Author: Editor

Spurgeon’s College, a leading theological institution, has launched its #FaithInCommunity campaign to reflect on and record the contributions of the faith community during the COVID-19 crisis. The campaign seeks to collate these contributions which will be submitted to the British Library as an official record – creating a piece of history for future generations. From food bank support to community leadership and volunteering, faith organisations and groups across the country have provided much needed support to their local areas throughout the crisis. This campaign calls on faith organisations to share these efforts using an online form hosted by Spurgeon’s College.…

The war between Ukraine and Russia has now almost completed its third month.  Few of us would have believed the war would have carried on for this long when it started (24th Feb) and most of us were surprised that it began (click here). Now however the war seems like it could go on for some time.  The devastation caused by this war has been phenomenal.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) at the United Nations (UN) has stated that close to 3838 civilians have been killed and just over 4351 civilians have been injured (19th…

Please sign and share widely our petition for Zafar Bhatti  (here) Fears that Zafar Bhatti (55 yrs), Pakistan’s longest serving blasphemy convict could be the first ever to be lynched heightened after a judge increased his sentence from life imprisonment to death on 3rd January 2022 (click here) Judge Sahibzada Naqeeb Shehzad, of Sessions Court Rawalpindi made this ruling despite clear physical and electronic evidence of the innocence of Zafar Bhatti.  No forensic evidence exists for any blasphemy by Zafar Bhatti, in fact every piece of physical and electronic evidence suggests he is innocent.  Zafar Bhatti however was convicted based on…

Badil Masih was sodomised and murdered by his employer Mr Mohammed Ikram and a cohort, in July 2019, for daring to seek full payment for work he had carried out at a scrapyard (click here). British Asian Christian Association stepped in to pay for legal costs, and support the family financially as they challenged for justice.  Despite clear evidence of a crime courts offered pre-arrest bail to the murderers who began to threaten the Christian family and key witnesses (click here). Though Badil’s mother  Shareefa remained stoic throughout the court process.  The witnesses were nobbled by the murderers and their cohorts.  They…

Image:  Salmoon Masih (brother), BACA officer and Munir Masih (father) discuss murder of Sajid Masih. A Christian man was shot dead in a public street by a Muslim gang in Sheikhupura, on Wednesday 27th April 2022. The father of the deceased has confirmed this was a gang related killing based on a debt owed by his son to one of the Muslim men. The mafia style execution occurred on a public road, while the slain man’s  father and a brother were held back by other gunmen and watched from a distance. On Wednesday (27.04.22) Sajid Masih (32 yrs) was brutally…

An Easter cake and prayers were the perfect way to celebrate Easter with the orphans of Shama and Shahzad. Every Easter/Resurrection Day British Asian Christian Association’s team visit the children of Shama and Shahzad to share some prayers, chocolate presents and an Easter cake with them and their grandfather Mukhtar Masih. Shama and Shahzad for those of you who are new to us, were a Christian couple enslaved in the brick kilns of Pakistan, burned alive after the accountant of their owner accused them of a blasphemy (click here) .  His allegations were made to prevent Shama from filing rape charges…

When Russia shocked the world by initiating a war with Ukraine (click here). British Asian Christian Association’s trustees agreed to find ways to support both people fleeing the war and those choosing to stay in Ukraine. Our work towards this grows in strength and we gave the finance required to start a food programme for the many Ukrainians staying in Ukraine.  Already our partners led by Pastor Vasilev have begun to share over 40 bags of food and Bibles with desperate people. Many people have lost their jobs when more wealthy Ukrainians left the country and their businesses behind.  They…

Christians in the remote villages of Kasur around brick kilns were given a special treat this year during our annual Easter outreach mission.   Christians living in the area suffer extreme hardship under some of the most difficult and dangerous working conditions this earth has to offer.  Families are usually indentured slaves who have signed their lives away for a small loan of around £50.  This is usually to pay for medical treatment for a wife going through pregnancy as the government of Pakistan offers little or no help. Trustees and the management of British Asian Christian Association, wanted to resume…

For over two years British Asian Christian Association have been providing free meals for homeless people, the economically deprived and refugees and asylum-seekers.  Our work began after Trustees became acutely aware of the growing homeless community in Ilford during a series of outreach events in Ilford Town Centre (click here). You can read a full review of our ‘Meals for the Homeless’ project and watch videos (here).  It includes an account of how we grew the service by meeting the homeless on the streets were they took shelter. We can serve up to 40 people a day and with the…

55 Christians including  women have been booked for alleged illegal conversions in India. 35 parishioners were taken to a Police station after a mob of around 200 Hindus, locked over 100 Christians in the 19th Century building of the ‘Evangelical Church of India’  (ECI)  in Uttar Pradesh, during Maundy Thursday prayers.   At the station 9 women were allowed to leave and go home and 26 men were arrested and put in a cell, after being charged for unlawful conversions. Despite rioting and holding over 100 Christians against their will in a building, none of the mob of at least 200…