day conference to inspire ministry to Nepali people in the UK.

We'll hear from Nepali people describing the challenges of living We'll hear from Nepali people describing the challenges of living in the UK, have discussion with people doing ministry work among Nepalis in Britain, and also share resources to enable more ministries to help Nepalis in our own neighbourhoods.

This conference is also for church leaders looking to do outreach to Nepalis in their locality. We'll hear about how to integrate Nepalis into a UK church.

If there are Nepali people living near to you and you'd like to If there are Nepali people living near to you and you'd like to befriend them, share faith, understand their needs and do something to help them, then please come and join us!

No charge for entry, but please bring your own lunch.For more information please contact INF/UK: ukoffice@inf.org.uk or 0121 472 2425

Photo: Lea Csontos

Café DesiCafé Desi, run by South Asian Concern, provides space for young adults to socialise and explore issues that will help them grow in their personal and professional lives.

While the teachings of Jesus and South Asian culture are key While the teachings of Jesus and South Asian culture are key parts of Café Desi’s ethos, events are open to everyone, regardless of faith or ethnicity. So events have a South Asian flavour and give a Christian viewpoint, but all are invited to share their views, respectful of the perspectives of others.Café Desi is not a physical place though we often meet in Café Café Desi is not a physical place though we often meet in Café Eterno, Covent Garden. The ‘café’ part of our name is more about the concept of meeting together and chatting about things over a cup of chai.

Events vary, but the most common type has been discussion Events vary, but the most common type has been discussion evenings. We take a theme – for example, identity, success or relationships – and invite a speaker to talk about it briefly. The remaining time is devoted to discussing the topic in small groups over some snacks. After giving feedback, people may continue chatting for a while, or go on for a meal or drinks together. There have also been film nights, informal Christmas and Easter services and purely social events, where we’ve and Easter services and purely social events, where we’ve gone straight for the meal or drinks, cutting out the discussion part!

Currently Café Desi events are taking place every quarter. The latest was a charity garden party in early September. If you would like to find out more about Café Desi, visit: www.southasianconcern.org/resources/detail_2/cafe_desior contact admin@southasianconcern.org

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

Events

Volunteers needed for research into the experiences of pain for older people from different faiths and cultural groups

At the University of Leeds, School of Healthcare, research is At the University of Leeds, School of Healthcare, research is being undertaken to explore how pain is experienced and expressed in people of different faiths (Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism and the Islamic faith) and cultures. Chronic pain is very common in older people aged 65 and over and has been shown to be poorly controlled. Making sense of pain is closely tied to religious beliefs for some people, and we believe that understanding more about culture and religion will believe that understanding more about culture and religion will help to support health care staff in giving a better service for older people suffering long-term pain.

We are undertaking a series of interviews with older people who have chronic pain from five major faith groups. This will allow us to develop educational material for student and qualified health professionals, and a clinical intervention to improve professionals’ communication about pain with different groups of older people. Taking part in the study will different groups of older people. Taking part in the study will involve participating in a one-off, face-to-face interview lasting between half an hour to an hour, depending on what you have to tell us. So far we have recruited and interviewed over 40 people across the five faiths in Leeds but would also like to include South Asian people who are Christians.

If you are 65 years and over and have chronic over and have chronic pain (pain which has lasted for at least 3 months), live in Yorkshire and would like to discuss the research further and/or receive more infor-mation, please get in mation, please get in touch with Dr Jill Edwards Tel 0113 3431194 or Email j.edwards@leeds.ac.uk

Testimony

South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance Become a member - www.eauk.org/saf

Onkar's call to media ministry

When I went to my local church called Ilford High Road Baptist church for the first time, I heard the sermon on Jeremiah 1. As I was listening to it, I felt that something was happening inside me. I felt that God was speaking to me about what He was calling me to do in the future. I knew that the God who saved me had a plan for me but to be a prophet to the nations was something inconceivable.

I did not really think much about this for a few years but the word I did not really think much about this for a few years but the word remained with me. One day one of my friends arranged for me to give my testimony on a Christian TV programme called Revelation. I went to the central London studios where I met for the first time Pam and her husband Sarfraz who were the presenters of the programme I was appearing in. In the Friday night live programme programme I was appearing in. In the Friday night live programme called Church Without Walls I gave my testimony. It went so well that I began to receive further invitations to appear in the pro-gramme.

Some time later, Pam and Sarfraz had a vision encouraging them to take the gospel to South Asians and soon the dream of having a 24/7 Asian Christian TV channel was born. On 10th of March 2008 Glory TV was launched on Sky 832.

Following this, Pam and Sarfraz asked me to present programmes regularly. In the last four years I’ve presented many different programmes, including live programmes in which a testimony is programmes, including live programmes in which a testimony is given, to programmes where I invite the viewers to give their prayer requests so that I can pray for them live on air.

Today you can view Glory TV throughout Europe via satellite and globally via the internet. In my programmes, I receive calls from many countries within Europe and we have people who watch the channel as far as Canada, USA and Asia.

When I look back on my journey with the Lord, I see that his plans When I look back on my journey with the Lord, I see that his plans are being fulfilled in my life. I indeed speak to the nations through this media ministry. The Lord had a plan for my life and He has brought it to pass. He has positioned me to serve Him where I can touch nations with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has given me the necessary skills to do this. I give God the glory He deserves for using me in this way. God indeed uses the low things in the world to accomplish his most holy purposes. in the world to accomplish his most holy purposes.

And so I encourage you to hold onto that which God is calling you to do in your life. God is faithful to His promises and when the right time arrives He will open a door for you that no-one can shut. God bless you all.

Onkar Singh

You can catch Onkar Singh on Glory TV Sky 832 on the second and third Wednesdays of each month at 8pm.

Onkar Singh

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

Photos courtesy of Aron Balogh

If you are aware of resources useful to South Asians in the UK, please contactManoj Raithatha on m.raithatha@eauk.org

Contemplation, the gospel and evangelismThe heart of Christianity is that we become like Jesus. "Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed." (Mark 1:35)

What can we say about this? Jesus was a person of prayer! He was a What can we say about this? Jesus was a person of prayer! He was a contemplative – he went on his own (solitude) and he went where it was silent. How did he pray?

We can say from the evidence of his ministry that like other Jewish We can say from the evidence of his ministry that like other Jewish rabbis he meditated on Scripture: we know that he answered Satan from the Word of God when he was being tested in the desert. This is a contemplative practice. We know that he didn’t just offer up a shopping list of intercessions because he told us that he spent time listening to God: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing." (John 5:19)

This life of prayer saw him being filled with the Holy Spirit. After his 40 This life of prayer saw him being filled with the Holy Spirit. After his 40 days in the wilderness Luke tells us that: "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit." (Luke 4:14)

If we want to be like Jesus, and be filled with the power of the Spirit If we want to be like Jesus, and be filled with the power of the Spirit we too need to be contemplative people. Interestingly in our culture there is a spiritual revolution going on outside the church where many people are becoming interested in silence, stillness and contemplative or mindful practices. This is being seen in psychology influenced by Buddhist mindful practices and much wider in culture.

This gives us an opportunity to put Christian contemplative/mindful This gives us an opportunity to put Christian contemplative/mindful practices on the map, and in the marketplace of our culture. We can engage in contemplative evangelism because many people are asking ‘what are your spiritual practices?’ This is especially true if you have Hindu or Buddhist neighbours who may have their own medita-tive traditions.

If we are to engage in contemplative evangelism then we need to be people who contemplate. One of the reasons I have written A Book of Sparks: A Study in Christian Mindfullness is to enable Christians to become people of contemplation, but also to help them engage with contemplative evangelism. The book itself can be given to those who are interested in contemplative/mindful practices.

The book can also be used to help move people into spiritual transformation and psychological into spiritual transformation and psychological healing. There are many depressed, anxious and fearful people who could be set free by learning how Romans 12:2 can be put into practice: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." By exploring Jesus’ teaching on watchfulness in Mark’s gospel our friends, family and neighbours Mark’s gospel our friends, family and neighbours can begin to experience the interior freedom they are really looking for. By learning how to ‘take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5) people are able to centre their lives, not on fear, but on the love of God, which as we know drives out all fear.

Shaun Lambert

A Book of SparksA Book of Sparks by Shaun Lambert is available from Amazon in printed and kindle formats.

Sin: we need to talk about it!

But he goes on to tell how recently God has challenged his But he goes on to tell how recently God has challenged his ‘normal’ response. It began when someone hurt him badly and he found that his response was full of self-righteousness and condemnation. The Holy Spirit taught him some new perspectives. First he realised that sin affects God - far more than it affected him. This profound truth led him to be concerned for God’s pain and God’s glory, and not just his own hurt. Then he realised that he should be concerned for own hurt. Then he realised that he should be concerned for those who had hurt him and truly pray for them. Finally he learned to leave it all in God’s hands, even if the other person did not respond.

All this could only happen through the work of the Holy Spirit. It was very painful at times, but also brought great liberation and joy.

This pamphlet moves and challenges because it rings so This pamphlet moves and challenges because it rings so true to experience. Kumar shares his feelings very openly and challenged me to seek a similar sensitivity and transpar-ency.

Robin Thomson

Sin: we need to talk about it! by Sivakumar Rajagopalan is available from Amazon in Kindle format.

I was deeply moved by this pamphlet. (Don’t be put off by the title. It’s actually about something that all of us expe-rience.)

“What is your normal reaction to someone who sins against you?” asks Kumar Rajagopalan. He shares Rajagopalan. He shares frankly: “Often my reactions include hurt, anger, desire for an apology and some form of restitution.”

Resources for ministry

South Asian Forum Whiteeld House, 186 Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4BT | tel 02072072100, www.eauk.org/saf