Sabbatical - Day 25 - flying home

At Chennai airport bright - well, perhaps a bit sleepy :) - and early. 

Sunrise behind St Thomas Mount

Dubai airport for connection. Table service at Costas; must suggest in in Harlow:)

A couple of hours delay at Dubai, but still light and captured this:

In flight...

And home at Gatwick

Sabbatical- Day 24 - farewells

The Annual Report of the Madras Christian Council of Social Service.

It was founded in 1965 by Lesslie Newbigin, bringing together 13 mainline denominations and 4 Christian Service organisations. It began by focussing on providing relief for those in the slums during natural calamities. Over the years it has majored in health needs, socio-political, and health education, and has addressed issues such as urbanisation, eviction and globalisation. More recent work hash included the issue of violence against women, transgender issues, providing care for those with AIDS and homes for the elderly.

On this final day, some scenes not picked up earlier.

The prayer room at the Diocesan Training Centre is used daily. Here a group of school children are there praying for the day. Schools take it in turns. What an example!

A grab shot on the way from Kanchipuram to Mahabalipuram

From the train from Chennai to Bangalore

Bangalore station

At / from the World Trade Fair

This evening by God's grace we are going to a first Birthday; then final farewells and an early rise for the flight home.

This has been an incredibly rich and enriching time. My next Sabbatical task is to get something in writing. But jet lag to get over first!

God is good, all the time. We have learnt and experienced so much about faith, mission, evangelism and ministry. May I by God's grace take it to heart and mind.

Sabbatical - Day 23 - Tuesday

A thoroughly enjoyable evening yesterday Monday meeting Metelda's sister - whom we last met at St Paul's - and her husband who live close by to the YWCA. We are delighted that her mother was also able to be  there. She too has been to St Paul's. We show them the photo of the congregation and discover that it was taken when they were in Harlow! There they are!

For those who don't know, the mosaic is by John Piper and depicts the moment of recognition of Christ on the Emmaus Road in Luke 24.

Paul and Ginny are now returning home. We have two more days. My work on Lesslie Newbigin is complete until we return home. Today will take an auto to the nearby shops in the morning...

and in the afternoon visit the World Trade Fair with Jayaseelan and family, which we enjoyed last time I. 2012.

Some thoughts...

 1:19 “for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” NIV

http://bible.com/111/php.1.19.niv

This has been helping me reflect on much that I have been learning and indeed my experience of mission and God at work. Before coming to India I observed to myself that my experience of mission and evangelism didn't tie in with my experience. Too often God seemed to be at work where I didn't expect him. Not that this is bad in itself - far from it. However, my theology didn't seem to fit what I observed God doing.

My thinking needs to develop so that the work of the Spirit is much more as giving birth to the new, as against in the empowering of ministry. Of course, with my head I believe this, but somehow it isn't worked into all my thinking. This time is helping me do that.

Michael Green's comment in A Prayer Journey strikes me: 'Let us never get beyond praying with one another." Prayer is a regular part of every visit here. No home or place is visited without prayer for indviduals / ministry. Many years ago I heard someone speak of prayer 'as easy as breathing'. The re is a naturalness and expectation about prayer in the church here, and a naturalness about sharing answers to prayer. Testimonies given may be for the regular day to day blessings of,life, or they are for bigger things. All are offered to God as part of our service of him. May I learn this in my own life and ministry.

The Trade Fair is very enjoyable with lots of 'photo opportunities'

We round the day off with a visit to the beach...

...and a meal with Jayaseelan and family. We are incredibly indebted to them for all the arrangements and masses of time they have and are giving. We give thanks to God for all his goodness.

Sabbatical - Day 19 - Friday

We began the day with a visit to the Cathedral

and then visited the Diocesan archives to see what they may be able to dig out. Kingston,the archivist, was very helpful and had some material when we dropped back later in the day.

Next we went to meet Revd Paul Francis who is Bishop's Chaplain and Diocesan Vice-President Paul Dyanandan.

We spoke together about the mission and evangelism challenges facing the church in our two lands. In Britain, secularism, the distraction of 'wealth', the historic memory of religious conflict revived by current issues. We spoke too about Lesslie Newbigin and his legacy. The morning concluded with a treat as the Chaplain took us out to lunch!

On the way we bumped into Revd Rathinasamy who has been pastor at Kanchipuram where Lesslie Newbigin himself ministered from 1940. More here.

In the afternoon we visited the Lesley Newbigin College of Education, which trains teachers and very much seeks to put his teaching into practice. Samuel Cornelius the Secretary introduced us to the staff and talked to us about the school The Manager, Thangappan was confirmed by the him when around 16.

Nimmi is seeking to collect books and arctic led by the Bishop

(I hope to post more pictures here undue course)

Next we met Revd Dr Thomas, Director of the Board of Mission and Evangelism of Madras Diocese. He spoke to us about evangelism and mission. An evangelist goes into a new area, and establishes schooling or a medical facility fairly quickly. They seek to establish a church within the year, and then nurture the congregation for around 18 months. A pastor is then appointed.

The day ended with a very enjoyable conversation with the General Secretary of CSI, Revd Dr D Rathnakara Sadananda. We speak about CSI, and some of the challenges faced.

Sabbatical Day 14

Some images from Saturday. Comments refer to the photo(s) beneath.

St George's Cathedral, Chennai, where the memorials are a history of Christian mission in India since around 1850.

It is said here that the missionaries brought soup, soap and salvation.
Soup - food to live on
Cleanliness
Salvation.

That combination is very much echoed by the church's involvement in schooling and hospitals.

The gospel is explained to a Brahmin (one from the highest caste)

Memorial to Lesslie Newbigin

Below: Saris are offered to Mary at this shrine in thanksgiving for prayers answered (near Velankanni church). The statue of Mary is dressed in a sari in thanksgiving. Other offerings can also be made eg a small 'lock' is attached to the metal surround as a prayer for a house - these can be seen in the photo below. I am told that this is not very different from a nearby Hindu Temple.

Mary takes centre stage, while images of Christ seem to be less than central. It is said Mary appeared to fishermen out at sea. The shrine was built in response.

There is need for the gospel to relate to culture and I guess that this is what is being sought. Making use of the sacramental is helpful for prayer, eg if at Good Friday we write down prayers and place them on a cross. However, we always need to make clear in our use of the sacramental that our prayer depends on God's grace and is not dependent on our sacrifice. The context of Hinduism and the centrality of Mary (Hinduism has a focus on the worship pf mother gods, I think) makes me think that this is indigenisation gone too far. But I know I have much to learn.

Scenes leading to the seashore and of the fisherman and beach. This area was affected by the Tsunami and homes lost. There is much poverty though those with more money pay for better education for their children. But they do not seek themselves to leave the area.

Back home afterwards for supper and to finish off preparing for the sermon on Sunday.