Everything was different about this church; the heat, the sounds, and the smells. Natalie was driven along the streets that belonged to the pimps of the district in India. She was visiting a project in the middle of the brothel district, which the church had set up to provide a safe place for children of …
Shame plays an integral role in Middle Eastern culture. So much so, that since living here, it has been a daily (and sometimes hourly) battle to stand in my identity as a daughter of God: free from shame, forgiven and cleansed. In Isaiah 61, we receive a mandate for loving and serving those in poverty …
Ramadan has come back round with its pretty flags and bizarre working hours. It is also a time to learn, every year I learn more about my Muslim friends and what they believe. Yesterday, a Muslim friend posted a list of activities that women who have their period during Ramadan should do in order …
It was a number of months ago that a suggestion was made that we should create a video where ethnic minorities share their experiences of joining a predominantly white church. The video is powerful, giving insights of how we can help minorities feel at home within our churches, helping us become more multi-cultural. Please feel …
What does it feel like attending a white majority church? Read More »
‘To woke or not to woke? that is the question’ by Ian Geary “Having a form of godliness but denying its power….” 2 Timothy 3v5. “In a world bereft of the power of revealed religion, we have to face up to the fact that no-one knows how to live.” What is the good life? What …
In Parts 1&2, Hayat shared some of her experiences as a single female living in an Arabic speaking part of the world, then shared some wisdom from Romans 12 on finding our place in belonging. In this final part, Hayat shares some helpful tips and insights for those involved in supporting and sending singles overseas. …
One family here have taken me in and consider me to be one of theirs. I’m expected to celebrate Eids with them, to come over for iftar (the daily breaking of fast meal during Ramadan, the month of fasting), to visit on at least a weekly basis (ideally from dawn to dusk). It’s a joy …
One of my favourite things about the Arabic speaking world is the high value placed on hospitality and the extended family. Living in this part of the world, it is rare that I would be asked questions typical to a western culture upon introducing myself to someone. “What’s your name?” “What do you do?” are …
While loss is an unavoidable part of life this side of eternity, many have noted that cross-cultural living comes with more loss than usual. Moving to a new culture, whether by choice or necessity, involves leaving things behind – parts of your identity, people and places you love, perhaps the ability to speak in full …
Dealing with loss in cross-cultural service (resource) Read More »
Who May We Be Overlooking? The hot, African sun was beating on my head as I walked through a camp for internally displaced people in Soroti, Uganda. Line upon line of closely packed thatched huts provided temporary shelter for those displaced by the cruel ravages of the Lord’s Resistance Army who were destroying villages …
We moved apartments at the beginning of December, partly because (due to the economic situation here) our rent had got very expensive, but also because we’d found that local friends no longer visited us in our old apartment because it was too far away. This was something we wanted to change. By God’s grace, we …
Rachel Pieh Jones Shares 15 things she would like to tell her third culture kids. To reassure where life has been hard and to celebrate what has been amazing. Read more here https://rachelpiehjones.com/2013/03/1-things-i-want-to-tell-my-third-culture-kids/
Photo Credit: baerchen57 via Compfight cc First published www.towinsome.com If you had nothing but the Bible as a guide, what would you do to celebrate Jesus’ birth? I’m wondering because here in my Middle Eastern country Christmas isn’t celebrated at all. Yes, some of the bigger shops sell lights and fake trees, and Starbucks even serves a gingerbread latte. …
There are many times when we have heard devastating stories from people’s lives. I have been learning how to respond with love, faith, empathy and compassion. Writing poems helps me to reflect on these times and bring these situations to the One we hope in. I don’t know what you’ve seen with your eyes …
“We are never going to see a world saved with an extraordinary few, we are going to see a world saved with an ordinary multitude.” This is a quote from Andy McCullough at the recent Unreached conference. If you were unable to make the conference and have not had a chance to listen yet, I …
An Ordinary Multitude – Reflections on Unreached21 Read More »
An honest account of a church-planter who came to the end of herself and why it was just what she needed Pulling my mask aside to sip my coffee, and thankful that the people around me in my local coffee house didn’t know English, I poured out my heart down the phone to a mentor …
10 months into our Greek adventure, we have learnt that transitioning to a new country takes a lot more time and energy than you might think! We have found that many hours, lots of paperwork, patience and perseverance is needed. Before we moved to Greece, we were told that if we made a pie chart …
If you doubt the power of God to transform even the worst situations, then read on! Things don’t get much tougher than the situation in India at present. Around 26.75 million people have been infected with Covid19. Well over 300,000 people have died from the disease. India’s health care systems and services are buckling under the …
I’m really enjoying Moffett’s History of Christianity in Asia, and am struck by this paragraph summarising Jacob Baradaeus (Yaqub al-Barada’i) and his extraordinary church-planting impact. Here’s the paragraph: “Jacob never really lived in Edessa, his episcopal seat. The police were too hot on his trail… For over thirty-five years, from 542 to 578, Jacob eluded …
When we moved to the middle east I discovered that there were loads of rules in my new home… which no one kept! As someone who grew up in Britain, this was hard for me to grasp. We all have our own worldviews and it was fun having this one challenged! Here is some examples …
Here are some quick lessons from the life of Pantaenus. Never heard of him? That’s why it’s so important that you learn from him! The greatest cross-cultural witnesses are, of course, invisible. You may never have heard of Pantaenus, but you have probably heard of his most famous disciples – the church fathers Clement and …
One of the biggest battles for faith throughout our church planting journey, particularly in our recent move to Greece, has been money! You may find that surprising? The focus is often on battles for the first fruit, laying apostolic foundations and developing a leadership team. These are all a very real and challenging part of …
Sunday is traditionally thought of as the Sabbath day of rest, in UK church life at least. In the busyness of church leadership and family life, we found that we needed a different day to rest if we were to thrive and not just survive each week. We decided to set aside Saturday as a …
God has been working in me on becoming more servant hearted for many years. The biggest turning point was when we had children. I always thought that I would like to be a stay at home Mum, at least until the children started school. However, when I became pregnant with our first child, I was …
Following our recent move as a family from the UK to Greece, we have started learning Greek. It is not easy. Without a doubt, the hardest language that I have ever tried to learn. Yet despite the challenges, we have found that it is so much easier to remember the Greek that we have a …
