Advent 3 - slaughter of innocents

Having kept Herod in Christmas, I really want all this to go away.... it is too tragic and devastating for words ..... Having read about Herod and 'The Slaughter of the Innocents' Matt. 2:17-18: That same cry in now heard in Peshawar “A voice was heard in Peshawar, weeping and loud lamentation, weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Peshawar school attack: Massacre of the innocents born of ambivalence towards Taliban

It was a massacre of the innocents. Every report must admit this – because it’s true. But it is not the whole truth.   independent.co.uk

 

 

 

I'm still in the darkness of the 'slaughter of the innocents' ... trying to move on. The International Carol Service was a glimmer of hope for me, esp with Padre Rana sharing from a Pakistani perspective about Mary's humility and wisdom that led to life and the wise men's folly that led to death (through involving Herod in the story) . Today we had a prayer vigil with the Pakistani community in Jubilee square and I shared a little of standing together against violence and how this can only be done one person at a time, heart to heart - diye se diya jelao - One light lights another. In the meantime a page from my journal.....

 

 

Be faithful unto death ...

Francis Omondi from Sheepfold ministries in Kenya has just had a reflection published on Fulcrum aboout the brutal murders in March 2010 of Christians in Jos Nigeria Be faithful unto death

I particularly liked the quote from Tohito Kagawa's book Meditation:

“I do not deny the eventuality of death, death lies sternly upon my course, nevertheless I believe that Love [the love of God] has far greater power than death. ‘ death is swallowed up in love …’

Love is stronger than death, love’s glory tramples even death under feet, I am thinking that death is transformed through love. Death is an aspect of change, while love is the substance that persists through all changes.

The Anglican diocese of Jos have published pictures on thier website. Be warned theya re very disturbing

At the end of the pictures there is a prayer:

WE PRAY FOR A MIRACLE FROM GOD TO HALT THE
VIOLENCE, DESTRUCTION AND BLOODSHED AND FOR THE
SPIRITUAL GIFT OF FORGIVENESS IN AND ON THE CHURCH ON
THE PLATEAU, AMEN.

Church Attacks: Voices from Malaysia

I recieved the following from Bishop Ng Moon Hing in West Malaysia

Dear Friends,

After a tense situation in Malaysia with 9 churches and a school been attacked, we have finally experienced a calm atmosphere for the time being. The lastest attack two days ago was on a Sikh Temple. The Sikhs also use the word "Allah" in their Scripture. The police is trying to do their best to maintain order. Many negotiations are underway to defuse this situation. The political parties are doing their part and the government authorities are doing theirs. Church leaders have been meeting with the authorities to find a way forward for peace and harmony.

I sincerely wish to thank all the churches for staying calm and praying. Your prayers are indeed helpful and powerful. Violence will not bring peace. Though the solution is still far away, the present dialogues and meetings have certainly brought everyone into the picture to at least try to understand each other. We hope to work towards the idea from toleration to respecting each others presence, contribution and dignity. This is the concept of 1Malaysia.

I urge all churches to be vigilant. Archdeacon Steven Abbarow said this after visiting All Saints Taiping on Sunday 10 Jan:

Yesterday, morning I visited Joshua Ong. When I arrived at All Saint's Church. Joshua told me that the MB of Perak YB Zambri and the OCPD are on their way. This was a surprise, as we were fnot given any notice of this earlier. They came with reporters, politicians, special branch and police personnel.
The MB assured us of support, police protection and felt that this the work individuals who were emotionally upset and not a coordinated affair and expressed his firm stand against such actions and told us not to react. I thanked him for the assurance of support and assistance. I also told him that we have not and will not react emotionally but will pray for the peace of the country, and that I am very concerned about the situation and hoped the authorities will catch the perpetrators. He said they will do all they can.

In the meantime, I have been informed by the Lay Reader in COR, Kuala Kangsar, that he kept vigil in the Tadika room on Sunday night and noticed a motorbike and a car and the riders, driver and people in them were watching and looking at the church. He came out of the Tadika, and they just bolted off. He called the police and they immediately sent a patrol car and stationed two officers there. The leaders took these precautions as they heard that at the Police station people overheard that they were very concerned someone may try and do something on COR. They also were informed and heard from the neighboring bus terminal and stalls and the coffee table talk, mostly non-Christians, that the church next door will be in trouble.

Rev Alakumalai of St James KL related that he saw a few young people loitering outside the church. He went to them and was told that they were sent there to 'protect the church'. Feeling uneasy over it, he reported to the police for the police station is only next door. Immediately seeing the police, the so-called 'protector' fled quickly. Two policemen were stationed overnight at the church.

I believe after the storm there will be some calm. God has a better plan for the Malaysian Church. Let us continue to discern His Will.

Those from overseas, let me assure you that we are fine and well, only a bit jerked and slightly shaken. If you are planning to visit Malaysia please do come, don't change plan. Thank you so much for your prayers and e-mails of concerns and encouragement.

May the good Lord continue to lead and watch over you!

Shalom,
+Moon Hing

Pastor of burnt Church speaks out

Response from Rev. Ong Sek Leang,

Senior Pastor of Metro Tabernacle Church

Rev. Ong Sek Leang is the Senior Pastor of Metro Tabernacle Church.

There were three torching and attempted torching of churches. The administrative office of Metro Tabernacle in Desa Melawati was completely gutted. The Molotov cocktail thrown at the Church of the Assumption along Jalan Templer in Petaling Jaya did not explode. But The Life Chapel in Section 17 Petaling Jaya suffered some damage to the church's front porch area.

Rising Tensions in Malaysia

Tensions are rising in Malaysia particularly in KL when 4 churches were attacked as a protest. The controversy stems from a ban on a Catholic newspaper, The Herald, using the word 'Allah' in its Malay-language edition. The Kuala Lumpur High Court struck down the three-year old ban on non-Muslims using of the word 'Allah'.
Whilst the main Islamic Polictical party, PAS, agrees with the ruling, there are others who do not, including one main Islamic Youth movement, Abim.

more in the BBC article Malaysian churches firebombed as ‘Allah row escalates

As the article points out Christians in the middle East have been using the word ‘Allah’ for God for centuries - before the coming of Islam in fact.

Inivitably as well as the official and more formal communications through the media, the world of social networking comes into its own at times like this....

Some of my Facebook friends are from Malaysia. So they and other Twitterers have been pointing to articles and making comments through their updates:

Church & Christians showed dignity, restraint, compassion. Contrast with t/ arsonists & protestors. Such excellent PR.

judiciary website hacked

A kind touching response from a Muslim

Eddie in his Kouya Chronicle explores some of these complexities from a translators perspective in his article 'what's in a name'

But I'll let the Bishop of West Malaysia Moon H. Ng have the last word

KL situation is not too good. Three churches are torched. One more not sure how bad. Cars with Christian stickers are smashed. ...... We are meeting the PM to talk. Pray for peace and harmony. It is a sad episode.

Pray we will and pray we must .....

TWO CHRISTIANS DIE IN CHRISTMAS BLAST IN PESHAWAR

I have just received disturbing news of a Christmas Eve attack in Peshawar

A member of the Assemblies of God and a Roman Catholic were among five who died in a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar on Christmas Eve. The Reverend Joseph John, priest-in-charge of St. Johns Anglican Cathedral was giving sick communion to a parishioner less than forty metres away from the blast.

Two day earlier Edwardes College, an Anglican foundation in the University of Peshawar, was closed prematurely for the vacation by the Principal, the Revd. Dr. David Gosling, after a huge bomb at the nearby Press Club caused students to rush out of their lecture rooms in a panic. People near the Club were killed, and a woman passing the site of the bomb in an auto-rickshaw died of a heart attack.

In spite of these events Christmas services at the main city churches passed peacefully. Attendance at the Cathedral was, if anything, larger than in previous years, and the Police provided maximum security. During the run up to Christmas individual church members had received threats on their mobile phones such as: “You’re our next target”, and “We’ll give you a Christmas gift, and it won’t be the baby Jesus.”

Peshawar has been particularly targeted by extremists in recent weeks, though the main focus of attacks has been Police check posts and government officials and headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence, which is located near to Edwardes College.

Disturbing though these incidents are, there are indications that they are reactions to the military operations currently being conducted by the Pakistan Army, and that these are being largely successful. There are also signs that some of the more extremist organizations such as Jamiat ul Islami and Jamiatul ulama and individual Sunni clerics are denouncing suicide bombing as anti-Islam.

Romero 'A future not our own'

More inspiration. I originally came across this poem/prayer in Brian McLaren's The Secret message of Jesus

It helps now and then to step back and take a long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of
saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession
brings perfection, no pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives include everything.

This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one
day will grow. We water the seeds already planted
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects
far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of
liberation in realizing this.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's
grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the
difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not
messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

Wonderful words but not Romero's according to one blogger:

The 'prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw, drafted for a homily by Card. John Dearden in Nov. 1979 for a celebration of departed priests. As a reflection on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Romero, Bishop Untener included in a reflection book a passage titled "The mystery of the Romero Prayer." The mystery is that the words of the prayer are attributed to Oscar Romero, but they were never spoken by him.'

'Do you see the missionary dog?' Istanbul, Aug 3rd

"In a bizarre show of Turkish nationalism, a young Muslim here took a Christian Turk at knife point, draped his head with the national flag and threatened to slit the throat of the “missionary dog” in broad daylight earlier this week." (Compass Direct News Service)
 
You can read the Full story here:  

The experience obviously had a big effect on the Christian Turk, Aydin, who said: 

“On Aug. 3 I died and was reborn,” said Aydin. “That was my date of death and birth. I was sure I was going to die. It’s like a new opportunity, a new life. I really think the Lord gave me a second chance, because if you think of it, after other events, like Hrant Dink or the Malatya killings, those brothers weren’t so fortunate, right?”

  

Violent times Vulnerable minorities DAWN Pakistan

Violent times, vulnerable minorities  

The DAWN News, Pakistan 

28th May 2009 

 

 

As the Taliban gain a stronger foothold in Pakistan, increasingly violent assaults against religious minorities are further evidence of its growing power and influence. While the Taliban do not carry out all of the attacks, extremist elements inspired by the group are likely to sometimes act in its name. 

Christians pray during a service at a church in the Christian slum of Teisar Town, on the northern edge of Karachi. The service was the first in the neighborhood since an April 22 attack by a mob of men shouting pro-Taliban slogans left one child dead and several others injured.Life has never been easy for non-Muslims in Pakistan, but a creeping Taliban expansion has brought increasingly belligerent and violent attacks. — AP/Greg Baker

click here for full story

They will burn us alive DAWN Pakistan

‘They will burn us alive’  

The DAWN News, Pakistan 

28th May 2009 

  

‘I suffered these burn wounds while trying to douse the flames in a friend’s house that was set ablaze by armed attackers,’ said another man, Iqbal, in the town.

‘They were Taliban. But not the kind they show on TV, who wear turbans and long beards. They were residents of a nearby locality. First, the children of that locality attacked us. Then their elders came and attacked us. They were chanting pro-Taliban slogans,’ he said.

A woman from his house said: ‘We still can't sleep at night. We feel very scared. A slight knock on our doors sends chills through our spines and our men keep looking out of the house to check for attackers. We are afraid that anything can happen to us at anytime.’

‘Many people who were living in rented houses have left the locality, but we can’t do that. We own this house and have no where else to go.’ 

Click on to  full story 

Shariat Law in the Swat valley

A video is circualting in Pakistan like wildfire about an ugly incident in the beautiful SWAT valley. Aamir in Pakistan who sent me a link writes:

This what Swat valley has been turned into after 'holy justice' got introduced to the once peaceful tourist resort in the heart of Pashtun land. Public bashing, humiliation, illegal detention, and deaths are a daily routine.

There is more coverage on BBC News   and Video link.  And you can also see the video on YouTube   (Please note it is disturbing)

Stephen in Dehli also sent an email about the response in India: 

 
India's Muslims denounce Taliban whipping of girl as un-Islamic

Sat, Apr 4 02:23 PM   New Delhi, April 4 (IANS)

After video clips of a 17-year-old girl being flogged in public by Taliban fighters in Pakistan's Swat valley were shown on TV, India's Islamic scholars denounced it as 'un-Islamic' and 'satanic' and condemned it as 'gross violation' of Quranic codes.

Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan spoke out strongly against the incident and added that if anything, the act was absolutely 'un-Islamic - even satanic'.

'This kind of treatment is neither Islamic nor human. In fact, not only is it un-Islamic and inhuman, but also satanic,' Khan, who has authored over 200 books on Islam, told IANS.

'The first thing that should be done is to educate people, develop ethical values, sensitivity towards women and treat them equally. Society can be reformed through education - punishment (of the perpetrators) can never be the starting point for any kind of reform or change,' he added.

Similarly, Mushirul Hasan, vice chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia university, condemned the incident saying that it was a wrong portrayal of Islam, which preaches exactly opposite of what the Taliban were seen doing to the hapless young girl.

'I am horrified. This (incident) is a gross violation of Islamic and Quranic injunctions which teaches humanity, love, peace and magnanimity,' Hasan told IANS.

The dangers of imposing Sharia laws in Pakistan's restive Swat Valley were brought into sharp focus Friday with the airing of a two-minute video showing a 17-year-old screaming, burqa-clad girl being whipped by Taliban fighters for coming 'out of her house with another man who was not her husband'.

The grainy video, shot on a mobile phone, showed the girl face down on the ground. Two men held her arms and feet while a third, a black-turbaned man with a flowing beard, whipped her repeatedly.

Salima Khan, a student doing her PhD in Delhi University, said that she literally boiled in anger after seeing the video clip on YouTube, the popular video sharing website and then again on TV.

'I can't believe how anybody can humiliate and beat up an innocent young girl in the name of religion. And what was her fault - that she was seen with a man who was not her husband! Who in their right state of mind would ever dare to do such a dastardly act?

'Such acts just show how Islam has been grossly misinterpreted by a handful of people who are using it as a tool to serve their own cause,' Salima said angrily.

On YouTube, the video received thousands of hits overnight and a barrage of comments.

One of the comments read: 'These people (Taliban) should be given a taste of their own medicine. They should be whipped in public for maligning the name of Islam and inflicting torture on poor, helpless women'.

Another comment from an Indian woman read: 'Thank God I was born in India and not there (Swat valley). There they treat women like animals - no, even worse. To live a life like that seems like sheer hell.'

    Women against Shariat 

What is obvious is that this video is getting wide circuation around the world and is caausing quite a response among Muslims in the sub-continent. It is whipping up interest to say the least. 

'faith-hate' crime in UK

I received the following update from the Barnabas fund. It is about a  friend of mine Rev Nobel Samuel who takes a part in a  satellite TV show. He was beaten up last month and has been described as a faith hate crime. 

There is a Google video clip with him as part of a Pakistani singing group.  He is standing on the right. I include the Barnabas update in full. I noticed they have spelt his name differently but it is appropriate since Nobel Samuel's response has indeed been noble.    

UK - CHRISTIAN MINISTER ATTACKED WHILE IN LONDON

The Rev. Noble Samuel, a Christian minister at a United Reformed Church in West London, has been attacked by three men on his way to the TV studio where he films a Gospel programme. Mr Samuel was born in Pakistan and moved to Britain 15 years ago. He presents an hour-long live Asian Gospel Show on satellite television. He does not set out to be confrontational, but in recent weeks his views have been aggressively challenged by Muslim callers in a broadcast phone-in.

The incident, which has been described as a "faith hate" crime by police, happened when a car pulled in front of Mr Samuel and a man came over to ask for directions. The attacker opened the car door and started punching Mr Samuel and trying to hit his head on the steering wheel; he then grabbed Mr Samuel's cross and pulled it off, throwing it to the floor. Two other men stole his laptop and Bible. The assailants warned Mr Samuel, "If you go back to the studio, we'll break your legs." Following the attack, Mr Samuel went ahead with his show at studios that are owned by local Muslim businessman Tahir Ali, who went on air later that day to condemn the attacks.

Earlier this year, the plight of Asian Christians in Britain was highlighted during a meeting at the General Synod of the Church of England. An Asian Synod member, Mrs Zahida Mallard, noted, "We are very much aware of the persecuted Church in Iraq, Palestine, Pakistan and other places where to own the Name of Christ is to invite suffering, stigma and social isolation ¦ but the persecuted Church is a reality not just in these foreign lands but in our cities." Particularly vulnerable are British-born Asians who have converted from other faiths to follow Christ and are often treated as traitors by their friends, relatives and community. A minute's silence was held at the meeting in February 2009 in honour of persecuted Asian Christians in England.

• Thank God that Mr Samuel faced his attackers with courage and continued with his work for Christ following the attack.

• Pray for the Lord's protection of Mr Samuel's family, and that their faith in the Lord Jesus will keep them from fear.

• Pray that "faith hate" crimes will be taken seriously in the UK and that the police will deal with such crimes appropriately.

You can read the rest fo the update here

The Imam’s Daughter Hannah Shah

'The Imam’s Daughter' Hannah Shah  'The remarkable true story of a young girl’s escape from her harrowing past'

This is not a light read in that it describes the abuse that 'Hannah' (not her real name)  suffered at the hands of her father, the Imam of their small town mosque. And the quiet, submissive compliance of her mother. She describes life in the tight-knit community in the North of England, which seeks to parallel ‘home', based on  rural, village community-life in Pakistan. The rules in their ghetto are strict, life is constrained and Islam is interpreted (by her father) very rigidly. She feels like ‘a caged bird crying’, a 'captive butterfly' craving freedom. She describes her small world of 'home-school-mosque' where she was effectively a 'domestic slave'. And life in Britain with its interests and struggles and her normal desire to be accepted by friends and to get a decent education. 

She finds this elusive freedom only after running away, aged 16, from a forced marriage. She eventually finds acceptance through a teacher  that befriends her,   and then through her teacher's church where she discovers faith in Christ.  She then decides to be baptised and discovers what being 'murtadd', or apostate, really means in the eyes of her community. And she is hunted by people intent on killing her. A so-called ‘honour killing.’  

Eventually she comes to terms with the years of abuse, is married for love and eventually agreed to tell her story publically. She also speaks at churches about Islam explaining that all Muslims are not as extreme in their interpretation as her father. His form of Islam is she believes ‘unQu’ranic’. And it was only reading the Quran in English, that helped her to see this, rather than the Arabic she had memorised, but failed to understand.

I found it compelling, mainly because I have met ‘Hannah’ and could hear 'her voice' as I was reading it. That certainly adds to the authenticity and the deep sense of disquiet at reading of the horrible abuse she suffered. But also the sense of joy at knowing of her current happiness and freedom.

Baroness Cox of  Christian Solidarity Worldwide describes the book as 'Brilliant and compelling...raises issues which are worthy of serious consideration and discussion'

I remembered reading an article about Hannah a number of years ago  British imam's daughter under police protection after converting to Christianity  by Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent of The Times  (December 5, 2007)

A British imam's daughter is living in fear of her life under police protection after she received death threats from her family for converting to Christianity.

The young woman, aged 32, whose father is a Muslim imam in the north of England, has moved house 45 times to escape detection by her family since she became a Christian 15 years ago.

Hannah, who uses a pseudonym to hide her identity, told The Times how she became a Christian after she ran away from home at 16 to escape an arranged marriage.

The threats against her became more serious a month ago, prompting police to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life.

She was speaking on the eve of the launch of a new charity in London today to promote greater religious awareness. Muslims in Britain who wish to convert to Christianity are living in fear of their lives because of Islamic apostasy laws, a senior Church of England bishop will warn at the invitation-only launch in west London.

The Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, will claim "freedom to believe" is under threat in Britain because of Islamic hostility to conversion.

A question of balance? Interfaith engagement

A question of balance?

There has been a lot of internet traffic over how Christians engage with Muslims, about what model dominates, and how we deal with difference. 

The Barnabas Fund have written to supporters requesting prayer in the face of persecution. I have a deep respect for their advocacy role and support for Christians under pressure in majority Muslim context. Patrick Sookdeo is a leading voice.

‘Distinctly Welcoming’ by Richard Sudworth is suggesting a gentler, more relational approach. I know Richard and also have a deep respect for his approach, with the emphasis on hospitality and openness.

There tends to be a polarisation between the conciliatory and the confrontational approaches, the irenic and the polemic. And the debate has certainly been polarised.

There have been numerous statements:  Ben White's article on Fulcrum,   Barnabas response  and a response from Fulcrum and even a statement by CMS. 

The ‘Fear Factor’ in relation to Islam can be debilitating and a powerful antidote to real relational engagement with Muslims. In the computing world we have learn the term ‘WYSIWYG’ = ‘what you see is what you get’. How we perceive reality becomes that reality. The stories we tell, become the stories we live. 

We are encouraged to love our enemies and those who persecute. Perfect love casts out all fear. The Hawks and the Doves always seem to argue with each other, not only in Politics.  Such polarisation is unhelpful. We need to being doing both/and - Both supporting the victims and extending a hand of peace to Muslims.

Maybe there also needs to be some more discussion on how Christians engage with each other !

It reminds me of a story by Nasruddin.    He was asked why it s that in the morning some people go off in one direction and other people go off in other directions. He thought for a moment and then replied ‘If everybody went in the same direction the earth would lose its balance’

 

Stories from the web October 08

  I was a female expatriate worker in Afghanistan

Sian spent six years in Afghanistan. She reveals what it was like to be a female expatriate worker there while the Taliban were in control.    22nd October 08    Read More 

  Speaking of Orissa

Persecution of Christians in Orissa is making national and international news. A CMS mission partner in India gives her personal perspective on it.    17th October 08  Read More 

  Orissa update: “Life has changed forever”

Persecuted Christians start burying the dead but wonder if life will ever be the same

10th October 08   Read More 

  How the Church in China stepped up
Five months ago on Sunday, Sichuan province in China was hit by an earthquake that killed 70,000 people. CMS partners Asian Outreach acted immediately through their social action arm in China and despite persisting aftershocks have achieved some remarkable things. Asian Outreach director Francis Tsui reports,      10th October 08  Read More 

  The gift of immigration

Societies often scapegoat immigrants for their own failings. Felipe and Sarah, who work with immigrants in Malaga, provide a useful corrective.     2nd Octber 08  Read More 

Stories from the web September 08

  A selfish world
The tragic Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad revealed much about the prevailing culture in Pakistan, says Aamir.    25th September 2008  Read More 

  Orissa: mass protests, suicide threats
In Delhi a mass fast, in Orissa some Christians turn violent while others threaten suicide in climate of fear.   26th Septemeber 08 Read More 

  Preparing for climate change in Bangladesh
The impact of future climate change threatens Bangladesh with widespread social suffering. James outlines what is being done.   19th Septemeber 08  Read More 

  Faiths join protest in Orissa
Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs joined a solidarity rally in support of Orissa’s persecuted Christians this week,  18th September  Read More 

  Orissa: church leaders plan action

As attacks on Christians in Orissa spread to new states, Indian church leaders are meeting to plan joint response.   18th September 08   Read More 

  Live as a Hindu, die as a Christian

After weeks of violent persecution, Orissa’s Christians now face forced conversion as they come out of hiding.     12th September 08   Read More

  Relating to Muslim neighbours
Transformation in an Islamic context — a family living and working in North Africa relate their experience of how such change has developed quite naturally.  5th September Read More

Stories from the web August 08

  Gruesome violence hits Orissa again
Deadly attacks on Indian Christians follow the murder of a right wing Hindu leader though police say Maoists to blame

29th August 08   Read More

  Eyewitness: Georgia
Just three days after Russian tanks rolled into Georgia, one CMS partner was heading into the conflict zone: Merab of Zarebi, an Orthodox humanitarian charity. He reports here in his own words the frustration and fear of the Georgian people and his own personal view of the situation       29th August 08   Read More 

   The human face of Jigsaw

Mind-numbing statistics about children living and working in the Philippines are a powerful catalyst for Kate and Tim's caring work there.

5th August 08  Read More

   “You build hearts and souls”

The Chinese government’s top earthquake relief official is thrilled with the response of CMS partners Asian Outreach and their social arm ActionLove. David Wang, former president of Asian Outreach, visited him at his Beijing HQ.     1st August 08  Read More