Church leaders, clergy, lay ministers, and congregation members from across the diocese recently gathered for the Intercultural Worshipping Communities (IWC) Celebration and Learning Event. The special day marked the culmination of several years of intercultural ministry, learning, and transformation.
More than 100 participants from a wide range of churches and cultural backgrounds came together to celebrate what God has been accomplishing through the IWC project and its enduring legacy across the diocese.
The event also attracted people from other dioceses, including Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Derby, who travelled to hear about and learn from our intercultural work.
Opening the day, Bishop Martyn reflected on the origins of the project and its purpose. He acknowledged that the journey has not been without mistakes, but described the work as deeply transformative, saying: “This has changed my whole approach… this has changed my ministry in God’s church… this is a life-long journey of learning.”
The day featured worship, inspiring stories of faith and growth, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and the launch of the IWC Legacy Handbook (available here), which captures the stories, insights, and practical resources developed throughout the project. See clips from the day in the video below.
Attendees heard testimonies from churches that have embraced intercultural ministry in various ways - through worship, discipleship, leadership development, community engagement, hospitality, and church planting.
A panel discussion, which included diocesan leaders, clergy, and lay leaders, explored key lessons from the project while reflecting on both the opportunities and challenges of building intercultural churches today.
The breakout sessions offered practical learning on topics such as cultural humility, intercultural preaching with Bishop Saju, nurturing global leadership, and creating a sense of belonging through arts and creativity.
These discussions encouraged participants to consider how they might apply similar approaches within their own church contexts.
The event was a celebration of God's faithfulness and a reminder that intercultural ministry is an ongoing journey.
As churches throughout the diocese continue to reflect the rich diversity of God's Kingdom, the insights gained from the IWC project will continue to influence mission, discipleship, leadership, and worship for years to come.
We express our gratitude to all who have contributed to this journey and pray that the seeds planted through the project will continue to bear fruit across our churches, communities, and the wider diocese.
Talking about his experiences of this project as our Intercultural Ministry Enabler, Michael Ravuri said: “I was humbled to be part of this journey that God began seven years ago in our diocese. It was truly a blessing to organise this celebration alongside the IWC team. I have personally learned about God's uncontainable grace and His work among His people, who were created in His image. This experience offered me a tremendous opportunity to see God's image reflected across various cultures and nations.”
He added: “This celebration event also reminded me that intercultural ministry is not simply about diversity; it is about discipleship, belonging, leadership, and growing together as the body of Christ. We are deeply grateful for the churches, clergy, lay leaders, volunteers, diocesan colleagues, and Bishops who contributed to this celebration.
“While the project may be coming to an end, we pray that the vision, learning, and relationships developed through this work will continue to shape our churches and communities for many years to come.”
Jessie Tang, Intercultural Ministry Director, gave a heartfelt address as part of the morning, sharing her journey walking alongside the project. Speaking after the gathering she said:
“It was wonderful to come together and celebrate all that has happened over the last seven years. We were also able to share some learning through talks, the panel discussion and seminars. I’m grateful to everyone who contributed and who attended, joining us on this important occasion, including those who haven’t been part of the project or from other dioceses.
“Intercultural worshipping communities is more than a project but the vision of God to see God’s diverse kingdom realised on earth as it is in heaven. I’m pleased that we will continue implementing all that has been learned and shared from the project into the life and ministry of our diocese.”
On our Intercultural Worshipping Communities webpage you can find the Legacy Handbook along with video stories from the IWC project.
Watch clips from the IWC Celebration and Learning Event: