Newham multi-faith leaders meet to plan community help

The group of faith leaders who attended the retreat Left to right, front row: Sheikr Abdul Karim of Green Street Mosque, Capt Gurmail Singh Notha and Mr Hardha Jan Singh Roobrai both of Ramgharia Gurdwara, Forest Gate and Mr Zahoor Niazi of Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque, Forest Gate. Mr Daud Junejo of Green Street Mosque, Rev Dr Chigor Chike, the Vicar of Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate (C of E), Rev Nicola Vidamour of east Ham Methodist Church; and Rev Bruce Stokes, the Minister of Woodgrange Baptist Church, Forest Gate.

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Sunday, October 14, 2012
8:00 AM

A group of multi-faith leaders from Newham have returned from a three-day retreat committed to the development of their community.

The group of eight faith leaders, three Christians, three Muslims and two Sikhs, spent three days together in Dorset, discussing how they can, collectively, contribute to the development of their community.

They are part of an inter-faith project called Faithful Friends. They came away inspired by the simple life of the Franciscans monk they stayed with and are now determined to focus their efforts in the next few years on encouraging those within its community to embrace a life style that is heathy and respects the environment.

The trip also brought the group together, giving them more respect for each other’s faith.

Nicola Vidamour, a Methodist minister based at East Ham, who was part of the group, said: “The commitment of both my Muslim and Franciscan brothers to the daily pattern of prayer moved and challenged me to deepen and renew my own submission to God.

“By living in community we became a community and were able to say “Amen” to one another’s prayers. We set out as familiar faces and returned as family. Al hamd u lillah!”

The other participants were Rev Dr Chigor Chike, the Vicar of Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate (C of E), Rev Bruce Stokes, the Minister of Woodgrange Baptist Church, Sheikr Abdul Karim and Mr Daud Junejo of Green Street Mosque, Mr Zahoor Niazi of Minhaj Ul Quran Mosque; and Capt Gurmail Singh Notha and Mr Hardha Jan Singh Roobrai of Ramgharia Gurdwara, Forest Gate.

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