These words, written by an Interserve Partner serving in one of the most strongly Muslim countries in the Arabian peninsula, are representative of the way that God has used Interserve since its beginnings in British India in 1852: a concern for both physical and spiritual needs, and a determination to address both in the name of Jesus.  This “wholistic” ministry, and this commitment to serve Jesus in some of the hardest countries in the world, have characterised the work of Interserve for over 150 years.  Interserve now works in all the countries of Asia and the Arab World and has been working among Asian people groups across England and Wales for over 25 years.  The countries in which Interserve works are the least evangelised on earth: several are effectively 100% Muslim, many have no indigenous church, and several are suffering from the effects of war, famine, and political turmoil.  Christian outreach is often opposed, sometimes violently.  Yet we feel that God has called us to this work in order to see “lives and communities transformed through encounter with Jesus Christ”.

Ian Morris, Interserve’s regional manager for the north of England, says: “Mission is an important element of church life. As part of the world church we have much to offer; we just don’t realise it yet . I see my role as assisting the church where I can to help them engage in the mission process, whether that be overseas or over here.”
For more information, go to www.interserveonline.org.uk

Neil says; ‘Many children in this age group are malnourished and we believe that this programme has helped to reduce deaths in pre-school age children.’ After three years, the mortality rate had reduced to just under 20%. This is still staggeringly high (in the UK, the rate is less than 1%).

So in 2006, the feeding programme shifted its emphasis from Neil and Hannah providing the superflour, to the distribution of fertilizer in the sowing season. This had the advantage of involving the village councils in the collection of the resulting ‘home-grown’ grain and peas, so that they could then make their own ‘superflour’ for the children – the farmers then kept the rest of the increased yield to feed their families. The fertilizer cost the same as the superflour bought the previous years, but, as Neil points out, ‘the increased crop yield was three times the weight of the superflour we bought.’

This programme was so successful that, this year, the local government asked if Neil and Hannah would expand their work form the 26 villages at the top end of ‘their’ valley to include another 13 villages at the bottom end of the valley. This has stretched their resources, but with the help of a donation from the people of the Czech Republic, they committed themselves to this expanded project, and bought the fertilizer in March this year.

Hannah says: ‘We used the money not only to buy and transport the fertilizer, but also for education and posters about how to make and use the superflour. It all helps to saving the lives of children who so often die needlessly in these places. Please pray that we will be able to continue this work.’

If you want to find out more about the superflour and other projects (and find out how you can help), go to www.interserveonline.org.uk