LIVING A REFUGEE LIFE

THE POWER OF RECONCILIATION

THE GIFT OF LAMENT

Features

THE MAGAZINE OF AGAPÉWINTER 2017

ENCOUNTER GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

RECONCILING

all things

PEOPLE

MAKING THE CONNECTION .... 6 Do you find it difficult to connect with people who appear to be different from you on the surface? Why or why not?

WORD ON THE STREET .............. 12

What words do you normally associate with the term “Christian”?

LIFE StoriesLILY'S STORY ........................ 7

“God loves me no matter what.”

NUHA'S STORY ...................... 11“I felt a presence with me.”

REFUGEE STORIES ................. 17What was it like for you when you first encountered Christians? How did this experience change your life story?

RICHARD & BIM'S STORY ....... 19“There is something happening. It is a force for good.”

Stories HELPING WITH HEART AND HAND ............. 10A look at how Agapé’s humanitarian partner GAiN is bringing the gospel to struggling communities in an integrated way.

LIVING A REFUGEE LIFE ..... 14Agapé’s First Acts team has changed their name to Agapé Refugee Life. They share the powerful stories that lie behind this change.

PRAY WITH AGAPÉ WEEK BY WEEK .......... 21

Agapé helps people encounter God’s unconditional love where they study, work and live through making

multiplying disciples of Jesus. OUR VISION IS BIG.

We dream of a day when everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus. This vision

extends beyond our national borders and beyond what we could ever hope

to accomplish on our own.

OUR APPROACH IS SIMPLE.

We believe that in order to see the growth of spiritual movements like Jesus did, we need to do what Jesus did: introduce people to his message, help them grow in their understanding of how to follow him with their whole lives, and challenge

them to go out and do the same with others.

Agapé has been giving training in discipleship and evangelism in the UK since 1967. We are a

part of Campus Crusade for Christ International and are members of the Evangelical Alliance and

Global Connections.

AGAPE MINISTRIES LTD.

Registered in England No 949989 Registered office as below.

VAT No 200 1787 10 Registered charity in England & Wales (258421)

and Scotland (SC042332)

HEADQUARTERS

Agapé, 167 Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 1SW Tel: 0121 765 4404

Email: info@agape.org.uk Website: www.agape.org.uk

COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT

Gary Palmer (chair), Richard Boothroyd, Lisbet Diers, Javier García, Ian Johnson, Sally Taylor

PANEL OF REFERENCE

The Rt Revd Wallace Benn, Lyndon Bowring, Stephen Gaukroger, Ram Gidoomal CBE, Victor

Jack, Josh McDowell, George Verwer, Sir Peter Woodhead KCB

MOVE MAGAZINE

Editor: Danielle Wilson Associate Editor: Allan Ooi

Design: Verity Moon Photography: Pamelyn Chew, Aaron Ku,

Anne Witton /agapeuk @agape_uk

THE POWER OF RECONCILIATION .............. 4How broadening our understanding of what the Bible says about reconciliation is key to mission.

MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE ACROSS DIFFERENCE ............ 8How can we get better at having good conversations with people who have different worldviews or values?

BONE OF CONTENTION ... 18The Gift of Lament.

FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR ............................. 23A Future Hope.

Study & ACTION

NEWS & Prayer

2 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

❝ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to

himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.COLOSSIANS 1:19-20

If you had to sum up the essence of the gospel in one word, which word would you choose? Think about it for a moment. There are quite a few contenders: sacrifice, salvation, freedom, grace, forgiveness, kingdom, mission, submission…

Paul used the word ‘katallassó’, meaning ‘to reconcile’ or ‘reconciliation’, 15 times throughout his New Testament writings. Paul’s word choice was incredibly significant and specific. In order to express his vision of the gospel, he compounded the Greek words for “to exchange with” and “the other.” *

According to Paul, reconciliation is about how God made us friends by literally putting himself into our shoes. But the reconciliation he describes goes beyond simply our own individual relationships with God. Inherently, it casts the vision for an open-hearted lifestyle of discipleship and mission. It is an invitation to participate in God’s plan to reconcile ALL of creation to himself. It asks the question, are we willing to exchange places with those who are ‘other’ to us? Will we step into their shoes? Will we walk long, uncomfortable paths with people who don’t fit neatly into our communities?

This issue of MOVE Magazine considers what we might see if we were to view Jesus’ life, message and mission through this lens of reconciliation. Would it influence how we live, serve, speak and interact with other people?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET IN TOUCH? Please send an email to editor@agape.org.uk

&

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 3

Danielle Wilson, Editor

RECONCILING

all things

*De Gruchy, J.W., 2002. Reconciliation: Restoring Justice. SCM Press, London, p. 51.

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(Romans 5:9-11). Remember, Paul too was a murderer. He was then forgiven, reconciled with and welcomed into the very community he had attacked. Because of this experience of making peace with God AND his people, there is great power and resonance in his words (Colossians 1:19-20).

Like Paul, we have been reconciled to God and we too are conscripted into God's work of reconciling the whole world – it is woven into the very fabric of new identities in Christ. In our world of ‘unfriending’ and echo chambers, we often see our own rights, comfort and views as paramount. We unconsciously buy into a gospel of fairness rather than a gospel of grace.

Restoring Humanity

But God’s kingdom is upside down and his kind of reconciliation flips fairness on its head. In his book The Ministry of Reconciliation: Spirituality & Strategies, Robert Schreiter wrote:

We would expect reconciliation to begin with the repentance of the wrongdoers. God begins with the victim, restoring them to the humanity that the wrongdoer has tried to wrest away or destroy. The restoration of humanity might be considered the very heart of reconciliation. The experience of reconciliation is the experience of grace.

Just as supernatural forgiveness fuelled transformation through the example of the Auca widows, the world needs to see and experience more believers laying down their rights, willing to love in the midst of conflict, disagreement and loss. This is a physical representation of the truth of the gospel. As believers, we need to tell more stories and be open about our journeys through forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation. It is the counter-cultural nature of reconciliation that is at once repellent and attractive to the world.

FORGIVENESS

REPENTANCE

RECONCILIATIONFuelled by the Holy Spirit

forgiveness, repentance & RECONCILIATION

Both the one who has been hurt and the one who has caused hurt are called to pursue reconciliation. But reconciliation can only happen when forgiveness and repentance take place. Neither forgiveness nor repentance negate justice, eliminate consequences or de-value su�ering.

�e one who has caused hurt can repent regardless of whether or not they receive forgiveness.

�e one who is hurt can forgive with or without the repentance of the one who has hurt them.

How do they work together in our relationships? What is your part?

Forgiveness can precede repentance.

Sometimes there is mutual hurt – both can repent and forgive.

Brokenness wanders all over our souls. Healing requires a similar journey of wandering.john paul lederach�e Moral Imagination: �e Art and Soul of Building Peace

In 1957, two years after her husband and four other missionaries were murdered by Auca

tribesman, Elisabeth Elliot reflected on her experience of reconciliation as, unfathomably, one of her husband’s killers sat playing with her three-year-old daughter.

“How did this come to be? Only God who made iron swim, who caused the sun to stand still, in whose hand is the breath of every living thing – only this God, who is our God forever and ever, could have done it.” *

Elliot and the other widows allowed the Holy Spirit to enable them to forgive and pursue reconciliation with their husbands’ murderers. As a result, they saw the transformation of a whole people group. In the more than half century since those events, some 80 percent of the Waodani (Auca) have heard the gospel message, with between 25 and 40 percent professing Christian faith.

God with Us

Our own life stories may not include as dramatic a tale of forgiveness and reconciliation as Elisabeth Elliot. But each of our stories ARE peppered with strained relationships, angry

misunderstandings, broken trust and people who are difficult to forgive.

In my personal story of faith, it was my experience of suffering and the beauty of forgiveness and reconciled relationships that actually formed my missional view of the world. The idea that God wanted to redeem my pain by giving me a story that could comfort others was in itself life-giving; “…we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). But reconciliation is not an easy or natural process – everything within us wants to avoid conflict and pain and hold onto bitterness.

The question is, will we invite God to be present in these painful spaces in our lives and in the lives of others? And what will God do in our families and communities if we do?

The way we forgive, repent and reconcile with others gives more than language to the gospel – it is a physical demonstration, a powerful witness, an invitation to participate in gospel goodness and a signpost to a future hope. Reconciliation is the cornerstone of our hope in Christ. It is not merely an activity, but a way of life.

The Gospel of Peace

In Paul’s writings, reconciliation with God through Christ IS the gospel. “… We were God’s enemies … reconciled to him through the death of his son”

DANIELLE WILSON

Danielle Wilson is Agapé’s Communications Director. She lives in Birmingham with her husband Joel and their two girls,

Evie and Josie.

* Elliot, Elisabeth, 1981. Through Gates of Splendour (25th

Anniversary Edition), Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, p. 257.

❝ The idea that God wanted to

redeem my pain by giving me a story that could comfort others was in itself life-giving.

THE POWER OF

Reconciliation

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 5

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 7The Reconciling All Things Issue | 76 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

Lily-Rose is a Computer Science student at Northumbria

University who is part of the LGBT community. We asked her to share her experience of connecting with Agapé Student Life. I’d been invited to Agapé Student Life a lot but I couldn’t come at first because the radio show that I host clashed with the meetings. In the end, I moved my radio show so that I could come along to Student Life. It felt warm and welcoming like a big massive hug. I didn’t realise to start off with that the people were Christians, which was a good thing. If it was an explicitly

AGAPÉ STUDENT LIFE IS A MOVEMENT OF PASSIONATE STUDENTS COMMITTED TO THE SPIRITUAL, SOCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL RENEWAL OF THE UNIVERSITY THROUGH JESUS. Find out more at www.agape.org.uk

Christian society, I’d be petrified because I know a lot of Christians don’t agree with people who are trans. But I found nice, bubbly people, and everyone was so welcoming. That was the main thing. We’ve got a good mix of Christians and non-Christians.

I was brought up in the Anglican church, but started to feel a bit disillusioned in my teens. My faith disappeared when it came to Freshers’ Week at university, but being involved in Student Life has supported my faith re-growing. It’s helped me actually talk about my faith.

God loves people no matter what, regardless of their LGBT status or background. He loves you whether you’re a druggie, alcoholic,

Yes, initially it can be difficult, at least

until you get into a conversation or get to know them. I think for the

relationship to grow there needs to be some common ground otherwise it could

become quite hard work. I’ve always found offering help to people has been a good way to develop relationships. You can’t beat offering someone practical help if

it’s needed.

Daryl Agapé Staff

MAKING THE ConnectionDo you find it difficult to connect with people who appear to be different from you on the

surface? Why or why not?

When it comes to international students, I

find it easier to connect with them even though they appear different from me; I have a

natural affinity for them and can relate to living cross-culturally. Outside of that experience, yes I can find it difficult to connect with people who appear different from me. Perhaps out of fear of not being able to

relate to them.

Sarah Overmyer Agapé Training and

Development Director

Being from a working class

background, I initially found it daunting trying to

connect with majority middle class students, and I still do, but I’ve learnt along the way that the main barrier is actually what I call my reverse snobbery. We actually all have similar insecurities, worries and doubts underneath different life experiences. But often our values play out quite differently.

Ellie Staton Agapé Student Life Team

Leader, Oxford

In some ways it can be easier to connect with people

who seem different on the surface as there’s more opportunity to ask questions and learn from each other. If we all look the same, there’s an assumption that we’ll have the same values, hopes and dreams, which is misguided. I once had a great gospel conversation with a naked elderly Jewish lady in the showers of my local swimming pool. She saw my Hebrew tattoo which says ‘forgiven’ and wanted to know

how to have forgiveness.

Anne Witton Agapé Student Life,

Newcastle

On one summer

project to an Ivy League university in the US we saw there was a

group of large American football players gathered. Not only were we fearful of their

intellect, but also their size! One of the guys turned out to be a Christian who introduced us to his friends and invited us to their frat house. The biggest lesson I learned was not to judge people by their appearances. You can’t tell from the

outside if someone believes in Jesus or will want to know more about him.

Ceri Keates Agapé LDHR Team

gambler or a supposed ‘normal’ person. It makes a difference knowing I’ve got someone on my side, knowing there’s someone there to support me when I’m feeling down. There’s someone there to help if I’m struggling - to carry my burdens when anxiety kicks in.

Recently I’ve been learning about silent prayer and making sure you leave space for God to talk to you. I felt that was really powerful. I often listen to the Christian Mix playlist on Spotify. The song ‘Gracefully Broken’ by Matt Redman moves me to tears when I listen to it.

GOD LOVES ME no matterWHAT

Your mighty love stands strong to the end You will fulfill your purpose for me You won’t forsake me You will be with me Here I am, God Arms wide open Pouring out my life Gracefully broken

-Matt Redman

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ý Pray for opportunities to start new friendships

ý Don’t overthink it – just smile and say hello

ý Practise curiosity – show your natural interest in people

ý Look for common interests and activities

ý Be a good listener

ý Offer practical help where you can

ý Be open about yourself

ý Share food or coffee

ý Love Jesus and let it flow through your life

PRAY FOR YOUR NEIGHBOURS

My husband and I pray for our neighbours almost every day. We have found that everyone yearns to be cared for, listened to, accepted, loved, and to be important to someone. So we keep this in mind when we talk to our neighbours. We also found out that introducing our Christian friends to our neighbours has made new connections that we ourselves could not have made. My Christian friend who suffers from schizophrenia met my high-flying neighbour who then opened up about her own mental illness, which I had no idea about. The main thing is to remember that God wants people to know him. Even if my attempts are a bit clumsy, God can use them to glorify himself. Respect and love go a long way to build bridges.

EEA PLATNER AGAPÉ STAFF, LONDON

LISTEN (AND EAT) WELL

If you can allow yourself to look beyond the differences, overcome your fears and step out in faith, you learn everyone appreciates someone who takes the time to smile and listen to them. Everyone has a story to tell. Being invited round to someone’s house from a different culture may be way out of your comfort zone. But you will leave with a full stomach of tasty food and be one of few British people they will have in their home; this will speak about Jesus in volumes!

CERI KEATES AGAPÉ LDHR TEAM

MIX UP YOUR FRIENDS!

Take a step of faith and be hospitable. Invite people for coffee. Don’t be afraid to mix friendship groups. Sometimes we don’t move towards new “different” people because we think we don’t have time for the people we already have in our life. Invite your Muslim

OPEN UP

Be prepared to talk about how you feel. How can you expect people to open up to you if you’re not prepared to be open with them? Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone to meet people where they’re at and where they feel comfortable. Food also helps! It’s much easier to talk over a meal, or even just snacks. At our yard

parties it’s amazing how many people would stop and chat if you give them a doughnut!

ABIGAIL BICK AGAPÉ FUND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Meaningful DialogueS

can through social media or watch the news and you’ll see that when it comes to

religion, gender or culture, lines of division can be drawn at lightning speed. Can followers of Jesus buck this ugly trend? How do we engage in meaningful conversations across differing worldviews and values?

ACROSS DIFFERENCE

BE INQUISITIVE

I used to be embarrassed that I didn’t know enough and that I was just going to look stupid, but I’m realising that being inquisitive is less arrogant and more helpful. It causes you to really engage rather than jump in with answers. I find myself looking for the commonalities to build bridges but also the deeper differences – what they think about grace, sin and forgiveness. This takes quite a bit of asking “why?” and “so how does that work for you?” I was chatting with a guy on a plane recently; he was from a Hindu background but had added a bunch of other spiritual philosophies on top. I really was intrigued about how it all worked in his head, in particular forgiveness. He left with a greater realisation that he probably needed to ‘land’ what he thought about how he was forgiven rather than hoping the scattergun approach would cover the bases.

PAUL CHEESMAN AGAPÉ GLOBAL HR

neighbours to dinner when you have some friends from church or your football team around. Being more flexible with our social circles and taking the initiative to say hello to people can go a long way.

CHRISTY STAATS AGAPÉ STAFF (WORKING WITH REFUGEES IN THE US)

LOVE JESUS

I’m definitely still learning every day! The biggest lesson is that sharing my faith is not a matter of rehearsing set things to say, but it’s about listening to people and sharing authentically about how my relationship with Jesus impacts different areas of my life. So I suppose the biggest tool for sharing my faith is loving Jesus first and allowing him to shape my life… then I have stories to tell. Remember that the main thing is not your differences or what you might perceive to be ‘wrong’ about their lifestyle. The main thing is people encountering Jesus through you. Jesus didn’t spend his time lecturing broken people. He spent time with them, and most of his correcting was to the religious leaders who looked down on those people. We are called Christ’s ambassadors, so use Jesus as your model.

ELLIE STATON AGAPÉ STUDENT LIFE TEAM LEADER, OXFORD

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 98 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

Simple advice for befriending new peop le, whatever

their background:

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 1110 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017 The Reconciling All Things Issue | 1110 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

Nuha is a university student from a Muslim background. She shares how her

experience of supernatural healing on a GAiN summer project led to her placing her faith in Christ. In 2016, I went to Romania with Agapé’s humanitarian partner, GAiN. We held programmes for Roma children, teenagers, and women and helped build a walking path from their village to the community centre.

Being the only non-Christian within the group, I expected to feel like an outsider, and was definitely not expecting anything life-changing! I learnt a lot from the others; they were so comfortable with their identity in God and led their lives accordingly.

I was in a lot of pain throughout the project due to chronic back problems, and one of the other volunteers asked if anyone had ever prayed for me. I

❝ After a few weeks of

studying the Bible with the group, I had a personal encounter with Jesus; I saw him and felt his presence. What he said to me made me want to follow him wholeheartedly.

laughed and replied in the negative, so she asked if the team could do so that evening. I don't know why I said yes, but I did!

It was the most extraordinary experience. Everyone gathered around me to pray and I felt a presence with me. When they finished praying, they asked me if I was still in pain – to my surprise, I wasn't! I was able to bend and touch my toes, as well as put socks on without having to lie down first. These might sound like really easy things, but I hadn't been able to do them for seven years. Someone suggested that I pray a simple prayer to God, along the lines of, "Thank you for helping me with my pain." But all I said was, "God, if you're real, then send people my way to teach me about you. I have tried on my own, but not succeeded."

I attributed the events of that night to a placebo effect once I returned home. A few weeks later, I received a message from someone I didn't know at my university, asking me if I would like to

take part in a Bible study group. I was shocked! We weren't friends, so how did she find me? She told me that God had given her my name and told her to invite me to her Bible study.

After a few weeks of studying the Bible with the group, I had a personal encounter with Jesus; I saw him and felt his presence.

What he said to me made me want to follow him wholeheartedly. Going to Romania caused this sequence of events, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

To find out more about the work of GAiN UK, visit www.globalaidnetwork.org.uk

Rachel Wears spoke with Sarah Patel and Rezi Kardellemaj, staff of GAiN UK, to hear about

how the work of GAiN is bringing reconciliation across the world.

Who is GAiN?

SP: GAiN (Global Aid Network) is a global Christian relief and development organisation, and is the humanitarian partner of Agapé. We launched in the UK two years ago, and work in some of the toughest places on earth, where people are living in poverty and crisis. There, we seek to express God’s unconditional love in practical ways, and support those experiencing trauma and loss as they deal with the emotional and spiritual toll of what they are going through.

In the UK, we seek to mobilise students, professionals, churches, and others to respond to the situations and stories which touch their hearts by looking at what they have in their hands (time, talents, finances, practical items), and give whatever that is to help meet the needs of people around the world.

Do you have any stories from the past two years where you have seen this in action?

RK: Recently, I went on a project to the Middle East with GAiN Canada. One of the women in the team had been raised in a culture where you worked hard, earned well, helped your family and had a good life. The idea of giving money, time, and expertise to somebody else “out there” with no prospect of return was alien to her until she became a Christian – and even after that, it was still a challenge. At the end of the project her view had changed; she came to give, but she also received. She saw the unconditional love of the children she met and

how the church we partnered with lived with one another, opening their houses, sitting with people, crying with people. She went to help because their stories motivated her to respond, but she was returning with her heart moved and a deeper desire to use her skills to help.

Sometimes I have the (wrong) perspective that I’m “deigning” to serve people when I take part in humanitarian aid. Your work seems to really challenge that.

RK: It does. That attitude is understandable! We live in freedom and safety; we have more opportunities to study, work, earn, and live well. But we are called to share what we have with people who don’t have that freedom yet. The key word is ‘yet’ – people are not poor, or in need, forever, but for a particular time in their life.

The Micah Declaration stated that as part of gospel mission, “we are called to work for reconciliation between ethnically divided communities, between rich and poor, between the oppressors and the oppressed.” *

This Declaration was

significant in forming GAiN UK – how have you seen this kind of reconciliation occur?

SP: Our projects in Romania go to the Roma community, one of the most excluded people groups in the world. As a result of their history, they don’t have a national government behind them, and are often written off as thieves, despite their reality: they work incredibly long hours on a rubbish dump to scrape together a living. Over the last three years, we’ve been able to bring some Romanian students and local Christian leaders along with us, and as they’ve

met each other, prejudices have started breaking down! We’ve found ourselves in a privileged position of being able to stand as a third party between the two people groups and invite them to get to know each other in a way not normally possible in that country. I believe that as the younger generation of students spend time with the Roma children, and are able to call them friends, reconciliation will

begin to happen.

heart & handHELPING WITH

* Micah Network. “Micah Declaration on Integral Mission.” p. 3. 27 September 2001. http://www.micahnetwork.org/sites/default/files/doc/page/mn_integral_mission_declaration_en.pdf. Accessed 04 September 2017.

I FELT A presenceWITH ME

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 1312 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

on the STREET WORD

What words do you normally associate

with the term 'Christian'?

Mould, Incense and

White

–Gianfelice, Student

Respect, Devotion and Intelligent

–Alejandro, Labourer

Vatican and Oppression

–Valentina, Marketing Intern

Community, Good Samaritan,

Generosity and Humility

–Arthur, Student

Conservatism and Fundamentalism

–Dimitris, Yoga Instructor

Honesty, Goodness and Thankfulness

–Nicola, Chef

Cult, Broad and Religion

–Phoebe, Circus Perfomer

Faith, Jesus, Church,

Catholicism and Church of England

–Tashima, Fundraiser

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n July, an exciting change took place within the Agapé movement. Our “First

Acts” team relaunched their ministry with a new name that better reflects their identity, vision and mission: Agapé Refugee Life.

“As part of the mission and calling we have from the Lord, we are refugees,” explains Kia, of Agapé Refugee Life. “Most people would want to avoid being called that – but we want to embrace it, because Jesus himself was a refugee. We want to see the lives of more refugees being transformed by the Lord, having encountered him through us.”

The Agapé Refugee Life team work with Farsi-speakers in the UK and around the world, sharing the Good News through evangelism and discipleship, providing Iranian food and running English lessons for new arrivals in the UK, extending invitations to Bible studies run in Farsi for both non- and new believers, and running baptism courses for those expressing faith. “In our

ministry, the people we encounter are mostly refugees, and are in need of hope and peace, so we reach out to them by fulfilling their physical and emotional needs first; this is how they are introduced to Christ,” Kia explains. “We bring the gospel to the people we approach. Then, through discipleship, we ask those who respond to the gospel to carry on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.”

In the last two years alone, the team have seen 254 Farsi-speakers come to faith. The compassion that characterises their ministry is rooted in their own personal experience. Each staff member has a story to share of leaving Iran, their home country, and seeking refuge in Europe.

Arman’s JourneyArman’s story bears some striking similarities to Kia’s. He was born a year before the Islamic Revolution of Iran took place, and lived in a war zone city during the Iran-Iraq War. Aged 22, and with no sense of financial security, he left Iran in pursuit of a better life. “I was smuggled from Bosnia to Croatia, then into Slovenia, Italy, France, and Belgium. There, I got into a box underneath a big lorry and hid there with five other people until the lorry got on a ferry and into the UK. The journey from Iran to the UK took 25 days – trying to avoid police, travelling on foot from a border village into the next country. If I had known what it was going to be like, I never would have tried it.”

Continued overleaf...

I

REFUGEE ❝The journey from Iran to the UK took 25 days

– trying to avoid police, travelling on foot from a border village into the next country. If I had known what it was going to be like, I never would have tried it.

Kia’s JourneyKia left Iran in 1998, at the time of the football

World Cup in France. “When my visa expired, I decided to stay in Europe and claim asylum in Germany. In order to proceed with my application, I chose to lie to the German government and gave them false information about myself. They refused my application and I came into the UK illegally, underneath a lorry. I attached myself to the bars for the whole journey. When I arrived, I claimed asylum and told lies to the government again. I hid my true identity, which was painful and difficult.” Kia got involved with an Iranian church in order to learn more about Christianity and support his visa application, but what he learned there changed his life.

“In 2000, I received a revelation from Jesus. He asked me to trust in him fully and said that he would set me free from my sin. He offered me my true identity and a future which was going to glorify God. Through his teaching, I understood that I could lie to anyone, but not him. I repented from my sin and made my decision to follow him. At the end of the year 2000, I wrote a letter to the government saying that I was a liar. I told them my true life story and waited for their response. After two weeks, they allowed me to stay in the UK as a refugee. That was a miracle! Jesus not only showed me his grace, but gave me a purpose to live for.” In 2003, Kia joined Agapé in order to serve the Lord full time.

❝ I received a revelation from

Jesus. He asked me to trust in him fully and said that he would set me free from my sin. He offered me my true identity and a future which was going to glorify God.

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LIFE

LIVING A

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DO YOU NEED HELP SUPPORTING FARSI-SPEAKERS IN YOUR CHURCH OR COMMUNITY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE AGAPÉ REFUGEE LIFE STAFF COME AND SPEAK AT YOUR CHURCH? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RECEIVING MORE REGULAR UPDATES FROM THE AGAPÉ REFUGEE LIFE TEAM?Get in touch by emailing refugeelife@agape.org.uk

RACHEL WEARS

Rachel Wears likes singing and green spaces, and loves a good story (however it’s

told). She currently lives in Birmingham and is part of

Agapé’s Communications team.

A Refugee IdentityKia and Arman’s history still has an impact on their lives today. Their identities and experiences as refugees will not leave them. As followers of Christ, they regard this as a unique opportunity.

“Although we have settled down in the UK for many years, we still live a refugee life,” shares Arman. “Because of our faith in Jesus, we cannot freely go back to our home country, and are separated from our

families.”

“Farsi-speaking people are thirsty for Christ, wherever they are,” says Kia. “I have had the privilege of teaching and preaching the Word of God to Iranians for many years. I love to see them grow in their faith, and it is my honour to serve God in this way.”

❝Although we have settled down in the UK

for many years, we still live a refugee life," shares Arman. "Because of our faith in Jesus, we cannot freely go back to our home country, and are separated from our families."

Arman lied to the government about wanting to become a Christian in order to claim asylum and stay in the UK. To back up his application, he started going to the Iranian church planted by the Agapé Refugee Life team.

“Everything was a shock to me. The first thing that really grabbed my attention was that Christians sang and called God their Father. They said God loved them as a good and kind father loves his children. I could not understand or accept this. God loving me as I am, with all of my sin and weaknesses, my past, could not be true.” He carried on attending Bible studies and Sunday services, and gradually, was convinced of the truth that God loved him and was offering him a chance to restore their relationship. He prayed a simple prayer of repentance and committed his life to following Jesus.

“A few months after giving my life to Jesus, he gave me courage and strength to tell the government that I had lied to them in my asylum application. For one reason or another, they never reviewed my application. After nine years, the government sent a letter to my solicitor confirming that I had been given a settlement visa which allowed me to permanently stay in the UK.”

Arman continued to grow in his faith, joined Agapé as a staff member and has recently been appointed as the new director of Agapé Refugee Life. Arman follows in the footsteps of Reza who began this ministry with his wife Rima; Reza has recently taken on the exciting new role of Agapé Global Ambassador in order to teach, train and support outreach to refugees worldwide.

❝They said God loved them as a

good and kind father loves his children. I could not understand or accept this. God loving me as I am, with all of my sin and weaknesses, my past, could not be true.

REFUGEE Stories

16 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

Amir's StoryI was born into a Muslim family which was not religious, but I always searched for God. As a young man, I prayed and fasted and knew some of the special prayers. However, none of that helped me succeed in life. After I got divorced, I felt hopeless and started drinking. I realised my prayers were in vain and I had lost God.

Around this time, one of my friends suggested that I go to Istanbul, where I met a few Christians who invited me to church. I went, though I was not very interested initially. The pastor shared a passage from the Gospel of Matthew which says, “Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened for you.” As he spoke, I gave my heart to Jesus. After that my life changed. To

❝To me, it was the miracle of

my life that the Lord Jesus Christ had called me by name and saved me from my terrible situation.

❝I wake up every day

full of hope and thank Jesus for his heavenly blessings.

me, it was the miracle of my life that the Lord Jesus Christ had called me by name and saved me from my terrible situation. When I returned to Iran, all of my family and friends noticed the changes in me. I have been going to church regularly since I entered the UK. I am very glad

that here, I can freely have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and am thankful that Jesus touched my heart.

Darya’s StoryI was born into a very strict Muslim family in Iran and was put under difficult religious teaching from childhood. This teaching had made me see God as an idol of fear and anger; God was always angry. But my heart

What was it like for you when you first encountered Christians?

How did this experience change your life story?

could not accept these lies until fate took me somewhere where I got to know the truth.

When I arrived in England, I was placed in a hostel and I got to know a woman there who was a Christian. Her prayers for me were very interesting, and the hope and love that she shared with me made me want to go to church. At church, I got to know Jesus Christ and realised that he is a God of love and hope. He is the Saviour! I

decided to give my heart to him. Since then, the fear and anger of God has left me, and hope, faith and love have replaced them. I wake up every day full of hope and thank Jesus for his heavenly blessings.

Even if I was born a thousand times more, he would always be my choice.

The Reconciling All Things Issue | 1918 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017 The Reconciling All Things Issue | 19

BONE OF Contention

18 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017

When Agapé Family Life’s Christine Daniel invited Richard

and Bim to the ‘A Day Together’ event five years ago Richard was direct: “It’s not one of those Christian things is it? I’m an atheist!” Christine sat down with the couple recently to hear their reflections on the day and the impact it has made.

Bim: I was a little reticent. I didn’t know what to expect. I thought, does Christine think we don’t get on well?

Richard: It was a warm day of harmony. We talked about things we’d never done before, face to face. That was rare. We focussed on worthwhile things.

A GREAT WAY OF FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT AGAPÉ FAMILY LIFE IS BY COMING ALONG TO OUR ANNUAL VISION & EQUIPPING EVENT, 2ND (EVENING) - 3RD FEBRUARY 2018. THIS YEAR’S THEME IS: CONNECTED? For more information or to book a place, go to www.familylifeuk.org/ve2018

Bim: It was quality time, which was unusual for us; no kids, no phone calls... We opened up a lot, really listened to each other and bonded.

They also liked that the presenting couples talked about real things and the spiritual dimension was relevant.

Richard: They weren’t judging. Couples were talking about forgiveness and love. The worst thing would have been if we had been lectured or there was an evangelistic approach, telling me what to believe. It was good that God wasn’t rammed down your throat. It surprised me that there was such a cross-section of people there; Hindus, Muslims and lots of young people. It made it seem like it was for everybody.

Richard: A Day Together facilitated talking about our relationship. We confirmed our love for each other. We're really good together.

Bim: If anything happened to Richard I’d look back and it would be a nice memory.

It seems that the event had an impact beyond their relationship. About two years afterwards we had a memorable evening. Richard cooked curry (excellent) and then asked loads of questions about God. Later we invited them to our church carol service and in the New Year they started coming regularly to services.

Bim: It wasn't what I expected. It was a nice atmosphere. It’s lovely to touch base every week with such genuine, caring people who want to do good in the world.

Richard: I go to church with Bim for the message. There is something happening. It is a force for good. I don’t believe you have to be a believer to take advantage of the message.

The couple have attended Alpha courses and Bim prays regularly. Richard is sceptical and still seeking answers.

Richard: I have a great wonder and curiosity about religion.

Richard and Bim are neighbours and friends. It’s great to journey together with them. I wonder what will happen next?

Richard & Bim

happening.THERE IS

SOMETHING

good.IT IS A FORCE FOR

In 2015 grief slapped me in the face like never before. It was January. My first and only son was

struck with a deadly infection: meningitis B. It spread through Daniel’s tiny, 15-month old body like wildfire. The doctors couldn’t save him, and I couldn’t have prevented him from contracting the invisible infection. Emotional, physical, and spiritual darkness ensued those following months.

Still in the early days of grief, six months later, I became pregnant with twins. Little shards of hope crept into our life, though we were still deeply grieving. But at 21 weeks, my waters broke. I held on to my babies for as long as I could, but 10 days later, an infection set in, and at 22 weeks, Manny and Reg died while being born.

I wish I had never met grief, suffering, nor lament in this way. But I feel it is particularly important

to talk about lament and the “gift” it has been to me. It is a gift that our Western society desperately needs.

What is Lament?In their book Reconciling All Things, Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice defined lament, writing, “We are called to a space where any explanation or action is too easy, too fast, too shallow – a space where the right response can only be a desperate cry directed to God. We are called to learn the anguished cry of lament.”

Shortly after Daniel’s death, I remember how lost I felt. I described it as being a teenager all over again, not knowing what I was supposed to do with my life. My complaints were towards God and he was “silent.” It was as if I was given all the time I needed to protest.

In the book of Lamentations, the only voice that “Lady Zion” is longing to hear is God’s, but he is silent. In her book Lamentations and the Tears of the World, Kathleen O’Connor writes, “God’s absence forces us to attend to voices of grief and despair… Surprisingly, [Lamentations] does express hope but only in the unsteady, halting, and tenuous way known to survivors of cataclysm, trauma, depression, or loss.”

Lament is the kind of cry that this world is expressing, and we are inept to share in it in a way that conveys God’s love and empathy. According to O’Connor, “Lamentations honours truth-telling and denies ‘denial.’” We live in a world that is averse to pain and suffering. This was apparent in people’s responses to our loss. While we received many kind words, we received our share of inappropriate ones. One person dismissed my hurt by changing the subject altogether, while another said, “Well, you’ve been through the worst, it only has to get better.” How do you know when you’ve experienced the worst? Certainly, for Job, this question did not have a clear-cut answer.

The Language of LamentThe Jewish tradition observes a day of fasting on the 9th day of Ab. It commemorates the saddest and most catastrophic times they’ve experienced, from the destruction of the temple to the Holocaust. Having a regular, corporate observance of loss, as in the Jewish calendar, helps develop a

language for lament that perhaps the church lacks.

In his commentary on Lamentations Robin Parry writes, “If we never engage this in worship, we rob them [the church] of having a language of lament. If not modelled, we don’t have the resources to draw on when ‘we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.’”

The book of Lamentations exposes the injustices and the sins of this world. It honours suffering. In the second chapter, Zion’s “witness” shows empathy. He does not impugn her suffering by correcting her complaints to God. He says, “Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?” (v.13)

The Practice of LamentI commend the way in which many communities have responded in times of recent tragedy. The communities around North Kensington were so moved to action by the tragedy at Grenfell Tower that donations had to be turned away. Taxi drivers gave free lifts after the terrorist attack in Manchester. For us, generosity and practical care overflowed after we lost Daniel. But while we do really well to help in a crisis, walking with people in their suffering and despair over the long haul proves more difficult. How do we bring healing to a suffering society without becoming like Job’s comforters?

Joining others in their lament and sitting with them in their grief is already deeply uncomfortable. This is because it forces us to engage our own fears, doubts and despair. To sit in these painful places when there are no words, no reason, and no explanation takes self-awareness and courage on our part. But perhaps that’s where we could start, and healing and change might follow, however long that may take.

KATHY HORNE

Kathy Horne is a Filipino-American mum doing life and ministry in London with her husband Jon. She

serves on the Agapé London team and is a lover of food, coffee, and

Oscar-worthy films.

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PRAY WITH AGAPÉ

30 October – 5 NovemberPlease pray for Agapé Student Life societies who are in the middle of the Autumn term. Pray they’d have wisdom in how to reach students with the gospel, and for Christian students to have opportunities and boldness to witness to their friends.

6-12 NovemberPlease pray for our Communications, HR and Operations team who are going away on retreat from 8-10 November. Pray they’d connect well with one another and with God, and feel refreshed by the time away.

13-19 NovemberOur national leaders will be meeting for a day together in November to plan and pray. Please pray this gathering would encourage them, and provide space for them to continue to grow and be fruitful as leaders.

20-26 NovemberSome of our Agapé Student Life societies will host Thanksgiving-themed events to coincide with the American holiday on 23 November. Please pray that God would use these events to foster a deeper sense of thankfulness in students’ lives that cause many to consider all that God has done for them.

27 November – 3 DecemberPlease pray for Agapé Family Life’s online relationship tool, Toucan. Pray for wisdom and inspiration as new modules are developed, and ask God to use this resource powerfully to transform many relationships and draw many to the gospel.

25-31 DecemberThis Christmas week take some time to think of those close to you who don’t know Jesus personally. Pray that God would open up their eyes and hearts to accept him.

1-7 JanuaryFrom 2-6 January our new staff and interns will be joining together for a retreat in Staffordshire. Please pray that this would be a fruitful time of connecting with God and his word, and for opportunities to grow together.

8-14 JanuaryAs the new university term starts please pray for Agapé Student Life societies to make a big impact for the gospel this term, having many opportunities to point students to Jesus and help them choose to follow him.

15-21 JanuaryAgapé Family Life will host ‘A Day Together’ at All Souls church in London on 20 January. Please pray that God would bring healing, forgiveness, love and joy to help build relationships at this couples’ seminar.

4-10 DecemberPlease pray for the various Christmas-themed events our teams are running this month. Pray for many to attend these events and for opportunities to clearly explain why Jesus came.

11-17 DecemberAs our 50th anniversary year comes to a close we are encouraged to continue serving local churches in helping to equip people for evangelism and discipleship. Please pray that what we have to offer would be a blessing to the churches we partner with, and that God would provide opportunities to partner with more churches.

18-24 DecemberPlease pray for our Agapé Refugee Life team as they put on Christmas events for Farsi-speakers. Pray many would come and hear the message of Jesus for the first time. Pray for the Spirit to lead conversations and draw many to Christ.

Week by Week

22-28 JanuaryNext month Agapé Student Life will host ‘Fireseeds’, our annual student gathering for a weekend of training and experience in evangelism. Please pray for all the plans to come together and for God to be preparing the hearts of all the students who will attend.

REMOVED FROM WEB VERSION

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22 | Agapé MOVE Magazine | Winter 2017 The Reconciling All Things Issue | 23

29 January – 4 FebruaryPlease pray that God would raise up new staff and volunteers to be part of the Global Aid Network team so that more people can be reached with practical help that brings hope to situations of crisis and poverty around the world.

5-11 FebruaryOur desire as a ministry is to see the cities in the UK impacted with the gospel. Please pray for our staff and ministry partners to be led by the Holy Spirit as we seek to make Jesus known in these centres of influence.

12-18 FebruaryOur Fireseeds student gathering runs from 16-18 Feb in London. Please pray that this would be a really effective time of training that equips and inspires students to be witnesses on campus. Pray too for a fruitful time of outreach in London on the Saturday afternoon.

19-25 FebruaryPlease pray for those who have become believers through Agapé Refugee Life. Pray God would protect their new faith and cause them to grow in their knowledge of and love for Jesus. Pray too for wisdom in follow up for the Agapé Refugee Life team.

26 February – 4 MarchPlease pray for good follow-up after the outreach at Fireseeds. Pray for those who heard the gospel to reflect on those conversations and for the Holy Spirit to prompt them to look into Christianity further. Pray for the local Agapé team and churches as they try to re-connect with those who expressed an interest.

5-11 MarchIt’s International Women’s Day on 8 March. Some of our Agapé Student Life societies will host special events for women helping them see what the Bible says about identity and true beauty. Please pray for many women to come to these events and be struck by the alternative message they hear.

9-15 AprilAgapé Student Life sends its annual project to Malta from 9-13 April. Please pray this project would encourage the Maltese ministry and help it to grow. Pray for many opportunities to share the gospel and for lasting fruit from the project.

2-8 AprilAt the beginning of April a team from Agapé Student Life and Global Aid Network will travel to Greece to bring a practical expression of God’s love to families who have sought a place of refuge there. Please pray for the team to know God’s work in their lives as they go to serve others.

16-22 AprilPray for wisdom to discern when God may be prompting you to reach out to someone you have little in common with. Pray for boldness and courage to show love to those who are different from you.

23-29 AprilLater this year Agapé Student Life will send short term projects to Portugal and Russia. Please pray for all the preparations currently happening for those projects. Pray for good communication between countries and for wisdom in how to run the projects to make the biggest Kingdom impact.

12-18 MarchLeaders from the 11 Global Aid Network offices worldwide are gathering for their annual meeting in Switzerland this month. Pray that this time would be significant in growing the strength of this network to demonstrate God’s love to people living in the toughest places on earth.

19-25 MarchMany of our staff will gather together from 19-23 March for our Easter Bible conference. Please pray that everyone would be able to engage well with the teaching and that it will be useful for their ministry. Pray for good times of fellowship and fun together, too.

26 March – 1 AprilPlease pray for couples who have attended Agapé Family Life events. Pray that God would bless their relationships and bring restoration, healing and forgiveness where it’s needed. Pray for God to open the eyes of those who are not yet believers.

WANT TO PRAY MORE REGULARLY WITH US?Go to www.agape.org.uk/prayer to sign up for our weekly prayer emails.You can also get our prayer updates through Prayer Mate. Visit praynow4.org/agape

PRAY WITH AGAPÉ

Week by Week

LESLEY CHEESMAN

Lesley Cheesman is the National Director of Agapé in the UK. She lives in Birmingham with her

husband Paul and together they have two children, Charis and Joel.

The man is in love. She’s got a bit of a reputation and a bit of a history but all of that fades in his

determination to marry her. Things are good for a while and they start talking about having a family, but then his suspicions creep in. He realises she’s returning to her old ways.

Maybe it’s an affair. Maybe there’s money involved. Everything within him says to be done with her; no one can live with someone who throws aside her marriage vows so easily. Her

betrayal stings, yet, his heart still pulls him to her. His anger burns but he still longs to have her back. His pursuit of her is relentless.

Grab a cup of tea and take some time to read this startling story in the book of Hosea.

Hosea was called to live a prophetic life in the land of the Israelites and his scandalous marriage to Gomer, a woman of ill-repute, was a living testimony to God’s commitment to be reconciled with his unfaithful people. This shocking story of the intimate relationship God

A FUTURE

FROM THE

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

holds with his people despite their cycle of betrayal ends with a promise of reconciliation which is final and forever.

The book of Hosea points us to the narrative of the whole Bible. Ultimately this is why Jesus came, that we might be brought back into relationship with God. God is in the business of reconciling all things with himself, and he is prepared to go to any lengths to bring this about.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21As people who have been reconciled with God through Christ, we are a new creation. And

God recreated us with a purpose. We are not just citizens of a new kingdom; we are ambassadors in that kingdom – we are participating with God in his big plan to reconcile the world with himself.

What does it look like for you to be part of God’s reconciling work in your community?

ý As an ambassador for Christ, what is your primary message? What level of urgency do you have?

ý As we are reconciled to God, what implications does this have for being reconciled in human relationships?

ý Is there someone you are alienated from in some way? What is one step you can take

towards reconciliation with this person? Is there someone who you can ask to get alongside you as you work this through with the Lord and with the other person?

We have a difficult task before us. Relationships are messy at the best of times, and from personal experience, reconciliation is not guaranteed nor always achieved in this life. We must remember that at the moment of death, not even Jesus was reconciled with all those who wanted to do him harm. He was mocked.

So then what is OUR hope? Paul, in Romans, exhorts us to live at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on us, yet we live with the painful tension that we will not experience reconciliation in all its fullness in this life. This should not cause us to give up hope. Rather, we must persevere in pointing to the reality of another kingdom. We live as people with a message, growing in our anticipation of a new heaven and a new earth. Our calling is to live prophetically, pointing to a future hope when our peace with God will be ultimate and eternal.

HOPE

Ever argued with your partner?

Sign up for free at

toucantogether.com

Toucan is an online app by Agapé Family Life designed to give couples tools to build a happier, healthier life together, built around Biblical principles. Toucan’s new ‘conflict’ module helps couples:

½ get to the root of disagreements

½ understand the effects of conflict – positive & negative

½ work through four stages of resolving conflict

UNRESOLVED ISSUES CHIP AWAY AT LOVE AND CAN BLOW RELATIONSHIPS APART. BUT RESOLVING CONFLICT IN A HEALTHY WAY CAN BRING YOU CLOSER.

Invest 5-10

minutes a day

- it’s worth it!

PART 1 PART 2