Your Calcutta

September 9th, 2008

Find your own Calcutta’ was the response Mother Teresa sent to a woman who wanted to join her in ministering in one of India’s most crowded cities.Was there a touch of romanticism in the woman’s desire to leave all her past behind and serve in a distant land?  Paul’s message to the church at Corinth was serve the Lord in whatever situation he has placed you.This week, I was looking at local population statistics.  The population of Littlehampton’s five wards is about 26,000. The population of Rustington’s two wards is about 13,000. Together, Littlehampton, Rustington, East Preston and Angmering have a population of 51,300 - and growing.

But then I came across the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) figures for Arun in 2004.  Deprivation is measured nationally against a whole range of factors, 37 in total, and then an IMD is calculated for every ward in the country. River and Ham wards of Littlehampton fall into the bottom 20% of the most deprived nationally. An area of Ham ward is in the bottom 5% in terms of educational attainment.

The mission field is closer to home than you may think. Poverty is not simply measured in lack of food or money. We are talking about social poverty, usually generational.  Our Calcutta’s demand love, time, patience and personal sacrifice. This is long haul, not short haul.  If you look through the eyes of Jesus, you will find your own Calcutta close by, and I am not necessarily meaning River and Ham wards of Littlehampton.   

David Thatcher
 
 

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