I have recently returned from attending the 9th UK Indian Brethren Conference in Coventry, along with my wife.

I have reached an age, coupled with restrictions due to my own lack of mobility, when I generally choose not to attend Christian conferences, irrespective of how appealing they might appear to be. But I decided to make an exception in this case and so we went along to this one, which was held over a period of three days.

The clincher behind my deciding to go was that one of the themes of the conference was Brethren history, a subject I am particularly interested in and have written about, given it is part of my own heritage, which this year is celebrating 200 years since the movement emerged in Ireland. There were three people leading the history segment, all of whom I have had dealings with in the past and all are experts in the field of historical research when it came to the Brethren movement, whether it be its origins and development in the UK, the way the movement emerged and evolved in India and the amazing missionary work that has gone on over 200 years.

The theme of the conference is one that would resonate with those familiar with what made Brethren people tick: “Contend earnestly for the faith” Jude 3 (the person who has come to be most associated with the movement’s founding (J.N.Darby) wrote a book expounded this text and often he would return to the need for doctrinal purity). The main messages were based on this text. Besides solid Bible teaching that offered excellent exegesis, there was lots of music and activities involving the children and young people, apt given the focus was on the family, with something to appeal to all. Another Brethren “thing” was the Breaking of Bread meeting, where opportunity is given to any brother to pray or share a word. It was also the final meeting of the conference. For me, that could well have been the highlight. While no denomination or movement has got everything right, this is something I much miss.

While I am not Indian, my wife and two nieces are and as all of them were attending the conference, it was a good opportunity to meet up. Actually, the conference was “Keralite” rather than pure “Indian” as most of those attending originated from the Indian state of Kerala, where the Brethren movement is particularly strong. Many had come to live in the UK from India to get employment, but many have children born in the UK. The languages used were a mixture of English and Malayalam (the main language of Kerala) with translation provided for the main messages. Those attending were from all around the UK, mostly belonging to Brethren assemblies. Most would be described as Malayalee and reflecting the culture of Keralite assemblies. While I felt like being transported back to Kerala and a culture which I am familiar with due to my travels, I delighted in a sense of wholesomeness and a respect for UK life.

I found the conference inspirational and encouraging, as well as challenging when it comes to earnestly contending for the faith, not just having right doctrine but also right living. There is a propensity for people to be on their best behaviour when attending conferences like these having a spiritual bent, but I sense many attending were wanting to earnestly contend for the faith. This was manifested in the way they conducted themselves. In a time of spiritual decline in the UK and a reality that the UK Brethren movement is on the wane, it was refreshing to see at the conference signs of the opposite being the case with my Indian brethren. This has given me much cause for hope as well as for prayerful concern as they have to negotiate current craziness and lying deception and will need to resist Satan’s divide and rule strategy to split us over issues that are not essential to the faith. Rather, I hope and pray that they will live for Christ, as shining lights, in a world that has mostly rejected yet needs Him, who may in turn vent that rejection by opposing the people of God.