The Parish Magazine April 2024

10 The Parish Magazine - April 2024
PARISH NOTICEBOARD — 3
During Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday, 14 February, members of the congregation have been replacing the sermon at the
10.30am Sunday services with a personal talk about why they are a Christian. Hopefully, the article below will be the first of a series
in The Parish Magazine based on their talks. We begin with one by Leslie Stephen who may be known to many of our readers through
past articles about the children and young people who attend the Karun School in India that was started by his father.
Why am I a Christian?
By Leslie Stephen, a member of St Andrew's Church
Lent is a good time to reflect on this question. My simple
answer could be, I have always been a Christian, but when I
began delving deeper, I realised that it is far more complex.
There are many reasons for becoming a Christian, including
going through a deep personal crisis, being called by God, or
that it gives answers to the questions about our life.
My Christian journey began in India and continues in
the UK. My father was a church minister and my mother a
teacher, and they always worked in villages to serve the poor.
My early years and upbringing were very much influenced by
my mother and father and their tremendous Christian faith,
their values, their compassion for the poor and their roles in
the church.
I was also influenced by a nurse who had come to India
to work with the poor. Together, in the 1930’s, they started
a Christian centre in a remote area surrounded by villages.
They built a church, a primary school, a medical centre and a
place for widows.
EARLY YEARS
I spent my early years here and I still vividly remember
how Christian love and compassion gives hope to people of all
faiths who had very little in their lives. This experience is very
much part of me.
Children often adopt the religion of their parents as I did.
Today India’s population is 1.4 billion and about 27 million
are Christians — Christianity is the third largest religion
in the country. Its arrival in India is traditionally linked to
the apostle Thomas, one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus,
who laid the groundwork for a community called Syrian
Christians and it is among the oldest in the world.
In John 14, Thomas says to Jesus, 'Lord, we don’t know
where you are going, so how can we know the way?' and Jesus
answered, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the father except through me'.
These words have stayed with me from my early childhood
as a constant reminder. They are central to Christian theology
as it focuses on the special role of Jesus, in the salvation of
humanity. It underpins the belief that faith in Jesus as the
Son of God and the Saviour is the way to eternal life, and that
it is about a relationship with God.
This means following the teachings of Jesus and accepting
him as my Lord and Saviour. These words have kept coming
back to me over the years, strengthening me as a Christian,
and giving me hope as I go through life.
ENCOUNTER
I am a Christian, not just because I was brought up as
one, but because I feel that God’s presence has been with me
throughout my life and will continue to be so. For me being a
Christian is about our faith and how we encounter God in our
daily lives.
I believe that Christian faith is a personal experience and
that we individually need to try to find out how God comes
into our lives. My faith is a continuing journey over the years,
one that has challenged me, as well as strengthened me
through the many joys and successes of my work in India,
my marriage, seeing our children grow up as adults, their
marriages, and the birth of our grandchildren. It has given me
the strength to face failures, sickness, sorrow, bereavement
and the disappointments that we all face. I know, that faith is
sorely tested during difficult and challenging times.
CRISIS
Some of the once
deprived children
of India who have
been benefitting
from the Karun
school run by Leslie
Stephen's father
I found that I had a fast-growing prostate cancer 3 years
ago, which fortunately was at an early stage. What kept me
going during this tough time and what gave me hope and
strength to face this set back was my family, my Christian
belief, my faith in God that he would not forsake me and the
many prayers of our Church and friends.
I certainly feel that this crisis brought me much closer to
God. I believe God has given me this remission and gift of life
to continue serving and helping others. It is now up to me to
take advantage of the time that I have. My Christian journey,
is an emotional one and events like these remind me and
show me what is really important in my life and why I am a
Christian.
REFLECTION
Prayer and reflection are important. They are about
seeking God’s presence and guidance in my daily life, praying
for others, and for those who are in need. Prayer brings me
closer to God and I have become more confident. Prayer has
also given me the hope that we all need in life.
My prayers and reflection have changed over the years,
moving towards thanking God for the blessings in our life
and not always imagining that God will give me everything I
asked for. Prayer, for me, is also seeking comfort in troubled
times and trying not to worry about what will happen in the
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