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I was born in Oldham, England but spent about 23 years in Asia as my mother moved there to do volunteer and missionary work when I was twelve. I first came to know Jesus through my uncle, who had himself started to believe only a few years earlier through the witness of some missionaries he met while travelling abroad. Growing up in India and seeing different Christians at work for the Lord, I decided quite early on that I wanted to give my life to the Lord in His service, particularly in the evangelistic field due to my desire to win souls and my natural inclination towards performing, and singing in particular. In 1992 I moved to Thailand where I taught English at a secondary school while engaging in a number and variety of volunteer projects involving international and local NGO’s and charities. I helped in anti-narcotics and awareness programmes in schools and colleges, worked on the production of educational audio and video materials for children in Thai (I have a fair bit of experience as an audio engineer) as well as fundraising for the projects I was involved in. It was in 1994 that I married my wife, Michelle, who was also a volunteer. Our first three children were born in Thailand and our fourth and fifth in Myanmar. We moved to Myanmar in 2000. I worked as a teacher of history, geography and English at an international school in Yangon while doing some missions with local churches there. There are a huge number of orphans in Myanmar and so my wife and I focused on fundraising for orphanages and procuring educational and other materials for them. I also recorded an album of some of my songs, “Beautiful Moment”, while in Myanmar with one of the country’s top bands as well as producing a CD of children’s educational songs on themes such as good health and hygiene practices, loving interaction, helping others etc. In 2004 my wife contracted a rare nerve disease which left her paralysed from the waist down and somewhat sight impaired which forced us to move back to the UK. Despite her disability she has continued to home-school our children. I spend a considerable amount of time at home helping with domestic responsibilities and the care of my wife and children but the Lord has opened doors for me to continue to minister to others through the Word and song in penal institutions around the UK. I’ve been making regular visits to Dungavel IRC, HMP Kilmarnock and The State Hospital at Carstairs for a bit over a year now and it’s been a blessing to meet and work with some very dedicated and wholehearted chaplains and volunteers during this time. I’m encouraged by the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in the places where we minister and that people are giving their lives to the Lord. I’m pleased too that the gifts he has given me are being used for God in the prison ministry and pray that all of us can continue to make a positive impact for Him in this very needy mission field.
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TOUCHSTONE GOSPEL GROUP
The purpose of Touchstone Gospel Group is to teach the Word in a relatable way and provide spiritual and emotional support to those in penal institutions. At present we regularly visit eight to ten prisons/ young offender institutes/ immigration detention centres, providing encouragement and motivation through meetings and personal counselling. While we originally focused only on young offender institutes and prisons, we have in recent years expanded our mission to include serving another desperately needy group of people: Those who have fled to the UK from some of the world’s most troubled areas. We now run regular programmes offering hope and support for men, women and children who have escaped wars, ethnic, religious or political persecution or poverty in their own countries. In 2006 Touchstone Gospel Group, coordinated by Simon Bennett and Paul Rushton, and involving about 20 volunteers, conducted 116 programs at 14 different institutions around the UK.
THE PROGRAMMES Our programmes or services usually contain music, drama, anecdotes, testimony and prayer, and are designed to make the Word and the Christian faith accessible to those who haven’t yet come to know the Lord as well as to encourage those Christian men and women whose past has been traumatic and whose future is no longer in their own hands. We usually assemble teams of 3-6 volunteers, often fairly young people who are looking for an opportunity use their talents for something meaningful, who then tailor-make a programme for the institution they will be visiting. Some reactions from Chaplains/Managers “They have been successful here because the love they proclaim in song and word is exhibited also in their genuine concern and care for the men as individuals. They write to those who ask and are extremely reliable...they are a valuable asset to the centre.” “They are greatly appreciated by (the prison) inmates and patients (at the State Hospital) and bring giftings in music, drama and Bible teaching; we would wholeheartedly commend them to any ministry” “May I thank you for your regular commitment to bring your team and exercise your ministry of encouragement through music and drama. Our residents comment favourably upon your presentations for some days after your visits and appreciate keeping in touch through the magazine and articles. We are extremely grateful for the regular monthly visits of the Touchstone group...The cultural diversity of the group finds a welcome audience in this multi-ethnic setting and their natural, relaxed approach touches many hearts in a place where simple humanity is greatly valued.” “I am particularly impressed by the sensitivity and imagination of the Touchstone group who come once a fortnight to minister. The detainees alway look forward to their return.” Some reactions to our programmes at immigration detention centres and prisons Evelyn writes from Malawi, “Hello Simon, you may not remember me but I was in Y. detention centre in summer when you and your fellow members of Touchstone Ministries came to share with us the Word of God and to encourage us. I am in Malawi now, my home country, but I was so inspired by the times you came to Y. and your ministry has changed my life for good.” Philip writes, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the dedication you have shown to us ever since I have been in H.. I am sure you have other things to do but you prefer to come to H. to worship with us. The love and care that I have seen from you guys is beyond measure and I believe that every other brother here feels the same too. Every time you guys come to H. with encouraging songs and teaching it is so much appreciated, also the prayers that you pray for us are surely a blessing to us.” Natacha (whose whole family was killed in ethnic violence in Burundi) writes, “Thank you for the letter and I was blessed…God has been good to me through your help and programmes. I no longer see this time as detention. It has been a place where I have met with God, I have been close to him, He has talked to me. He has built me spiritually. It has been like when Moses went to the mountain to talk to God; it has been where God has changed me. The things I used to love, I do not care about any more. Yes, I know the journey has not been easy, but I know, as long as I am under His control, it’s all right, as long as He watches over my soul.” G. writes from prison, “As you know everything that I have prayed for in the past has happened. I have seen God working in my life and for that I am grateful and thankful. I thank God everyday for leading me to you. I always knew deep down inside that someday this would happen for me and I just needed to believe and truly let God into my life. It wasn’t till I met you that I truly let God into my life and let him take me by the hand and lead me like a child putting my trust in Him. He hasn’t let me down and he never will. He has given me what I have asked for because He knows I will grow with the support and words which you can give me. I thank God for his love and kindness. I feel blessed you are there. I have never had a friend who has cared for me the way you have. I will be so happy when I can be with you and help with Gods work. As I am writing this letter I can feel God leading and guiding me and helping me to understand. The feeling is so wonderful. It makes me want to cry, knowing I am loved and wanted. I haven’t felt this loved since I was a child and I thought I would never feel it again. This is true love and I also have a lot of love to give to God and to my new found family.”
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BOOKS/LITERATURE
Following the programmes we distribute inspirational books such as Obstacles Are for Overcoming and Prayer Power. These teach the detainees/inmates how to overcome the difficulties they face through developing a faith perspective towards them. We also offer tracts and magazines, evangelical and devotional. We distributed over 800 books in 2006.
Reactions to the literature: Oscar writes, “The book that really changed my life was one that was called Obstacles are for Overcoming. This has actually become my motto that through Christ all the mountains just become as anthills. They are not as big as Christ. That book gave me a different vision because I looked at my situation in a spiritual perspective and it gave me a lot of encouragement that my problems were not as big as I thought.” From Victoria, “I thank you so much for your prayers and the books you sent. Without all of these I wouldn’t have been able to make it: Though I’ve been here for nine months I haven’t succumbed to stress or weariness. I can’t explain the way you cheer me up - only God knows! I pray that God will help me to keep what I’ve gained and use it to influence all those around me.”
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THE CORRESPONDENCE BIBLE STUDY COURSE
We enroll all who wish on our 12 Foundation Stones Bible Course. Many are from nominally Christian backgrounds, but facing the storms and winds of adversity it becomes increasingly important to rebuild the foundation of their faith so that though “the rains come down, the streams arise, and the winds blow and beat against that house; yet it will not fall, because it had its foundation on the Rock.” Matthew 7:24.
We have sent out 50-60 Bible study lessons a week throughout 2006 (approximately 2,600 studies for the year) and are looking to increase that number greatly in 2007.
Some reactions to the weekly Bible Classes we send out Oscar writes, “When I met Simon and Touchstone I was in a crisis. I was born a Christian, but I never really had a relationship with God until Simon started sending me the Foundation Stones. They explain the Bible in full and I started developing this relationship with God and the scriptures. It gives day to day examples which help to apply Gods word. For me the Foundation stones were a tonic, like an aspirin, they really kept me going in difficult times It was such a positive thing. I know one guy who was on the verge of committing suicide and after he started receiving the Foundation Stones he saw that his problems were there to be overcome. Rahim wrote, “I hold Afghan nationality and was living in circumstances where it was impossible to access information based on Christianity, but my heart was full of love for my Lord Jesus. Having Bible notes, namely the 12 Foundation Stones, is very significant especially for me because I have never had such information; I was delighted and became very happy.” Augusto writes, “Thanks for encouraging me to reach my goal for my Bible studies course. I remember our first class in the 12 Foundation Stones course. We discussed how going through this course is like launching out on a journey of discovery to explore and examine the wonders of God and His Word. It’s taken some months but here we are at the completion of the course. We’ve come to the end of this course, but not to the end of the road! These are questions to ask myself: What is the Lord teaching me to do next? Now I have a responsibility to put those riches to good use. (Romans 11:33a) How can I put what I have learned into action? To share what I have learned with others. (Timothy 2:2) Do I want to learn more? Yes! I thank you for my Bible studies. God bless you! I love you and I’m praying for you. Best wishes.” THE NEED So far the majority of our projects have been funded by the volunteers’ own contributions. Though this is a credit to the sincerity and dedication of those involved it has proved insufficient to meet the needs of the detainees/inmates and is not sustainable. It is to this purpose that we have set up the Touchstone Projects Charitable Trust. As the desperate need for rehabilitation of offenders becomes more apparent and as ethnic, religious, and political strife overseas forces more people to flee their homelands for the UK, our work in penal and detention centres has become indispensable. The care and encouragement of these people requires genuine empathy, sensitivity, imagination and consistent individual attention. We are able to supply these through our healing programmes, excellent reading material and weekly correspondence course. The end result is that those healed emotionally are then equipped to turn and help the healing process of those around them. You too can be part of this life-changing work and feel the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a significant difference to someone’s life. The joy we gain in reaching out this way is immeasurable and we would love for you to experience it along with us.
For More Info Contact Email contact@touchstoneprojects.org www.touchstoneprojects.org
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