Barnabas Aid September/October 2008

Faith Costs: Suffering Church Sunday 2008
• What if...it was you and not them?

• Resources for YOUR church inside
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008
I was hungry I was thirsty I was homeless
and you fed me and you gave me a drink and you gave me a room
I was naked I was sick I was in prison
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 008

and you gave me clothes and you took care of me and you came to visit me
5751 Aid mag sept-oct UK.indd 1 30/7/08 15:41:34
6 24
To guard the safety of Christians in hostile
environments, names have often been changed Faith Costs Campaign Update
or omitted. Thank you for your understanding.
Resources for Suffering Last opportunity to
The cover shows six ways in which
Barnabas Fund has helped needy Church Sunday 2008 gather signatures
Christians suffering for their faith.
Top left: Feeding needy Christians in Iraq
Top centre: Water filters for Christian families At of
in Pakistan
m e
ti 38
the g 29,3 ur
Top right: Re-building homes of Christians
after Cyclone Sidr, Bangladesh
in o
writ signed qi
Bottom left: School clothes for needy
Christian children in India
e
Bottom centre: Medical care for Christian
hav ave Ira ns
famine victims, Burkina Faso
S istia
Chr tition
Bottom right: A Barnabas Fund
representative visited three Christian women
6 Poster
serving a prison sentence in Indonesia
pe
because of their Christian children’s club
7 Send off for…
Contents 8 Information file
14 Testimony
16 Sermon outline
19 Small group Bible study
20 Challenges and activities
for youth groups
25
(and others) In Touch
3 Projects
Getting aid to Burma
22 Prayer, songs,
other resources
Cycling for the
suffering Church
FROM THE DIRECTOR
An impossible dream?
Some would say the dream of Can change come? Or is that an impossible This issue of Barnabas Aid focuses on
dream? Is it only a dream to long for a time Suffering Church Sunday, a Sunday in
Barnabas Fund is impossible.
when wrongs will be righted, when all November when, as we worship, we
For 1400 years Christians remember the plight of our brothers and
Christians will be able to worship freely,
have, more often than not, converts will be accepted, and the yoke of sisters. Some of their needs are
suffered under Islam. Islam and other nationalisms which oppress summarised in Matthew 25:35-36, and
God’s people will be broken? Is it only a we put the spotlight this year on the first
The Church has faced daily inequalities and
one, hunger.
discrimination, outright persecution - even dream to imagine a time when Christians
death, whether individual martyrdoms or are fed and clothed, cared for in their “I was hungry and you gave me
genocide. Converts from Islam are sickness, set free from prison? I believe this something to eat,” says our Lord. What
condemned to be executed as traitors. is a dream that comes true in Christ. “As a privilege to be one of those who do
Much of this suffering is enshrined within you did it to one of the least of these my exactly that, who help to make the dream
the sources of Islam, the Qur’an and hadith, brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) come true. Barnabas Fund is the aid
and codified in the shari‘a, Islamic law. Can agency for the persecuted Church, but
Yes, persecution will never go away, for the we can only fulfil our God-given task
the law of Islam ever change? Today,
Christians in Iraq face annihilation, while in Bible says that everyone who wants to live because of the gifts and prayers of tens
many other countries they sink further to a godly life in Christ Jesus will be of thousands of Christians around the
the lowest strata of society. Their persecuted. The Bible speaks of growth, world. The dream is not impossible if
governments are becoming anti-Western, development and spirituality, born of the fire each of us does our part.
anti-Christian. Christians find themselves of suffering and oppression. If burdens are
caught up in wars not of their making, not lifted now, that dream will ultimately be
betrayed by Western politicians and military, realised in glory, where there will be no Dr Patrick Sookhdeo
sometimes even by the Western Church. more death or mourning or crying or pain. International Director

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008
In many countries around the world, believing in

Jesus Christ can cost you your status in society,
your education, your job, your livelihood, your
freedom and sometimes even your life.
What if it was you?

Contempt and discrimination from society at large very often lead to poverty. The Lord
Jesus asks us to care for our brothers and sisters in need, and this year’s theme for
Barnabas Fund’s Suffering Church Sunday centres around the parable of the sheep
and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46. It looks at our responsibilities towards those in the
Christian family who experience daily that “faith costs”.
In the following pages, you will find resources and ideas you can use for your Suffering
Church Sunday service. Choose a Sunday in November (or another month if your
church calendar is already fully booked) and use the “Faith Costs” resources to
remember our Christian sisters and brothers who suffer poverty, hardship and
persecution because they believe in Jesus Christ.
Contents
Page 8 Page 16 Page 20
Information file: Persecuted Christians Sermon outline on Matthew 25:31-46 Ideas and challenges for youth groups
and the Global Food Crisis – facts, figures “Little Actions Remembered in Eternity” (and others too!)
and testimonies
Page 14 Page 19 Page 22

God at work in Zimbabwe: an eye- Bible study on Matthew 25:31-46 for use Prayer, songs and how your church can
witness account from a Barnabas Fund in home-groups or personal Bible study give practical help
representative who went into Zimbabwe
to help feed the hungriest there
More resources for your Suffering Church Sunday

All the following resources are available • Short DVD presentation (traditional • On our website you will also find a
free of charge from your national and contemporary options) on the powerpoint presentation to go
Barnabas Fund office. You can also theme of “Faith Costs”. alongside the sermon, a song about the
download some of these resources from persecuted Church written and sung by
• Prayer-and-response cards (see page
our website www.barnabasfund.org/scs Claire Hazzard, an Australian singer/
22 for an illustration of the card) which
songwriter, and links to Suffering
• Large version (A2 size, approx. can be distributed to everyone
Church Sunday resources from
40x60cm) of the mini-poster on the attending the service so they have
previous years.
opposite page to help you advertise something to take home with them.
your Suffering Church Sunday service.

Information file
Persecuted Christians and the

Global Food Crisis
The worst global food crisis for inflationary effects and, for those and rapeseed production in developed
who are already desperately poor, higher countries. Economists point also to the
a generation
food prices mean less to eat and damage done by subsidies and trade
We are in the midst of the worst food greater hunger. barriers which have distorted food prices
crisis the world has seen for 30 years.i
Experts have pointed to a number of for many years.
Food prices are spiralling out of control.
reasons for the global food crisis, starting
The price of wheat has doubled in less What is poverty?
than a year, and the price of rice (the with poor harvests, for example in
Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The multi-year Definitions of poverty vary greatly.
staple food of half the world’s population)
has tripled in an 18-month period. In drought in Australia is a major cause of According to the US Census Bureau, in
some countries, milk and meat prices higher wheat prices. Then there is the 2002, 46% of American households
have more than doubled. It is little wonder growing world population and the surging defined as “poor” owned their own home,
that there have been food riots and food- demand in China and India for meat which typically had three bedrooms and a
related violence in at least 14 countries. (which needs grain to feed the cattle and garage. Thirty percent of “poor” American
Even rich nations are feeling the poultry). Biofuels now use up 20% of corn households owned two or more cars, and

Information file

An absolute definition of poverty might be When it comes to seeking a job,
Transforming lives of to consider how many people do not Christians in such contexts are
Christians in Zimbabwe have enough to eat, i.e. eat less than the disadvantaged, not only by their possible
human body’s daily requirement. This lack of qualifications despite studying
South African Christians, who went
figure is estimated at 854 million people.vi hard, but also by the fact that they are
into Zimbabwe to deliver food to the
Christians. Many employers are reluctant
poorest of the poor with support The World Bank uses two reference
to give work to Christians, or to promote
from Barnabas Fund, talk about the poverty lines to estimate poverty
them as they do their Muslim colleagues.
joy and thankfulness of worldwide: living on less than US$2 a
Zimbabwean Christians day, and living on less than US$1 a day. It
“…to see how God provides for His estimated that in 2004 around 2.5 billion
people is a testimony in itself. people lived on less than $2 a day (40%
How they survive outside of God is of the world’s population) of whom just
difficult to understand…” under 1 billion people (15% of the world’s
population) lived on less than $1 a day.vii
“… to see the joy in the people’s In Ethiopia, 78% of the population lives
faces when we arrived with the food on less than $2 a day, with 23% living on
is such a wonderful blessing…” less than $1 a day.viii
“…People cry for joy and I also The New Testament distinguishes two
become very emotional when I see kinds of poverty, described by different Transforming lives of
people rejoice and thank God for Greek words. The term penichros refers Christians in Pakistan
the food…” to a simple lifestyle, working for one’s
Munir Masih and his wife come
“…they took up an offering at a daily bread. By contrast the term ptochos
from a village in Pakistan where
Sunday meeting to bless us with! means extreme poverty or destitution. In
about 99% of the inhabitants are
This blew my mind. They have penichros basic needs are met, but in
illiterate and have never been to
nothing yet they cheerfully give – to ptochos they are not.
school. They moved with their
us! We came there to bless them In 2001 it was estimated that 260 million children to Rawalpindi, one of
and we got blessed instead…” Christians lived in absolute poverty, Pakistan’s major cities, in the hope
ptochos, comprising 13% of the of finding work there. As
worldwide Christian population. Around permanent jobs are almost
43 million of these lived in south and impossible to find for people with
76% of them had air-conditioning.ii In the south-east Asia, where many Christians no education, they had to work as
UK the official “poverty line” is currently are discriminated against or persecuted. day labourers, taking whatever job
defined as an income of £145 (US$290; they could find. After a while, Mr
€181) per week for a single person, or
Discrimination creates Masih began helping out as a
£332 (US$664; €415) a week for a family poverty welder at another man’s business.
with two children.iii The Joseph Rowntree There are many contexts in which Their situation changed
Foundation announced on 1 July that a Christians are a despised minority, and dramatically when their family was
“minimum income standard” in the UK is suffer discrimination in daily life. The put on the Barnabas Fund feeding
£13,400 (US$26,800; €16,750) before tax effects of this can often keep them programme. Because of the
for a single adult, or £26,800 (US$53,600; trapped in poverty. In countries like Egypt monthly food parcel, Mr Masih
€33,500) for a couple with two children. and Pakistan, Christians are often given managed to save up part of the
This figure was designed to cover more low grades or failed in exams, simply little money the family earned and
than food, clothes and shelter, giving because they are Christians. In Chin was able to start his own small
people the “opportunities and choices state, Burma (Myanmar), Christian welding business.
necessary to participate in society”.iv All parents are promised education for their
these definitions look at poverty in a children if they will convert to Buddhism.
relative way, and basically highlight
inequality within a nation. Education is key to helping Christians out
of poverty, especially education in
What about inequality across the world Christian-run schools. Barnabas Fund is
as a whole? It is estimated that 40% of currently supporting 3,613 Christian
the world’s population have to survive children in 16 Christian schools or
on slightly more than 3% of the educational projects in Sudan, Egypt,
world’s income. India, Pakistan and the Holy Land.

Information file
In India, many Christians belong to the over Christmas 2007, more than 700
Dalit people, the lowest level of the Christian homes were burned, 35
Hindu caste system, previously called Christian shops vandalised and 95
“untouchables”. In order to help Dalits, churches destroyed. The state
they are given special quotas of places government offered some financial aid for
in educational institutes and government the victims, but many homes which were
jobs but only if they are Hindu, Sikh or completely destroyed were assessed by
Transforming lives of Buddhist. Christian and Muslim Dalits the state authorities as “partially
Christians in Pakistan are not eligible for these special quotas. damaged” and therefore received only a
fraction of the compensation they should
Arshad Wicky has three children In February 2008 the Pakistani
have had. Nothing was given for
and lives in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. government introduced a scheme
rebuilding destroyed churches.
Arshad’s parents were extremely designed to lift Pakistan’s poorest
poor, so they could never afford to households out of poverty. It offers In Indonesia’s West Papua province,
send Arshad to school to get an savings on five basic food stuffs to 6.8 the burning and destruction of Christian
education. Because of this, Arshad million of Pakistan’s poorest families. villages is performed by the country’s own
found it difficult to get a decently However, Christian families have been military forces. There is then no possibility
paid job. Usually, he went out in the excluded from joining the scheme, even at all of even thinking of government
morning to find work for the day to though many of them suffer from extreme compensation. Likewise in Burma, where
earn a little money to feed his poverty. Although the fund is contributed the army forcibly relocates the non-
family. Often, he would return to by all taxpayers, only Muslims can Burman ethnic minorities (who include
empty-handed. One day, Arshad’s benefit from it.ix most of the Christians in Burma) far
wife fell seriously ill. Unable to away from their fields, these subsistence
When natural disasters occur in places
afford the medical treatment, farmers are deprived of their food source
where Christians are discriminated
Arshad could do nothing but watch and left to forage, beg or starve unless
against in everyday life, they are often
her die. He was left with three they can find work in a town.
discriminated against in aid distribution
school-aged children to look after, as well, at least if the aid is handled by Another direct link between persecution
no permanent job nor any financial local people. After the devastating and poverty occurs in the Palestinian
security. But then Arshad and his tsunami of 2004 Christians in India (Hindu Territories. Our partners report that
children started to receive a majority), Sri Lanka (Buddhist majority) Muslims often tell each other not to use
monthly food parcel from Barnabas and Indonesia (Muslim majority) all the Christian-run shops or patronise other
Fund. These parcels changed their experienced discrimination. In Aceh, the Christian businesses. The aim is to
lives: they can now be assured that most Islamic part of Indonesia, some impoverish the Christians by making their
they will have food to eat, and Christian victims of the tsunami were told businesses fail.
moreover, Arshad’s children can they could only receive aid if they would
In Iraq, since the 2003 war, Christians
now go to school. This will ensure convert to Islam.
have become subject to various kinds of
that they will be in a much better
position to provide for themselves Persecution creates poverty extortion from Islamist militants who
extract money in various ways. One
and their families once it is time for Violent persecution can often lead to method is to demand the payment of
them to get a job. immediate and severe poverty. When
Christian-owned houses, fields and shops
If work is available, it is often the lowest are burned by angry Muslims in Egypt, Many Christians in Maluku, Indonesia,
paid and most dangerous. As many as compensation is almost never given. The live in wooden houses like this
40% of Pakistani Christians work as Christians lose their homes and/or
“sweepers”, cleaning the streets livelihoods. It was very unusual when,
and sewers. after two incidents of anti-Christian
Many Barnabas Fund projects seek to violence in the small Egyptian town of
enable Christians to support themselves Isna in December 2007, the Christians
with their own small businesses or received compensation for the damage to
church-run businesses. This can involve their property; this was thanks apparently
training in skills or providing the start-up to the provincial governor, who is the only
capital they need. Christian governor in the country.
Sometimes anti-Christian discrimination When Christians in Orissa state, India,

is made official in the law or constitution. suffered a series of coordinated attacks
10 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

Information file

jizya, the traditional Islamic tax on non- Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, are Fund is currently supporting the wives of
Muslims. The Christians are told they likewise without jobs, and Barnabas Fund two imprisoned pastors, one in
must either pay up, or convert to Islam, is assisting many to support themselves Uzbekistan and the other in China.
or leave, or be killed. Another method is through small businesses such as rearing
kidnapping. Christians are the preferred sheep or chickens or keeping bees.
targets of Iraqi kidnappers. The Christian
community rallies round to try to raise The cost of conversion
the ransom, so the kidnapping is
Those who have left other faiths to follow
profitable. It is also safe because
Christ often face extreme hardship,
Christians are unlikely to retaliate.
including economic hardship. This is
Furthermore, when four Iraqi Muslims
especially true for those from a Muslim
who specialised in kidnapping Christian
background. They may be thrown out of
doctors and pharmacists were arrested
the family home. They may be dismissed
in December 2007, they claimed to
from their job or expelled from their place
believe that, according to shari‘a, taking
of study. Students whose families used to
money from Christians is legitimate.
support them financially may find
Thus the well educated and formerly
themselves suddenly without any money
relatively affluent Christian community of
Iraq has been reduced to poverty. “Our
bank in Baghdad is the Christians who
The cost of ministry
finance us,” is the blood-chilling joke of Christian leaders in places such as China
some Iraqi extremists. As such and Central Asia are often fined for various
intimidation and violence forces more “crimes” such as holding worship services
and more Iraqi Christians to flee, their in their homes or in unregistered churches.
houses and businesses are left behind In Uzbekistan, fines for a first offence are This West African woman came to
for Muslims to seize. “Don’t bother to between about £300 (US$600; €375) and know the Lord Jesus through a
buy houses from Christians,” Muslims in £600 (US$1,200; €750). This may seem dream. She was then miraculously
some parts of Iraq have been saying, small to some readers, but in Uzbekistan, healed from 16 years of sickness,
“Soon they will go and you can just help the government’s minimum monthly wage having previously spent everything
yourselves without paying.” is only £6 (US$12; €7.50) and the average on witch doctors to no avail. Her
wage is between £50 (US$100; €62.50) Muslim husband threw her out of the
Most of the Christians who flee Iraq have
and £100 (US$200; €125) a month.
home, along with their eight
ended up in neighbouring Syria or Jordan, children. Many converts find
where they cannot find work, at least not When Christian leaders are imprisoned, themselves homeless and destitute
legally. Internally displaced Christians, their families often suffer because of the because of their faith in Christ
who have moved to the relatively stable absence of the bread-winner. Barnabas
When Muslims from a nearby village attacked the Christian

village of Horale, Maluku, Indonesia, on 2 May 2008, 120
houses were burnt. This picture shows some of the empty
plots of land where wooden houses have been burnt to
ashes. Houses built of less flammable materials survived
Christians from Horale sought refuge in the jungle
BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 11

Information file
neediest. Some of these feed Iraqi commanded His followers to love their
Transforming lives of Christians in Iraq and Iraqi Christian brothers and sisters in practical ways.
Iraqi Christian refugees refugees in Syria and Jordan. Others Despite current economic pressures,
feed Christians in Egypt, Sudan, the Holy
in Syria Land (West Bank and Gaza), Pakistan
Christians in Western countries still have
so much in material terms, and our
“I would like to thank Barnabas and Zimbabwe. Together these feeding responsibility to care for our fellow
Fund for caring about our little programmes helped at least 40,000 believers remains. Barnabas Fund’s role,
brothers who are suffering just for Christians in the year to June 2008. as ever, is to channel aid from Christians
being Christians. May God bless through Christians to Christians, and in
But the needs are growing increasingly
you all.” A senior church leader in particular to provide food for the hungry.
acute as global food prices rise.
Syria who organises food
n Project reference
distribution with support from • In Syria, 1kg of rice used to cost 25p
00-636 Feeding Fund
Barnabas Fund. (US$0.50; €0.32). Now it costs £1.00
(US$2.00; €1.26). Inflation in Syria Can you give a gift or set up a
“...we are living in a very bad,
affects not only foodstuffs but also regular donation (standing
needy situation. This is a gift from
rents as the huge influx of refugees order in the UK) to help feed
the Lord Jesus and it is His grace
has pushed up prices. needy Christians?
that gives us a light of hope in the
midst of our crisis.” Azadouhi, Iraqi • In Egypt, flour prices have increased
Christian refugee in Syria. She and greatly, making bread unaffordable for
her family receive help through the many. People queue for hours,
feeding programme. missing work or school, to buy the
government subsidised bread which
“The relief aid materials and items
remains cheap but is not available in
which we are receiving on a
some places.
monthly basis... have a very good
impact on all of us, and each • In the West Bank, some students are
member of our family... May the dropping out of their courses because
Lord bless all who are supporting of the increase in food prices and
us in such situations.” Sevan, Iraqi transport costs. Barnabas Fund not
Christian refugee in Syria. She and only helps to feed needy Christians
her family receive a monthly food but also supports Christian
parcel through the feeding university students.
programme. • In Pakistan, flour cost 11p (US$0.22;
€0.14) per kg in October 2007. By
April 2008 it had almost doubled to
20p (US$0.40; €0.25) per kg.
• In Zimbabwe, inflation is running at an

incredible 2.2 million so that money
loses its value overnight. In any case
there is practically no food to buy in
the shops and very little produced on
the farms. Starvation is a reality.
Transforming lives of
Iraqi Christian refugee children at a Christians in Zimbabwe
food distribution in Syria Conclusion
South African Christians, who went
The current food crisis does not look
into Zimbabwe to deliver food to
likely to diminish in the foreseeable
Feeding hungry Christians in the poorest of the poor with
future. Impoverished Christians in areas
times of inflation of anti-Christian discrimination are likely
support from Barnabas Fund, talk
to become increasingly marginalised as
about the needs they saw
In places were Christians are extremely
poor, Barnabas Fund supports a number competition for resources grows. Jesus “…we met families that are in such
of long-term feeding programmes where said, “The poor you will always have dire need: - one woman sold her
aid is given through local churches to the with you,” (Matthew 26:11). He also

Information file

Endnotes
Transforming lives of Christians
in Pakistan i
Anthony Faiola, “The New Economics of
Hunger”, The Washington Post, 27 April
Shenhaz, her husband Ryast and their seven 2008; Kaushik Basu, “How to solve the
children, aged from 6 to 20, live in Missan global food crisis”, BBC News, 28 April
Kalar village in Pakistan. Ryast is away 2008, http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/
from his family most of the time because he mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.
works as an army cleaner. One day, Shenhaz uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7365798.stm
discovered that she had a tumour in her abdomen weighing half a kilo. (viewed 20 June 2008)
Although the operation only costs £12 (US$24; €15), Shenhaz could
not have afforded it were it not for the extra food ration her family was Poverty in the United States: 2002, U.S.
ii
receiving from Barnabas Fund. If Shenhaz and her family had not been Census Bureau, issued September 2003,
part of the feeding programme, the family would have been in a very http://www.census/gov/hhes/www/
precarious situation: with Shenhaz too ill to work, the family would have poverty/poverty02.html (viewed 8 July
been dependent on only one income, and thus would have been forced 2008)
to go into debt to simply keep from starving. “Poverty: Facts and Figures”, Channel 4
iii
News, 10 June 2008, http://www.

channel4.com/news/articles/politics/
domestic_politics/poverty+facts+figures/2
279382 (viewed 23 June 2008)
A minimum income standard for Britain:

iv
what people think, Joseph Rowntree

Foundation, 1 July 2008, http://www.jrf.
org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/2226-income-
poverty-standards.pdf (viewed 8 July
2008)
v
Frances Moore Lappe, “Just Who’s
Doing the Hoarding?”, 1 July 2008, http://
www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-moore-
lappe/just-whos-doing-the-hoard_b_
110107.html (viewed 9 July 2008)
http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/
vi
pr.nsf/stable/press_food_aid
Shahoa Chen and Martin Ravallion,

vii
Absolute Poverty Measures for the

Developing World, 1981-2004,
Development Research Group, World
Bank, March 2007, http://mdgs.un.org/
unsd/mdg/Resources/Attach/Capacity/Ch
en%20&%20Ravallion%20(2007).pdf
(viewed 8 July 2008)
bed in order to buy her last bag of the people in the church. There
Human Development Report 2007,
viii
maize meal.We were able to give her were some that had walked more
United Nations Development Programme,
some food…” than 10 km just to get a parcel. http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/data_
There were old grannies with sheets/cty_ds_ETH.html (viewed 8 July
“…Last Sunday three guys came to
walking sticks that had walked 2008)
me after church and said they had
such a long distance – just for a
not had food for a week because “Christians excluded from latest
ix
small parcel of food. The people in
they couldn’t buy any even though Pakistani anti-poverty drive”
the church believed that it was a
they had money in their pockets…” http://www.claas.org.uk/news_detail.
miracle that we were even there,
aspx?ID-130
“…We handed out food parcels to because of the unrest…”

Testimony from Zimbabwe
Waiting to help unload the food
God At Work In Zimbabwe

An eye-witness account by Barnabas Fund’s
co-ordinator for Africa
Every time I go into On my latest trip (May 2008) I was to speak out against the government. I
accompanying a Barnabas Fund was shown torture camps. I met with 4-
Zimbabwe I cannot imagine
sponsored food run into the country. I and 5-year-old orphans whose parents
how things could get any saw the evidence of a savage and violent had been killed because they voted
worse. Then I go again and regime desperately trying to cling to against the ruling ZANU-PF party. I went
realise just how much the power at all costs while the nation starves into rural villages and witnessed the
situation has deteriorated to death. I went into shops and clinics devastating effects of famine. I asked
and was horrified by the absolute after a village elder, who was also a
since my last visit. I was born emptiness of the shelves. I saw houses pastor, whom I had met on an earlier trip,
and grew up in Zimbabwe and cars that had been burnt out. I met just a few weeks previously. I was told
and to see my old homeland, with farmers (black and white) who had that he had fallen ill due to malnutrition
the breadbasket of Africa, been violently forced from their farms. and had died. He was 32 and apart from
One farmer was so badly beaten that he his mother (pictured on the front of the
disintegrating before my March-April 2008 Barnabas Aid
had been in a coma for three weeks. I
eyes is sometimes too much met with Christians who have gone into magazine), he had been the oldest person
to bear. hiding in fear of their lives. I spoke to a in the village. Zimbabwe now has the
pastor whose three colleagues had been lowest life expectancy in the world.
poisoned and killed because they dared

Testimony from Zimbabwe

Heroes of the faith of Zimbabwe this is the only food that
they will have for that month. Through this
Yet despite the injustice and suffering that system we are able to take about 800
exists in this beautiful country, every time I packs or about 20 tonnes of food a
visit Zimbabwe I am filled with hope and am month into Zimbabwe.
truly blessed. I have seen God’s hand and
provision shining like a beacon in such dark In June 2008 President Robert Mugabe
and seemingly hopeless circumstances. On announced that all foreign aid agencies
my last trip we were witness to so many must stop operating in Zimbabwe. I
miracles and met so many heroes of the asked the church elder in South Africa
faith that it is difficult to list them all. We who started this feeding programme what
were stopped by secret police on he thought of this announcement.
numerous occasions and yet the only He replied:
time they searched our vehicle was when “We have to be faithful as much as
we had already dropped off the food. I met Carrying home a bag of food ever in GOD and what we believe is the
with a pastor who had taken 23 orphans right thing to do. We must not fall into
into his home. Another pastor supports station is usually jammed by the fear. Before the sun rises, they say it is
900 orphans. How they manage to do this Zimbabwe authorities. However, for just the darkest hour and it seems as if that
in such dire conditions remains a mystery 15 minutes over a two week period the dark hour has come. I am determined
to me. I saw families who were harbouring jam was inexplicably lifted. Those 15 in GOD to not stop unless He says so.”
30 or more people who had been victims of minutes just happened to be the 15 Because Barnabas Fund does not
political violence (many of whom were minutes of my interview that had been function in Zimbabwe as an official aid
beaten, burnt, raped or had limbs cut off). pre-recorded. agency, we are able to continue our
I saw the love of Christ demonstrated in One elderly lady I met out there came up feeding progamme even when others
so many ways. One family, who had to me (not knowing who I was), and said cannot. We owe thanks to and need to
been arrested and released, returned to that she had just heard the most amazing continue to pray for those brave South
the police station with all the food that words of encouragement from an Africans who, compelled by the love of
they had for the month as a gift to those organisation called the Barnabas Fund. Christ, volunteer to travel secretly into
who were persecuting them. Two She could not believe that people as far Zimbabwe in such dangerous and
policemen were so touch by this act of away as the UK and the US were unstable circumstances to deliver food.
absolute love that they gave their lives to committed in prayer for them and were Barnabas Fund is committed to
the Lord. I saw fruit trees bearing fruit all even sending food. When I told her that I continuing our work through the churches
year round so that starving Christians was the person in the interview she nearly of Zimbabwe, not only providing food aid
can have food. I heard of bags of flour fell over. but also enabling people to farm more
miraculously lasting weeks. I saw effectively and thus support themselves.
churches so committed to the Lord that How we help
n Project reference 91-721 feeding
miracles and healings take place daily.
Barnabas Fund has been involved in n Project reference 91-751 effective
Every one of these people I have
providing food aid into the country since farming – training and start-up costs
mentioned is supported by food supplied
the beginning of 2008. We work through a
by Barnabas Fund.
network of churches in South Africa and
“An organisation called the Zimbabwe. Basic food staples are bought
in bulk in South Africa and placed into
Barnabas Fund” food packs of about 22.5 kg each.
Just a few days before my trip I gave an Ordinary men and women of various
interview to a UK Christian radio station churches, who feel burdened by the
that broadcasts into Zimbabwe. It was a situation in Zimbabwe, then load these
message of hope to the people of packs into their own cars and head off to
Zimbabwe from the supporters of Zimbabwe. Once in Zimbabwe they meet
Barnabas Fund. I said that the people of up with a contact who escorts them deep
Zimbabwe are not forgotten and that into the rural areas where the packs are
there are those who care deeply for them distributed through local churches. Each Zimbabwean Christians kneel in
and are praying. I also said that we are pack is designed to subsidise the prayer around a newly planted field,
aware of their suffering and are providing nutritional requirements of a family of up asking God to heal their land
food and help to those in most need. This to 10 for a month. However, in many parts
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Sermon outline
Little actions remem

Matthew 25:31-46
1.Introduction Matthew’s Gospel has been described as others, vulnerable. Food was an essential
“pre-eminently the Gospel of judgment” requirement if they were to have the
This passage, often called the and many other passages within it speak of strength to follow their Master, indeed for
parable of the sheep and the separation.1 We are presented with a most life itself. In our day and in the West, we
goats, is one of the most sobering picture of human need and how have almost forgotten this. In the words
we respond to it. It is a passage which is of Australian Christian song-writer Claire
misinterpreted parts of the terrifying in its implication, for Jesus, in Hazzard, “I eat my food for taste or
New Testament, yet one of the addressing six areas of need, relates comfort, not for hunger” (see page 22),
most vital to guide Christians them directly to Himself. How we respond and countless cookery programmes on
to know the Lord’s priorities to our brothers and sisters is directly TV reinforce this idea. But there are many
related to how we respond to Jesus. To Christians today who cannot take for
in their daily life. Jesus is
reject our brothers and sisters, not to meet granted their daily bread. When Barnabas
teaching that how we treat their needs, is to bring His stern Fund started providing monthly food
our brothers and sisters in disapproval, making us the goats. To parcels for needy Christians in Pakistan,
Christ, that whether or not we accept them, to minister to their needs, they were so happy that they did not have
means we are the sheep. to go to bed hungry any more. (See
meet their basic needs, will
boxes, pages 9 and 10)
form the basis of how we are The great misinterpretation of this passage
has been to think that Jesus is looking at b) Water
judged by the Lord. It
our care for the whole of humanity, rather
completes the fifth and final than, as He says specifically, His own
In countries where rain is plentiful and
clean water readily available, it can be
discourse in Matthew’s brothers and sisters. This has been a cause
difficult to understand the importance of
Gospel. After recording these of considerable debate, with some arguing,
water. For Jesus and His disciples, living
words of Jesus, Matthew particularly in the present period, that this
in the Middle East, it was a precious
passage speaks of our concern for the
moves on to the story of the world’s poor. Others, especially the
commodity, especially during the heat
of the day. Water was life. The Bible
Passion - our Lord’s suffering, historical commentators, argue that Jesus
uses the powerful imagery of water to
death and resurrection. is referring in this passage to the faith
speak of spiritual life also. The Old
community, His followers.
Although often called a parable, this Testament describes streams flowing in
teaching only has three elements of the desert and Jesus spoke of Himself as
parable to it: the shepherd, the sheep and
2. Christ and His little ones living water.
the goats (v.32-33, perhaps based on Jesus outlines six areas of Some Christians are deprived of access
Ezekiel 34). All the rest of the teaching is
literal and straightforward, not disguised
human need, which His to water because of their faith. An elderly
man in Bangladesh who converted from
in the picture-language of a parable. disciples would face and
Islam to Christianity was banned by the
Indeed we are left in no doubt about the which are common to all other villagers from using the village well.
meaning of the three elements of parable. humanity. He asks us to help Twenty-two Vietnamese Christian families
The shepherd himself is identified as the
even “the least of these who were expelled from their village in
Son of Man seated in glory on His throne
brothers of mine” (v.40). Lao Cai Province, leaving all their
in heaven, the King, while the sheep are
possessions behind, found land on which
the righteous (v.33,34,37) and the goats a) Food they could settle and grow food, but no
are the unrighteous.
For Jesus’ first disciples, life was fraught source of clean drinking water.
What our Lord is describing in this passage with uncertainty. Following Him and being
c) Shelter
is the Last Judgment, with all the angels involved in His ministry meant forgoing
present and all the nations gathered, and work by which they could have derived In Western societies, homes have
the separation of the sheep from the goats. income. This made them dependent on become far more than shelter from the

Sermon outline

embered in eternity
elements and from those who may attack greatly it would be appreciated by many 3. Christ and His brethren
us. They are a property investment and impoverished Christians who, barely able
an opportunity to show off our status, to afford food, cannot begin to pay for The message of the sheep
taste and wealth. Some people have medical care when they are sick. and the goats has often been
more than one. For the first disciples they misunderstood in recent
Jesus, the Healer, fully recognised the
were essential protection, as they are for
many of our brothers and sisters around
needs of the sick. Barnabas Fund times. The early Church,
provides medical care, for example, in
the world. however, took the words of
northern Iraq where many Christians have
When 120 Christian homes were burned fled from the anti-Christian violence in
the Lord Jesus at face value:
to the ground by angry Muslims in Horale, Baghdad and Basra. Here Barnabas Fund “Whatever you did to one of
Indonesia, on 2 May, the Christians had provides two mobile clinics which the least of these brothers of
nowhere to go but the jungle (see pictures travel around the region to care for mine, you did for me.” (v.40)
on page 11). A pastor in Belarus, where sick Christians.
Christians are persecuted under a They recognised that He was saying that
f) Prison
communist dictatorship, was told he must the kindnesses referred to are those
demolish his own home in Minsk or the Prisons in the West today deprive you of which His followers did to their fellow-
authorities would do it for him. your liberty for a while, but all the above believers. This is how commentators have
five needs are met. In our Lord’s time, as historically understood the phrase
d) Clothing
in many places today, this was not so. “brothers of mine”. The sheep and goats
In our fashion-dominated culture, clothes Without someone to visit and bring you are not being separated on the basis of
have little to do with survival. Living in the basic necessities, you would really their actions towards mankind in general
homes and workplaces where suffer. An email to Barnabas Fund on 27 but on the basis of their care or neglect of
temperature is carefully controlled, we do June told of a young Uzbek Christian in other Christians.
not have to protect ourselves from jail for being a pastor’s assistant: “The
Dr R.T. France explains that the phrase “the
scorching daytime heat or bitter cold of investigator gave his father written
least of” is linked to the expression “little
night as Jesus’ first disciples did. But permission to meet with him but his father
ones” which Jesus uses many times in
some of our brothers and sisters have couldn’t even pass his clothes to him.”
Matthew’s Gospel to mean all His disciples
only rags or – as for some Christians in
Barnabas Fund supports a ministry which or followers. A clear example of this use of
South Sudan during the recent civil war -
helps Southern Sudanese women (mainly the term occurs in Matthew 10:42 where
nothing at all. Barnabas Fund provides
Christians) who are in prison in North Jesus says that “if anyone gives even a cup
clothes for Christians who have lost
Sudan, providing them with clothes, of cold water to one of these little ones
everything in natural disasters or
blankets, medicines and Bibles. Most of because he is my disciple, I tell you the
incidents of persecution, such as the
these women are in prison either because truth, he will certainly not lose his reward”.
attacks in Orissa, India, last Christmas. It
they have failed to cover themselves as Incidentally, this is another verse where
also provides school uniforms to enable
required by shari‘a or because, as Jesus encourages His followers to care for
needy Christian children to go to school.
refugees and war widows, they have run each other. Our Lord’s little ones, the least
e) Health care up debts they cannot repay. of His brethren, are the defenceless ones,
the oppressed, the despised, the weak, the
In Western countries in the twenty-first A visitor also brings great comfort and
vulnerable, our brothers and sisters
century we are greatly blessed in terms of consolation to the prisoner. David
scattered across the world in situations of
health care. Even the worst of hospitals Shestakov is a church leader serving a
great need and persecution. These are the
far exceeds the care which was available sentence in a labour camp in Uzbekistan,
little ones we have a mandate to care for.
100 years ago. Britain celebrates this year many miles from his home. Barnabas
the sixtieth anniversary of the creation of Fund is not only supporting his wife but This is not a message which we often
the National Health Service, an institution also helping her with the costs of making hear today, but it is what the Bible says. It
which is often disparaged, but how the long journey to visit him. chimes with Jesus’ command to His

Sermon outline
disciples to love one another as He has their conduct was viewed by the King, He accepts us and destines us for glory.
loved us (John 13:34-35). If we read the how important to Him were the humble It is in gratitude for what He has done that
Bible with our eyes open to God’s priority unexciting duties which had been either we obey His command to meet the needs
we see how many other places there are performed or neglected. It seemed of our brothers and sisters and then go to
where He tells us to care for our own strange to the righteous that these small the rest of the world.
Christian family.2 favours and kindnesses, which the doer
A powerpoint presentation to
had probably forgotten almost
This does not mean that Christians should accompany this sermon is
immediately, had been remembered by
ignore the needs of non-believers, for available to download from
Christ, had been treasured up by Him to
throughout Christian history Christians have
be mentioned on the Day of Judgment. It www.barnabasfund.org/scs
had a noble part to play in meeting the
was these little tasks of day to day living Endnotes
needs of suffering humanity. They have
which, Jesus says, proved that they were
established many worthwhile endeavours. 1
Other examples in Matthew’s Gospel are:
His true disciples. The righteous evidently
However, as Paul points out in Galatians separating wheat from chaff (3:12), sincere
felt that they had accomplished so little;
6:10, although we must do good to all, our people from hypocrites (6:2,5,16), wise
yet to the Lord their loving care of their
priority should be the household of faith. builders from foolish (7:24-27), wheat from
fellow-believers was all important.
tares (13:30), good fish from bad (13:48-49)
4. Christ and us So let us be encouraged that the smallest and profitable servants from unprofitable
of our actions, the smallest of gifts, to
Harold K. Moulton writes help our brothers and sisters is seen and
(25:14-30). This Gospel also records many
other scenes of judgment such as the
about the implications of remembered by our Lord. unmerciful servant (18:23-34), the labourers
brotherhood in Christ: Some might ask whether there is a in the vineyard (20:1-16), the wicked
tenants (21:33-41), the wedding guest
“It means that we cannot evade contradiction between this passage and the
teaching of the Apostle Paul on justification without wedding clothes (22:1-14), the
responsibility for our fellow- faithful and unfaithful servants (24:45-51),
by faith (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:20-
Christians. If we disclaim our 24; Romans 5:1-2). As Paul makes clear, the wise and foolish virgins (25:1-12).
family relationship, we are we are not saved by our righteous works 2
Here are some: Song of Songs 1:6;
acting like Cain towards Abel, but by faith in Christ. The reason for the Matthew 10:42; Acts 2:44-45; Acts 11:28-
difference between the passages becomes
or the older brother towards 29; Romans 15:25-26; Galatians 6:10;
clear when one considers the different Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 13:1; James
the prodigal. It means that contexts and audiences. Paul was writing 2:15-17; 1 John 3:11,14,16-17; 1 John
brotherhood must be personal about how people could become part of 4:7,11-12
and individual, that it must the Body of Christ. Matthew is recording
words spoken by Christ to guide those who
3
Harold K. Moulton, The Challenge of the
embrace the whole Church, Concordance, London, Samuel Bagster &
are already His followers about how to live
and that it must be and behave while they wait for His return. Sons, 1977, section on “Brotherhood in
world-wide.”3 the New Testament”, p.63
We need to remember that Christ has
Jesus describes how both the righteous already paid the penalty for our sins.
and the unrighteous were amazed at how Despite our failings and weaknesses,
I tell you the truth, when

you did it to one of the
least of these my
brothers and sisters, you
were doing it to me!
Matthew 25:40 (New
Living Translation)

Small group Bible study

The Sheep and the Goats Something to try at home
There are very few hymns or songs on
Matthew 25:31-46 the theme of caring for our fellow

believers. Maybe some in the group
would like to try and write one for the
This study look at the same passage as the sermon outline group to sing next time you meet. You
(pp.16-18). It can be used either before or after hearing the could choose a well known tune and put
sermon, or quite separately. However, if used without the some new words to it. Or else write both
words and melody.
sermon, it may be helpful for the group leader to read through
Barnabas Fund would be glad to
the sermon outline beforehand. The main study is questions 1
receive any such songs. Please send
to 14. The section at the end called “Digging deeper” is to your nearest Barnabas Fund office
intended for those who would like to explore some of the (addresses on back cover) or to
info@barnabasfund.org
more challenging aspects of the passage.
1. In this passage, Jesus describes 7. Sometimes people who need our help 12. How wonderful it is to think that we
Himself in three different ways are ungrateful. Sometimes we feel too have the Lord Jesus Christ for our brother
(v.31,32,34). What are these titles or tired or there are other things we would (v.40). There are other verses where this is
descriptions, and what are the prefer to do instead. Can the words mentioned. Divide up these examples
implications of each? of verses 40 and 45 help us in among the members of the group and,
these situations? after a few minutes, let each person in
2. We are described as sheep or goats.
turn read out their verse and then share
What are the general characteristics of 8. Christ’s command to “Love your
with the rest of the group their thoughts
sheep and of goats? (Which are docile neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27) is so
and feelings. Matthew 12:50; Matthew
and obedient? Which have “attitude”? well known that many people who know
28:10; John 20:17; Hebrews 2:11-12;
Which harmlessly graze the grass? nothing else of His teachings can quote it,
Hebrews 2:17
Which browse destructively on trees and rightly interpret “neighbour” as
and shrubs?) everybody. So how does this fit with the 13. The Bible recognises that we all sin
verses which tell us specifically to love and fall short. How then can anyone be
3. Which particular characteristic is used
our fellow Christians? (If in doubt, turn to righteous, like the sheep who are
by the shepherd (King) to separate the welcomed into the Kingdom? (Read
Galatians 6:10.)
sheep (righteous) from the goats Romans 3:20-24.)
(unrighteous)? 9. How do the sheep react when the King
praises them? (v.37-39) Why do you think 14. So, if we do not earn our place in
4. Read verse 40. Is the King looking at they are so surprised? What can we learn heaven by good deeds, why does this
whether His disciples cared for humanity from Isaiah 55:8-9 about the Lord’s passage say they are so important? (Clue:
in general or for other Christians? viewpoint and priorities? think in terms of proof, evidence, results,
5. Can you think of other parts of the fruit. Read John 13:35 and 1 John 3:14.)
10. We have seen that small favours and
Bible where we are told to care for our kindnesses to other Christians are Digging deeper
fellow-believers? (If you want some treasured up by the Lord for the Day of
15. Our passage describes the Last Judgment.
verses to get you started, try dipping into Judgment. How should this affect our Read Revelation 20:11-15 and see what more we
this list. Song of Songs 1:6; Matthew attitude to Christians (perhaps including can learn about this serious subject.
10:42; Acts 2:44-45; Acts 11:28-29; ourselves) who, in human terms, may not
16. The King tells the righteous that the Kingdom
Romans 15:25-26; Galatians 6:10; seem to have “accomplished” much or they will inherit has been prepared for them (v.34).
Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 13:1; James may not have been very “visible” in their But the eternal fire to which the unrighteous are
2:15-17; 1 John 3:11,14,16-17; 1 John Christian ministry? See also Matthew sent has been prepared for the devil and his
4:7,11-12) 7:21-23. angels (v.41). What is the significance of this
difference?
6. How often do we have opportunity to 11. The goats are not sent away for
17. What does Jesus say in this passage about
feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit having committed sins like murder, theft the ultimate fate of those who do not put their
Christians in prison etc? Do we take or adultery. Their sins are “sins of faith in Him, as proved by their actions? (v.41,46)
those opportunities? If we do not have omission”. In the words of a traditional
18. Matthew’s Gospel has much else to say about
the opportunity to do it personally, what prayer of confession, they had “left separation and judgment. Some examples are
other possibilities are there for helping our undone the things which [they] ought to given in note 1 on the opposite page. What do
needy brothers and sisters? have done”. What can we learn from this? these add to our understanding?

Ideas and challenges
Irfan from Pakistan is 12 years old. His

father
goes out every day looking for work – often
he
thoughts, ideas
cannot find any because he has never learn
ed
to read or write. His mother works as a
cleaner
in a Muslim home. Irfan has never been
to
& challenges
school. Together with his five brothers and
two
sisters, he works at home as a kite make
r to
help his parents earn enough money so
the
family can have something to eat.
for youth groups
(and others too!)
“Moses” is from Amman in Jordan. He grew up in
a Muslim family. One day, he watched the film “The
Passion of the Christ”. After seeing this film,
Moses began asking questions about Jesus, even
though his family was not happy about this at all.
something to think about… When Moses’ dad found him reading the Bible, he
One in ten Christians around the world face took it from Moses and threw it away. Despite this,
disadvantages, poverty, harassment, violence or Moses decided that he wanted to follow Christ. He
persecution because they believe in Jesus Christ and went to a church to get baptised, but the minister
refuse to deny Him. Have a look at the Faith Costs DVD was too scared and refused. Things got really
(available to order free of charge from your national difficult when Moses’ boss fired him after finding
Barnabas Fund office). Think about the different types of out that he had become a Christian, and refused to
persecution Christians in other countries suffer. give Moses his final salary and any reference.
Moses went to Sudan, but there it was even worse.
Think about what you would do if, where you live... He was insulted, arrested and beaten. His flat was
...following Jesus meant people looked down broken into and someone wrote “maseehi baleed“
on you and treated you like dirt? (Christian fool) all over his car windows. In fear of
his life, Moses fled to a Western country.
...being a Christian meant that you often did
not know whether you are going to have anything
at all to eat for the next day?
“Rebekah” lives in a village south of Iraq’s capital
...being a Christian meant you were thrown out Baghdad. She has three brothers. Her father used
of your home, not allowed to go to school and to work as an electrician. After the 2003 invasion
unable to get a job? he lost his job and began selling electrical items
like light bulbs, adapters and hotplates at a stand.
...someone offered you a lot of money to
There was less and less money but Rebekah’s
buy anything you needed – if you only family managed to get by. But then, Muslim
rejected Jesus? extremists began targeting them. Rebekah heard
how they demanded money from her father; her
...following Jesus meant doctors would refuse
brothers were beaten up several times; her
to treat you when you’re ill?
mother was insulted and eventually, her father’s
Would you stick to your faith – no matter what the little shop was burnt by the extremists. Rebekah
cost?? There are many Christians out there who daily have to and her family fled Iraq, leaving everything they
face decisions like the ones above. Yet they refuse to give up had behind.
Jesus. Here are a few examples:

Ideas and challenges

doi ng som eth ing
poor and persecuted Christians. There are feeding programmes
Have a look at Matthew 25:31-40. In this passage, Jesus asks us to in countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Zimbabwe and
care for those Christians who are not as well off as we are. He says Pakistan. There are projects which help poor and despised
that we should give them something to eat when they’re hungry, Christians to start small businesses so they can earn some
give them something to drink when they’re thirsty, invite them in money. There are projects to help Christians who have been
when they’re lonely or homeless, give them clothes if they don’t have affected by natural disasters and have been left out when help
any, help them when they’re sick and visit them when they’re thrown was distributed. And here are some ideas how you can help us
into prison. With its many different projects, Barnabas Fund is doing do something for those who find every day that faith costs:
exactly that. We support many projects all over the world to help
1. Let people know Many people just don’t know that 5. Ready, steady, cook
there are Christians in other countries who are poor, despised Get together the food that makes
and persecuted because of their faith. Get some information up a Barnabas Fund food parcel in
together (there is a lot of information in this magazine, and you a particular country. Invite friends
can also have a look at some of the older issues of Barnabas and family and see who can come
Aid and at our website www.barnabasfund.org) Write it on up with the most creative meal.
cards or sheets of paper – one for each country or person. See what your guests are willing
A typical selection of
Then put them up where many people can see them (for to pay for the individual
foods in a food parcel
example, on a big map on the wall). Another idea is to attach creations...
for Iraqi Christian
the cards to helium-filled balloons. The balloons with the cards refugee families in Syria
can then be released inside the building (you can say a prayer
for each country as you release the balloon) and they will float
to the ceiling and remain there for about a week as a reminder.
2. Tea box Can be done either at church (if you have coffee
and tea afterwards or before) or at home. Put up a collection box
and put in 10p (or more) every time you have a cup of tea/coffee/
squash to drink. See how much you get together in 10 days!
3. Loose change 17p = 1kg of flo

challenge Take up an ur in
Pakistan
offering at church to help 18p = 1kg of po
persecuted Christians – ask tatoes in
Egypt
people to give any loose 30p = a bottle
of milk in
change less than £1 which they Egypt
are carrying around in their 90p = 1/2 kg of
tea in
pockets, handbags, purses...If Pakistan
you count the money, you can £1 = 1kg of ric
e in Syria – it
see what the money we just used to cost 25
p!
carry around in our pockets £7 = 1 sack of
lentils in
could buy in countries such Sudan
as Pakistan, Zimbabwe etc.
4. “Buy one, give one” meal Organise a meal or Refugees use sticks and scraps of plastic to construct
dinner, either at home or at church. Calculate the cost per makeshift shelters at a refugee camp near Nyala in South
person. People then buy a ticket for the meal and also give Darfur. (Source: USAID)
the same amount as a donation. A good idea is to put
together a typical food parcel which
ily ’s fo od Barnabas Fund distributes to poor
6. Sponsored shack sleep over Get your youth
£1 7 = f
am
group together and try to build one of the shacks you can see
parcel in Christian families (have a look at the
Pakistan in the picture of a Darfur refugee camp above (this might be
previous pages for some information
od the only home many poor people have!). Organise a
£10 = family’s fo on that) and put up the cost for it as
sponsored shack sleep over (possibly in your church building).
parcel in well. See how many food parcels
Zimbabwe You can even invite people to join your group for an evening
your guests can provide for families
meal – perhaps made from a typical food parcel.
£4 = family’s food in Pakistan/ Zimbabwe/Egypt.
parcel in Egypt

Prayer and songs
A Prayer for the Persecuted Church Suffering Church

Heavenly Father, Sunday offering
You have asked us to take care of Your children who suffer You can help us to care for our Lord’s
hardship. We pray that You will open our eyes to see the “little ones” – our brothers and sisters in
Christ. Barnabas Fund provided means to
needs of our brothers and sisters and that You will put
feed over 40,000 Christians in the year to
compassion in our hearts. Help us to share the good gifts June 2008. With your help, we will be able
You have given us with others and act according to Your will. to feed even more. Please consider taking
up a Suffering Church Sunday offering,
We lift up to You those who have to pay the price for either for our general feeding fund or for
following You. May Your love and Your presence surround feeding Christians in particular countries:
them at all times. May they take heart and be at peace Feeding Fund (00-636)
because they know that You have overcome the world. We Iraq (20-246)
thank You for their faith, that despite persecution and Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan
hardship, they place their trust in You. We pray that their (20-383)
Egypt (11-220)
faithfulness will inspire us to follow You more closely and Holy Land (65-377)
surrender all to You. Pakistan (41-331)
Darfur, Sudan (48-511)
In Jesus’ precious Name,
Zimbabwe (91-721)
Amen
Suggested songs
Original new song “You”
A Barnabas Fund supporter in Australia, singer/songwriter Claire Hazzard, sent us for your service
one of her latest songs (due to be released at the end of 2008) which speaks
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
directly about our responsibility to the persecuted Church and ties in perfectly with
(Frances R. Havergal,
this year’s theme for Suffering Church Sunday. Claire’s passion is “to challenge the
Christian Worship 484)
mediocrity of westernised Christianity and to encourage believers to take seriously
Jesus’ call to true discipleship”. We have printed the lyrics here, and you can Help us to help each other, Lord
download and listen to the song on our website www.barnabasfund.org/scs. It (Charles Wesley,
is a great song to start off or end your Suffering Church Sunday service. Methodist hymnbook 717)
You Beauty for brokenness

(Graham Kendrick,
For the persecuted church
Songs of Fellowship 664)
Well I know I spend a bit too much on clothes
Brother let me be your servant
And I must admit I care a bit too much about my hair
And it’s true I eat my food for taste or comfort not for hunger (Richard Gillard, Songs of Fellowship 54)
I am sorry that I live my life as if you were not there Who can sound the depths of sorrow?
When you, you wonder if you’ll wake each day (Graham Kendrick,
And you, you gather secretly to pray Songs of Fellowship 604)
And you, you know that death’s a part of living
From heaven you came
And you are my sister and my brother
(Graham Kendrick,
So maybe I could pray a little harder
A picture of you flashes through my mind
As I think about the way you live and die each day Blessed be your name
But I am so comfortably removed from your situation (Matt Redman)
It is not hard to forget about the price you pay So come (You have taken the precious)
© Claire Hazzard 2008 (Tom Davis & Kevin Prosch,

Prayer and songs

Prayer-and-response card
– something for people to
take home after the service
This card, which includes the prayer opposite and a response form,
is available to order free from your national Barnabas Fund office.
Please order as many free copies as you need as the cards are a very
good resource for distribution to your congregation on Suffering
Church Sunday.
Order your free Suffering Church Sunday resources

The following resources are available n Powerpoint presentation to
free of charge from your national accompany the sermon on Matthew
Barnabas Fund office (addresses on 25:31-46 (see pages 16-18). Only
back page) or from our website available to download from our
www.barnabasfund.org/scs website.
Please use the form below to order.
n New song “You” by Claire Hazzard,
nA
2 version (approx. 40x60cm) of the Australian singer/songwriter: a song for
mini-poster on page 6, to advertise the persecuted Church. Only available
your Suffering Church Sunday service. to download from our website.
n Prayer-and-response cards (see

illustration on this page), including the
“Prayer for the Persecuted Church”
and a response form, for people to take
home with them after the service.
nD
VD presentation “Faith Costs”
(traditional and contemporary versions,
approx. 3.30min) to show during your
Suffering Church Sunday service.
I would like to order the following free resources: (please indicate quantities in boxes)
A2 poster “Faith Costs” DVD “Faith Costs”
Prayer-and-response cards Copies of the Suffering Church Sunday issue of Barnabas Aid (Sept/Oct 2008)
Name: (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Rev, Dr)
Address:
Postcode:
Email:
Name of church:
Send this form to your nearest Barnabas Fund office. Addresses on back cover.
Resources can also be ordered from www.barnabasfund.org/scs or downloaded.

Campaign update
A
the ti t
writin me of
Although the general situation in Iraq now offers some have g 29,338
glimmers of hope, the position of Christians is as difficult and signed
Save o
dangerous as ever. Iraqi Christians continue to flee the Iraqi ur
country, selling their last possessions in order to escape the Chris
ti
violence and danger of their home country. Those Christians petiti ans
left in Iraq are mainly the ones who are either too old, too ill on
or too poor to leave.
Iraq has now reached the top of the list Last opportunity to gather presented to the governments in
of countries producing refugees, ahead the United Kingdom and various
signatures
of countries such as Somalia and Eritrea. other countries.
All the while the European Union are still In the light of these developments, we
If you have
debating whether to open their doors to again urge you to add your voice to “I strongly support
the petition for Iraqi
not signed Christian refugees”
Iraqi refugees and whether any decision Barnabas Fund’s petition campaign to Baroness Caroline Cox
the petition
“Save Iraqi Christians”. The campaign is
“There are no people as
wonderful and
to grant asylum should be based on

with such depth of faith
that I have ever
met like the Iraqi Christians
yet and also

. There are no
people I have ever seen
suffer like the
Iraqi Christians. Faced with
coming to an end on Tuesday, 30 Save Iraq

destitution, threats, kidnap
poverty,
religious affiliation or not. While the i Christia

and murder
they are desperate. The
world looks on
if you know ns
and does nothing for them. We, the unde
Christian rsigned,
“I urge you to support extre minority have put
our name
the petition
September. At the time of writing, we

mist elemof theof Iraq, s to this
Barnabas Fund to encourag ents withi who since 2003 document
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in

n have in orde
e the to their homeland Iraq. suffered increasing r to express our conce
really do something for genocide, tianWest
Anti-Chris
violence Their gove haras
our brothers
and and and threa rnment seem sment and persern for and solidarity
of other
sisters in Iraq. The time call on our natioa large proportio ts are now on such s unable cution from with the
for talking nal governme n of the a scale as to prote
passed; the time for action ees, and tohas
refug Christian ct them. religious
nt to take popu to const
give refug itute ethn
is now. Please e to some serious note lation have now ic cleansing,
be part of this by supportin of the pligh fled
have a total of 29,338 signatures received

Please join of them, even
g thisthe SAVE enabling t of Iraqi the country to seek attempted
as I do wholeheartedly.”ofstatement and petitionIRAQI CHRI them to Christians
Germany wants to give precedence to

settle here , to refuge elsew
STIANS camp
the situat your commitmen aign by in our coun provide aid and here. We
involved ion of Iraqi t to helpi signing try. relief for
in the SAVE Christians as well ng Iraqi Christians. the petition below the
people who Canon Andrew White IRAQI CHRI as camp Barnabas , showing
STIANS camp aign updates, Fund your
aign. which will will keep you informagreement with
Vicar of St George’s Anglican PLEASE include ideas ed the abov
Church, Baghdad WRITE YOU of how you by sending you news e
at Barnabas Fund offices around the

President of the Foundation R NAME can conti
Signand
for Relief ature AND ADD nue to be
Iraqi Christians, others, such as the

Reconciliation in the Middle RESS CLEARLY
East Name and BELOW
would like to
add ress
Postcod
“The plight of the Christian e
Country
community of Iraq has
world. This includes signatures from

situation is desperate. gone largely unnoticed
Urgent action is needed. . Their
German Social Democratic Party and

issues have made a real Barnabas Fund petitions
difference and brought on other
sign, please
Christians. I now urge change for the better for
you to sign this petition persecuted
brothers and sisters in to show your solidarity
Iraq and as refugees in with our
surrounding countries.
countries as diverse as France,

Dr Patrick ”
Sookhdeo
representatives of the UNHCR (United

International Director,
Barnabas Fund
do so now Save Iraqi Christians

Nations High Commission for Refugees) Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India,
and send iraq petiton.indd 1
oppose this “selective acceptance” of Israel, Mauritius, Monaco, Norway, 20/12/07 14:16:52
the signed PLEASE RETU
Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, Spain

RN COMP
LETED PETIT
ION FORM
refugees. Their reluctance to grant

S TO BARN
United Kingd ABAS FUND
9-10 Priory om AT YOUR
petition sheet
Row, Coven REGIONAL
Tel: 024 try, CV1 OFFICE BY
7623 1923 5EX Australia 30 SEPTE
Fax: 024 Postal Suite MBER 2008
7683 4718
info@barnab 236 Hyperd 107,
asfund.org Loganh ome, New
Tel: 07 3806 ome, QLD 4129 14A View Zealand
and Uganda.
From outsid Road,
e of the
1076 or
1300 365 Auckland MT Eden
Fax: 07 1024
preferential refuge to Iraqi Christians

Tel: +44 UK: 799
24 7623 bfaustralia@b 3806 1076 Tel: 9 630
6267
Fax: +44 1923 arnabasfund.o Fax: 9 630
24 7683
back to your
rg office@barnab 6267
4718 asfund.org.nz
Registe Jersey
Le Jardin,
Company red Charity No. Grouville,
La Rue a
Don,
Registered 1092935
in Englan Jersey, JE8 USA
d 40295 Tel: 70060 9GB 6731 Curran
iraq petiton.in 36 0 St,
dd 3 Fax: 70060 McLean,
bfjersey@barn 1 VA 22101
Tel: (703)
abasfund.org 288-1681
stands in sharp contrast to the many

Fax: (703)
bfusa@barnab288-1682
asfund.org
We would like to thank all of you who nearest Barnabas 20/12/07

14:17:06
personal testimonies of Iraqi Christians have signed, asked others to sign and/or Fund office (addresses on back cover).
who either have themselves faced have written letters to MPs or elected
To get more petition sheets please
harassment, kidnappings, violence and representatives to help raise awareness of
contact your national Barnabas Fund
severe persecution at the hands of the plight of our Iraqi brothers and sisters.
office or download from our website
Islamic militants or know someone who Once we have received all the signed
www.barnabasfund.org/iraq
has. petition sheets, the petition will be
A special thanks goes to...

A church in northern Virginia, USA, has held a successful benefit
concert on behalf of the Barnabas Fund. The Church of the
Apostles in Fairfax hosted professional singers and musicians
who generously donated their time to perform songs
“sponsored” by members of the audience. Donors gave a set
amount (or more) for a song of their choice.
The church was converted into an elegant, relaxed concert

setting, complete with candlelit tables, food and drinks.
The event was open to the public and drew a significant crowd.
Barnabas Fund’s US Executive Director, Rev. Julian Dobbs,
spoke on the plight of the Iraqi Church, while during the concert
a slideshow played with images of Iraqi Christians and project
information. Professional singers and musicians perform pieces
All told, over US$14,630 (£7,315; €9,144) was raised for the “sponsored” by members of the audience in a concert in
Save Iraqi Christians Campaign. Many thanks to the organisers, the Church of the Apostles, Fairfax, Virginia, USA, in order
performers and sponsors!
to raise money to help Iraqi Christians

In touch
A group from Knoll Farm Christian Mission in Wimborne, Dorset, raised over
£1,000 on their sponsored cycle ride to help feed starving Zimbabwean Christians
Cycling for the suffering Church

O n Easter Monday, 24 March,
Robert de Berry, a UK trustee of
Barnabas Fund and vicar at St Mark’s,
throughout the cycle ride, and “all
completed it without puncture or incident”,
as one of the organisers reports. The total
Bowers has now raised well over £23,000
(US$46,000 128,750) for the Cana Girls
Rescue Home. This home provides refuge
Kennington, London, and his son Barney contributed by friends, church members, for Christian girls and women who, in the
braved the cold and the snow when they work colleagues, neighbours and families context of some traditional African
set out on a sponsored bike ride. They came to £1,098.20 (US$2,196; 11,372). religions, often face the danger of forced
cycled 65 miles on a zigzag journey from marriages to much older men, polygamy
Cambridge to London, raising over
£13,500 (US$27,000; 116,875). Half of
A t the end of June, Canon John
Bowers of West Kirby, Cheshire, UK,
started off on a sponsored cycle ride from
and female genital mutilation (“female
circumcision”).
the amount they raised went to support
the work of Barnabas Fund; the other half
of the money was used for youth work at
Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela to
raise money for the Cana Girls Rescue A big “thank you” to all of you! The hard
work of the cyclists and the generosity
of the sponsors are such a blessing to our
Robert’s church. Home in Kenya (project reference 25-
brothers and sisters in need.
663). In a letter, Canon Bowers describes
A t the beginning of June twelve

motivated cyclists from Knoll Farm
Christian Mission in Wimborne, Dorset,
the experience of his “pilgrimage” by
bike: “Pilgrimages are not meant to be
easy. Certainly, cycling the 420 miles on
UK, went on a sponsored cycle ride round
busy and quite narrow roads from Lisbon
part of the Isle of Wight to help starving
in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in
Christians in Zimbabwe (project reference
Spain in the blazing sun and head-on
91-721). A mother of six and her two
wind for six and a half days is tough but
oldest teenage daughters, a 61-year-old
amazingly rewarding. Rewarding
pastor and two fathers with two teenage
spiritually and with an important practical
children each were amongst those who
outreach benefitting the Cana Girls
cycled 55 miles from Yarmouth through
project in Kenya, encouraging the pilgrim
Brighstone, Niton, Ventnor, Shanklin,
when the pressure is on.” Robert and Barney de Berry braved the
Godshill, Newport, West Cowes and back
snow in late March and cycled 65 miles
to Yarmouth. Unlike Robert and Barney, Together with the money from his last to raise money for Barnabas Fund
the group enjoyed lovely weather sponsored cycle ride in 2007, Canon

In touch
Harvest celebrations – thanking God for His provision

As harvest time is approaching many of us will be planning harvest celebrations in our churches. This is a great opportunity to
remember our sisters and brothers around the world who suffer material hardship because of their faith in Jesus Christ. You might
want to consider taking up a thanksgiving offering to support Barnabas Fund’s “Feeding Fund” or choose a particular feeding
project (see below) to share the blessings which God has poured out on us with our poor Christian sisters and brothers in countries
where they are persecuted for their faith. This year’s Suffering Church Sunday resources (pages 6-23) focus on poverty and hunger,
so they could be useful for a harvest service too.
Feeding projects: “harvest time is approaching

Feeding Fund (for all feeding projects) project reference 00-636
Feeding Iraqi Christians in Iraq project reference 20-246 …a great opportunity to
Feeding Iraqi Christian refugees in Syria and Jordan project reference 20-383
Zimbabwe feeding project reference 91-721
remember our sisters and
Pakistan feeding project reference 41-331 brothers who suffer material
Egypt feeding project reference 11-220
Holy Land feeding project reference 65-377
hardship because of their
Darfur, Sudan, feeding project reference 48-511 faith in Jesus Christ”
Giving regularly – helping A reminder to our British

supporters who donate to
Barnabas Fund to plan effectively Barnabas Fund via
Regular donations are very important to the work of Barnabas Fund as they are cost-
effective and make it easier for us to plan ahead. Knowing that a certain amount will be
internet banking
available helps us to plan more effectively for the projects we fund and also to respond Could we please remind those of our
quickly to new requests coming in from the persecuted Church. Also, regular gifts are supporters who donate money via
by far the least labour-intensive gifts to process. They are quick to set up and, once set internet banking and are UK residents to
up, they require only very little administration. This maximises the amount of your gift include your postcode as a reference in
sent to the projects supporting Christians in need. UK supporters can use the form your donation? This will make
opposite to set up a standing order. identification much easier and quicker.
Also, if the money is meant for a particular
Please consider giving regularly by setting up a standing order, as ultimately this is the
project, please give the project number so
most effective way of helping our persecuted brothers and sisters all over the world.
your gift can be put straight to the project
All the feeding projects listed above need regular ongoing support. it was intended for.
Come and visit our UK exhibition stands

Barnabas Fund will be having a stand at the following events. Please do come and visit.
20 - 26 September: Bognor Regis Bible Week, Royal Norfolk Hotel, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
25 – 28 September: Christian Resources Exhibition, Harrogate

The aid agency for the persecuted Church
Please send the following resources for Suffering Church Sunday
(indicate quantity required):
A2 poster “Faith Costs” DVD “Faith Costs”
Prayer-and-response cards opies of the Suffering

C
Church Sunday issue of
Barnabas Aid (Sept/Oct 2008)
Yes, I would like to help the persecuted Church
Here is my gift of ______________________ Gift Aid Declaration
I authorise Barnabas Fund, registered charity no. 1092935, to treat all donations
Please use my gift for I have made since 6 April 2002 and all subsequent donations as Gift Aid donations
until I notify you otherwise.
Wherever the need is greatest (General Fund)
Signature _________________________________________ Date _____________
Other ___________________________________________*
(Applicable to UK tax payers only)
I enclose a cheque/voucher payable to “Barnabas Fund”. If you have previously signed a Gift Aid Declaration for Barnabas Fund, you do not need
to sign again. To qualify for Gift Aid, what you pay in income tax or capital gains tax must
at least equal the amount of tax reclaimed on donations to registered charities in the tax
Please debit my Visa Mastercard American Express
year. Please inform us if you change your name or address or stop paying tax.
Maestro CAF card /other charity card
Name (Mr,Mrs,Miss,Ms,Rev,Dr)
Number Address
Maestro issue number or issue date /

Postcode Telephone
Expiry date Email
/ Signature ______________________________
Please return this form to Barnabas Fund at your national office or to the UK office.
I do not require an acknowledgement of this gift. Addresses are on the back cover. Barnabas Fund will not give your address or
email to anyone else.
I would like to give regularly through my bank. Please send me the
appropriate form. (UK supporters may use the Standing Order form Phone 0800 587 4006 or visit our website at www.barnabasfund.org to make a
below.) credit card donation. From outside UK phone +44 1672 565031.
Registered Charity number 1092935 Company registered in England number 4029536
*We reserve the right to use designated gifts for another project if the one identified is
Alternative Gift Card To make an alternative gift for a loved one, please
sufficiently funded.
contact your national office.
Supporters in Germany: please turn to back cover for how to send gifts to
Mag 09/08 Barnabas Fund.
STANDING ORDER For UK supporters who would like to give regularly

Please use these gifts by Standing Order for
Wherever the need is greatest (General Fund) Other _________________________________*
To: (name and address of your bank)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Post code: _______________________
Sort Code ____/____/____ Account Number __________________

Account name ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please pay Barclays Bank, Canary Wharf Branch, Canary Wharf, 2 Churchill Place, London, E14 5RB, for the credit of Barnabas Fund
account no. 904 669 72 sort code 20-26-46
£ ___________ (amount in words) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Starting on (date) _________ and then every month/quarter/year (delete as applicable) until further notice.
From (Name) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Address) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ Post code ____________
Signature __________________________ Date ____/_____/____
This Standing Order is a new one / in addition to / replaces an earlier Standing Order in favour of the Barnabas Fund (delete as applicable)
Please quote reference (to be completed by Barnabas Fund) ____________________________________________________________________________________
Please send this form to Barnabas Fund and not to your bank
If you are a UK tax-payer please complete the Gift Aid Declaration above to enable us to reclaim the tax on your standing order payments.
Barnabas Fund is a registered charity no. 1092935, and a company registered in England number 4029536
* We reserve the right to use designated gifts for another project if the one identified is sufficiently funded. BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 27
The “Barnabas Fund Distinctive”
Barnabas Fund was • The money is used to fund projects • We believe we are called to address
developed by local Christians in their the Islamic faith – an ideology which
established in 1993 with the
own countries or regions. denies full religious liberty to Christian
aim of providing practical minorities – while continuing to show
• The money is channelled through
help to Christians in Muslim existing structures in the countries God’s love to Muslim people.
contexts. Since that time our where funds are sent (e.g. local • We seek to inform and enable
ministry has grown and we churches or Christian organisations). Christians in the West to respond to
the growing challenge of Islam to
now bring hope and aid to • We do not set up our own structures or
send people (Western missionaries). Church, society and mission in their
the persecuted Church in own countries.
Instead we seek to encourage,
over 50 countries. strengthen and enable the existing • We believe in the clear Biblical
So what helps to make Barnabas Fund local Church and Christian teaching that all Christians should treat
distinctive from other Christian communities – so they can maintain all people of all faiths with love and
organisations which deal with their presence and witness compassion, even those who seek to
persecution? persecute them.
• No request is too small to be
• We support only Christians. (“As we considered. • We believe in the power of prayer to
have opportunity, let us do good to all change people’s lives and situations,
• We aim to meet both practical and
people, especially to those who either through grace to endure or
spiritual needs.
belong to the family of believers” through deliverance from suffering.
• We are equal partners with the
Galatians 6:10, emphasis added.) We therefore seek to facilitate global
persecuted Church, whose leaders
• The majority of our aid goes to intercession for the persecuted
often help shape our overall direction.
Christians living in Muslim Church by providing comprehensive
• We seek to tackle persecution at its prayer materials.
environments.
root by making known the aspects of
• We help by channelling money • We act as champions for the
the Islamic faith which result in
from Christians through Christians persecuted Church, to be their voice –
injustice and oppression of
to Christians. making their needs known to
non-Muslims.
• Our primary method of providing help Christians and the injustice of their
is by sending money. persecution known to governments
and international bodies.
How to Find Us Australia

Postal Suite 107, 236 Hyperdome, Loganholme QLD 4129
You may contact Barnabas Fund at the following addresses:
Telephone (07) 3806 1076 or 1300 365 799
UK Fax (07) 3806 4076 Email bfaustralia@barnabasfund.org
9 Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EX
USA
Telephone 024 7623 1923 Fax 024 7683 4718
6731 Curran St, McLean, VA 22101
From outside the UK Telephone (703) 288-1681 or toll-free 1-866-936-2525
Telephone +44 24 7623 1923 Fax +44 24 7683 4718 Fax (703) 288-1682 Email bfusa@barnabasfund.org
Email info@barnabasfund.org
Germany
Registered charity number 1092935
German supporters may send gifts for Barnabas Fund via Hilfe für
Company registered in England number 4029536
Brüder who will provide you with a tax-deductible receipt. Please
Chairman of the Board of Trustees: Mr Mike Penny
mention that the donation is for “SPC 20 Barnabas Fund”. If you
For a list of all trustees, please contact Barnabas Fund UK at the
would like your donation to go to a specific project of Barnabas
Coventry address above.
Fund, please inform the Barnabas Fund office in Pewsey, UK.
Jersey Account holder: Hilfe für Brüder e.V.
Le Jardin, La Rue A Don, Grouville, Jersey, Channel Islands JE3 9GB Account number: 415 600
Telephone 700600 Fax 700601 Email bfjersey@barnabasfund.org Bank: Evang. Kreditgenossenschaft Stuttgart
Bankcode (BLZ): 520 604 10
New Zealand
14A View Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024 International Headquarters
Telephone 09 630 6267 or 0800 008 805 The Old Rectory, River Street, Pewsey,
Email office@barnabasfund.org.nz Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK
Telephone 01672 564938 Fax 01672 565030
Barnabas Aid The magazine of Barnabas Fund From outside UK: Telephone +44 1672 564938
Published by Barnabas Fund The Old Rectory, River Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5DB, UK
Telephone 01672 564938 Fax 01672 565030
Fax +44 1672 565030
From outside UK: Telephone +44 1672 564938 Fax +44 1672 565030 Email info@barnabasfund.org
Email info@barnabasfund.org
www.barnabasfund.org
To donate by credit card, please visit the website
or phone 0800 587 4006
(from outside the UK phone +44 1672 565031).
© Barnabas Fund 2008 For permission to reproduce articles from this magazine, please contact the International Headquaters address above.
The paper used is produced using wood fibre at a mill that has been awarded the ISO14001 certificate for environmental management.

Barnabas Aid September/October 2008

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Barnabas Aid September/October 2008

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Faith Costs: Suffering Church Sunday 2008

• What if...it was you and not them?

I was hungry I was thirsty I was homeless

I was naked I was sick I was in prison

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 008

FROM THE DIRECTOR

 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

In many countries around the world, believing in

What if it was you?

Page 14 Page 19 Page 22

More resources for your Suffering Church Sunday

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 

Persecuted Christians and the

 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 

Sometimes anti-Christian discrimination When Christians in Orissa state, India,

10 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

When Muslims from a nearby village attacked the Christian

Christians from Horale sought refuge in the jungle

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 11

• In Zimbabwe, inflation is running at an

12 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

News, 10 June 2008, http://www.

A minimum income standard for Britain:

what people think, Joseph Rowntree

Shahoa Chen and Martin Ravallion,

Absolute Poverty Measures for the

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 13

Waiting to help unload the food

God At Work In Zimbabwe

14 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 15

Little actions remem

16 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 17

I tell you the truth, when

18 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

Matthew 25:31-46 the theme of caring for our fellow

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 19

Irfan from Pakistan is 12 years old. His

20 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

3. Loose change 17p = 1kg of flo

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 21

A Prayer for the Persecuted Church Suffering Church

You Beauty for brokenness

22 BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

FAITH COSTS Suffering Church Sunday November 2008

Order your free Suffering Church Sunday resources

n Prayer-and-response cards (see

A2 poster “Faith Costs” DVD “Faith Costs”

Name: (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Rev, Dr)

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 23

to grant asylum should be based on

yet and also

coming to an end on Tuesday, 30 Save Iraq

religious affiliation or not. While the i Christia

September. At the time of writing, we

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

BARNABAS AID SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008

• In Zimbabwe, inflation is running at an

3. Loose change 17p = 1kg of flo

n Prayer-and-response cards (see

Feeding projects: “harvest time is approaching

A2 poster “Faith Costs” DVD “Faith Costs”

Prayer-and-response cards opies of the Suffering

Sort Code // Account Number ______________