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Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Monday, 14 July 2014
Eden Christian Centre "International Day" Celebration
The day was filled with exciting family activities including, live music and dance, henna art, face painting, funfair, bouncy castle, a quiz, talent competition and free international food - cooked and served by members of the congregation.Hundreds of visitors attended the event throughout the day, which also coincided with the FIFA World Cup final this year. Our BPCA Team provided free Henna Painting and Punjabi outreach. Wilson Chowdhry our Chairman was event organiser and is a member of this local congregation.
The church were joined by Redbridge Enterprise who held a swap shop which enabled local people to exchange unwanted CD's, books, clothes and other items for alternatives. They also provided a treasure hunt, advice on local recycling, a seed planting activity for children and a World Cup badge making activity to coincide with the build up to the final. An exciting penalty shoot out competition was also held at the church car park and the winner won a giant football.
The event had a spiritual dimension too and visitors were invited to receive prayer for healing and other needs. They were also given opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith and the relevance of the church in modern times.
Pastor Bryon Jones said;
"We were so excited about sharing our special day with the local community and were not disappointed, as local people from varied cultures joined us all day for a time of fun and feasting. The event was packed from the start to the very end."
He added;
"We believe the event went some way towards dispelling myths about the Christian faith and highlighted the joy that comes from true faith in Christ. Moreover, it gave us great joy to pray with local people over their individual concerns - we hope now our church has become a more welcoming beacon of hope."
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Sunday, 13 July 2014
The targeting of Minority 'Others' in Pakistan Blasphemy laws
As for the blasphemy laws, they “are a true instrument of institutional violence and suppression on behalf of the state religion”, conclude Bouvier and Cosadia. Under Article 295 C of the Pakistani Penal Code, “anyone who desecrates the name of the Prophet Muhammad faces the death penalty. Members of religious minorities are harassed, tortured by the police or by inmates or guards while in prison, physically assaulted during trials, and heavily sentenced each year by the judiciary. The sentences”, as substantive documentation on the matter clearly shows, “are often based on false accusations and slanderous denunciations. Even Muslims are victims of this fallacious legislation each year.
Thank you for reading this and please know that your sharing, liking and commenting on this post goes a long way in helping to give voice to the persecuted.
All proceeds from the sale of the book support the work of the BPCA. Much of the early sales will be used to support victims of the Peshawar bomb attacks - December 2013.
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Local International Day Celebration to be held on World Cup Final Day!
This temporary banner at Eden Christian Centre informs the community of their forthcoming International Day Celebration.
A banner on the Car Park of the Prince of Wales attracts huge attention.
Eden Christian Centre host their first ever outdoor community event termed "International Day" on Sunday 13th September 2014. The date traditionally celebrates the cultural diversity within the Apostolic Church. However, Pastor Bryon Jones who leads the church on Connaught Road, is using the day to create stronger links between the church and local people.
The day begins with a service within the main church hall on Connaught Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1RN. A chance to worship God in prayer, Praise and Worship and a chance to hear His Word.
Pastor Bryon said;
"We have set this date aside in our Church calendar to remember God's word is for all people irrespective of culture. Moreover Christ spoke of the need to 'Love thy Brother' explaining the bond of brother was extended to all humanity."
Following the service form 2pm to 5pm a community event will take place in the car park of the Prince of Wales Pub. This will include; Live music and dance, free international food, World Cup Badge making, Treasure hunt, planting workshop, Children's art workshop, Bouncy castle, funfair, henna and face painting and much more.
Banners have today been placed at the Car park and on the church and create a stunning invitation to an event designed to inspire local people.
The day coincides with the final of the football world cup and the church will be holding a penalty-shoot out competition to commemorate this special day. Moreover, they will be joined by Habiba Ahmed of Redbridge Recycling who will hold a treasure hunt and children's activity using recycled material to make World Cup badges. She will also be holding a local swap shop where unwanted items can be exchanged for other used items such as CD's, books and trinkets.
Habiba Ahmed said;
"We are holding a ‘Give and Take – Community Swap Shop’ on Sunday, 13th July 2014. For more details please follow this link".
Wilson Chowdhry of the BPCA is co-ordinating the event for the church and it is hoped we will be holding a Hennah Stall to raise funds for our group.
Wilson Chowdhry said;
"Eden Christian Centre label themselves as 'Church without walls,' events such as these cement that theme and illustrate the innovative way in which modern churches are interacting with their communities. A bridge building exercise which fosters local cohesion and reinforces the relevancy of Christianity in modern times.
Wilson Chowdhry said;
"Eden Christian Centre label themselves as 'Church without walls,' events such as these cement that theme and illustrate the innovative way in which modern churches are interacting with their communities. A bridge building exercise which fosters local cohesion and reinforces the relevancy of Christianity in modern times.
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Excerpt from the targeting of minority 'Others' in Pakistan "Muzaffar Bhutto"
Excerpt from the targeting of minority 'Others' in Pakistan ( Graphic text)
Security forces, including Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, were implicated in a number of gruesome murders and disappearances of political activists from nationalist parties and ‘suspected insurgents’. As an Amnesty International report noted: “Muzaffar Bhutto, a senior member of a Sindhi nationalist political party in Pakistan, was found dead on 22nd May 2011, after being allegedly abducted by plain- clothed intelligence agents and police on 25th February 2011. Amnesty International calls for the killing to be investigated and the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Muzaffar Bhutto was the General-Secretary of Jeay Sindh Muttaheda Mahaz (JSMM), an ethnic Sindhi nationalist party. He was found dead on 22nd May in Bukhari village, near Hyderabad city in Sindh province. On 25th February 2011, he was allegedly abducted by plain-clothed intelligence agents and police in Hyderabad city, Sindh province. Witnesses said around 20 men in plain clothes came out of unmarked cars and detained Muzaffar Bhutto at gunpoint. He was not seen again until his dead body was recovered. His body was reportedly found stuffed in a gunny bag, bearing torture marks with two bullet wounds, one to the head and one to his chest. The manner of Muzaffar Bhutto’s abduction, and the dumping and condition of his body fits a consistent and repeated pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions of political activists and suspected insurgents by Pakistan’s security forces including its intelligence agencies”
Thank you for reading this and please know that your sharing, liking and commenting on this post goes a long way in helping to give voice to the persecuted.
All proceeds from the sale of the book support the work of the BPCA. Much of the early sales will be used to support victims of the Peshawar bomb attacks - December 2013.
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Eden Christian Centre Community Barbecue and International Day Celebration to be held on World Cup Final day!
Eden Christian Centre are taking their annual celebration titled International Day into the community this year. The day is set into the Apostolic Church Calendar as a day to celebrate the different cultures and traditions within the church. This year however the Connaught Road based congregation have obtained permission to use the Car Park at the Prince of Wales Pub on Sunday 13th July form 2pm - 7pm, to share fellowship with the wider community.
Activities at the event include Face Painting, Live Music and Dance, board games, free International Food, a bouncy castle and Children's art gazebo. There will also be a community talent competition with prizes and trophies. Any visitors who wish to learn more about the Christian faith or the Eden Christian Centre will also be given opportunity to learn more and a Prayer and healing room will be available.
Pastor Bryon Jones said;
"This day will be a day of great feasting, fun and fellowship with local people . We hope to build bridges with the local community whilst sharing the principles of our faith dispelling any myths held about Christianity and reminding people of the relevance of Christianity in modern society."
He added;
"The majority of activities are free and we encourage local people to come and join us in celebrating the wonders of a multicultural society."
The day coincides with the final of the football world cup and the church will be holding a penalty-shoot out competition in sympathy with this. Moreover, they will be joined by Habiba Ahmed of Redbridge Recycling who will hold a treasure hunt and children's activity using recycled material to make World Cup badges. She will also be holding a local swap shop where unwanted items can be exchanged for other used items such as CD's, books and trinkets.
We
are holding a ‘Give and Take – Community Swap Shop’ on Sunday, 13th July
2014. For more details please follow this link:
Wilson Chowdhry of the BPCA is co-ordinating the event for the church and it is hoped we will be holding a Hennah Stall to raise funds for our group.
Sunday, 29 June 2014
The Targeting of minority "Others" in Pakistan
Excerpt from the Targeting of "Minority Others" in Pakistan
With a population estimated at over 187 million and as the fifth most populous country in the world and the second most populous country with a Muslim majority Pakistan has been experiencing a major human rights crisis in recent years. Minority Rights Group International, in its annual State of the World’s Minorities reports for both 2007 and 2008, for example, placed Pakistan in the top ten (out of nearly 200 states) of its lists of states violating minority rights. “The recent wave of intolerance toward minorities”, Ahmed Rashid has argued, “is a sign of the rapid deterioration of the very idea of Pakistan. Many Pakistanis have forgotten that when Muhammad Ali Jinnah founded Pakistan in 1947, it was not partitioned from India to become an Islamic state. It was conceived as a democratic state for Muslims and all minorities, who could live together and worship freely. The white stripe down the side of Pakistan’s green flag represents those minorities, the non-Muslims, who would be forever protected and treated as equal citizens by the majority-Muslim population.
The flag itself illustrates their presence, and is a commitment to their survival. [But] the recent mayhem in the country has been the most disturbing since 1947, because it totally repudiates those founding principles” sharp contrast to the symbolism reflected on the Pakistani flag”. In 2011, Minority Rights Group International “ranked Pakistan as the sixth-most-dangerous country in the world for minorities”, with “Ahmadiyya, Balochis, Hindus, Mohajirs, Pashtun, Sindhis, other religious minorities” listed as those most under threat.
Thank you for reading this and please know that your sharing, liking and commenting on this post goes a long way in helping to give voice to the persecuted.
All proceeds from the sale of the book support the work of the BPCA. Much of the early sales will be used to support victims of the Peshawar bomb attacks - December 2013.
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