‘I knew I had to act’

Women of GMA sewing

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IN summer 2020, when every corner of the world was in the grip of the Covid-19 crisis, Shahid Khan, a member of Wellington Church in Glasgow, received an urgent call from a village in his native Pakistan.

He was approached by women of the Christian village Mariakhial (Urdu for “Place of Mary”) who decided to step in to support their own families to bring some hope and light during this pandemic. They approached Shahid who had founded a UK-based charity to support minorities, Global Minorities Alliance (GMA) after his own experience of facing persecution and fleeing his home country. With Shahid’s help, the charity had already established some links with Mariakhial.

Shahid’s immediate response was to undertake a 250km challenge, raising £600 that was used to provide emergency relief.

But he wanted to do more to provide a more sustainable future for the women.

In general, life opportunities for women in Pakistan are restricted due to social and cultural norms, but financial worries are acutely challenging if you are a housebound village woman. On top of this, the virus meant male family members would also face job losses or reduced hours. Hunger was a deadlier threat than the virus itself.

To empower the village women to learn a trade and generate their own income, Shahid suggested launching a skill based sewing project which would provide village women with an opportunity to upskill and help them earn some cash to sustain themselves and their families beyond Covid-19. The project was successfully implemented in October 2020 and by December, the first cohort of women had completed a sewing course.

The local GMA project co-ordinator, Frida, who lost her husband to a heart attack just before the Covid pandemic hit, said: “I was heartbroken to lose my husband. He was the sole breadwinner in the family. I was also worried on how to support my children during Covid-19 with no support from anyone. I wanted to do something to help my family but also to do something for women in the village who were also struggling financially. GMA provided me the opportunity to be a source of hope and light during these very challenging times.”

Merib, a young 18-year-old village girl who also completed the course said: “I always wanted to learn how to sew and design my own clothes. The sewing course has been a great experience. I hope that with help from GMA I can start my own business as a seamstress and develop a shop for myself.”

Shahid Khan says he was deeply moved by the resilience and hope demonstrated by the women who not only overcame cultural and social norms but also took up the task to equip themselves to support their families and community in the midst of a pandemic.

He said: “When their call reached me, I knew I had to act. I was deeply grateful for the support my running challenge received, particularly from many of my fellow Christians at Wellington Church in Glasgow.

“I was very blessed that I was able to escape the horrors of persecution and make a successful living here in the UK. My faith commands me to keep in mind my fellow brothers and sisters in Pakistan and beyond and to put every effort to make their lives better, too. The Covid-19 pandemic is scary for everyone but it is absolutely lethal for those who had close to nothing already before. It is essential that we do not forget about those who are least able to fight of this pandemic and its consequences themselves.” In 2021, Shahid, with the support of GMA, hopes to further develop the work that has begun under the most challenging conditions imaginable. The aim is to firmly establish a welfare centre in the village, named after his grandfather Chiragh Din.

If your congregation would like to learn more about the situation of Christians in Pakistan or how to support the centre, Shahid can be contacted at shahid.khan@globalminorities.co.uk

CHURCH URGES VACCINE TAKE-UP

The Church of Scotland joined other faith groups in January in encouraging people to take the vaccine against Covid-19 when it is offered.

The Rev Dr George Whyte, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly, signed the statement saying it was imperative that people keep themselves and others safe.

The show of support came as the vaccination programme began, with vaccination centres in venues including churches appearing across the country.

It reads: “We faith leaders in Scotland understand the difficulty that our communities are facing during this pandemic.

“We urge all faith communities to take measures that will ensure their safety and the safety of others.

“Furthermore, we support the Covid-19 vaccination programme across the community and we encourage people to be vaccinated so that they keep themselves and their neighbours safe.” The statement was also signed by Bishop Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, Imam Hassan Rabbani, Imam of Zia-Ul-Quran Mosque, Muslim Chaplain at Heriot-Watt University, Chair of Scottish Muslim Forum, Imam Sayed Razawi, Chief Imam and Director General of the Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society, Dr Muhammad Rafiq Habib, Convenor, Muslim Council of Scotland, Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Senior Rabbi Of Scotland, and the Most Reverend Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness; Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Church of Scotland buildings across the country will be used as vaccination centres, including Morningside Parish Church in Edinburgh and Dunfermline East Church in Fife. The minister at Morningside, the Very Rev Dr Derek Browning, tweeted that the church was “Happy to have been a help to the community.” “It has been quite wonderful how all sorts of community spaces are being used up and down the country. We will get through this terrible time together,” he added.

Under the vaccination programme, 400,000 people could be given the vaccine a week by the end of February. The Scottish Government aimed to ensure that care home residents, NHS staff and people over-80 were vaccinated by the first week of February, the over-70s by mid-February and over-65s and vulnerable groups by March.

Separately, the Church of Scotland distanced itself from other churches and Christian organisations threatening legal action against the Scottish Government over the closure of buildings for worship in January.

A spokesman said: “We do not think threatening legal action is the right course to take when the country is under threat from Covid-19.

“We fully accept that the latest pandemic restrictions mean that we have to close churches again for the time being.

“The vast majority of our members understand and support these temporary restrictions.

“We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that reopening churches will happen as soon as it can be done safely.” “We, along with other faith community leaders, encourage people to take measures that will ensure their safety and the safety of others and be vaccinated when the opportunity arises.

“We look forward to the day we can be together again in church.

“In the meantime we are encouraged by the many church congregations across Scotland who are offering essential support – both spiritual and practical – to their local communities.”

TALKING MINISTRY

The Church of Scotland has launched a new web series featuring personal stories from people involved in Christian ministry.

In the first of the monthly Talking Ministry interviews, the Rev Scott Burton of Brightons Parish Church, near Falkirk, describes how he came to faith and was called to the ministry.

He also discusses the highs and lows of the job, and the people who have inspired him on the way.

Mr Burton says: “Whatever your strengths, your experience, your gifts, God can use them.” Each month the Talking Ministry series will also include questions and prayers to help people reflect on how God might be calling them.

You can read the interview and Talking Ministry resources at www.churchofscotland.org.uk/serve/talkingministry/january-rooted-in-god

HOUSING ACTION VOLUNTEERS APPEAL

Scotland’s churches homelessness charity has appealed for volunteers to help get its message across, after two tough years which left it struggling to survive.

Scottish Churches Housing Action (SCHA) is hoping to bring together small teams of people who can help promote its policy message, particularly in the run-up to next May’s elections to the Scottish Parliament.

The charity’s chief executive, Richard Howat, made the appeal after the charity was forced to make cuts to survive.

In 2019, it was pursued by a landlord for dilapidations costs on its old office, which SCHA feels were exaggerated but could not afford to pay or challenge; then this year’s Covid-19 crisis impacted both its own fundraising and donations from member denominations.

“I did question our ability to keep going on two or three occasions,” said Richard.

“We have brought down costs to try to balance with what the known income is going to be in the coming year, but that has had a consequence in that it has reduced capacity within the organisation to deliver policy and promote the message we need to promote.

“And that has particular significance just now because of Covid-19 and its impact on homelessness and homelessness services, and with the forthcoming Scottish elections we need to be getting the message out there and challenging the future government of Scotland as to what they are going to do about it.

“We have a communications plan, but we don’t have the capacity to deliver it. We need people to pull information together, write articles, put out the social media posts – there is a lot of work to be done.

“Obviously anything extra we can bring in financially would be a bonus, but we know that this is a challenging time for a lot of people. This is more about people’s knowledge, expertise, energy and time.” In the first instance, SCHA is particularly looking for people with a journalism, teaching/education, training, marketing, media, project management, housing, legal, or financial background, although the list is not exclusive.

If anyone is interested in helping, contact paul@churches-housing.org SCHA, founded in 1995, brings together 13 Scottish Christian denominations in the fight against homelessness, stimulating and supporting local projects around the country and encouraging the use of redundant buildings for social housing, as well as the advocacy and campaigning work.

ASSEMBLY TO BE ONLINE

The 2021 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will take place online, it has been confirmed.

The Assembly will open on Saturday May 22 as planned, but Commissioners will join the proceedings remotely, speaking and voting through videoconferencing technology.

Last year’s General Assembly was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, although a ceremony was held in a nearempty hall to install the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair as Moderator. That was followed by an online Commission of Assembly in July and a short General Assembly in October.

The Rev Dr George Whyte, Principal Clerk for the Church said: “We regret that we cannot join together in person as usual given the uncertainty about the Covid restrictions that may still be necessary this spring. However we intend to make our online experience as good as it possibly can be.”

Baron Wallace of Tankerness has been announced as Moderator-Designate to this year’s Assembly. Details of the timetable and any fringe events will be announced at a later date.

PARISH NEWS

FULL STATUS CELEBRATION

Greenhills Parish Church, East Kilbride, was raised to Full Status in the Church of Scotland at a service on December 20 2020.

Greenhills was founded in 1975 as a Church Extension Charge, and is the last Extension Charge to be raised to Full Status. The service was conducted by the Rev Maxine Buck, Moderator of the Presbytery of Hamilton, and the Rev John Brewster who has served as the parish minister for almost 33 years. It was an enthusiastic worship with music from Malawi, and everyone wore Kente scarves from Ghana.

As singing was not allowed, the people’s response to God was stand up applause, and the exchange of peace was a formal bow to each other. Many greetings were received from local churches and faith groups, politicians, and international friends. Everyone received a beautiful enlarged photo of the stained glass window as a souvenir of the day.

ART INSTALLATION

A designer transformed the outside of an Edinburgh church with an interactive art installation.

“Deeply Woven” by Jennifer Sturrock comprised 2,300 feet of white bungee cord strands fastened to the exterior wall of Liberton Northfield Church.

The work sought to illustrate the connections between people and their link to the divine. One cord was red, a symbol of Jesus Christ’s enduring and unwavering love for all humanity.

Part of the congregation’s Connecting Christmas initiative, the exhibit was showcased by red and purple atmospheric lighting and featured a QR code that members of the public are invited to scan with their smartphones to enable them to interact and share their thoughts.

CHOIR RECORDING

A new CD by the Choir of Paisley Abbey was released in November. ‘A Celtic Prayer’ was recorded in the Abbey on January 17 and 18 2020, and includes music from the Renaissance and the present day. Renfrewshire Council agreed to have the Paisley Town Hall clock chimes silenced during the recording!

The recording is available as a CD or as a download from sites including Amazon and Apple Music, and can be streamed on Spotify.

NEW ELDERS

Five new elders were ordained in Newbattle Parish Church, near Edinburgh, on December 13. Wilma Black, Sheila Christensen, Sheilagh Law, Dianna Russell and Tracy Teasdale were ordained in a carefully planned service with distancing, one way systems, face masks and separate pens for signing the formula after the service.

The church adopted the Unitary Constitution earlier in the year and, following the dissolution of the congregational board, invited former board members and others to consider the eldership. The ordination followed a month of discernment and exploration classes.

The church’s transition minister, the Rev Gayle Taylor, said: “Our exploration classes will continue in 2021 and will meet once a month for ongoing sharing and learning. We will be inviting elders who have been ordained for some time to come along to these classes too so that the whole Kirk Session can share and learn and grow together outwith the business of meetings. It is my hope that the enthusiasm and energy of the new elders will intermingle with the experience and insight of those who have been elders for many years.”

50 YEARS

A presentation was made on Sunday December 13 to Douglas Hamill BEM, an Elder at Linktown Church, Kirkcaldy in recognition of 50 years as an Elder in the Church of Scotland.

He was presented with his certificate by the Rev Dr Graham Deans.

Mr Hamill is a former Depute Clerk of the Presbytery of Kirkcaldy and served on the Church’s Judicial Commission. He was invited to the Royal Maundy Service at Windsor Castle in 2019 in recognition of his service to the community and Church.

He was also previously awarded the BEM for his Police service, having served as a Special Constable for 40 years.

LONG SERVICE

At the morning service on Sunday December 13, a presentation was made to David Wilson BEM for his 50 years of service as an Elder in the Church of Scotland. Mr Wilson was ordained as an Elder at Logie Kirk, Fife, and subsequently became an Elder at Leuchars: St Arthernase Parish Church. The minister at St Athernase, the Rev John C Duncan MBE, has the unique privilege of the manse being situated in David Wilson Park which was named after Mr Wilson after he became the World Champion Farrier at Calgary, Canada. Mr Wilson has given of his time and talents as a blacksmith and farrier to maintaining the property of the church.

This article appears in the March 2021 Issue of Life and Work

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