Chocolat and Edward Scissorhands

'Listen, here's what I think. I think that we can't go around... measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think... we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create... and who we include'. Thus spoke the young priest in his radical Easter Day homily in the wonderful film version (shown on Christmas Eve) of Joanne Harris' absorbing and insightful novel, 'Chocolat'. What a glorious celebration follows in the village square - a picture of heaven. 'We've got to measure goodness by ....whom we include...' Surely Jesus would have been alongside Vianne Rocher in her Chocolatier enjoying the chocolate even in Lent, welcoming the despised, the oppressed, building bridges of acceptance and transformation.

On Christmas Day in the evening we sat down and watched Edward Scissorhands, a Tim Burton film made 10 years earlier than Chocolat in 1990. Millie our daughter liked it very much and not just because Johnny Depp played Edward Scissorhands. There's a bit of a 'Beauty and the Beast' element to it, with themes of self-discovery, isolation, misunderstood gentleness and stifled creativity. The genesis for it came from a drawing by the then teenaged director Tim Burton which reflected his feelings of isolation and being unable to communicate with people around him in his suburban home in Santa Clarita Valley, California. As in 'Chocolat' I became aware of one who disturbs our comfortable assumptions, who is a friend to the lost and lonely.

Holy Moments - St Peter's Collegiate School Christmas Eucharist

It was the sight of these 11-18 year old pupils lining up and receiving a blessing or choosing to take the bread and wine of communion that moved me. It felt as though just about everyone was taking part - and there are over a 1,000 pupils in the School. Teenagers of different backgrounds, traditions, faiths; for most of whom this must surely be their only contact with church. And in their manner and response at this point of the service I sensed in many a deep and significant spiritual openness; that they were indeed receiving the blessing of God.

I went partly because as Director of World Mission in the Diocese of Lichfield I was trying to encourage a school to school link between this Diocese and one of our Companion Link Dioceses of Mecklenburg, in what was formely East Germany. A group of pupils, parents and teachers from the Fridericianum School in Schwerin had just visited St Peter's School and I was keen to express my appreciation and support for this initiative.

This was their 'Christmas Eucharist' at St Peter's Collegiate Church. I wasn't sure about Eucharist. How can that work in a school context? I realise St Peter's is a State Voluntary Aided Church of England School but part of me might have wanted to make things a bit more 'accessible'. Instead we had the traditional communion liturgy for the Church of England. The curate eventually succeeded in eliminating applause. A woman spoke about her work with Romanian Street Children; a charity supported by the school over a number of years. She shared in a very natural way two spectacular answers to prayer.

According to the school web site 'The mission of our school, rooted in our common life as a worshipping Christian Community, is to educate the whole person so that everyone may find the keys to become all that God has uniquely put it within them to be'. Now that is some education!

The service ended with permitted applause, then the blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you from all harm. May your Christmas be joyful, peaceful, but if it's neither, may you find yourself in the New Year with the peace that passes all understanding, the peace that the world cannot give, with the blessing of the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Many of us left that morning feeling well blessed.

Hymns and Songs

'Lord, send a beam on me'....... Whatever is happening to the words of hymns these days? All this dumbing down, these banal repetitive platitudes. What a line! And yet, and yet, in the next verse we are singing these sublime words:

'Thou art a sea without a shore,

A sun without a sphere;

Thy time is now and evermore,

Thy place is everywhere'.

I find the words were written by John Mason (1645 - 1694) and I'm told the tune 'Coe Fen' was composed by Ken Naylor, a former Music Teacher at the nearby Shrewsbury School.

Perhaps 'Lord, send a beam on me' is pure brilliance. But whether or not it is I'm willing to go along with it as an expression of worship. I find it so off putting in fact I get angry - when I see members of a choir or clergy up front refusing to sing certain songs or hymns. Yes there is much rubbish - plenty of it new, plenty of it old - but worship goes beyond the intellect and a Taize chant such as 'The Lord is my light and salvation, in Him I trust' repeated endlessly can go deep and enable our hearts to engage. And so can a simple recitation of God's name, or a short phrase oft repeated expressing our love for God, and God's love for us - as simple as 'I love you'.

My own experience of worship has been fundamentally shaped by two encounters in my early twenties - the full bodied dynamic worship of Christians in an Anglican Church in Kenya; at the time I found charismatics in England and especially America did nothing for me yet here were people singing with their bodies, moving, clapping and dancing - and I wanted what they had. The second experience came some four years later in South India; my explorations were taking me a long distance from my one time established Christian faith. I was moved and inspired by the simple devotion of Hindu worshippers in the temples - singing their bhajans (worship songs) reciting over and over again a name for God. I found myself wanting to worship Jesus in a similar way..............

Confessor for the Faith

Martin Wilson, son of Bishop Leonard Wilson of Singapore and Birmingham, lent me a copy of the now out of print biography of his father by Roy McKay. I first came across Bishop Wilson through the Malawi Diocesan Link in Birmingham which had been set up through the enthusiasm of Bishop Wilson's daughter, Susan.Then in Singapore I heard of his ministry as Bishop and of his internment at Changi Prison.

I was intrigued to read of the way in which Mary was able to find out that her husband was in Changi Prison. She had been forced to move from Singapore with the children to Australia and Bishop Wilson communicated news of his internment on a postcard which contained 'just ordinary remarks saying he was well, and hoping that she was, and asking after the children, and then ended with these words, 'Interesting news at the end of a letter from Col. Paul Moffatt.' Years later he told her that she knew she had a crossword puzzle mind, and would work it out. She found her way to the final verses of the Epistle to the Colossians in Moffatt's translation, and read, 'This salutation is in my own hand. Remember I am in prison. Grace be with you.'

Metropolis: Urban Illuminations in Walsall

'Apartment 3', a large scale oil painting by Chinese artist Zhang Enli, is one of the many works of art from international sources which provide dramatic and powerful insights into urban life and growth.... according to the the guide 'exploring the diversity, dynamism and growth of the contemporary metropolis ... representing a powerful shifting strand of contemporary culture'. I explore this exhibition alongside Edson from Brazil and his wife Leora from the Bahamas, both working for YWAM (Youth With A Mission). What an excellent opportunity to reflect on the implications for sharing God's love for our world , to understanding a little more as we witness the largest wave of urban growth on history. Do go - it finishes on 23rd December at The New Art Gallery Walsall .

Lausanne 3

'Possibly the most representative gathering of the Christian church in history', is how the organisers of Lausanne 3 are describing this meeting in Capetown of 4,200 participants from 198 countries, with a further 100,000 individuals at nearly 700 global sites attending 'virtually' in more than 95 countries. I heard the Radio 4 Sunday morning service which was broadcast from All Souls, Langham Place, the home of the Rector Emeritius John Stott who was instrumental infounding this important movement back in the 1970's. What is happening at this gathering is very significant in terms of the whole Anglican Communion. For more details see http://www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010 ) The Archbishop of Uganda said at the opening ceremony: 'It is an amazing privilege for Africa, which is fast becoming a centre for world missions, to host men and women whom God is bringing from around the world as we begin a new chapter in the 21st Century'.

Sadly the representative nature of the event was lessened by the refusal at the last minute of the Chinese Government to allow the 200 delegates from China to leave the country in order to attend. These Chinese representatives included observers from the Chinese Christian Council, the Three Self Patriotic Movement and participants from rapidly growing urban house fellowships and large rural churches. Like many parts of Africa, China too is surely becoming 'a centre for world missions'. Watch this space.

The history of Christian mission in China takes us back to the Jesuit mission inaugurated by Mattio Ricci in the late 16th century and the 19th century Protestant initiatives, most notably perhaps that of Hudson Taylor in 1865. But how many Christians are there now in China? Answers vary from the official line which says there are 20 million to the World Christian Database headed by Todd Johnson who suggests that the number of Christians in China has risen from 1 million in 1970 to 120 million today, of whom 70 million are in unregistered churches. Perhaps Philip Jenkins - author of The Next Christendom - is right to go for a figure between these and suggest that theer are some 65-70 million Christians. He noted that most are converted to Evangelical Ptotestantism, mainly amongst the Charismatic and Pentecostal churches and include a high proportion of urban, professional and business people.

'The Economist' carried an article about the church in China recently with the title 'Inside China's fastest growing non-governmental organisation'. What a shame that those representaives could not be at Cape Town 2010 for the third Lausanne Conference, but perhaps by the time Lausanne 4 comes about we will all be heading for Beijing.

19: Sun 3 October - Fan the Flame

There are vast crowds at the 6.45 am service at St Thomas’s Cathedral. Last week 694 communicants were recorded which clearly does not include the large number of children who came back from Sunday school for blessing at communion even at this early hour. There's also an overflow seating area as well as screens so that people in the side chapel can see. I read the Gospel and preach on fanning into flame the gift of God. Perhaps I shouldn’t have read the summary of the lectionary passages on the service sheet before I preached as I was left feeling my message was a bit on the simple style. The 'Notes on the Readings', printed on the Pew Sheet, refer to this passage 2 Tim 1: 1-14: 'We begin to read 2 Timothy, which purports to be a letter from Paul to his good friend. Some doubt this, but it is clearly in keeping with all that Paul writes elsewhere, in his teaching'.

I think this Cathedral setting is the scenario I was given for a 10 minute sermon I was asked to deliver at my interview for this job; I had to choose between either a vast Cathedral seating 900 for an early morning BCP service or else a tiny rural congregation huddled together one cold winter’s Sunday – I chose the former. As I reflect on fanning into flame the gift of God given to us (2 Tim 1:6) I think of the way in which for me and for many others from the Lichfield Diocese the experience of encountering churches here which are operating in such strategic and missional ways provides enormous encouragement and challenge. It is very telling that people tend to assume my title is Director of World Missions - (plural) with the focus being on global evangelisation and specific mission initiatives which are helping us to fulfil the the Great Commission.

The passage goes on the speak of guarding the good deposit (2 Tim 1:14). It is this desire to guard the deposit, to hold on to what is understood as biblical, orthodox, traditional teaching which lies behind the desire of many in the Global South to break away from the Anglican Communion. Indeed I interpreted the decision by Sabah not to renew their Companionship Link with Lichfield to came from the same motivation. I chose not to reflect on these issues in the sermon........................ when the matter has come up in conversation I have expressed my conviction that we need to work together, to listen together to discern how we are to be faithful guardians of the truth, truth into which God through His Spirit, is continually leading us more deeply as we approach that time when we shall fully know even as we are fully known.

As soon as the service is finished I am whisked off by a warden from St Faith's to preach a their 8.15am service. I arrive just in time for their time of open worship, free flowing charismatic in style led by a band. This leads into a conventional service of Holy Communion around 9.00am.

Just time for a plate of Luksa for brunch before my flight to KL.

Back to the Peace Community Church - a fairly new church meeting as is so widespread in a shop lot - for their 7.00pm service followed by shared food together. Fred David preaches with passion and constantly challenges us to connect with the passage. After the service we go to pray at the home of one of the more recent families to join the church. They had lived in the States for 15 years before returning to KL. They began attending this church having seen the small permitted sign advertising the church at ground level. The father is the only Christian in his family, who are Buddhist, and as the elder son is expected to play a key role in his father's funeral service. Fred tells me that Christians will not carry the joss sticks or bow in worship but they may take part.

18: Sat 2 October - Tabuan Jaya

Billed as ‘Free and Easy’ by John on my programme. He and his wife Jane very kindly come to take me shopping to look for gifts. What a great place Kuching is for that – wooden spoons, batik material, tee shirts, jewelry, white and black pepper corns and spices. We go into the most inspiring art gallery where the light shines down through the atrium where plants and flowing water below give a sense of peace and tranquillity. I wish I could buy some of the artist’s works. Perhaps I could contact him if we develop the idea of a celebration of the arts in future years. The batik material need hemming up so we pop into a tailors. Jane is a bit shocked that the tailor is asking 5 dollars / ringgets (approx £1) for the work and will not be bargained down.

In the evening I visit Tabuan Jaya Anglican Church, led by Revd Kenny Tan. It is a newly built church complex with wonderful facilities. He is one of perhaps only three clergy in the Diocese. The Chinese congregation meets on the top storey in a space which would be more than big enough for the majority of churches in the Church of England. The Alpha course is being used effectively and has been translated into Chinese. The main worshipping space down below caters for 3 times as many people. Kenny introduces me and speaks of the 35 pioneers from St Faiths who some 13 years ago came and formed the basis of this church in a rapidly growing residential area of Kuching city.

17: Friday 1 October - Seol Kandis

Day starts with filming of Bishop Bolly’s 30 second message for Rowan Williams – only it turns out to be nearly 5 minutes. It is thoughtful, erudite and he is hugely appreciative of his role.

August, who has driven for the Diocese for over 25 years, takes me to meet Revd Jugah and the PCC at Seol Kandis. He is assisted by the Revd James, a retired priest, who jokes that no longer are they headhunting, but now they are hunting souls. Revd Jugah has been in ministry for over 20 years and is passionate about people’s spiritual development. ‘It is so important to develop the spiritual faith and life of the people; numbers are secondary.’ He is inspired by the example of the church in Korea. ‘Now they are sending missionaries everywhere; even to Kuching’. He says his library is on the small coffee table in his study – he is reading a book on leadership which underlines our call to exercise a servant ministry and follow the example of Jesus. His church has 400 families. He speaks warmly of the last Bishop of Kuching, Bishop Made as being a very humble man. ‘He preached simply and in a very touching manner’. Jugah appreciates the evangelical and charismatic strands and has no problem with women priests or bishops – 'The issues here are cultural'.

Quick snack before heading off to Sarawak Cultural Village in the foothills of the legendary Mount Santubong fronting the South China Sea with seven authentic ethnic houses built around a lake. We pile into the Church minibus - every church seems to have at least one - and have lively loud chat as we travel.

Bishop Bolly comes to the Hotel with revised script of his message and we have tea, sandwiches and tapioca and coconut cream in the hotel - he apologises for being unable to see me off on Sunday because of his confirmation commitments. Most generous and gracious hospitality.

16: September 30 - Serian and St Basil's

Trevor recently became vicar of St Helen’s, Serian; a parish some 45 minutes drive away from the city. He came over to Lichfield for the Crosstalk event in 2008. ‘I learned a lot from the old folks. Their love and commitment. I was impressed by their love for God. Once a month we meet for special prayer, the whole church gathers. That would be a good time to share in prayer for our Lichfield partners'.

Trevor spent four years at the House of the Epiphany, which seems dormant at present, before going to Adelaide Ministry training for three and a half years. 'You can pray for us following the Allah issue. Also as we deal with native custom land which is being taken away from us by the Government. A few cases are being won now opposing this but it is a big issue'. I wonder if we can help. The aboriginal case in say Australia has in many ways been transformed and their case increasingly recognised and acknowledged. I subsequently ask Bishop Bolly as to whether we can help with this. He thinks so. ‘It’s hard for us. We are too close. But your voice from outside could be very helpful as we have seen with Myanmar. When they know they are being observed they are more careful’

Trevor tells of a recent mission trip to a long house in the ‘interior’ in which 117 people from St Helen’s went , making their way in cars. 'It was a big house with 26 doors'. Trevor tells me I must next time visit a Long House. 'I grew up in a Long House bathing inn the Lamana river and attending the local mission school. The people in one Long House still remember a visit from some Australians – it’s 23 years ago now but it is a lasting memory when an ‘orang putih’ a white man visits'.

We are taken a bit further on to see the newly constructed chapel of St Luke’s, Kampong Bayor, recently opened by Bishop Bolly. After visiting the church and meeting church members we go to a member’s house where we sing together and pray and share tasty porridge, snacks and small fried fish. I am given a beautifully woven reed mat. All I have to pass on is a card made by my mother in law. It is passed round and one man asks me as he points to her name on the back; ‘Can you say her name’. ‘Oh yes,’ I replied, a bit perplexed. ‘Judy Barker’. ‘Ah you see’, he replied,’ In our Badan culture we are not allowed to say the name of our mother in law or father in law’, and there was much laughter.

The mother of the household told me that her son had gone to Wolverhampton ion order to study law and had come back as a tattoo artist, now with several shops in Kuching. Strange reversals!

Later I am driven to St Basil’s, Batu Kawa where I meet Rev Stanley Bunseng. He has been moved from Miri where his wife has a high powered post in sales for Shell. His wife and children are continuing to live in their house there while Stanley works some 5 hours away in Kuching. Clergy tend to be moved around quite a bit and several times in different contexts the topic of canonical obedience has come up. I also meet one of the church warden’s Johnson Lapok who came over to Lichfield on the first youth exchange visit in 1989. He is now working for the government and whilst being very careful in his presentation he seeks to be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove as he shares with a Muslim colleague. He shares how his wife is Roman Catholic but he seeks to work with all traditions. He is thrilled because his 12 year old daughter really grasped who Jesus is two days ago as a result of a conversation they shared.

We go to a hotel for an Iban style meal in the evening; my favourite was the chicken cooked in bamboo. Suzanne Mppam is keen to organise some exchange with our Women’s Fellowship but I have to tell her that many of our churches do not have any women’s groups.

15: September 29 - Cathedral and St Faith's

My programme has been organised by Revd John Sim. I met him at Kuala Lumpur at the Missions Conference, then at George Tay’s inauguration as vicar of St Andrew’s City Church in downtown Singapore so when he welcomed me at Kuching airport it felt like a meeting with an old friend. As well as being Diocesan Secretary, John also anchors the Mission outreach work in Pontianak, Indonesia.

This outward looking missional activity is such an inspiring feature of the churches and individuals within the Province. Singapore has for some years now developed its missional ministry amongst it’s six deaneries of Indonesia, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Additionally there is close work with Myanmar (Burma) of a supportive and encouraging nature. Vicars do this alongside their normal parish duties. Certain churches own the work and send out parties to assist with medical work for instance – a group of 70 went from the Cathedral recently for a few days.

These missional initiatives are seeking to extend the Anglican church. Interestingly there is a prominent poster at St Andrew’s Cathedral spelling out the distinctives of being an Anglican. Perhaps we could benefit by reflecting on the positive features of our Anglican identity in England instead of apologising for it and playing it down. Of course there are the dangers of an overbearing colonizing style approach but I see little evidence of this. The regulations mean that this work has to be low key and sensitively handled. The ground rules do not allow sheep stealing from say the Catholics. The church speaks out against Prosperity Gospel teaching and is willing to do the hard graft and slow work of building up these churches.

John Sim says that the congregation at Pontianak started from zero and for two years there was very little to show for it except stress and anxiety on his part. ‘Ask my wife’ he says. John is a Chinese Christian and was brought up speaking English. He says his spoken Bahasa is not very good. His children laugh at him when he tries to speak it. ‘How do they understand you at Pontianak? They must think you are speaking in tongues!’ John tells me of the a baptism service and confirmation and passes on a poerpoint telling the story of the congregation so far.

Canon Nelson Ugas, at St Faith's Church, underlines the importance of approaching these exchange visits with an open mind. ‘Go to learn something new. Dig deeper. If you are in a rural area with very few people and only older people then reflect on that. Try to understand the issues. Otherwise there is no point in going. Perhaps there could be a special place for refresher sabbaticals for clergy’. Subsequent conversation with Fred David underlines the importance of these being particularly directed towards resourcing emerging leaders.

14: September 28 - Kuching

Flying over the South China Sea from Singapore to Kuching. 'The temperature in Kuching is 26degrees and the weather is good. Thank you for flying SilkAir’.

I meet up with the Bishop of Kuching who makes me very welcome and shows me a front page article in the Borneo Post, ‘Insult on Islam: ‘Government will not keep quiet’, says deputy minister Putrajaya. Several video clips filmed in Kuching churches are on Youtube showing a priest called Benjamin Stephen making comments which have been interpreted as insulting Islam. Bishop Bolly is needing to be ready to respond to further enquiries. It seems although the man was known he functioned as a free agent and his preaching was independent and in no way sanctioned by the Anglican church. So one more demanding task for the Bishop to deal with.


In fact Christians are in the majority in Sarawak – amounting to some 40% of the population. However although there feels to be greater freedom for Christians than in West Malaysia where the Malay Government is essentially Muslim led and dominated, nonetheless great care has to be taken to avoid this charge of insulting Islam. At St Faith’s Church in Kuching, Philip who runs a travel agency, asked me what my response to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recommendation that Sheriah law be implemented. It was quite clear that he was appalled and in the Malaysian context felt Rowan Williams was seriously out of touch with the serious implications of what he was proposing.

In general I found that Christians had little to do with Muslims. However in Kuala Lumpur I found that Helina, a former St Chads volunteer, included Muslims and Buddhists in her friendship group. The pressure faced by Christians, especially in West Malaysia, preventing them from any form of direct evangelising is considerable. Many people still referred to the ‘Allah affair’ which blew up in January when Christians were forbidden from using the term Allah for God – something they have been doing since before the rise of Islam. In Surubaya, Indonesia, using Bahasi Indonesian, we prayed to ‘Allah yang mahakuasa, Bapa surgasi’, Almighty God, our Heavenly Father’.

Moses Alegesan works in Holy Trinity, Medan with Hindu converts. For two years he experienced the pressure of being under the charge of insulting Hinduism. Eventually the case was dropped much to the surprise of many people. The three judges were all Muslims, two of them Hajjis who had been on pilgrimage to Mecca. So, Moses reflects, although at first he had despaired over this, the outcome meant that no one could come back and accuse them of a pro Christian stitch up.

I don’t see much future here for my idea of a mixed Christian Muslim group visiting from Wolverhampton or Walsall. Better to start that on a more local level, following Richard Sudworth’s ,the CMS Mission Partner in Springfield, Birmingham, model and approach.

13: September 27 - Surabaya to Singapore

Leisurely breakfast at Villa overlooking golf course before James Bond style race to get to airport in time as we contend with stationary Monday morning rush hour traffic in Surabaya. It's touch and go but we make it thanks to George's advance planning.
David leaves for final part of his journey before flying back from KL.

George and I go to 'Dreamline' to measure up for the batik clerical shirt.
Japanese meal out....
Night in 'The prophet's Room' thanks to generosity of George and Eunice.

12: September 26 - Surabaya

Alarm at 5.00 am as we are picked up from YMCA to get to airport.

Fellow passenger from Netherlands - off to see his Indonesian girlfriend. 'The internet makes it all possible', he says.

The Straits Times - North Korea -The new Kimnology.
Mr Kim Jong Un, son of leader Kim Jong 2 was recently made political heir. 'According to the North Korean narrative, a double rainbow and a new star heralded Kim Jong 2's birth in 1942. Arguably this legend has fuelled his proclivity for brinkmanship. It is hoped therefore, that the chip of the old block, does not buy emerging narratives of his own ascent. If he does the region is in for a rough ride indeed'.


The Commonwealth Games are about to start in India and the media are full of reports of unfinished tracks, stadia and accommmodation. They have just found a snake in one of the athlete's rooms in the 'village' so the South African team are staying in hotels. An Australian athlete is interviewed about this. In that characteristically bullish way he replies: 'Australia has got all of the world's most deadly snakes. We're not going to be put off by one or two snakes around the place!'

Alfonso wins the F1 race in Singapore - 'After thrills and spills, it's Alonso again'.


4.00 Confirmation service in Surabaya.....meal .......
Chat with Pastor Henok

11: 25 September - A new parish / A new vicar

Pastoral worker Jaslyn Loh, of the newly inaugurated St Andrew's City Parish reads the lesson whilst Bishops and Archbishop listen attentively. This is the 27th parish in the Anglican Diocese of Singapore and is made up of two congregations journeying back to the heartland of the city. In his address Archbishop John Chew, newly returned from Fort Worth, speaks of the cost of discipleship faced by Christians in N. America being taken to court and having to leave their properties. The service contains that powerful combination of tradition and charismatic informality as we wait on God at the beginning of the service with a time of praying as the Spirit leads. George Tay is duly installed. The knocking on the door and other symbolic actions take on a new significance as it's all taking place on the seventh level (in the seventh heaven?) of the St Andrew's centre with people gathering too to participate through digital screens on levels 2 and 3. Altogether more than 300 people take part in the service.

A grand dinner follows at the Waterfront Hotel; a 9 course banquet like a wedding reception. We learn of the faithful vision of a Godly humble Christian priest who shared the vision with George which led to this day taking place. I'm invited to share a message of support and fellowship from our Bishop of Lichfield.

10: Friday September 24th Singapore

Another swim in 9th storey open air pool! What a refreshing way to start the day - a swim before breakfast.







Dean Kuan takes me to see Trinity Theological College. Here a student is practicing in advance of her leading and preaching in front of the whole college the following week. The stained glass window picks up Chinese images and references. I ask about acculturisation since I have not seen many signs of connecting to Chinese culture. 'Worshipping together is a complete no go area. We don't worship at the shrines'. I recall Eunice saying how important it was for George to take a stand
when he was expected as the elder son's elder son to take a key role in his Buddhist/Taoist grandfather's service. He said no and the family were angry and distressed. Kim Seng says that there is some interesting work being done which shows connections between Chinese characters and the Genesis account. Also the character for righteousness shows a lamb (or a goat) above me - he has given this name to his grandchildren so they will not forget the sacrifice of Christ.

The origins of the college go back to a gathering of prisoners under Japanese occupation in WW2. They decided to form the college. What Kim Seng describes as a liberal period was countered by a number of students who decided they would go overseas to train and return and gradually through getting on the staff would put things right. The present Archbishop John Chew was one of these students. He went to Trinity Theological College, Bristol, where he shared a room with our present Bishop of Lichfield. Their friendship those years ago lies behind the new Companion Link relationship the two diocese now enjoy. Perhaps his experience there also accounts for what Dean Kuan describes as his readiness to invite someone in to discuss some disagreement over a cup of tea - many others would be far less conciliatory. So he plays a vital bridging role in the Anglican Communion today - aligned to the Global South yet wanting to preserve the Anglican Communion.

Trinity Theological College (TTC) is about to celebrate its 62nd Anniversary. There are few residential students as distance is not an issue in Singapore. As we arrive at TTC the 11.30 chapel service is about to start. The chapel, at the clear insistence of Archbishop John Chew who was Principal at the time, despite opposition from the architect, insists on placing the chapel above the very big library, to show that our worship comes out of our learning and studying of scripture. We wander round an attractive roof top prayer garden with pebbles, grasses and places to sit and pray. A notice reads 'Please do not remove pebbles'.

He arranges for Rev Peter Chen, formerly in the Navy like David, to join us for lunch.After serving in the Navy Peter went to read theology at Regents College in Canada. He oversees the cell groups at the Cathedral and has an impressive system in place where most of the 100+ per year who are confirmed would take a 16 week faith foundation course and proceed to join a cell group for a further year of foundational discipleship. The Cathedral's mission is 'Building Lives and Winning Souls'.

Meanwhile back in the centre of Singapore David and I are faced with the overwhelming noise of the Formula 1 cars practicing for Sunday's Grand Prix. It seems we could choose from any number of concerts; Mariah Carey is here, and Missy Elliott. Outside of the circuit, the advertising literature says, can be found 'world class entertainment, specifically designed shopping and dining experiences that will fuel high octane excitement and glamour right into the city'. Well it's the nearest I've ever been to a live Grand Prix. David and I take refuge in the famous Raffles Hotel. As non residents we are directed to the Long Bar - having passed a couple stepping out of some sleek red racing car - where David very generously buys me a 'John Collins'; a cocktail he used to enjoy those 46 years ago when as a Naval Captain he was involved in the Konfrontasi, based here to deal with the Indonesian uprising. I sensed standards had dropped since David was here last but still it was very impressive, and it would appear, very costly too....

9: 23 September Singapore

The Straits Times today tells has the heading:

Expat Income: Singapore tops global list. Survey of cities within 25 countries shows it has the largest ratio of high earners... 45% of expats are earning more than $2oo,000 a year. Elsewhere I read that Singapore has the fourth highest average per capita income in the world. How different from Birmingham's Companion Link with Malawi - one of the world's 20 poorest countries. I look forward to the challenges and oppotrun ities of developing further our links with Matlosane Diocese in South Africa.

The Singapore Grand Prix is taking place. This is the Church Poster in the Prsbyterian church just beside the YMCA where we were staying.

We are collected by Boon Ann who took us to Archbishop Chew's favourite restaurant with some of the Deans of the Missionary Deaneries..... before making our way to St Andrew's Diocesan Offices for further discussion.

Boon Ann very kindly drives us across Singapore (!) to see dock area where David was based back in 1965/66. We have the opportunity to meet Revd Timothy Keng-Hoi Chong, vicar of Yishun Christian Church who leads a church with multilingual services and diverse ministries. He is the Associate Dean of Indonesia where he supervises the Anglican churches and auxiliary services in Indonesia. He has a staff team of about a dozen working for him...... which does not seem to be that uncommon. He passes on an interesting book which he has written: 'Paul's Theology of Church Discipline in 1 Corinthians: A Holistic Model of Discipline for the Church in Singapore'.

We are held up in more Grand Prix traffic as we head for Discipleship Training sessions with George and Eunice Tay at St Andrew's City Church. They are using the Sa'rang Community Church material from Korea and kindly give us the work books and folders. Whilst I am completely convinced of the importance of Discipleship training I think the material would need quite a significant degree of rewriting in terms of educational methods before it could be used in our Lichfield context.

8: 22 September Penang to Singapore

Heavy traffic on way to airport but make the flight comfortably. More insightful chat on way with Christopher.
Met by Dean Kuan Kim Seng - so inspiring. Every Cathedral should have a Dean like him! He takes us to the Cathedral, then out for lunch before meeting
Met Tom Handley at 9.00pm - remarkable testimonies.....

7: Penang - insights

Revd Christopher Tan of Christ Church, Penang, tells us of his conversion as a 16 year old and of how he lost his family and friends as a result of his decision; of how relationships are central within our Asian culture and the importance of eating, sharing and talking together; of the way in which the internet is enabling people to share and exposing injustice, corruption or misinformation; that the change to Bahasi as the main language rather than English means that the Bible is now available in a language which can be understood by all; of the way in which marriage is being used as a means of conversion to Islam as Muslim women attract husbands from Sarawak and Sabah for instance and they are legally compelled to convert to Islam......

After a brief visit to St George's Church which is being restored - it was built in 1817 and is one of the oldest churches in S.E.Asia. It was built by Captain Robert Smith of the Bengal Engineers. The first service was held on Christmas Day 1818 and the church was consecrated a year later by the Bishop of Calcutta. The last major renovation of the church was done in 1948 after it suffered great damage after six Japanese bombs were dropped during a raid.

Gurtsey showed us around central Penang including a visit to this Protestant graveyard with many reminders of the price paid by the early pioneer missionaries. Her grandparents settled in Penang from India. Gurtsey takes us in a flying visit to a hand printed batik factory / shop where she gets a 30% discount. David buys rapidly and strategically; feeling the pressure of needing to be back at St Nicholas' Home for the massage which was booked; important to support this employment initiative.... I decided to go for just a chair massage and found my masseur a bit on the rough side. I wondered from his wrenching and pretty lively chopping if he was drawing on martial arts skills or some high pressure tradition that I hadn't previously encountered. Anyhow I survived and the management graciously received my feedback.

Revd Stephen Soe shows us around St Paul's Church which is preparing to celebrate it's 125th anniversary. Like many of the leaders I meet he is keen to develop Discipleship Training, recognising that further teaching and formation is needed to give people the confidence and ability to come forward as lay pastors.

From the roof top of the six storey church building we look down on the Catholic Church beneath

David and I decide to go out for a meal. Since we are not sure which way to head for to reach the beach restaurants we ask a young woman who is approaching us on the pavement. She offers to show us the way - 'This way', she says. I hope it didn't look too untoward as she walked with us. She turned out to be from Bali, Indonesia, and was working as a maid for an English family in Penang. She is from a Roman Catholic family and is called Maria. I asked her how long the walk would take, to which she replied 'Oh, nearly five years'. When we realised that walk is so close in sound to work we had a good laugh together.

6: Mon 20 September - KL to Penang

The new Executive Director of St Nicholas Home for the Blind and Visually Impaired, shows an impressive commitment to positive change. A former St Chads Volunteer Matthew Teather is spoken of with great affection and appreciation. Matt is remembered for his fund raising and the acquiring and establishing of a new playground.Yes, we would greatly value more Volunteers here. I wonder if there could be some creative link and partnership with a schools working with people who are visually impaired back in the Lichfield Diocese. We look at the 'First Touch Garden in Asia', and admire the pieces of sculpture donated by Japanese and local sculptors.

We were met by Rev Ho meets us at Penang Airport. He is an Non Stipendary Minister, having trained at the Baptist seminary near the beach in Penang - sounds like an attractive location. He says that young people are leaving the church. It seems that 30 people from Christchurch went over to Lichfield some years ago as part of a grand visit but a good number of them subsequently just vanished from church and weer seen no more. So we discuss whether exchange visits are worthwhile - not according to Rev Ho if is just about broadening horizons. There needs to be a more clearly defined purpose and an agreement and commitment to prepare and follow up in a way which will feed into the developing life of the church. He speaks of the problems Christians are facing. I ask him if he is from a Christian family. 'No', he replies. I ask more but he is reluctant to say more than that he was converted and that there was much pain. Such things cannot be shared lightly.

It's easy to forget that Penang is an island so we are grateful to Bishop Pfang for taking us to a beach side restaurant for our evening meal - the Northam Beach Cafe. As ever I seek out the less familiar and at his recommendation choose a drink made from the Ambra fruit with dried plums; quite a leafy taste. Above us are the luxury apartments overlooking the sea. I think I need outposts in all the Companion Dioceses and that penthouse suite at the top with curved balcony would do nicely.

After we meet Pastor Sweebee who speaks of evangelistic work with the Orang Asli indigenous peoples. Bishop Pfang reflected on the large numbers of people who had gone to Lichfield and hoped that we could now focus such visits more sharply and to be quite selective in choosing suitable people. He said, 'I went to England and saw how many people take their faith for granted. Whereas here we have to work hard to fight and stand for our faith in the midst of hostility. That is what we may contribute to the partnership'. He went on in a lighter vein to recall how concerned he was that day after day they were being given salad - 'I must have rice!' It was also a great surprise to find that the bathroom was carpetted!

5: Sunday 19th September - Preach it!

6.25 am alarm goes - in time to get to St Paul's Petaling Jaya for 7.00am service. Well over a hundred people there. And again at 9.00am - this time with nearly 300. Was it OK? I ask for feedback. 'I had hoped you would preach on the Gospel' - (that tricky one about gaining unrighteous wealth!). Another comment; 'No wonder that people are leaving the Church of England if sermons are that long'. I preached for 30 mins having been told that the norm is around 35 mins for that service. Difficult to pitch.......
The family lunch was great time of sharing, teasing, discussion and laughter.
5.00pm CRACC service at Cathedral and 7.00pm Peace Community Church.

4: Malaysia Day - St Chads Volunteers

Day with St Chads Volunteers - Reggi, Abigail, Helina, Nicole and potential new Volunteer.....

Morning at Bird Park.

Banana leaf South Indian lunch.

Round table discussion at St Mary's Cathedral joined by BishopMoon Hing. Open air meal under moon and palm trees (joined by Melissa and Shireen). On return to Helina's family home we watch the last part of 'America's Got Talent' - won by a crooning ventriloquist; a boost for ventriloquists worldwide!

3: Mission Conference Day 2

Yesterday was Malaysia Day - but one of the delegates, John Santhosam, has some concerns. 'All this 1Malaysia talk is all very well but we Christians are not allowed to build churches. There is land for mosques - all over the place - and for Hindu Temples, but not for Christians. We are not happy about this.'

I learn some Inbam, from East Malaysia:
Puji Tuhan - Praise the Lord!
Nama Burita - How are you?
Thanks to Rev Iben Arang for that brief tutorial.

Alongside the devotional, personal and intimate in worship let us be inclusive and diverse, owning corporate pain and injustice. We tend to polarize and stay safe in our zones.

It is so remarkable to be engaging with Mission here in West Malaysia; to encounter a different paradigm, a new landscape. The past missionary heritage is embraced with confidence and gratitude and the new challenges and opportunities in world mission are faced with hope, energy and vision.

On Parish to Parish Links:
According to the Revd Dr Viji Daniel at Klang Church, 'When the links work well they work very well. There's usually a boost after a visit but somehow it then gets neglected alot of the time.....'

"Your Diocese must be a very big one. We find visitors from the Diocese are not knowing each other".

George Tay is Dean of Indonesia when he is not too busy with his own parish ministry! This is an expression of the Diocese of Singapore's commitment to mission, evidenced in the formation of six missionary deaneries which also include Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand. This initiative is supported and 'anchored' by the other Dioceses in the Province of South Asia. We hear of how the Revd John Sim had to flee under cover of darkness having received death threats following his invitation to people on one island to come to this new church. Subsequently he told the local Muslim policeman about it who remarkably gathered the people of that Muslim village together and told them that this man was under his protection!

2: Mission Conference Day 1

Tan Jin Huat heads up the Theological Education by Extension training at the local theological college in Seramban. He looks at my card and comments approvingly on the Lichfield Diocesan strap line ; 'Going for Growth - great man!' He speaks of the way in which when he was in the UK he realised he needed to make appointments first before seeing anyone. 'You don't just drop round. Whereas here you come round anytime. Welcome!' He is concerned at the way in which people in the West have lost their critical assessment of the supernatural. 'It's not that they don't believe it; they are very receptive to it but don't recognise the occult'.

Rev Paul Monash was converted from Hinduism at the age of 16. He was excluded from his family as a result for 6 years but wonderfully his father in his old age was subsequently converted. It had been difficult for Paul as he was sent to minister in Ipoh where his parent's family lived - perhaps finding that a prophet is not recognised in his home town. He later went with his wife and children to Perth and is now adjusting to working in Kuala Lumpur.

Bishop Moon Hing delivers an engaging, dynamic, passionate and humourous address with an overview of where we have reached in our world today. The world we live in is getting strange. 'There is more terrorism where people are killing each other for fun, gain and in the name of God. There is more abnormality where people are approving and practicing activities against nature and God's original plan. There is more corruption where people can sell their dignity and authenticity for fantasy and dreams.' We are playing God, trying to fool God and cheating ourselves. So what will happen? Some say 'Nothing will happen', others that we can't help it and others see the solution in simply building bigger churches. However the answer lies in reshaping our thinking and realising that 'The fruit of an apple tree is not an apple but rather an apple tree'. The priority is to build disciples of Christ.

We are introduced by key members of this 80,000 strong Sa'Rang Community Church in South Korea to a model of Discipleship Training. It is a thorough, Biblical and world mission oriented programme of activities and training processes. At one point the digital projector broke down which prompted the person next to me to say 'No power - no point!' Clearly not a fan of the powerpoint. So we were ushered off to lunch and amazingly those responsible for providing us with a delicious cooked meal were able to serve it to us calmy despite us being 45 minutes early.

Was it David Pawson who said 'Churches want people to Show Up, Pay Up and Shut Up'?

'God loves you just as you are but He refuses to leave you there'. Max Ricardo.

Amazing to reflect on Mission in this South Asian context and to hear Isac from Korea say that soon China will become the main driving force behind Christian mission to the world.....

1:Connecting the World

'Dubai Airport: Connecting the World'. These next three weeks as I meet people in West Malaysia, Singapore and Kuching are all about Connections - making them, building on them and reviewing them. In a busy restaurant in downtown Malacca I share a meal with Bishop Batumalai, eating the rice and curries on banana leaves. He did his Ph.D. in Birmingham and he is delighted to receive greetings from friends at Lickey Parish where he was based over 15 years ago - people he remembers well. He is concerned about the impact that hasty decisions about homosexuality in the parts of the Anglican Communion are having in South East Asia. 'Here we take teaching of the Bible very seriously. I do respect Archbishop Rowan, but we must not act in haste. Your church in England can benefit from the emphasis we have on mission......'

'Eat,Pray,Love', is the title of One Women's (Elizabeth Gilbert's) Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. I reckon that's a pretty good summary of Jesus' message. There's certainly been plenty of eating so far as we relax, laugh, share and talk together. This was a meal with Revd Canon Fred David (centre) and Yoke Fong who lived in the same College house when I was training for ministry at St John's, Nottingham back in 1986. He has played a key role in developing an evangelistic ministry in the villages.

Tutu Words of Wisdom

'When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray'. We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land'.

'I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself to be my master. I want the full menu of rights'.

'I can't believe Jesus would side with those who persecute an already persecuted minority'. (on gay African clergy)

'In South Africa I have said in big meetings, where you have black and white together: 'Raise your hands!' Then, 'Look at your hands - different colours representing different people. You are the rainbow people of God'.