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Landmines.· Legacy ofJPar-the victims Ofa ceasefire

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Fairtrade: The nght price for afair deal C ontents

2 October 1995 h. MHComment

editorial

mh .. Missionary. Herald ...... No one can be involved in world mission for very long without becoming The magazine of the Baptist Missionary Society, PO Box 49, aware of that great human family, crossing all barriers of language, culture Baptist House, Didcot Oxon OXl 1 8XA Registered charity No. 233782 and race, to which we all belong. Indeed the missionary vision looks towards Telephone 01235 512077 Fax 01235 511265 that day when there shall be a "vast throng which no one can count, from all General Director ····················· ·································· ····· Reg Harvey races and tribes, from all nations and tongues standing before the throne Editor and before the Lamb". David Pountain However, visions of what shall be should not blind us to the here and .Design...... Anthony Viney now. We belong to the world-wide human family and we depend upon each Sarah Prentice other. It is very easy to become parochial, particularly in our churches, con­ ...... Production...... Supervisor...... Jan Kendall cerned as we are in maintaining buildings and reaching out to local neigh­ Enquires about service overseas to bourhoods. It's all very strange because so much that is used by the modern .Director...... for...... missionaries...... Sian Williams church - electronic organs and keyboards, overhead projectors, photo­ © Copyright 1995 Baptist Missionary Society copiers, as well as communion wine - comes from another country. Many of Printed by Stanley L Hunt Ltd Rushden Northamptonshire the clothes we don to come to worship, the cars we place in the church car ISSN 0264-1372 park, the coffee and tea we drink after the service, remind us of the contri­ mh Prices 1995 bution to our lives of the wider world beyond our national boundaries. Bulk Church Orders If you order the Missionary Herald Several of the articles of this month are about justice and peace. They through your church magazine secretary, the cost of a year's subscription (which is 10 issues per remind us that none of us lives in isolation. The way we live affects ,others. year) is £5.00 post free . Individual Orders Our choices as consumers, tourists and voters hold repercussions for others. If you order the Missionary Herald directly from BMSa year's subscrip­ tion (which is 10 issues) is £9.40 So may we all be challenged to be more consciously concerned for our fel­ post paid. Postage and packing for overseas subscribers is on the rate low citizens of the world. May we be more mindful in prayer of sisters and applicable to their location. brothers in Christ and open to receive new insights and understanding from them. May we use our consumer-power to benefit producers and may we use our democratic freedom to call for government and financial policies which will promote justice, peace and well-being for all. •

~- 1995 October 3 London

God's people need not travel far to have an impact on Third World situations. Sandra Carter discovers that World Mission starts on your doorstep.

he drive from leafy On one side is a row of once ele­ Buckinghamshire to gant tenement town houses. A couple Clapton takes you through of 22-storey blocks of flats tower near­ T several worlds. Farmland by. A sparse park lies opposite the and trim suburbia give way to the church. "How many Baptist churches spend-easy allure of Brent Cross and enjoy a park across the road, just right the remnants of British industry for church picnics and games of round the North Circular Road. Drop rounders?" grins its pastor, Steve down the AlO into east London and Latham (38). you enter a multiplicity of cultures. When the congregation file out on Halal butchers, pavement displays Sunday the chairs are stacked at the of exotic vegetables, kosher stores, big back of the church to create an indoor flat circles of Turkish bread - it's a playground for three children. Two cultural United Nations. A drug store double beds are squeezed into the sports the intriguing notice: We stock church office, and the pastor's study human hair. Other towns and cities is filled with a family's few comforts: may have lost their heart to out-of­ books, photos, a couple of easy chairs, town shopping centres. Here the a TV. Alongside the china and big small shopkeeper reigns supreme. kettles in the church kitchen are the This is the inner-city community family's pots and pans. to which Hackney Downs Baptist For this church is the home of the Church ministers. It's been preaching Ogunwobi family. Sunday Ogunwobi Christ since 1869, when it arose as a (43)- usually called Sunny-has pompous Victorian sanctuary in the rarely left its confines over the past optimistic style of its age, complete year and a half. The church is their with stained glass rose window, sanctuary. now rickety balcony, cavernous The family is fighting a deporta­ 'Jasements and dark corridors. tion order to return them to Nigeria. This is the kind of community But when Sunny and Olubunmi where you may be greeted, as I (Bunmi) came to Britain to study nei­ was, by a graffiti slogan on the church ther had any thought of staying. door: "Jesus eats dog shit." Sunny arrived in 1981 and qualified

4 October 1995 mh. London

in water supply and public health gave refuge to this family on compas­ could walk in and pick them up at any with a masters in environmental sionate grounds, because of the health time if they chose to. It's not protec­ resources. He was given an extension of the children, and because they have tion, it's a statement, a prophetic sign. Above: to allow Bunmi, whom he'd met here so much to contribute to the church. One family highlighting the wider The and married, to complete her business Sunny, a gently-spoken man, firm in Ogunwobi plight of so many families. management course. his faith, was an elder at Stamford family "The Immigration Minister has Her studies were interrupted by Hill Baptist Church (which had no with pos­ discretionary powers and can over­ the premature birth at 25 weeks of suitable building for sanctuary). He is tor Steve turn a deportation order on compas­ their daughter Debra. She needed a a governor and PTA chairman at Latham sionate grounds, bearing in mind the lot of medical attention, as did Tunde, Craven Park School. Bunmi is an Left: health of the children. That's what we born the following year. A letter of energetic, bustling woman who shares Help for think should happen. It's all so arbi­ deportation was issued for June 1993, her faith with enthusiasm. mum trary." but the family were allowed to stay Ask about their practical situation preparing There are worse problems in the until after the birth of their third and they give a calm factual response. the lunch world than a family like the child Phoebe. A deportation date was Ask about what God is doing and Ogunwobis facing deportation. then set for March 16, 1994. The they come alive. They are eager to Shouldn't churches reserve their family went into sanctuary on March share how God supports and encour­ energy for people with more pressing 15, 1994. ages them, the goodness of his people, needs - political refugees perhaps? It could be said that their own his sovereignty over their affairs. This congregation believes that country needs qualified people like Steve says: "They have given an now is th~ time to take a stand:"If we Sunny and Bunmi. Steve Latham enormous amount to our church spir­ don't defy the government now, will points out: "Their country needs itually. They give far more than they we be able to do it later if the situation them - but at this time there are no receive. People have come to Christ worsens? If we compromise now, will jobs there for them. The Nigerian through them, and the faith of many we have the confidence to stand up in economy is in such a shambles and has been strengthened by their testi­ the future on bigger issues? the political system so unstable. mony. They're a blessing to us." "Think of the holocaust. It wasn't Human rights abuses abound. If they Should a church challenge the law that Christians agreed with what was returned they would have no job, no by offering sanctuary? Steve points happening, but they didn't care home, no means of support. The chil­ out: "We are not hiding or harbouring enough." dren would not be able to get the them. The family has always kept the health care and education they need." Home Office fully informed about Hackney Downs Baptist Church where they are. In theory, the police Continues on page 6 tWJ.1995 October 5 London

Meanwhile the Commission for Racial Justice and the Ogunwobis con­ Church of England Race and tinue to live under Community Relations Committee. siege in the back If anyone thought letting the rooms behind the months drift by would break their church. Sunny spirit, they'd be wrong. Eighteen rarely leaves the months after going into sanctuary building, except Sunny says: "We've grown stronger for an occasional over this time. I've seen the different meeting of school faces of God in this situation. It's governors when teaching us as Christians to be patient he is picked up by - then God can reveal a lot of things. car. The two older We carry flesh so occasionally we feel children are taken discouraged. But we hang on to this, to school by a that God has the final say in every sit­ church member, uation." while another does Bunmi adds: "The Lord gives us the shopping. Scripture to stregthen and encourage Bunmi occasional­ us. The strength we tap is not from ly takes little humans but from God.".• Pheobe out for some fresh air. The family Sandra Carter is a freelance Christian Journalist living in High Wycombe, have been encour­ Buckinghamshire. aged by visits from MPs, a visit in June from the Rev Jesse Jackson, a letter from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, messages from well-wishers around the coun­ try, and backing from bodies like the Churches

6 October 1995 mh. London

commented. These issues can seem a world away for people living in rural areas. At the front line Wrong, Steve challenged. "Issues of justice are controlled from where you live. It's people there who have the power to change it. The decisions Third World issues are a daily challenge to that create the living conditions of some British Churches says Sandra Carter Hackney are made in leafy suburbs. "People in suburbia can and should do something about the issues eep issues of justice and building on Sunday afternoon. of injustice. They have MPs who oppression are the stuff of For pastors like Steve Latham make decisions. They have directors D everyday life in Clapton. On there is a dilemma. Do they concen­ of companies who can help the inner Sunday mornings at Hackney Downs trate on the deep social needs around city. They can work for change. They Baptist Church two-thirds of the con­ them, or preach the Gospel? He could consider church twinning, or gregation is of African or Caribbean believes it's not necessary to repeat moving here to live alongside our origin. At the evening service, which the mistakes of the past, when people. is translated into Turkish, half are churches tended to opt for one or the "People think of the inner city as a Turks and Kurds, many of them other: "We need both. I long ago satanic stronghold. To me suburbia is refugees. Some church members bear made a decision that my role is to be the satanic stronghold. That's where the scars of torture. A Baptist Church the pastor of this church, but I am these situations are created. The local of 100 Zairean refugees meets in the concerned to mobilise the members of church needs to be more active on the church to do the ministry. justice issues and have some guts." "So we have individual members Third world issues are all around involved in ethnic organisations, in a in the inner city and it's not a prob­ disability group, in counselling lem, it's an opportunity, Steve insists. groups, a Christian bookshop, immi­ "Don't think of the inner city as all gration issues, racial justice organisa­ doom and gloom. Socially and eco­ tions, some of them Christian and nomically it may be poor, but spiritu­ some secular." ally it's thriving. Here churches are Instead of housegroups the church growing through the influx of has task-oriented groups, such as out­ Christians from other countries. They reach to Turks, social action, help for are revitalising the area and bringing people with learning difficulties. It new life. They evangelise, they're also sponsors an unemployment pro­ keen excited Christians. This church ject with other local churches. would have closed down if it weren't You're at the front line here, I for them."•

Steve Latham and Hackney Downs Baptist Church, London: Issues that challenge

IWJ.1995 October 7 NETWORK B

The Baptist Missionary Society's News and C urrent Affairs Programme, showing how: YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

It's bang up to date It's where the action is And it can be on your TV screen from October 12* It's the new BMS video

Praying ... giving ... going It's how you're encouraging those at the sharp end ofmission

Order your copy, with free teaching manual, priced only £7.95, from: Christine Neilson, BMS, PO Box 49, Baptist House, Didcot, OXl 1 8XA. Tel: (01235) 512077. *Network BMS, You Can Make the Difference is launched on October 12, 1995

8 October 1995 mh. Justice and Peace

Committee. It also promotes tion. They receive a copy of and encourages action by the resolutions, a list of peo­ Campaigning for General Committee mem­ ple to whom the resolution bers, churches, associations has been sent and the briefing and individuals and monitors document which has been justice and peace issues prepared for the BMS Board justice and peace throughout the world to of Management. They then encourage action when nec­ write support letters to reso­ essary. The group also acts as lution recipients. "The Society accepts that fresh in their minds, General a clearing house and In liaison with the BMS a right relationship Committee members decid­ resources centre liaising with publicity team, the Justice between people and ed four months later to give charitable bodies concerned and Peace Advisory Group nations is at the heart of weight of authority to what with similar issues. co-operates to produce mate­ God's love for the world had formerly existed as their Its chairman, Peter rial for the society's regular and is an integral part of justice and peace working Briggs, says: "We confine publications and encourages His mission as declared group. Following discussion ourselves broadly to issues people to participate in the and embodied by Jesus, at BMS Board of which affect our partnership Action Card scheme publi­ therefore Justice and Management level, the churches. So far two resolu­ cised regularly in the Peace issues are funda­ Justice and Peace Advisory tions have been passed; the Missionary Herald and the mental concerns to us. We Group was born. The advi­ first is linked to Jamaica and Baptist Times. accept wholeheartedly the sory group, comprising five asks international financial Baptists are encouraged to role of promoting aware­ members, including BMS institutions to consider the share their concerns with the ness, prayer and action in Operations Director David social implications of its society through advisory creating and maintaining Martin and a representative financial activities, and the group chairman Peter Briggs this relationship within from Baptist Union (GB) second is linked to Angola who is pleased to include our existing witness". social action committee, and concerns the abolition of committed volunteers on the With this resolution in exists to investigate issues anti-personnel mines." mailing list. • June 1994, the BMS General referred to it by the General The group's action mail­ Committee kicked into Committee and Board of ing list contains names of action a support system to Management. those willing to follow up Peter Briggs provide financial and staff It briefs the board with a resolutions on their own can be contacted at 109 Croftdown Road, resources on issues relating view to placing a resolution behalf or in conjunction with Harborne,Birmingham, 817 8RE. to justice and peace.This before the General a church, district or associa- (Telephone: 0121 427 8029)

World Mission Link

Is your church or group getting involved in be delighted to put you in touch but please LINK GROUPS world mission during the next months? give them plenty of notice. Is your chu rch in a World Mi ssion Link Here's how we can help. Mission Education can also help with speak ­ group? Now is a good time to look at how ers and ideas for other groups. your Link is developing. How active is your MISSION EDUCATION church? Do you pray regularly for your Link If you're planning a World Mission Sunday or BMS TEAM EVENTS mi ssionary? Does your Link group contact midweek event, telephone Christine Neilson Now is the time to contact your local BMS secretary need support? How about a Link (01235) 512077 for the BMS resource cata ­ Area Co-ordinator for events in 1996. Are group get-together? logue which is packed with information you planning a Family Day, an Association Look through your Link mi ss ionary's letters. about available material , including Power Assembly, a weekend conference or activity? Update yourself about their work, the needs Pack with ideas for different kinds of meet­ ABMS Team would be delighted to be of the community they work with, the diffi ­ ings. If you are not on the mailing list for involved. Contact your Co-ordinator now so culties faced by the countries in which they Power Pack we'll be happy to add your you are not disappointed. work. Their letters and pictures could make name. • The BMS Team event on November 4/ 5 an informative di splay. Ask your local BMS Area Co-ordinator for is at Viewfield Baptist Church, Dunfermline, help and advice in planning an event. We'll and not lnverkeithing, as publ ished . • If you need help - (01235) 512077

mh.1995 October 9 over•

f course, many did not Eve~iijte:r{ e cea reach us. The vicious slic­ tre9,t~;·wa rst ill generat~s ing, blasting, savagery of 0 land minds often leaves ·· ·· Roberts explaiffl'S: little time to look for help, and for most victims, the long miles of mud or deeply - and painfully - rutted paths over hills and through rivers and bush become a death warrant. Even if they do reach medical help, there is no restoration for blind eyes, severed limbs, nor a devastated face. Some are adults, clearing new land for crops to restart their lives after years in a refugee camp, or driving food, seeds, or tools to these returnees after torrential rains have taken off layers of soil; some are children, enjoying the fun of exploring their new hoe or racing around with their friends, unaware of the tripwire in the bush or the vibration-sensitive trigger under the trees. My object is preven­ tive health, but how can you prevent damage and death from the invisible? Health workers sport colourful "mine awareness" T-shirts, ga. and posters adorn s every wall; school- o o children are taught z o to recognise objects <( ~ that could be mines ti but none of these ir i5 was of any help to a ~ ::::, lady going out to 0 work in her small a: farm plot on the edge of town. All looked well; she began to dig, swinging her angled spade firmly

October 1995 mh. Mo~mbique

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downwards with both hands. The whereas the problem of mine injuries Above: the effects on his family? Even worse mine was too deep to see, but not too will be. A man was killed last year by Circle of is the grief and loss of the family of deep for her spade; the blast hit main­ a mine thought to have been laid in terror­ his national colleague who was killed ly her hands and her bending face and Mozambique's independence war 25 the plas­ in the explosion. chest. Fortunately we were able to years ago. They will be a cause of tic land­ Does all this seem distant? It is transfer her to a better-equipped hos­ grief, worry, pain, and a drain on very mine not distant from God. He loves each pital across the border, and several limited resources for many years to Left: of us as individuals and "all the sor­ weeks later she returned to her family come. Victim of row, all the aching, wrings with pain - alive, but blind in one eye and with­ There are thought to be two mil­ the peace the heart of God". As His people, we out one thumb and five fingers. lion landmines in Mozambique, and -wound­ must do all we can to outlaw these How much could you or I achieve about nine million in Angola. Many ed by a vicious weapons, to protect the lives with two digits on each hand? And in of these will be cleared, others will be landmine and futures of young and old alike; Mozambique most of the work in the set off by animals - though in a coun­ and to help in the process of healing house and smallholding is done by the try only slowly rebuilding its herds, and restoration. • women. Mozambique once had a that causes problems of its own - but health service used as a model for that still leaves probably several hun­ Suzanne Roberts is a BMS missionary other developing countries, with pri­ dred thousand overall that may be set who spent two years in afront Ii ne Mozambique ority given to delivering care to the off by people, for each of whom the hospital scattered rural population. Now, after problem may be lifelong. a 17 year war, which left health cen­ Mines can be cleared, with infinite tres and facilities gutted and in many patience and care, but both sides laid cases with neither staff nor supplies, them, mostly without maps, across trying to restore even basic services is huge tracts of land, and so often only difficult. an explosion indicates where they Mine injuries range from superfi­ might be. Accurate figures are diffi­ cial to fatal, but many who survive cult to find, but a reasonable estimate • Praise God for nearly three years with­ out war in Mozambique, for peaceful elec­ need prolonged hospital care, major appears to be that each mine costs tions last year, and for new opportunities surgery, and expensive medicines, three US dollars to make, three to lay, for spreading the Good News of Jesus. which inevitably drain funds from and a thousand to clear. Can we • Pray for all those injured by mines, in otb.er services, like the programmes equally easily quantify the cost to a their pain and distress, and pray that help for· TB, leprosy, malaria and pneumo­ family whose only income comes will be made available from international nia that cause so much distress and from a son working in a clearance donors to provide new limbs and other death, especially malaria in children. team who gets careless or unlucky? help. In these conditions, the difficult and Many mines now have no metal in • Pray for all involved in clearing mines, expensive reconstruction of limbs them, and are very difficult to detect; that they may be kept safe. comes a long way down the list. one such blew up while being cleared • Pray for a worldwide ban on the pro­ These problems will be magnified by a charitable team headed by an duction and use of mines. • Pray for a prolonged peace in Angola in Angola, where the war lasted expatriate ex-army officer. He lost his that clearing can begin and pray for the longer, and where the number of right hand and foot. Apart from the safety of refugees returning to possibly mines is far greater than in immediate devastation, physically and mined land. Mozambique. In both countries, out­ psychologically, to him, what are his side funding may not be long term, eventual employment prospects and

tn?.1995 October 11 Thailand Thailand

en people have been Sans Frontiers (MSF) works in the ossing the border to take camps and many paramedics have fuge in Thailand for been trained from among the Karen. K any years. But during The hospitals are simple and what the past few months the number of they lack in high tech gadgets they Karen refugees in Thailand has make up for with love and care. increased dramatically, forced there At Mae La more than 19,000 by fierce fighting along the border. refugees were expected to be joined The SLORC (State Law & Order by another 10,000, because the Thai Restoration Council) forces have government policy has been to move engaged the help of the Democratic refugees to the safety of a large central Left and Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and camp where adequate protection can below: After the they are working together to crush the be given. The camp, stretching 4km burning ... Karen National Liberation Army along a beautiful mountain road at the Right: (KNLA). Many innocent Karens, base of a huge cliff, provides safety Refuge in caught up in the fighting or badly and shelter for thousands of houses the forest persecuted in their villages, have had filling the valley. no other option but to flee from suf­ These refugees have fering and death to a place of refuge been moving from their in Thailand. old camp with their few By June this year there were 91,191 belongings to start a new Karen refugees living in camps which life at Mae La in torren­ are dotted along the Thai/Burmese tial monsoon rains. border from Mae Hong Son district Once there, the bedrag­ in the north of Thailand to Prachoap gled refugees are given Kiri Khan district in the south. posts to build the frames Life is not exactly a bed of roses of their house and then for refugees in the Mae Sot district of thatch the roof, at a cost Thailand, where the Mawker (Kl 7) of millions of Thai Baht and Mae La (K14) camps provide a to the Burmese Border safe haven thanks to the Burmese Consortium. Border Consortium, an NGO sup­ From there refugees ported by gifts from Christians all must search the jungle over the world. The consortium uses to find their own bam­ the money to take care of refugees in boo for the walls and camps along the Thailand/Burma floor, but some have had enough. seemed like a bonus. She and her border. Unable to cope with the upheaval of family had run away from the suffer­ The two camps have been estab­ another move, they return to Burma. ing in Burma and, crossing the Moci lished for six years and each family is Others find refuge by hiding in vil­ river, had taken refuge in the.security able to build and live in their own lages in Thailand. They are at great of Mae La. She pointed to the spot bamboo house with a thatched roof risk because if and when the Thai on the ground where her son had Around their houses many Karens authorities find them, they will be been born then, smiling, she said: have planted vegetable gardens. In the sent back to Burma immediately. "It's good to feel safe." • Mawker camp there's a school for 700 As well as basic housing material, children with classes from kinder­ newcomers to the camp receive cook­ Jacqui Wells, a BMS missionary, works in garten right through to sixth form of ing pots, mosquito nets, plastic sheet­ Chiang Mai among the Thai Hill Tribe people. High School has been built by the ing, second hand clothing, blankets • Atrocities: Pages 12-13 refugees and teachers work hard with and milk powder for babies. Once a the children even though there is no month the border consortium distrib­ monthly salary for them. utes rice, fish paste and salt to every In both camps a bamboo hospital Karen family in the camp. treats hundreds of patients every To one Karen woman cradling her week. The organisation Medicine two month old baby this might have

IWJ.1995 October 13 Thailand

SLORC soldiers 1 and the OKBA are marauding their way through these areas near the border. They loot Why are there so many refugees in Thailand? What are the and burn villages, Kareeni, Karen and Mon running from? Why leave the land threaten villagers, of your birth and all that you own to live as a refugee? capture porters and sometimes torture people. Village food sup­ plies, already low due to last year's floods, have been destroyed and vil­ lagers in the bor­ der area are flee­ ing into the forests. Many are trying to get into Thai land and hundreds have Above: already crossed Agroup of the border since escaped "porters" swap May but they say tales of atroci■ ties at the it is getting hands of SLORC increasingly diffi­ soldiers cu It to reach the border past the SLORC patrols. Here are some of their stories.

14 October 1995 mh. Thailand

Move out ... Or else another tied my hands behind my back and The DKBA troops entered Bwa Der village ordered me 'Go' and then I had to go in on the Burmese side towards the junction of front of the column. I realised they wanted the Sulween and Moci rivers and ordered me to act as their guide and to be a human the Karens to move to a SLORC controlled minesweeper. Soldiers talked to me in area. The villagers refused so the OKBA Burmese but I didn't understand, so one troops burned down the church, all five pointed his gun at me and said 'Boom'. I houses and all the rice barns in the centre guess it meant if I ran they 'd shoot me! of the village and then said if they did not They told me to take them to Thak Ko move by June 8 they would be taken by Der village and when we arrived they start­ force. They captured and severely beat Wee ed shooting at people because they were Saw Aye, Saw Nu, Ser Nay Ntoe, Thaw running away. They ordered me to lift my Htoo, Kya Hay and Pa La Kyay- all Karen hands behind my back and then they tied men. They burned a plastic bag and dripped me very tightly to a house. I was in a lot of the molten plastic on to Thaw Htoo's chest. pain because of the way they tied me. They All villagers have now fled to the forest or to asked me so many questions and while they Thailand. were asking they slapped me in the face, grabbed my hair and shook my head . They Stolen or destroyed didn't get any answers because I do not "When they entered our village they took so speak or understand Burmese. They left me many things - machetes, spades, hoes and tied like that all night and didn't release me knives - but clothing and baskets they until the next day. This went on for days. I destroyed. You don't even need to ask about saw them burning down villages. I thought I our Iivestock - they regarded it as their would never be set free." own. They took everything. They didn 't even leave a needle for us." Fear of rape A woman, who was forced to work as a No escape porter, lived in fear of being raped. "I was A young Karen woman said: "I have a small captured by the SLORC in my village. They brother. I can't escape by myself, because accused me of being a Karen soldier's wife Life at the camp: ArefugH my brother can't run. Even if I escape, I (she is not). They tied me, grabbed my col­ drags to his shelter a sack of have no food in the jungle and no water­ lar and made me carry a solider's pack. rice distributed by the Burmese proof from the rain. Now the SLORC Along the way we saw soldiers setting the Border Consortium troops come and destroyed everything. villagers' barns on fire. First they took I have nothing left. I don't know what I some rice and made us carry it, then am going to do. I have no choice but to burned what was left. When we go and stay with relatives in Klaw lfta arrived at Thay Ko Der vi II age, they and obey the SLORC. Whatever they pushed me into one house and tied us ask, I will have to do." standing to a bamboo post. One of my friends started crying loudly, so they let us Guide at gunpoint sit down and tied us very tightly to the A young man who was post again! They tied our body, our taken as a guide and legs, our chests, to the post. human mine sweeper During the second night the SLORC on May 13, said: "I was soldier guarded us because they eating sticky rice in my thought we would run away. One house. I got up to chase solider tried to unbutton my shirt the children out of the so I made a movement and he house. Just then I heard stopped. A moment later, he a strange sound so I tried to pull up my sarong. I turned to look, and I saw a pushed his hand away. He tried to SLORC soldier. He said grab my leg but I pushed him away. 'Don't run!' and told me to sit Every night the soldiers came to try down. Another one came and to rape the women. grabbed me by the collar and • Who is my neighbour: Page 16 mh. 1995 October 15 Croatia

Who'is my nei bour?

This is Croatia today

It is a time of war, ust six days before this article hardest hit when the bitterly cold though there is a kind of was written, Branko Lovrec, the winters arrive. Some Bosnian refugees peace in the area you President of the Croatian Baptist have been taken in by Croatian fami­ used to live in. You decide to Union visited Krajina, the terri lies. A displaced Croatian living with return. To return home. tory which the Croatian army friends or family is entitled to an I Jwon back from Serbian control in allowance of 3000 dinars per month f You knew deep down it would be like this, but hoped against early August, writes Jan Kendall. which just about pays for a loaf of hope that some vestige had Whilst there he went to the town bread and a small bottle of milk a day, !\ remained. It is strangely quiet. of Petrinja, reporting that there was (but these are only available in the I Scarcely anyone can be seen. Just destruction everywhere, with build­ larger cities.) This grant is not paid to others like yourself, returning ings declared out of bounds by the families taking in Bosnian or non­ home. And this is your home. Just police until mines can be removed by Croatian refugees. about a building, with walls, but special military units. The former Many Baptists in Croatia believe no windows, no roof, no furniture, pastor of Petrinja, David Ogrizovic there was a need for such hardships, nothing to cook on, not even a and his family returned to their home, to wake up their people who had gone spoon. Just totally gutted. No but it had been stripped. to sleep in a sense of false security. -· electricity, no water supply, no The church also had been demol­ Just a few months after the war began gas. This is now your hom e. ished. Branko said: "The graffiti on in J?ecember ~ 9.9 l ,-\Vrth refugtfS at Outside the gardens are in the inside walls must be removed, and their doors, the churches h: d to act. weeds, the fields untilled. The there is a lot of debris inside which A Croatian Baptist~saicl: "Who can sheep, goats, cows, pigs and hens has to be removed. All windows are tell that a churcfi' C0ull ---;1e up so that used to wander around are broken, but we could not enter fast?" All -sorts:of relil:J Qr~ er­ gone. There is now no grain, no because the police had not inspected began from now"liere ..Wome rfstarted milk, no meat, no eggs. This is the building." serving t~; ancl bisti"'uits t/ ~ le now your livelihood. On a wider Other Baptist families are return­ waiting iq li'ed b food. Woinen 's • ing to Petrinja. Like everyone else, groups stitiedlbrganismg"fileetinP-'- · scale a high percentage of indus- £/ ' w . they have absolutely nothing with where refuge women fo n rirrids try and means of trans-,' port have been destroy- which to begin living again. In the and 'family'. ed as well. last couple of weeks the pastor of the Several Christian -human·t11 rian church at Karlovac has been able to and relief or;ganisatio~-- ·av~ o·ee~ set visit a family from the Plashki Baptist up, among them Mo,zJ:lliznii -(MB church he had not seen for four and a My NeighQour) and '.P,u l).ovna/ half years. Starnost. MB is headed''up l'b,y Josip Where did these people go to? Mikulic, Gen) al Secreta •y of,the 1 How have they been living? Hundreds Baptist Union 0 £ Croatia: and has its - of thousands of refugees in the former headquarters in Zagreb. \ / ,/ Yugoslavia have filled halls, sports There are twe ✓e other branch -• - ' centres, schools, hotels, homes for the offices of M.J} tnroughoµt Croa' !- ia qll...., aged, railway stations and even rail­ based in Baptist churches, an1d MB~ way carriages. Others have been put personnel based in Baptist .churches, _ '"' .'{ into 'tent cities' and these are the are helping others in round 40\~ t j • ...I ' '- ~. 1- I 16 October 19, 95 mb. l \ ·- ~ Croatia

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and villages in Croatia. Christians in Croatia have not only a Duhovna Starvost (literally vision for humanitarian work but also "Spiritual Reality") describes itself as to build new churches. • a Christian Resource Centre. It was begun by the same Branko Lovrec mentioned above in the 1960s as a Jan Kendall is the BMS Publicity small group of Baptists involved in Department Production Supervisor evangelism and Christian publishing. When the war came they knew they • Seeking Asylum: Pages 18 had to do something to help the vic­ tims and so they are working side by side with refugees and displaced per­ sons (often Muslims) from e:roatia and Bosnia. · BMS has supported its Ch_risti broth€rs and sisters on · otli sides the divide. " '-- S6 how do you begin again? H do you start atch under t circumstan gun a scheme to ena o do ju r that Arpealing. for animals such goats, s eep, pigs, horses, poultry, agric · ods, furni- ture, 1 ,sewing• mach · e enabllng peop·l livin again. ith th recons ruct10n o not on 3/ home schools and medical centres . o pwvide medical ·equipment and •~ ,uments. (I ~.. 'i-• _. Arid'not only these, but churches l too.-T~e e · · · f die

1

. e midst _,,- / - os an es ruct1 / ·..,., ~-·. I I ,,'- ' "-/ , :____,1 - ~ , ·- -··- k ' ' {""" '"'+ ...... ~- ... --,- ~ ,. < ... ,,...... , .... t~ 1 - ~ ,.,-!::,_O_,,.r '-ct-.o-b_e_r_:__/,:r.:_,;.,=;;=----=::::· ==-~~-:::~ • ~-.- .~. I ·• II ._ ------:-:::~:·•;:.- 17 .____ . ~·--- Asylum

Since moving to London in 1991 Wilma Aitchison has worked as a translator for Zairian refugees. Many of the refugees are asylum seekers

ince moving to attend interviews and inter- no proper food during their s London in January pret for Zairians when they one month imprisonment in 1991, I have met arrive in this country, and Kinshasa. many Zairians. claim asylum. Usually, the Few asylum seekers come Many "refugee churches" individual or another mem- here directly. They often have been formed as refugees ber of the family have been pass through many countries from Central Africa meet involved in political activities in order to reach Britain. Many refugees together for worship. and government soldiers Some manage to do the trip Although they come from have raided their home. in a few days, others take have had to flee different countries and Often the women are raped, months. Last week, I helped and did not have church backgrounds they are the men beaten, the family interview a 16 year old who united by language (usually forced to flee. had fled from Kinshasa after opportunity to pre- Lingala and French) and Their travel to different her parents were killed. She pare any baggage. have a common goal, ie to countries is usually arranged had been helped by a friend put behind them their suf- by a friend or member of the to reach Nigeria, but was Often Zairian ferings and build a new life family. Forged passports are stranded there for six for themselves here. Some of bought, falsified documents months. She eventually Christians have these churches are now borrowed, and airline tickets arrived in France and waited asked me for members of the London sought. Sometimes, a board- there for a month, hoping Baptist Association, having ing pass is all that is needed, that her brother would be Bibles and other had links with the BMS in especially if the family have a able to arrange travel to Christian literature Zaire. "contact" in the immigration Britain. Many refugees have had department in Zaire. Three years ago, a young in their own Ian- to flee and did not have I recently helped inter- Zairian lady arrived with two r opportunity to prepare any view a man who had trav- children, having been sepa- guage. I have been baggage. Often Zairian elled here on a cargo plane rated from her husband after able to buy stocks Christians have asked me for from Nigeria as he didn't their home was looted. Bibles and other Christian have money to buy a ticket. Eighteen months later, she of Bibles in Ungala, literature in their own Ian- He had been imprisoned in learned that her husband had French and Swahili guage. I have been able to Zaire for opposing the gov- tried to get to Luanda to get buy stocks of Bibles in ernment. On arrival here, he a flight to Europe, but had and some Christian Lingala, French and Swahili. had a stomach problem been killed by a landmine From time to time, I am which he says was due to eat- whilst trying to by-pass a literature in other asked by the Home Office or ing banana skins. He and roadblock in Angola. She is languages. Immigration Services to other prisoners had received still here in London, await-

18 October 1995 mh. Asylum

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ing the outcome of her claim detained person. Asylum provision of counselling for for asylum. Currently, 96 per seekers can be detained for such people. The first help cent of Zairians are refused over a year, but more corn- she was offered was when refugee status, so she contin- monly for three to six she attended a local church ues to fear deportation. months. Unfortunately, asy- some months later. Not all asylum seekers are lum seekers are often detained The Medical Foundation honest and I have been asked in the same cells as criminals. for the Care of Victims of to interpret for the police as Sometimes, asylum seek- Torture is one organisation I believe that as they follow up DSS fraud . ers arrive here in desperate which helps refugees to Groups of Zairians have been need of counselling, support recover from traumatic expe- Christians we have involved in this type of and friendship. Recently a riences like rape, torture and a responsibility to fraud. Some say it is done to local pastor asked me to help beatings. Many asylum seek- finance illegal immigrants, to a lady whose five month old ers from Zaire are Christians help those who are send to Zaire to help the baby was killed by govern- - one 16 year old arrived on seeking refuge. opposition parties, or just for ment soldiers because she her own with a CBFZ mem- personal gain. Those who was unable to tell them the bership card as her only The Bible has much engage in this cause much whereabouts of her husband. means of identification! I to say about how damage to the refugee corn- Her husband had already believe that as Christians we munity credibility. fled the country and her fam- have a responsibility to help the "sojourner" Sometimes, asylum seek- ily had also fled. A friend those who are seeking refuge. ers are detained as they are arranged her flight to The Bible has much to say and "stranger~ unable to produce a valid Britain. about how the "sojourner" ~hould be treated. internationally acceptable It's difficult to imagine and "stranger" should be identify card or passport. I how she felt when she treated. We also need to wel- We also need to have attended interviews in arrived here alone, unable to come Christian asylum seek- prisons in Rochester, speak English and with no ers as they are our brothers welcome Christian Portsmouth and Pentonville one who knew what she had and sisters in Christ. Many asylum seekers as and occasionally I have seen just experienced. She was of them have come to know Christians from London interviewed at the airport by the Lord through churches they are our churches acting as surety so an immigration officer who which have been established brothers and that an asylum seeker can be recorded the details of her as a result of BMS work in released from detention asylum claim, including Zaire for over a century. • sisters in Christ. while awaiting the outcome details of how her baby was of his asylum appeal. This killed. The officer's task is Wilma Aitchison is a tormer has helped the families of the immigration control, not the BMS missionary in Zaire

IWJ. 1995 October 19 Fairtrade

-' fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Richard Wells examines a trading system which rewarded everyone, except the hard­ working producer ... until the Fairtrade Foundation was born

ou're in the supermarket. ing about the poor conditions under Your brain and mouth co­ which Third World producers are ordination is being operating through campaigning bod­ Ystretched to its limit in ies like Christian Aid and Oxfam. combat with the continuous tirade Trade is of paramount importance from juveniles whose shopping list is to the Third World; 80 per cent of its nothing more than a regurgitation of wealth comes from trade and only five last night's TV commercials. per cent from aid. Every ounce of tea, Both your hands are engaged in a coffee, sugar and cocoa matters to the courageous attempt to win the strug­ economy. gle to manoeuvre an overloaded shop­ But if producers are receiving only pimg trolley on something like a 14p of the price of every pack of cof­ straight course. fee - that's not much more than $'60 As you narrowly avoid a collision for every 10016 sack of coffee beans with a month's provisions being produced - who is getting the rest? steered in your direction.near the If it were just the retailer, the multi-packs of Power Rangers crisps wholesaler, the advertiser, the packer you've just thrown back .. . the last and the shipper, the producer at the thing on your mind is whether your end of the line might be sure of a con­ £67 .85p's worth of shopping contains sistent share. any fairly traded goods. But into the equation come the It probably never crossed your commodity dealers, says Peter Briggs, mind as you plucked a 79p box of chairman of the BMS Justice and brown label teabags from the shelf, Peace Advisory Group. Dealers buy that as little as 10 per cent of the price and sell pork bellies, orange juice, cot­ would have reached the tea producer. ton, sugar, tea, as well as coffee, effec­ Or that the 250 gram pack of tively setting the price for the con­ ground coffee crushed beneath the sumer - and the grower. Give and it will be given tins of dog food, baked beans and It is in the London coffee futures tomato and lentil soup, would have market that the price can go up and to you. A good measure, earned little more than 14p for its down like a yoyo, taking the producer pressed down, shaken producer. You look at your till receipt from solvency to bankruptcy in min­ together and running and see you paid £1.79 for it. utes. Still, the neighbours always like fil­ "The dealers are buying and sell­ over will be poured into ter coffee when they come round for ing coffee that does not exist yet," your lap. For with the the evening ... says Peter. "Trading in futures, measure you use, it will Today, more and more supermar­ they're gambling on what the price of kets are stocking goods bearing the coffee will be, which has nothing to be measured to you • Fairtrade symbol in response to do with how much it costs the farmer Luke cli &, v 38. requests from shoppers who are hear- to grow or with his right to a fair

20 October 1995 mh. Fairtrade

price for his product." afford more food for my family and FACTFILE In this climate of speculation, send my children to school properly commodity prices can plunge quickly. equipped with pens and notebooks for Fairtrade-marked products include: The Fairtrade Foundation, incorpo­ the first time." Cafedirect roast and ground coffee, rated in 1992, aims to take this uncer­ Life on the plantation has available in Sainsbury's, Tesco, tainty out of the transaction for the changed. The higher price means the Safeway, Waitrose, Asda, Somerfield, grower in an attempt to alleviate growers' co-operative can afford to Gateway, CWS, CRS and William Low. RRP: £2.29 for 227gram box. poverty in the Third World. It was set pay a doctor to treat its members. Cafed i rect freeze-dried instant cof­ up by Christian Aid, Traidcraft, Healthy workers mean greater effi­ fee, available in all major supermarket Oxfam, the Catholic Fund for ciency and higher productivity. chains. RRP: £2.39 for lOOgram jar. Overseas Development, New Since it was launched three years Watch for catering packs soon . Consumer and the World ago, Cafedirect ground coffee has Cl ipper teas, including Sri Lanka Development Movement with addi­ increased sales by 1,000 per cent, tak­ Golden, Nilgiri Blue Mounta in, Nilgiri tional funding from the European ing nearly three per cent of the UK Earl Grey, available in some Sainsbury's, CWS and CRS stores, all Wm Morrisons Union and the Joseph Rowntree market. An instant Cafedirect was and all Cullens in London . Some Safeway Charitable Trust. introduced recently at £2.39 for 100 supermarkets and a few Tesco's, where The Trust has set criteria and grams but as it claims more of the there is a demand, stock Nilgiri teabags. standards to award products the market the economy of scale should The range is also available in health food Fairtrade Mark - an independent con­ make a bigger impact on the price to shops and delicatessens. RRP : £1.15 for sumer guarantee. To win the the customer. 125grams of tea; £1.65 for a box of 50 Fairtrade Mark for their products, Ripples from this storming perfor­ teabags. Seyte teas, available through health companies must demonstrate to an mance are even being felt in the corri­ food shops and delicatessens. RRP: 94p independent assessment panel that dors of power; MPs Simon Hughes, for a box of 25 teabags. terms of production ensure: Peter Bottomley and Glenda Jackson Maya Gold chocolate, available in • Minimum wages have gained the support of more than Sainsbury's, Wm Morriosn, Somerfield, • Adequate housing, where 80 colleagues to press the House of Gateway, Tesco, Wa itrose, Asda and appropriate. Commons catering committee to CRS. RRP: £1.55 for a lOOgram bar. New • Minimum health and safety make Fairtrade Mark products avail­ 20gram bar, costing 39p, available from standards. able in the palace of Westminster. Sa insbury and Holland & Barrett. • Environmental standards. Christian Aid is encouraging Their terms of trading must churches to discuss Fairtrade as a pol­ ensure a minimum price, credit terms icy and the Fairtrade Foundation's and a long-term trading commitment. 1996 message to consumers is: "You The price paid will include a premi­ got them on the shelves - be sure to s um to be used by producers to buy them and keep them there." HOW YOU CAN HELP improve living and working condi­ Supermarkets, doubtless aware of a tions. shift towards ethical trading, have If you would like to support Third World Cafedirect, now stocked by most taken the plunge with fairly traded producers by buying their products, look supermarket chains, is a coffee traded goods, recognising the need to project out for them in your local supermarket or to these standards. For every 200 a good image. grocery shop. gram packet of ground coffee, the Gateway's Keith Jackson believes If they don't stock them, ask them to consider doing so. Although fairly traded grower receives 40p - almost three the success of such products cou ld goods cost more, a recent National times the price paid through the three ultimately outstrip that of environ­ Opinion Poll revealed that 73 per cent of UK coffee producers which dominate mentally friendly goods. Safeway, one women would be prepared to pay 29p the market. of the chains to stock Cafedirec t, is extra , and men 25p extra, for items cost ­ On the other side of the globe, in clearly impressed. Grocery Controller ing £1. Peru, coffee grower Jose Rivera Andrew Cole says: "Cafedirect has Campoverde has noticed the differ­ performed very well and on top of FAIR DEAL! ence in lifestyle since he started sell­ that, the reaction from our customers For more information about fairly traded goods, contact The Fairtrade Foundation , ing to Cafedirect. was as big as I can remember on any 7th Floor, 89 Kingsway, London WC2B "Before, most of us couldn't afford product."• 6RH . medical treatment," he says. "For me, Telephone 0171 405 5942. the price difference means I could Richard Wells is the BMS Publ icity Manager

IWJ. 1995 October 21 Vision for Mission

The abidin presence

he four of us sat behind our microphones in the record­ ing studio of Frequence T Protestante, taking part in a live radio programme on the topic of the resurrection. The discussion was centred on the Galilean appear­ ance of Matthew 28. While Luke keeps everything very close to Jerusalem until the empowering of 0 the Spirit, Matthew finishes his gospel with the disciples already look­ ing across the northern borders of Israel. In a few sentences Matthew does what Luke takes another book to • tell. With the abiding presence of Christ the disciples are to take the .._,, gospel to the ends of the earth . SC.: "I will be with you always to the end of the age", is a phrase often used as a reassuring and comforting state­ ment. Perhaps we would do better to understand it as it really is: a disturb­ ing and unsettling word. The theme of the Plymouth Assembly: "To comfort and disturb" is an appropriate one when we come ! C to the close of Matthew's gospel. F Jesus' abiding presence isn't promised - to a static and stationary church who are happy to look after their history.

ILLUSTRATION: SARAH PRENTICE His presence is linked to his commis­ sion. It is in responding to his "Go" The promise of Jesus' abiding presence is not to a that we discover that he is with us and has gone before us. Our God is not a comfortable church preserving its history; it is linked to guardian of the status-quo. He is involved in mission so that every gen­ his commission, as John Wilson explains eration might know what the gospel means. When Jesus promises his disciples to be with them every day until the close of the age, his promise takes into account the changing nature of each day or epoch, until the end comes.

22 October 1995 mh. Vision for Mission

His presence isn't an insurance to become lighter and fitter. against change but an assurance that Opportunities will open up that will through the changing times he will give access to Christians for only a enable us to make the gospel live for few months or at best years. the world of our day. Missionary societies like the BMS are Whilst some talk of the missionary learning to be less monolithic in era as past, I believe we are only on its structure, ready and adaptable for Once the Albanian people threshold. Not only are there more each situation. Radio and television is were in bondage to communism people alive today than at any other becoming a part of the missionary - cut off from the outside world. period of history, but communication landscape, with the 'video-church' between people groups is also greater being an interim necessity where no NOT free to have democracy. than at any other period in time. other teaching can be found. NOT free to travel. World mission is no longer a unilater­ Scholarships and further education NOT free to speak their minds. al impetus: "Remember what you are intrinsic to the healthy continua­ NOT free to believe . . . were when God called you ... few of tion of mission in our age. We need Today, following the collapse of you were wise or powerful or of high thinkers who will help shape the kind the oppressive regime, the social standing. God purposely chose of mission in which we are involved. people are breaking their what the world considers nonsense in These people should be a resource for chains of bondage. order to shame the wise, and he chose any missionary organisation and Breaking Chains , the BMS Project what the world considers weak in should be drawn from many different 95 , aims to raise £35 ,000 to order to shame the powerful." (lCor cultures. resource evangelism and church 1:26-27) Jesus is with us in this day of planting in a nation which is We can expect and can already see change and he promises to be with us hungry for God's word and which is seeing phenomenal radical changes in missionary pat­ until the end. We should greet this growth in Christianity. terns. In the West we need to learn new day of mission as the first disci­ BMS missionaries are among how to facilitate missionary work in ples did, knowing that he will be with those taking the good news of our own communities. This change us through it all. Jesus' promise tells salvation in Jesus to the though difficult to adjust to, will in us something else that is important. Albanians, seeing the church fact make us much more open to the The task of mission will never be fin­ grow, discipling new Christians task of world mission. We need to ished. He will be with us in our going and training leaders. receive pastors and evangelists from right until the end. Christian mission Asia, Africa and the Americas into isn't a programme it's a way of life. YOU can be involved in this exciting breakthrough. our churches who will help us think We are called to live and share our life A resource booklet, bookmark differently about what we are dong. with him. We will always find him in and poster are available free We need to encourage our young peo­ the act of mission because he is and you can borrow a video or ple to join 28: 19 Action Teams and Missionary. • slide set to set your church , their equivalents to contribute to and prayer group or housegroup get a better grip on what mission is all Questions: going. All we ask is a about. We need to see retired people contribution to post and released to share their skills and expe­ 1 From your experience would you packing. rience in short term overseas projects. say that you have known more of Telephone Christine Neilson at BMS, on (01235) 512077. Pastors and evangelists will be much Christ's presence when you have been more in evidence as missionaries, involved in some work of mission? making the 'faith-community' the Explain your answer. centre of mission activity. 2 Do you think that the word "mis­ 'Compassion ministries' along with sionary" should be dropped in favour 'tent-makers' will link into these long of a term like: "International church term 'faith-communities' for suitable worker"? What difference do you periods, giving a holistic approach to think it would make? mission without becoming its focus. 3 Is it "Mission Impossible" if we We want to do mission with people, can never say "mission accomplished" not for them. or is it a new way of thinking about Christian mission is going to have God's world?

In?. 1995 October 23 new Christians in Albania, once question the faith of many Send more under the dictatorship of Enver Gardens open Christians. . . . Hoxha, who abolished all forms of He has sent out a request for m1ss1onanes religious worship. for the BMS prayer cover for his front-line --- The service was described as work. "These people are working A plea to British mission "very Albanian" - not very organ- Two Cambridgeshire gardens, satanic miracles by their fetishes agencies to send more missionar- ised but with a sense of excite- opened to the public during the and blocking the process of ies to Nepal was made at the ment and rejoicing as the 33 can - summer, raised more than £1 ,000 development," he says. Baptist World Congress in didates from the church at Tirana for the BMS. "Their conversion would be Buenos Aires in the summer. and 20 from churches at Lexhe BMS area co-ordinator Jim like that of the magician Simon of Hari Gu rung, a first-time dele- and Burrel made their profes - Clarke, and his wife Eileen , threw Samaria . (Acts 8) We pray that gate from Nepal, spoke of the sions of faith in Jesus. open the gates to visitors at their the Holy Spirit will convict them nation as a developing country Bert Ayres , of the European garden in Little Downham , near and that the village of Ngonji will which was in need of many Baptist Federation (EBF), led Ely. And in Swavesey, the garden be liberated from their bewitch- things, especially medical help. worship on his guitar and Lezhe of Brent and Christine Hudson at ing powers." For this reason he invited pastor George preached a short Brent House became a hive of Christian mission agencies to message in Albanian. activity with a bouncy castle and help Nepal. BMS missionary Gill Jones, steam train rides for the family. Hari, who worked for five who co-ordinates work at Tirana Funds were swelled by the Budget for years as a pastor of one of the 35 Baptist centre with the EBF, said : sale of cakes, jams, plants, Third Nepali Baptist churches in "There was a sense of excitement World products, lunches and growth Nagaland, returned to his native and celebration as the candidates refreshments. The Gardens with Expansion of the BMS overseas Nepal in 1985 and planted a went into the water and made a View days were arranged in spending budget has been church in Pokhara. their profession of faith. It was a conjunction with Cambridgeshire planned in the 1995/ 96 The work has grown and 20 time of praise." Baptist Missionary Fellowship. Estimates approved by the churches and 35 mission centres The baptismal celebration General Committee. now belong to the Nepal Baptist was one of many positive devel - This year the total overseas Church Council , of which Hari is opments in Tirana. costs are expected to amount to general secretary. Congregations continue to Prayer call £3,283,650; next year it is esti- Before the communist govern- grow and Tirana Baptist Church mated that £3,420,400 will be ment came to power in 1994 it has moved into a new location - a from Zaire needed to fund overseas mission was difficult to witness as a cinema in Ali Demi . The rent is work. Christian, says Hari . "Now the less than the church had been Evangelistic work has been start- To support this, an extra four government is tolerant of paying and security is better. ed among sorcerers and occult per cent is being sought in contri- Christianity and tries to encour- In the south , at Gjirocaster workers at Ngonji-Rive, on the butions and donations. age religious tolerance for all." and Fier, three baptismal ser- south bank of the River Zaire, In the UK, administration is The BMS has 43 missionaries vices have been scheduled. near Upoto. expected to cost £746,700, an in partnership with the United • The mountain development The Revd Mondanda inrease of under three per cent on Mission to Nepal at Kathmandu project at Shkrete, featured last Monongom pastor of the church this year's figure, and £709,350 and the International Nepal month, has won permission from at Ngonji-Rive has felt the call to has been earmarked for con- Fellowship at Pokhara. the government to proceed . direct work among these people in response to their activities stituency support, an increase of which, he says, is calling into 3.13 per cent. Albanian baptisms Working with

Three coaches packed with children church friends and families left Tirana, Albania 's capital, for the The Church of God in Nicaragua seaside with 53 baptismal candi- have started an outreach team presenting the gospel to street dates. - children through puppets, clowns It was the latest in a series of The Hay family let the train take the strain and excursions . They plan to ere- baptisms in the sea at Lexhe for at Brent House. (See Gardens open for the BMS) ate a hostel and refuge for them .

24 October 1995 mh. Reaching YOUR RIGHT TO WRITE TO mh. new heights

Reaching new heights of service is something we strive for in BMS but we have never Challenge to Steve Chalke employed a crane to do it for us. Although Missionary Herald SIR Jesus, and that he believes reader Anthony Wilsdon , of I feel that I must cha Ilenge there are other ways of salva­ Lightwater, Surrey, spotted this some of the statements attri b­ tion . If so, Jesus is wrong. piece of equipment in uted to Steve Chalke in the I am well aware that Copenhagen during a visit, we July/ August issue of Muslims and Hindus may heed can confirm that it is definitely Mi ss ionary Herald . a different approach but surely not our commercial arm . 1 He says, "when we they can only come to the th ink simply that all Muslims Father through Jesus, the Son . or Hindu s are outside the fold They may be honestly strug­ and therefore going to hel I gling to find God , but they still that 's - wel I, sort of comfort­ have to come the only way. able". Incredible passion and love Surely, believing people are for humanity cannot save them in danger of hell is one of the any more than they can save a greatest incentives for evange ­ person who is nom inally listic and missionary work . Christian, but not born again . Isn 't that what impelled If what Steve Chalke seems William Carey and others to to be saying is true, do we embark on missionary work? need BMS any longer, or any Does it not inspire others to other missionary society? If pray, give and support mis­ people can be saved by any sionaries? What true Christian other means than Christ alone, feels comfortable about people He need not have died! going to hell? IBTS move is 2 " .. .. we want to hang ROBERT PILE on to our exclusive belief that Bexhill on Sea, complete Jesus is the way and the truth, Sussex but then it becomes harder to The new Prague campu s for the deal with the Muslim and the International Bapti st Hindu." PS. If BMS believes what Theological Sem inary will be I do hope that this does not Steve Cha Ike appears to ready when classes begin on mean that Steve Chalke no believe, I would find it difficult October 3. longer believes the words of to continue supporting BMS. There were fears earlier this year that the deadline would not be met becau se of the scale of the move and the state of the Robert's Bean appointment four major buildings, one of which is 200 years old . BMS missionary Robert Atkins But apart from wo rk on non ­ who, some say, resembles TV teaching build ings, the move is actor Rowan Atkinson, when complete. It took 25 volunteers he's not smiling, is shortly to to move the 55,000 volume take over as pastor of Toulouse library from Ruschlikon , Baptist Church, in France. Switzerland , and eight pantech ­ He replaces Mr Bean ... nicons to tran sfer furniture and Murray Bean , to be precise, of equipment. New Zealand BMS. mh. 1995 October 25 ACTIUN CARD mhmh ••••••••••••• • Keep informed

World mission in the 1990s is exciting, invigorating, and challenging. And you are part of this every time you pick up the mh. magazine, read it, use it as a stimulus for prayer, and stay up to date. From a recent survey here's what other readers have said about the mh: "I feel the magazine presents a superb image, very professtonal yet caring and Christian." "I enjoy reading the mh. I am more able to appreciate the various min ­ istries being carried out by our missionaries. Names become more familiar and prayer becomes more meaningfu l." "The more one learns of those prepared to give up all for the gospel 's sake, the more one feels the necessity to become a more effective local witness for Jesus." This month's picture of an orphan in Barbados is If you enjoy reading mh. please others about it. a reminder that the United Nations has a strong Use this order form to give them a copy for themselves commitment to justice and peace which embraces work with children through UNICEF, its children's fund, UNHCR, its refugee network and order form the World Health Organisation Now is the bme to place your mh. order for 1996. Place it before December 31 to receive it at 1995 prices United Nations, had grown out of that into a 1 Place your annual order through your church magazine secretary and 50 years on vision of unity and co-operation receive your copy post-free at £5.00 for nine issues plus the BMS "Of course, if the United Nations but the evidence of our eyes in Annual Review. Organisation didn't exist, you Europe (let alone other conti­ would have to invent it!" said one nents) soon humbles us. 2 If you are not part of a church with a magazine secretary, order direct frustrated supporter against a It's good to be reminded of the from us at BMS. A year's subscription to mh. costs £9.40, post-paid. tide of criticisms of perceived UN marvellous Preamble to the UN Simply complete and return this form with a cheque for £9.40 to the inaction or ineffectiveness in the Charter, "we, the peoples .... address below. former Yugoslavia. determined". And Christians would proba­ Let's catch that mood of Please send me copies of the mh. starting with (month) bly agree with that, for though the determination again, against the administration and infrastructure tide of pessimism or fatalism that of the UN creaks or stumbles the dominates 1995, not looking back Name principle is surely sound. in anger or nostalgia or even pen­ Not for nothing were the open­ itence (as so many 50th anniver­ ing meetings of the Genera I sary celebrations have done) but Address Assembly and Security Council renewing our hope. held in religious buildings. The We, the peoples, together and ethos was of hope and determi­ determined - a wonderful 'mis­ nation that peace should prevail; sion statement' for the new mil­ this was the dominant mood in lennium. Post Code 1945. But the very title 'United Read the new CCBI booklet on Nations' begs a lot of questions! "The UN, 50 years on". Send your Home Church If people were not divided into card, pleading for continued and nations, maybe we should be even increased participation by rather more united. the UK in the Iife and work of the Are you the church magazine secretary? YES / NO The deep loyalties to culture UN to: or territory or the notion of sover­ The Rt Hon Malcolm Rifkind, MAGAZINE SECRETARIES AND FOR BULK ORDERS PLEASE NOTE: MINIMUM ORDER £15.00 eignty that constitute nationality Foreign and Commonwealth have done so much damage over Plea se return thi s form to Janet Keys , BMS PO Box 49 Baptist House 129 Office, Broadway Di dcot Oxon OXl 1 8XA Cheques should be made payable to the the centuries; one might hope we London SWlA 2AL. Baptist Miss iona ry Society. BMS is a registered chari ty

26 October 1995 mh. WEEK44 would welcome prayer concern­ October 29 - November 4 ing their future. Nepal: UMN Health •••• Prayer Ian and Sally Smith are now back WEEK45 Call to in Nepal. Sally is spending some November 5 - 11 of her time helping in a small Brazil: Rondonia, Acre, research project for the UMN Supplementing the BMS 1995 Praye_r Guide. Brasilia and Goias urban health programme. With Goiania, the state capital of Goias Week numbers correspond to those in the Prayer other staff she is visiting carpet is growing fast. Pray for the evan­ Guide. factories and helping to lead dis­ gelisation of the whole state, and cussion groups with the workers for training of adequate leader­ about some of the issues the girls ship to take up the challenge. The who work in these factories face . have four candidates for this youth work in this state also WEEK42 In their recent prayer letter Ian course. The Dyers will be back in needs our prayers. Pray for Tim October 15 - 21 and Sally write, "Please pray with the UK for a short while, Deller who has recently modified Brazil: Rio Grande do Sul us that we will be able to catch December 1995 - February 1996. his ministerial role so that he is and Santa Catarina God's vision for us here and Pray for Vince and Sadie now responsible for the oversight Martin and Kathy Hewitt will have respond in obedience to his call- MacDougall and family as they and practical training of minister­ moved house mid August after ing and leading." . have recently returned to Brazil ial students. Rosimar Deller is Valerie Harwood has been vis­ two years of uncertainty over . and for the Collict family and the busy developing her music min­ their accommodation . In this time iting some of the former resi­ Collinsons as they seek God's istry at Jardim das Esmeraldas rent prices have escalated wildly dents of the Ryder Cheshire guidance for their future. Baptist Church. In the last few which has made finding a suit­ home. Januka is walking better, months she has been able to able property very difficult. has improved her educational •••• strengthen this aspect of worship However the Southern Baptists skills and learnt some sewing. and community life and in so have an empty apartment which WEEK43 She has a sewing machine at doing has been able to get others they have made available until home, which she is using to make October 22 - 28 to offer their musical gifts to the the Hewitt's next Home some money. Bimla's family had One World week Lord's service. Assignment. Pray that they may made her a new room between As a missionary society we are Pray for David and Sue have settled down after the two existing buildings with a concerned with sharing the good Jackson in Brasilia where David upheaval of moving. Also pray for bathroom at the back. She, too, news of God's reconciling love in is involved in the teaching pro­ both Martin and Kathy as they has been busy making clothes to Jesus with the whole world. Let gramme of the College and Sue is have increased their responsibili­ sell to contribute to the family us continue to lift up in prayer very involved with work at church ties at church as well as both income. Valerie writes: " I am organisations like the United _Sunday school, Bible study teaching in the Seminary. Pray pleased to say the present stu­ Nations, in its difficult task of groups, leading the miss ionary for the students at the Seminary dents are really doing very well working for justice and peace. council and teaching at a daugh ­ many of whom are facing person­ and I am delighted with the better Each of the articles in this edition ter congregation . She has also al difficulties and need better attitude taken by the staff. Two of of mh are concerned with these taken over short-term the pastoral care. them have taken on doing some issues too. As you read each arti­ Missions Dept at the College . Give thanks that John Dyer extra work in the evening to help cle, use the prayer points at the which means teaching Missions has been awarded a Master of the students practise some of the end of each one, to register your to two different groups, and O •. Theology degree from things taught during the day." concerns and longings with God. ' World Religions as well as coun­ Westminster College, Oxford for Several missionaries who One body selling and working with students his dissertation in Lay Training in have served in Nepa I need prayer and one mission on their practical assignments. southern Brazil. He and his wife regarding their futures. Katie to one world Pray also for their children being Maria are busy putting together a Norris is waiting to return to all working together educated in England and for the project for the training of pastors Nepal, subject to the right job as Christ's body pressures and tensions this cre­ in Santa Catarina where they live. assignment; pray for Isobel alive and active ates. The Jacksons will be com­ Subject to approval by the Strang, currently on home in the world ing back to the UK in 1996 for a churches, it will be a new type of assignment, as to what she with one purpose - year's home assignment, when course using the principle of the­ should be doing in the future; to reach out to others David wi ll be studying for a PhD ological education by extension., Jerry and Ruth Clewett both have in loving Christian service and Sue an MTh, both at the model used for their lay train­ new jobs in the UK; and Andrew and witness. Spurgeon's College. ing programme. They already •••• and Linda Mason and children •••• mh. 1995 October 27 - transporting, processing and distributing of A 20p Caribbean banana: FACT coffee . Fairtrade products are now on sale who gets what? in certain supermarkets and through agen ­ Ninety per cent of war casualties are civilians. cies such as Oxfam and Traidcraft. _.y ~ Retailer 8p 100 million landmines still lie undetected. Fairtrade Mark is the seal of approval by //Jj,~ Importer / wholesaler 4p 1 the Fairtrade Foundation , which was set up ~ / Shipping costs 2p FAIR TRADE by Oxfam and other agencies . The Mark · 1. · ·. Export charges and handling tells consumers that producers in the Third · ·, 1 costs lp makes sure the chain between World are getting a better deal . Cafedirect Warehousing and packaging producers in the Third World and the leading Fairtrade coffee has sold over 3p customers like us is as short as possible one million packets and is now outselling Picker/ grower 2p pays the producers a price they many other brands of ground coffee. consider to be fair Clipper teas have been awarded the can provide support services to Fairtrade Mark because they guarantee that producers eg: training and advice to workers on their plantations enjoy good help with establishing and maintaining working conditions. Some of their estates trading relationships offer such benefits as housing schemes, creche facilities , schooling and funding of vocational training colleges for the tea­ BOOKSHELF THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK YOUR workers ' children . Clipper teas are sold in NEXT CUPPA selected branches of Sainsbury's and Global Consumer by Phil Wells and health food shops . Also, Premier Mandy Jetter. Provides consumers with brands, which markets Typhoo tea information which will help them choose says on its labels "caring for tea goods which have been more fairly traded . and our tea pickers". Premier buys The book covers products ranging from tex ­ the tea for Typhoo direct from tiles to bananas. estates which have higher safety, Published by Gollancz. £5.99. health and housing standards.

VIDEOSHELF Ask your supermarket to stock fairly traded goods Bitter Sweet - the real price of sugar. Buy products that are more fairly This video explores the sugar trade of the traded Dominican Republic . It looks briefly at the Organise Cafedirect coffee history of sugar and shows how today its mornings, production is still a story of exploitation. use Cafedirect after church Using sugar as an example it shows how the Millions of people are kept in poverty services and at midweek meetings international trading system traps people in because they are paid a pittance for their a cycle of poverty and semi -slavery, from crops. Out of every £1 jar of coffee sold in which it is hard to escape. the UK, the producing country gets 37p. Write to your MP at the House of Produced by and available from Some of this money goes to the government Commons, London, SWlA 0HA. Christian Aid , PO Box 100, London SEl and some to the Raise some of the issues of ?RT. Free hire. £9 .99 to buy. unfair trading. Say you sup ­ port a trading system which pays better prices to coffee, ASYLUM STATISTICS tea and banana growers in the Third World. In the first six months of 1994 there were 14,730 asylum applications. Of the Littlewoods stores have pub­ 9,360 applications dealt with in this period, lished a code of conduct for asylum was granted in 385 cases (4.1 %) their clothes buyers in the and Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR) Third World saying employ­ granted in 1,680 cases (17.9%). As of 30 ees must be working in June 1994 there were approx 50,000 appli- decent factory conditions.

28 October 1995 mh. cations remaining under consideration . them for each month, and participants in Sources : Home Office Statistical the scheme are asked to send the card for Bulletins and Parliamentary debates that month with a short message of sup­ (Hansard). port, encouragement or challenge (or a In November 1990 Amnesty combination!) to the person or group International published a report, United named . Cards in 1995 have drawn attention Kingdom : Deficient policy and practice for to child prostitution, work amongst the protection of asylum seekers, making deprived people in Calcutta , the employ­ specific recommendations for change: ment of children in the carpet making industry, and the United Nations detention of asylum seekers should Rehabilitation Office in Tuzla , Bosnia. be avoided This is a great scheme to take part in either as individuals or groups of people in so far as a detention occurs, within a church or housegroup. Participants detainees shou Id be given a fu 11 statement find that although they do not look for of the reasons for detention and should be replies, some do indeed come. One sup­ al lowed access to legal representation porter recalls that having written recently to the First Secretary of the Japanese all decisions to detain should be Ambassador complaining of the lack of reviewed as to their necessity and compli ­ Japanese support in funding international ance with international standards by an development aid , he received a letter back - independent, impartial and competent five pages long! review board within seven days of the initial Cards for 1996 can be obtained from decision to detain (and 14 days thereafter) Methodist Publishing House , 20 lvatt Way , Peterborough, PE3 7PG On two subsequent occasions these rec­ ommendations have been reiterated pub - Three of 1995's Action Cards 1icly , and there have also been a number of meetings with government ministers (most recently in September 1994). To date none of the organisation's recommendations relating to the detention of asylum seekers have been accepted by the Government.

ACTION CARDS

You may well have seen Action cards featured in mh each month and weren't sure exactly what they were. They are a co ­ operative venture involving the Methodist Church , Baptist Union, BMS, United Reformed Church, Christians Aware and the Church of Scotland .

To take part you need to buy a set of 12 Resource postcard s; these depict an aspect of Chri stian caring for quality of life world ­ ideas for wide. Fo r 1996 these will cost £2.59 includ­ group ing postage. discussion Every month the Baptist Times and mh starters contain an article under the "Action Cards" heading on a particular issue, not necessar­ by Jan Kendall ily related directly to the picture on the card . Th e cards have a different address on tm. 1995 October 29 Tribute

g!ft with words, a~ enthu­ siasm to commumcate, a A fascination and ability with modern technology and a commitment to World Mission, particularly through the Baptist Missionary Society - these were the gifts that David Pountain brought to the BMS when he joined the staff in March 1982. Having trained at the Manchester Baptist College, David had pastorates spanning more than 20 years in Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Cotswolds. As well as his own greatly appreciat­ ed pastoral and preaching min­ istry, this time in pastoral ministry gave him the opportunity to develop his skill with words, par­ ticularly those for use in worship. He was also used in association publications and this gave him a wide knowledge of printing prac­ After 13 years in the mh Editor's chair, David Pountain tice and techniques and equip­ has accepted a cal I to the pastorate at Florence Road ment that was becoming available. Baptist Church, Brighton. BMS General Director When the opening occurred in the BMS for an Editorial Reg Harvey pays tribute to David's service Secretary, David did not apply but his name was suggested and he eventually agreed to appear for interview. It was the unanimous 1he Editor's pastoral call view of the interviewing group that he should be invited to serve well to the fore, as was his use of booklets that the Society produces and he began his work with BMS contributions of missionaries and each year. in March 1982. of overseas partners. David's gifting was especially Immediately it was clear that He is an enthusiast for whatev­ valuable when it came to the here was a man who, with his con­ er the latest technology has to preparation of material that would cern that the Society should com­ offer and quickly the Society be used in worship. This was municate ever more effectively moved both to a higher degree of shown not only in the prayers that with the constituency, was ready in-house printing and also the use were written for the annual Prayer to be an innovator. Building on of word processing. The graphic Guide but also was extensively the good traditions that were design work was expanded, with used in the preparation of wor­ already present in the Herald and different artists used to introduce ship and other materials in the Look publications, David pio­ greater variety. The novel project packs and young people's neered new approaches in graphic approach was used not only for packs. When the Society was design and shape of the publica­ the regular publications but also looking to the celebration of its tion. His own writing skills were for the volume of leaflets and Bicentenary, it was David's writ-

30 October 1995 mh. Personal view

ing that was largely used in the preparation of spe­ A personal and independent look at cial material for worship lles1 11 justice and peace by Peter Briggs and the Society was able Wa to participate in encour­ aging the publication of a book of prayers Praying utting the right book in the right place is part of the art of the librari­ with God's People. an. It's not easy. Last week William Carey - A Tribute by an Indian David has never lost his Woman appeared on my desk; a biography but it's as well to check! concern as a pastor and this has been evidenced in PThe contents page reveals that two thirds of the book is about Carey his relationships with and the modernization oflndia. New thought! This book must go into anoth­ missionaries, both when er section - Modern India and Western Influences. We have found the right they have visited the place for Carey! Have we found our right place in mission? Carey's kind of offices and also when impact has always been at the heart of BMS tradition. In my brother's recent David has made overseas book on English Baptists in the Nineteenth Century, the chapter on Society visits. Such visits have not simply been to secure and Politics has these words: "These cases (slavery in Jamaica and colonial material that could go into and company legislation in India) reintroduced Baptist leaders, of whom print or photographs that those associated with the Baptist Missionary Society were by far the best could be used in publica­ organised, to political activity". 1992 marked not only the BMS bicentenary tions but have also but also Colombus's contact with America and the many tragic consequences brought encouragement which followed from that. Often this was because church leaders failed to and refreshment to the missionaries and national give a central place to justice and peace in their mission. One of Reg Harvey's leaders with whom David first statements when setting the tone for the bicentenary celebrations was has. had contact. that we were_called to look to the future rather than to the-past. It is not with­ When note is also taken out significance, therefore, that in 1992 the General Committee set up a of David's sharing in the group to reinvestigate the place in the Society of justice and peace issues. A promotional programme Justice and Peace Advisory Group now exists and was already working on the of deputation speaking (as it was then called) and subject when Trevor Edwards, now General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist World Mission Link par­ Union preached his missionary sermon entitled the Church Without Walls in ticipation, particularly the 1994. He spoke of the financial problems which burden his country and asked Staff Teams, and his whether the "time is right for the BMS to reassert the advocacy role i~ so suc­ wholehearted involvement cessfully commandeered in the past." As a result of action taken, represe~ta- · in the promotion team tives of the Society were able to meet the resident DK and Ireland represen­ preparation of materials, tative of the World Bank recently. Another live issue is the war that follows the Society is indeed grateful for the 13 years of every peace. In Angola, where our church partnership has existed for over service that David has 100 years, nine million mines remain to be cleared. This, too, is a matter of given. Our prayers and concern to the Society. Many other areas of injustice which preverit the good wishes go with establishment of peace will occur to you as you read this. It is humbling Dorothy and David as sometimes to read how others see us. Ruth Mangalwadi writes in ·her book on they settle into the pas­ Carey: "The legalised murders of preborn children through abor;ion is a °far torate at Brighton. • greater issue in today's England than was infanticide in India in Carey's day." David's induction is at Brighto n on October 14 Peter Briggs is chairman of the BMS Justice and Peace Advisory Group mh. 1995 October 31 AU;ania: Nepal: Short term (six Anumber of months) teachers in professional long and Bangladesh: primary and Sri Lanka: short-term posts in Short term (six secondary age ranges. Ministerial couple with medical, months) mature educational administrative, administrator working Thailand: background to serve educational and with the Bangladesh Short term the Sri Lanka Baptist engineering areas. Baptist Sanga, to assist (six months) Union, which aims to with central office administrator for have a greater input

administration. Chiang Rai mission into schools and ••.--••~.-.1...... :M boarding school to colleges. Surgeons, general Hungary: help update systems practitioners, senior Short term (academic which will effectively Thailand: health staff, nursing year) TEFL teacher to manage financial Pastor to work with managers, nurse train theological planning, working the Church of Christ in educators. students in English at with local office staff. the Bangkok area to the International (Suit single volunteer identify areas of Baptist Lay Academy. or volunteer couple). outreach and social need, and encourage local Christians Phone Andrew North on 01235 512077 to become active in the community.