What others say

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Intentional outreach, creative writing and music – Kuldip Raj, SLIC

Since attending its launch, we’ve watched with interest the work of SAC develop and, at times, partnered with them in encouraging outreach among the South Asians in the UK and with other projects. The work of Raju and Catherine in India has been a great encouragement, inspiration and challenge. Mapping the ‘Asian corridor’ in the UK and the more recent research into Asian groups in Europe has helped highlight the great need for intentional outreach to the people of other faiths who live on our doorsteps. The timely and excellent books on outreach to Hindus and Sikhs were an aid to help educate the church in sensitively sharing the good news of Jesus and are still a useful resource.

Gathering singers for the production of the timeless ‘Songs of the Kingdom’ (still love that music) and the competition to produce new songs, inspired some to go on to write and produce music for the British Asian Christian scene. Praise God for the many and varied ways that the Lord has used the SAC team. The need for outreach among the South Asians in the UK remains great and we continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest and also for Robin’s recovery.

Prayer fuel – Geoff Larcombe

Thanks to SAC former expatriate workers in South Asia have been able to access a wide spectrum of news from the subcontinent in recent years, The bi-monthly prayer items in the 5:17 prayer bulletin have been an invaluable source of prayer fuel, uniting so many of us in thanksgiving and intercession, extending our vision and concern for what God is doing in the ‘regions beyond’ our former spheres of work. Thank you, Celia, and all the Board members, for enriching our lives in this way. And thanks to our LORD that He has raised up others, in South Asia and in the diaspora, to continue this vital prayer ministry.

Pioneers for change – when I was just 3! – Rani Joshi, South Asian Forum, Evangelical Alliance

South Asian Concern have been pivotal in the founding of South Asian Forum. They have been pioneers, faced challenges, prayed tirelessly and yet in nearly four decades made a wonderful impact for those of South Asian heritage. Their heart for mission, to reach the unreached, has been more than admirable. What started as a faithful planting of seeds God has expanded. They stepped out in faith with a desire for change, and God met them with his multiplying. Today they continue to support the work of South Asian Forum. pouring into younger generations to be able to make impact for God’s Kingdom. I thank God for the pioneers and those who have paved the way before us since 1987. To put it simply, it’s strange to think that when I was just 3 years old and didn’t know the Lord, people were already planting the seeds of faith. Thank you for all that South Asian Concern has done for the South Asian Christian community.

Encouragement, wisdom, kindness, practical support – Emma Greenfield, Founder of Sugandh

I was introduced to South Asian Concern in the mid-1990s while still based in Kolkata. Deepak Mahtani, Ram Gidoomal, Robin Thomson and Paul East were generous in their encouragement for me to follow the Lord’s prompt and go to New Delhi. This was the confirmation I needed. In the months that followed, Deepak was my main point of contact in the UK, his wisdom and kindness a valuable constant. Together with the SAC local partners I was able to set up Sugandh. The friendship, prayers and support of Raju & Catherine Abraham, Lalchuangliana & Sangi and others in Delhi helped me build a small but effective team and register Sugandh as a charitable society. We began an early morning school in September 1997 to provide accessible education to children who worked as rag pickers in the local markets. From those small beginnings Sugandh, now wholly Indian led, runs child tuition centres, women’s self-help groups, saving schemes and community awareness programmes to name but a few of their activities. The creative and courageous vision of SAC has touched the lives of so many.

A breath of fresh air – Paul and Su East

We had worked in India for 14 years before having to move to Cyprus, which gave Paul continued contact with Asia. The Lord brought South Asian Concern into our lives at a key time, when we moved to the UK to help care for elderly parents. Paul was talking to Dr Raju Abraham on a mountain path in the Himalayas! Raju suggested that the next step was to meet Ram Gidoomal in the UK. We met in an Indian restaurant, at the end of which Ram invited us to join SAC! We joined in 1994 and it has been a wonderful experience. SAC was a breath of fresh air, because unlike some traditional missions it allowed individuals to follow their calling in line with the vision of the team. All partners had a mutual accountability, but God gave us a special relationship with Deepak & Celia Mahtani. Our hearts were still in India and among its people, and Paul was encouraged to start Emmanuel Hospital Association (UK). Now, in our retirement, we are still (almost daily) in touch with pastors and friends in India who need support and prayer. SAC has been such a model for us!