South Asian Forum of the Evangelical Alliance Newsletter
Issue 18: March 2015
The South Asian Forum (SAF) is a grouping within the Evangelical Alliance, set up to provide a place for South Asian Christians in the UK to encourage, support and equip each other for mission, and to represent their concerns to government, media and the wider Church. With the support of both individual members and church members totalling more than 20,000 people, SAF is steadily growing. Visit saf.eauk.org to get involved in supporting this wonderful
Growing healthy churches, learning to work together Three months ago the leader of a South Asian Church in Nottingham shared with me his heart for greater unity amongst South Asian Christian leaders. I came away with a deep sense that God was calling the South Asian Forum team to focus our energy in helping to facilitate this. Why is unity so important? In John 17:11 we hear Jesus’ heartfelt prayer that we may be one as God is one. As followers of Jesus, baptised by one Spirit into one body, we are called to live in unity with God and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Through our unity we reflect the love of God and become a signpost to Jesus, the one who gives life in all its fullness. So unity matters to God. It’s also vital for mission among South Asians. It’s difficult to tell exactly how many South Asian churches there are in the UK, as the majority are independent and not part of a mainstream denomination. So making connections is important, especially as new churches are continually forming. At the same time Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs now make up over 7% of the UK population and this is set to rise significantly. It is our hope and prayer that as unity grows this will lead to greater collaboration for the gospel. The task is immense but much can be achieved if we love one another and desire to work together for His glory. In 2015, sponsored by The Leprosy Mission, South Asian Forum is facilitating 3 events in Wolverhampton (April 25), London (September 26) and Bolton (October 10) to gather existing and upcoming leaders of South Asian churches and organisations. The theme is ‘Growing healthy churches’ with a heart for working in partnership. Pray for us as we embark on this exciting journey. Wolverhampton: http://bit.ly/1zT2kZ6 London: http://bit.ly/1AQYZh7 Bolton: http://bitly.com/1N9JfuV
Interview with Rev Johnson Paul One in Christ Church, Nottingham What is your background and how did you become a Christian? I was born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, and brought up in a Roman Catholic family. After my secondary school certificate, I joined St Mary’s Seminary to train as a Roman Catholic priest. However, after four years of training, I felt my calling was not to the Roman Catholic Church. Despite this, my heart was full for the love of God and I still had a strong sense that God
S outh As i a n F orum of the
Evangelical Alliance
connecting, uniting, representing
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
was calling me to Christian ministry. Up until this point in my life, I had opposed the perspective that one had to be ‘born again’ to have life eternal in Christ. However, God gradually brought a change in my thinking on this matter when I took on a new role as a radio programme producer in the Christian Recording Ministries, Faisalabad where programmes for FEBA radio were recorded. Here I encountered Christians from other denominations with differing views to the ones I held. But it was in Libya some years later that my perspective became radically changed. Here, as a newly married man, I listened with interest to an evangelical preacher as he spoke on Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. The Holy Spirit made me understand this verse and I became a born again Christian in October 1992. It was almost two years later in 1994 that God powerfully spoke to me through Galatians 3:28 “… we all are One in Christ Jesus”. Despite moving to the UK, I was unable to shake what I sensed God was calling me to do in terms of sharing his heart for unity in Christ. Here in the UK I received theological training at South London Christian College, and in 2000 was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2002 I moved to Nottingham and planted the One in Christ Church. In addition to leading the church, I am grateful to serve God where He desires me to be and I am thankful for the opportunities He continues to give me to share the message of Jesus Christ on radio and television. What is your passion? Nothing excites me more than preaching the gospel message and sharing God’s goodness to those who do not yet know him. In addition to this I am hugely passionate about the importance of having greater unity amongst South Asian Christian Ministers here in the UK. As followers of Christ we are called to be one and I pray I will see that in my lifetime! Why are you a member of SAF? I am delighted to be a member of SAF because its objectives match my passion for Christ and unity. I am convinced that the South Asian Forum has an instrumental role to play in strengthening the Asian church for mission and I look forward to playing my part in seeing this happen. My hope is that other leaders of Asian churches will choose to join the forum so that together we can have greater impact for the gospel.