Conference unites church with South Asians seeking truth

Here's your chance to work alongside South Asian Christians for mission to the UK's largest ethnic-religious minorities.  

South Asian Christians are keen to work alongside other Christians and missionary agencies so that they can be more effective in mission. Out of the estimated two million South Asians living in Britain, only 3.75 per cent are Christian. 

Yet many Christians in the UK are not fully aware of this thriving community, nor do they have the confidence or skills in knowing how to reach out to South Asians of other faiths. 

Now you can find out everything you wanted to know about the ministries of South Asian Christians at an all-day conference in north-west London and another in Wolverhampton. The conferences take place on 10 September at Elmfield Church, Harrow, London, and on 26 November at All Nations Christian Centre in Wolverhampton. Places are free but are limited so will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. 

The aim of the conference is to encourage and equip individuals and churches of different denominations for mission among non-Christian South Asians. They will do this by exploring different models of good practice, sharing resources and working in partnership.  

The keynote speaker is Steve Uppal, senior leader at All Nations Christian Centre, a multi-cultural church that holds services in English and Punjabi. 

Steve says: "The Church must seize the opportunity of getting alongside South Asians who have never before to our knowledge been so open to the Gospel."

The conferences are being hosted by the South Asian Forum (SAF), of the Evangelical Alliance, in partnership with Jewels in His Crown, which itself is a partnership of several agencies and churches set up 12 years ago. 

Manoj Raithatha, national co-ordinator for SAF, who is himself a British-born Asian, says: "My vision is for the churches to work together and, in doing so, to consider new, innovative and creative ways of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to South Asians living in Britain." 

Robin Thomson, chairman of Jewels in His Crown, adds: "We want to encourage South Asians to integrate into mainstream churches as well as invite other Christian leaders to recognise and appreciate the unique differences between different South Asians. Our aim is to achieve unity within a diverse body of people."