Please pray for our friend “R”, an African volunteer at St. Rollox and a brother in Christ. He has recently received the news that he is suffering from leukaemia; he is still awaiting some test results to gauge the severity of the condition. R has struggled with many heath issues in the past, but this recent news is understandably distressing (even though he has taken the news bravely). He told me that he would appreciate prayer.

Also pray for R’s young son, who also bears the weight of his father’s stresses and has some difficulty socially as a result.

The after school club at Tron St. Mary’s has started running again, after a few setbacks. Standing water had ruined the floor, so the club was shut for a number of weeks. After it was repaired, we reopened, ready for the mayhem... the first few weeks were pretty laid back actually. Word of mouth is a powerful thing though and yesterday we had more than 80 children attending the club (this number does not include the parents who often stay for a cup of tea).

Emma, now unable to be involved physically the same way as she was before, runs the registration desk. She’s become quite a hit with the pre-teen girls and has received some wonderful drawings (posted here for your enjoyment).

Tron St. Mary’s is also looking to expand their work with families in Red Road and is about to start an adult English course where their children can attend and get help with their homework. I’m looking forward to seeing how that develops, as the after-school club is too loud and busy for something like this, though I know that a lot of young people would appreciate the help.

In the past few years, it has become quite trendy to organise treks across wild and remote places like the Sahara. Often this is done for charity, the participants being sponsored to take the trip which promises a "win-win" scenario; they get the trip of a lifetime and money goes to a good cause. I've always been somewhat uncomfortable with this format of fundraising for a number of reasons.

This BBC news article about the desperate journey of African immigrants across the Sahara in search of peace, security or just a better way of life stands in sharp contrast to the well-organised and insured-to-the-hilt charity journeys. It's where the journey of some of those we meet in the UK, and those our colleagues meet in Greece and Italy will have begun.

If you are in the UK, you can watch the tv programme Panorama: Europe or Die Trying, BBC One, Monday, 14 September at 2030BST. Alternatively, there are a couple of short clips linked to the news article.

Emma and I recently visited a woman “R” who had been detained in Dungavel prior to her removal to Pakistan. R was coping okay with her predicament until her children were able to join her in the visitors’ area. The youngest child was clearly confused, asking “please, let’s just get the bus and go back home.” At this point, the atmosphere became very emotional and the stressed mother had difficulty holding back her tears.

The detention of children is a particularly controversial Home Office policy. In the first half of 2009, 470 children were put into detention. While detention is portrayed as an inevitable “last resort”, the UKPA reports that “out of 225 children released from detention in the second quarter of 2009, only 100 were removed from the UK - suggesting they had been locked up unnecessarily.” This has raised many questions about current procedures.

As always, it is easy to remain pragmatic about the issue until one actually encounters detained children and sees the effect that it has. There is a danger that those of us who work with asylum seekers will find ourselves constantly at loggerheads with the Home Office, being at the relational end of the issue. I am somewhat heartened that this report about the detention of children came from Home Office itself – and I’m sure they were aware of the negative response it would garner. It’s too easy to criticise the Home Office, without offering anything constructive. I recognise that have the freedom to meet people where they are at, show Christ’s love to people regardless of their good or bad decisions (e.g. Eph 5:2, Mt 25:40, Jn 8:7), and the Home Office does not operate on these principles. This is not an excuse for child detention, but recognition that the issue is multifaceted.

This issue, in particular, has reconfirmed my desire for form a more constructive relationship with the Home Office. We believe in ministry that is relational, and that relational distinctive should include all of those that we come into contact with. What would happen if I offered the Home Office my assistance, rather than criticism alone? Could I ever view the Home Office as a partner, rather than an adversary? This is easier said than done and would require much wisdom, though I believe that greater cooperation would lead to a more accountable process for all involved. For example, it would mean facing the uncomfortable reality that the end of the asylum process might be removal, but working to make this process as just and nontraumatic as possible. Bringing the “human element” into the asylum debate requires more than argument, but relationship (clearly, the last year of criticism has not produced any tangible improvements regarding the detention of children). Cooperation means that we can act as a witness to Christ not only to the marginalised, but those in power.

Pray for the children in detention.
Pray for the people in the Home Office who make difficult decisions.
Pray that everybody involved can work together for more just solutions.
Pray that the Christians involved can bring reconciliation, integrity, and love into a polarised situation.

Are you really a Christian? I’m going to test the validity of your faith with the following questions (checking Google for answers is forbidden):

1) Name Jesus’ twelve disciples.
2) Recite the Apostles’ Creed.
3) How do you cook a turkey?
4) What were the names of the two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus?
5) What will happen around the world at the time of the second coming of Christ?
6) What type of fruit was the forbidden fruit?

How did you fare?

I’m sure that many of you could answer some of these, maybe you had difficulty with others, or just confused how some of these questions could possibly help anybody decide whether or not your faith is genuine.

The questions might seem ridiculous, but they are all examples of real questions asked to asylum seekers here who have become Christians and fear for their safety if returned to a hostile country. While it does happen that some falsely claim Christianity, this does not mean that there are not many genuine believers who live in fear of being returned. Most pastoral workers can ascertain whether somebody is genuine over a period of time, though this relational testimony does not seem to be highly regarded by the authorities (in some cases, conveniently ignored). The other issue arises when a particular judge is unfamiliar with aspects of an evangelical faith.

Thankfully , this issue has been flagged by the UK Evangelical Alliance and has received some press. This article from The Times “How the government tests for faith” sums up the issue well. Unfortunately, this article went to press over two years ago and not much seems to have changed.

This is an issue that affects some of the people we’re working with, so please keep it in your prayers: that a just and responsible solution will be found to assess the claims of believers seeking asylum in the UK.

The Friday Football club has really picked up. We’ve moved up from five-a-side to a much more crowded six-a-side with subs. When I first started organising football, the guys were almost a bit too polite. They were quite clearly holding back, not really challenging opponents for the ball.

Well, that has changed. Everyone has become quite comfortable and now the guys playing at full pelt. Two weeks ago fights nearly broke out. It wasn’t helped by the rain, which makes the astroturf unbelievably slippy. A couple of the older guys with families (who feel the pain of failing a bit more than the guys in their late teens) don’t really want to risk getting injured, so they said that they would stop coming if football became anymore physical. I suppose this was inevitable when you mix about eight different nationalities and age differences of up to 20 years in a fast paced and physical sport.

So, I decided to appoint a referee. An Iranian friend (actually, he refereed for a club in Iran -- good to have experience on our side) and I decided to split the duties. I admit that I did this with some trepidation, as I wasn’t sure how the guys would react. Thankfully, it all went very well. Though there was some hargy-bargy over the validity of some of my calls, the addition of a ref went down very well. It clamed down the atmosphere a bit and everybody enjoyed themselves. It’s also good news for my volunteers, who quite often take a few knocks!

Another great thing about our weekly meeting for football is that we’re starting to become known by the staff and others who regularly use Petershill Park. I suppose that we’re a bit of an oddity; a guy in the locker room told me the other day, "Scots, Americans, Palestinians, and Afghans playing football together? Can’t say that’s normal in Springburn." The fact that we have a mix of Celtic and Rangers tops in the mix also confuses the issue for some. It becomes a great opportunity to share and a practical expression that integration, though not always easy, is definitely possible and that the church is at the forefront.

Last week I again visited the Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre (IRC). I visit with an established charity; it’s a fascinating group of volunteers that visit... I suppose that the prospect of visiting people you don’t know who are in a prison (who may have made bad decisions that have landed them there) that’s an hour outside the city does not have universal appeal. So I’ve met some fascinating people – detainees as well as fellow visitors – in the past 5 months of visiting.

The more I have an opportunity to visit detainees at Dungavel, the more important I think it is. Most of the detainees have little hope, they have reached the end of the road, and are usually wrestling with regret over poor choices. Many of the detainees have only seen Scotland over the barbed wired wall that surrounds Dungavel – generally speaking, most of the detainees have been moved up from England, while those detained for immigration related issues in Scoland are moved down to IRCs in England. So isolation is a major problem. Having somebody from the “outside” helps the detainees to feel more connected to the world and it allows them to share their feelings with those who are not experiencing the same stresses. I have been told many times that the visits to Dungavel are the highlight of the week, a lifeline. Quite often we can only visit 12 detainees, and 24 have requested visits!

While I believe that there are cases of unjust detention, I do not want to come across as suggesting that detention is unnecessary or that everybody in Dungavel does not deserve to be there in some capacity (however, I do believe that the current trend of indefinite detention is harmful and a waste of resources; read the compelling reports on http://www.detainedlives.org/).

Jesus’ famous words about the marginalised, “...I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. (Mat 25:35-36)” is not qualified by “but, really, only do this the poor who haven’t made any mistakes.” Unsurprisingly, there is an implied element of risky grace in Christ’s words, which disconcert and challenge me to address the plank in our eye before I judge, to leave my stones on the ground as one who has also sinned.

Sometimes at Dungavel, I am tempted to be overly judgemental about some of the detainees, or choose to visit those who have much more clear-cut cases. Yet, it is perhaps the most difficult who most need a visit. It is easy to have an idealised opinion of the marginalised; yes, we must be wise in our dealings, but grace by definition is something that is undeserved. During my last visit I met with a man who wanted to visit family, so he used forged documents… yes, a unwise decision, but the pain he is experiencing being estranged from his wife and son is real and must be addressed with compassion. Jesus never advocated an attitude of “just deserts”. Many times, the visitors cannot offer anything more than a listening ear and acting as a tangible connection the world beyond the 25ft walls of the IRC, but as Gustavo Gutiérrez commented about ministry to the marginalised, that there is “importance of gestures and ways of ‘being with’ that some may regard as having little political effectiveness.”

Hi there,

As you can see, there have been some serious changes to the blog. It had been the same format for a year, so I thought that I’d try something different for a while. The new banner is of a photo I took of the Balgray Towers this past winter, looking over the shell of the old botanic gardens in Springburn park.

We’ve been on- and off-line today a number of times, but I’m pretty pleased with the results. There are a few things that should be tidied up, but now I need to head off to bed. All in good time!

Let me know your thoughts on the new layout.

Paul

"Andrew" was released from hospital on Thursday. The medical team had used Wednesday to run some pretty intensive tests to make sure there wasn't a more serious underlying condition. He said he looked like something from a science fiction film as they wired up his head to monitor his brain patterns.
He was grateful to be "free", as he put it on Thursday, though tired from the tests and a little nervous in case he might have another episode of unconsciousness. He lives alone, but there were friends calling in with him to ensure he was ok and had company. We also restocked his kitchen so that he would not need to worry about getting some food in.
The Home Office requires Andrew to sign on at their Glasgow branch every Tuesday. Realising that he would miss his appointment last week, he arranged for the hospital to fax them and confirm that he was an in-patient and was not well enough to be discharged. His solicitor was also informed. Despite this, the Home Office saw fit to send him a threatening letter informing him that his non-attendance renders him liable to detention and a fine of £4000 (Andrew is entirely dependent on just over £40 per week provided by Asylum Support). Quite a welcome home. The doctors had just given him thirty minutes of advice about managing stress and immediately his thoughts were turned to what he might face next Tuesday when he returns to the Home Office.
Thanks for your prayers for Andrew. He is very grateful for all the concern that Christian brothers and sisters have shown for him. Please continue to pray that he would soon receive permission to stay in the UK and be able to build a life here and that the Home Office staff would treat him sympathethically next week.

Please pray for our friend "Andrew", a believer from Cameroon. He’s a committed volunteer at the St. Rollox Asylum Seeker Support Project, he acted as one of the disciples in the Glasgow Passion Play, and is a well loved member of the weekly football club (his skills would put you in mind of Thierry Henry).

Last week, while walking home, he blacked out and collapsed in the street. When he regained consciousness in the Royal Infirmary, he could not speak or move the right side of his body. He was understandably terrified by the ordeal. Andrew was able to contact me on my mobile and I visited him in the hospital. He had taken a CAT scan which yielded no results as to the severity of his condition. Though he was now able to speak clearly, he was still having difficult moving his right leg.

Emma and I visited him yesterday and his condition had improved. His right leg was fine and the MRI scan was clear. The doctors are going to discharge him from the hospital tomorrow, believing that he has fully recovered. Though the reason behind Andrew’s ordeal remains a mystery, the doctors believe that it was a combination of a sinus problem and high stress.

Praise God that he has recovered, but continue to pray for his health and emotional state (his GP has been contacted about the issue and Andrew’s health will be monitored). This is the second time that something has happened to him unexpectedly: not long after he first arrived in Glasgow, he was stabbed in the back in a random attack by a mentally ill person. This clearly knocked his confidence and recent events will add to his stress. Please remember him in your prayers.

- Paul

One of the major concerns of indigenous residents of our area is that immigrants (and asylum seekers in particular) are unfairly biased when housing is allocated. When I mention to some local people about my job, one of the common complaints I usually hear something about "all of them coming over here and taking up our housing". It’s a serious concern for many people and serves as a source of tension in between the communities.

I rode my bike down to the supermarket last night for some milk. Eight months ago, this would’ve been a quick 5-minute errand. Not so anymore, I was there for half an hour. It seems almost impossible to go into the local Tesco supermarket without bumping into somebody that we know (especially in the evening when perishables are reduced). Many of the people we bump into regularly are from Middle Eastern cultures, so there is a round of niceties that must precede the conversation (e.g. how is your family? Are your mother and father ok? How is your cousin? Is your second cousin’s child doing well?). It takes time.

This is not a complaint, it’s great to feel that we are now part of the community and recognised here. It’s one of the main reasons we decided to live where the refugees are housed. Shared experience fosters relationship.

There is a cost in living in community. It means the loss of the urban anonymity to which many of us have become accustomed. Theoretically, I believe this is a good thing, but it’s not always easy. There is minor inconvenience of just trying to “nip to the shop” for a pint of milk when you’re in a hurry and getting stuck there for 30 minutes. But more critically, it’s harder to maintain a façade in community.

I have learned that one of the guys who regularly attends the project has a gambling addiction. If I meet him in Tesco, he is initially embarrassed then encourages me to dissuade him from playing the lotto. He knows it is wrong, but needs the accountability of others to actually keep him from buying the tickets. This is one of the easier issues. Sometimes I’ll catch somebody doing something they shouldn’t, but then follows an implied request: “don’t tell my family”. Personally, it means that I must be more careful about how I react to things: what do I do when somebody jumps the queue at the shop? How do I treat the bus driver when he refuses to give me change for my ticket? What do I mutter when the train is cancelled?

A wonderful aspect of living in the local community is we have the opportunity to show how our words are backed up by how we live. On the other hand, it’s a great responsibility as you open yourself and others to accountability.

The first rays of sunlight start to appear at 5:30 in the morning and it begins to get dark an hour from midnight – a sure sign summer has arrived in Scotland.

Today is the last day of school, so the projects at St. Rollox and Tron St. Mary’s have closed for the summer. Because the children are off on holiday and the crèche (linked to the school system) is closed, the volunteers would have trouble giving time to the project in the absence of childcare.

So on the surface, it looks like our schedule will be much more flexible for the next two months, but this doesn’t mean that we will be any less busy! Now that we have two more days free in the week, it means that we will be able to make time for some projects that we did not have time for otherwise. I will begin work on getting a “Life in the UK Test” study course written up and approved. I will also have time to look at ways to expand and deepen the Men’s Ministry by making more volunteer contacts and looking at potential funding opportunities. We will be making time for networking with local, as well as national, organisations (in other words, chasing up some of the contacts we made at the Churches Refugee Network conference – see the post from 8 June). So I will finally be making proper use of my office space at Bishopbriggs. The new flexibility in our schedule also means that we will be able to fit in more family visits: in other words, engaging in the hospitality that is at the core of our ministry. The time away also gives us time to pray and assess our current commitments.

In Pain

In the pain, misfortune, oppression,and death of the people,

God is silent.
God is silent on the cross,
in the crucified.
And this silence is God's word,
God's cry.
In solidarity,
God speaks the language of love.


Jon Sobrino — from “Pain-Bearers” published by Methodist Division of Ministries 1996

Emma and I just returned from London after attending the conference of the Churches’ Refugee Network. It was both encouraging and useful. We also enjoyed worship from the Ugandan Acholi Choir.

The conference was a mix of theological refection on sanctuary and practical advice, all specifically addressing the British context for sanctuary. The speakers were experts in their fields, some of them from outside a church context, which proved to be a useful perspective.

The whole conference was given an update on the legal situation and a briefing on how to best lobby politicians and get them to actually act. I attended a workshop led by Citizens for Sanctuary on engaging with the press in relation to issues of sanctuary and Emma attended a workshop about Asylum support services. All of these topics were extremely relevant; particularly our after our interface with MPs and the media with Felicite and Arouna’s case.

Another important aspect of conferences like this is the ability to meet people who are doing similar things in different parts of the country. The sharing of information and contacts is invaluable. It is also very encouraging to learn about what is happening across the UK. Many of the people we came into contact with are working on a local, contextual, and church-based level, so it often goes under the radar. This is not to say that the situation in the UK is perfect, or that there is room for complacency. Still, I am heartened by how many exciting and creative initiatives are taking place.

I’ll close this post by leaving you with some interesting links and publications:

• Canon Anthony Harvey was at the conference promoting his new book Asylum in Britain, a question of conscience which seems very good from the bits I have read. He has also written a Bible study about Asylum in Britain that engages with the issue from a Biblical perspective. You can find both on this website: http://www.ctbi.org.uk/337
  
• A representative from Citizens for Sanctuary came along to the conference and gave some great advice on engaging with the media. Their website (http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/) is a weighty resource hoping to progress in changing public attitudes toward asylum/sanctuary.
  
• The Medical Justice Network had a number of resources available about the rights of detainees. Their website has pdfs of their reports, though be warned that much of what they report is harrowing: http://www.medicaljustice.org.uk/index.php
  
• Also, Refugee Week is coming up! The "Simple Acts" campaign is a brilliant way for everybody to get involved: http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/