hello and today I want to introduce you to the concept of serve at neuron
to the concept of serve at neuron
to the concept of serve at neuron service now hon what is it well it’s a
service now hon what is it well it’s a
service now hon what is it well it’s a Persian phrase and it means hidden
Persian phrase and it means hidden
Persian phrase and it means hidden treasure and so I hope that today we’re
treasure and so I hope that today we’re
treasure and so I hope that today we’re going to uncover some hidden treasure it
going to uncover some hidden treasure it
going to uncover some hidden treasure it takes a particular kind of seeing to see
takes a particular kind of seeing to see
takes a particular kind of seeing to see through the eyes of the prophets a
through the eyes of the prophets a
through the eyes of the prophets a particular kind of hearing to hear their
particular kind of hearing to hear their
particular kind of hearing to hear their words and a particular kind of courage
words and a particular kind of courage
words and a particular kind of courage to receive the message that they bring
to receive the message that they bring
to receive the message that they bring to us but then to act on it the sea is
to us but then to act on it the sea is
to us but then to act on it the sea is the prophets the storytellers have been
the prophets the storytellers have been
the prophets the storytellers have been speaking to us down through the
speaking to us down through the
speaking to us down through the generations and their words still ring
generations and their words still ring
generations and their words still ring out today but not everyone will hear the
out today but not everyone will hear the
out today but not everyone will hear the message that they bring to us their
message that they bring to us their
message that they bring to us their words are often lost on a culture that
words are often lost on a culture that
words are often lost on a culture that prefers quick sound bites and fast food
prefers quick sound bites and fast food
prefers quick sound bites and fast food propaganda than it does true wisdom and
propaganda than it does true wisdom and
propaganda than it does true wisdom and true beauty and most people will not
true beauty and most people will not
true beauty and most people will not hear the message that they bring and so
hear the message that they bring and so
hear the message that they bring and so today I thought that we would do a
today I thought that we would do a
today I thought that we would do a little test
little test
little test what sort of seer and here at are you
what sort of seer and here at are you
what sort of seer and here at are you around 2700 years ago they lived a
around 2700 years ago they lived a
around 2700 years ago they lived a prophets named Isaiah and he lived in
prophets named Isaiah and he lived in
prophets named Isaiah and he lived in the Middle East in the area that we now
the Middle East in the area that we now
the Middle East in the area that we now call Israel and he spoke of a time that
call Israel and he spoke of a time that
call Israel and he spoke of a time that would be massively significant in the
would be massively significant in the
would be massively significant in the shaping and the reshaping of the nations
shaping and the reshaping of the nations
shaping and the reshaping of the nations of the world this is what he says lift
of the world this is what he says lift
of the world this is what he says lift up your eyes and look around they all
up your eyes and look around they all
up your eyes and look around they all gather together they come to you your
gather together they come to you your
gather together they come to you your sons shall come from far away and your
sons shall come from far away and your
sons shall come from far away and your daughters shall be carried on their
daughters shall be carried on their
daughters shall be carried on their nurses arms the abundance of the sea
nurses arms the abundance of the sea
nurses arms the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you the wealth of
shall be brought to you the wealth of
shall be brought to you the wealth of the nations shall come to you foreigners
the nations shall come to you foreigners
the nations shall come to you foreigners shall build up your walls and the
shall build up your walls and the
shall build up your walls and the nations will bring you their wealth can
nations will bring you their wealth can
nations will bring you their wealth can you see that as a vision for
you see that as a vision for
you see that as a vision for stoke-on-trent how would you feel if
stoke-on-trent how would you feel if
stoke-on-trent how would you feel if wealth bringers people with prosperity
wealth bringers people with prosperity
wealth bringers people with prosperity entrepreneurs were coming to our city
entrepreneurs were coming to our city
entrepreneurs were coming to our city we’re bringing their skill
we’re bringing their skill
we’re bringing their skill their creativity their value their
their creativity their value their
their creativity their value their riches do you see the people that I
riches do you see the people that I
riches do you see the people that I might be talking about in that passage
might be talking about in that passage
might be talking about in that passage these can you see asylum seekers and
these can you see asylum seekers and
these can you see asylum seekers and refugees as that sort of people most
refugees as that sort of people most
refugees as that sort of people most people won’t see them like that because
people won’t see them like that because
people won’t see them like that because that’s how they not how they are
that’s how they not how they are
that’s how they not how they are portrayed asylum seekers and refugees
portrayed asylum seekers and refugees
portrayed asylum seekers and refugees don’t come with their high value and
don’t come with their high value and
don’t come with their high value and their prosperity invisible show would
their prosperity invisible show would
their prosperity invisible show would you be happy for them these people to
you be happy for them these people to
you be happy for them these people to come and live in your street would you
come and live in your street would you
come and live in your street would you be happy for them to be your next-door
be happy for them to be your next-door
be happy for them to be your next-door neighbor would you happy for your
neighbor would you happy for your
neighbor would you happy for your children and your grandchildren to be
children and your grandchildren to be
children and your grandchildren to be educated together I would I would be
educated together I would I would be
educated together I would I would be opening my arms to welcome them I would
opening my arms to welcome them I would
opening my arms to welcome them I would want them to be my friends because the
want them to be my friends because the
want them to be my friends because the wealth of the nation’s is coming to is
wealth of the nation’s is coming to is
wealth of the nation’s is coming to is the abundance of the Seas is coming to
the abundance of the Seas is coming to
the abundance of the Seas is coming to us but can we recognize them I’m not
us but can we recognize them I’m not
us but can we recognize them I’m not going to waste my words repeating the
going to waste my words repeating the
going to waste my words repeating the hate-filled rhetoric such as winning
hate-filled rhetoric such as winning
hate-filled rhetoric such as winning referendums and election campaigns
referendums and election campaigns
referendums and election campaigns around the world but you’ve all seen
around the world but you’ve all seen
around the world but you’ve all seen them on the internet in newspapers
them on the internet in newspapers
them on the internet in newspapers you’ve heard them maybe your family
you’ve heard them maybe your family
you’ve heard them maybe your family groups your your social networks maybe
groups your your social networks maybe
groups your your social networks maybe you’ve had those conversations because
you’ve had those conversations because
you’ve had those conversations because asylum seekers and refugees come to was
asylum seekers and refugees come to was
asylum seekers and refugees come to was labeled as illegal pushed into a system
labeled as illegal pushed into a system
labeled as illegal pushed into a system that dehumanizes and strips of all
that dehumanizes and strips of all
that dehumanizes and strips of all dignity direct government policy is to
dignity direct government policy is to
dignity direct government policy is to create a hostile environment for people
create a hostile environment for people
create a hostile environment for people who are most badly in need of our
who are most badly in need of our
who are most badly in need of our welcome of our support of our love I
welcome of our support of our love I
welcome of our support of our love I count myself privileged to have such
count myself privileged to have such
count myself privileged to have such hiddenly valuable people as my friends
hiddenly valuable people as my friends
hiddenly valuable people as my friends one of my friends is named Massoud and
one of my friends is named Massoud and
one of my friends is named Massoud and he is an amazing chef he cooks the most
he is an amazing chef he cooks the most
he is an amazing chef he cooks the most beautiful food and I can’t visit his
beautiful food and I can’t visit his
beautiful food and I can’t visit his home without being sat down and treated
home without being sat down and treated
home without being sat down and treated to a wonderful meal of seafood of
to a wonderful meal of seafood of
to a wonderful meal of seafood of lobster of big king prawns of octopus
lobster of big king prawns of octopus
lobster of big king prawns of octopus beautiful Mediterranean veggie troubles
beautiful Mediterranean veggie troubles
beautiful Mediterranean veggie troubles fluffy rice and bread that just simply
fluffy rice and bread that just simply
fluffy rice and bread that just simply melts in your
melts in your
melts in your he’s from Gaza on the west bank and he’s
he’s from Gaza on the west bank and he’s
he’s from Gaza on the west bank and he’s seen and experienced things that no
seen and experienced things that no
seen and experienced things that no human should ever experience and the
human should ever experience and the
human should ever experience and the images of that play round and round in
images of that play round and round in
images of that play round and round in his mind and yet when he’s cooking when
his mind and yet when he’s cooking when
his mind and yet when he’s cooking when he’s pouring his passion for food and
he’s pouring his passion for food and
he’s pouring his passion for food and his creativity for food into his cooking
his creativity for food into his cooking
his creativity for food into his cooking his soul comes alive again and yes our
his soul comes alive again and yes our
his soul comes alive again and yes our asylum process is determined that he and
asylum process is determined that he and
asylum process is determined that he and others like him and not allowed to work
others like him and not allowed to work
others like him and not allowed to work we’re not allowed to have an outlet for
we’re not allowed to have an outlet for
we’re not allowed to have an outlet for their skills for their gifts for their
their skills for their gifts for their
their skills for their gifts for their creativity for their talents but instead
creativity for their talents but instead
creativity for their talents but instead of forced to stay at home and exist on a
of forced to stay at home and exist on a
of forced to stay at home and exist on a handout of 36 pound 90 per week who
handout of 36 pound 90 per week who
handout of 36 pound 90 per week who loses out we all do at Sanctus a support
loses out we all do at Sanctus a support
loses out we all do at Sanctus a support group for refugees and asylum seekers we
group for refugees and asylum seekers we
group for refugees and asylum seekers we look for ways for him and other people
look for ways for him and other people
look for ways for him and other people like him
like him
like him to build on their skills their talents
to build on their skills their talents
to build on their skills their talents and to volunteer and so we can all
and to volunteer and so we can all
and to volunteer and so we can all benefit from that and we hope that one
benefit from that and we hope that one
benefit from that and we hope that one day will help him to develop a small
day will help him to develop a small
day will help him to develop a small business maybe one of those boarded up
business maybe one of those boarded up
business maybe one of those boarded up shops or cafes will be a lovely
shops or cafes will be a lovely
shops or cafes will be a lovely restaurant where you can all go to enjoy
restaurant where you can all go to enjoy
restaurant where you can all go to enjoy the gifts that he brings to us Isaiah
the gifts that he brings to us Isaiah
the gifts that he brings to us Isaiah says that the key to the prosperity to
says that the key to the prosperity to
says that the key to the prosperity to any city is to pay attention to serve a
any city is to pay attention to serve a
any city is to pay attention to serve a tahan and he says that when we do your
tahan and he says that when we do your
tahan and he says that when we do your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt you shall
ancient ruins shall be rebuilt you shall
ancient ruins shall be rebuilt you shall raise up the foundations of many
raise up the foundations of many
raise up the foundations of many generations do we want that to happen
generations do we want that to happen
generations do we want that to happen here in stoke-on-trent it’s beginning to
here in stoke-on-trent it’s beginning to
here in stoke-on-trent it’s beginning to happen but do we want it to continue
happen but do we want it to continue
happen but do we want it to continue have we got broken down buildings have
have we got broken down buildings have
have we got broken down buildings have we got buildings that are boarded up
we got buildings that are boarded up
we got buildings that are boarded up subject to vandalism have we’ve got
subject to vandalism have we’ve got
subject to vandalism have we’ve got streets that need to be brought back to
streets that need to be brought back to
streets that need to be brought back to life do we want to go out into our city
life do we want to go out into our city
life do we want to go out into our city centre with our children with our
centre with our children with our
centre with our children with our grandchildren and enjoy a meal without
grandchildren and enjoy a meal without
grandchildren and enjoy a meal without being subject to falling over homeless
being subject to falling over homeless
being subject to falling over homeless people or you know suffering abuse do we
people or you know suffering abuse do we
people or you know suffering abuse do we want that I believe that we do and I
want that I believe that we do and I
want that I believe that we do and I believe that we have a shortage of
believe that we have a shortage of
believe that we have a shortage of wealth creators in our city but we can
wealth creators in our city but we can
wealth creators in our city but we can do so much to harness the skills the
do so much to harness the skills the
do so much to harness the skills the gifts the creativity the
gifts the creativity the
gifts the creativity the entrepreneurship of the people who are
entrepreneurship of the people who are
entrepreneurship of the people who are already here and yes have been proven
already here and yes have been proven
already here and yes have been proven it from sharing their guests with us the
it from sharing their guests with us the
it from sharing their guests with us the remedy is right here among this and we
remedy is right here among this and we
remedy is right here among this and we need to harness that we need to make the
need to harness that we need to make the
need to harness that we need to make the most of it and people are coming daily
most of it and people are coming daily
most of it and people are coming daily we are a dispersal city for the Home
we are a dispersal city for the Home
we are a dispersal city for the Home Office and so when people seek asylum
Office and so when people seek asylum
Office and so when people seek asylum they often come to stoke-on-trent we
they often come to stoke-on-trent we
they often come to stoke-on-trent we need to encourage them we need to
need to encourage them we need to
need to encourage them we need to embrace them we need to help them be all
embrace them we need to help them be all
embrace them we need to help them be all that they can be because they will be
that they can be because they will be
that they can be because they will be the key to prosperity for our city at
the key to prosperity for our city at
the key to prosperity for our city at many stages throughout the asylum
many stages throughout the asylum
many stages throughout the asylum process people can be made destitute
process people can be made destitute
process people can be made destitute they adds to the problem of homelessness
they adds to the problem of homelessness
they adds to the problem of homelessness homelessness on our streets and at
homelessness on our streets and at
homelessness on our streets and at Sanctus we aim to help them to prevent
Sanctus we aim to help them to prevent
Sanctus we aim to help them to prevent that happening we aim to build capacity
that happening we aim to build capacity
that happening we aim to build capacity to support people through this most
to support people through this most
to support people through this most dangerous and desperate town of their
dangerous and desperate town of their
dangerous and desperate town of their lives and one such couple that we’ve
lives and one such couple that we’ve
lives and one such couple that we’ve helped are from Russia they marry a man
helped are from Russia they marry a man
helped are from Russia they marry a man a girl she’s an accountant and he a
a girl she’s an accountant and he a
a girl she’s an accountant and he a skilled craftsman in in the building
skilled craftsman in in the building
skilled craftsman in in the building industry so when I bought a derelict and
industry so when I bought a derelict and
industry so when I bought a derelict and broken-down house from stoke-on-trent
broken-down house from stoke-on-trent
broken-down house from stoke-on-trent City Council I didn’t have to look very
City Council I didn’t have to look very
City Council I didn’t have to look very far for someone to help me bring that
far for someone to help me bring that
far for someone to help me bring that house back to life again that is now a
house back to life again that is now a
house back to life again that is now a welcoming place of hospitality a
welcoming place of hospitality a
welcoming place of hospitality a friendship of welcome of community and
friendship of welcome of community and
friendship of welcome of community and the fellowship but it’s also the model a
the fellowship but it’s also the model a
the fellowship but it’s also the model a model for Sanctus have a very simple
model for Sanctus have a very simple
model for Sanctus have a very simple form of social investments that anyone
form of social investments that anyone
form of social investments that anyone can participate in say for instance you
can participate in say for instance you
can participate in say for instance you have 40 or 50 thousand pounds sitting in
have 40 or 50 thousand pounds sitting in
have 40 or 50 thousand pounds sitting in a bank accounts
a bank accounts
a bank accounts that’s not earning any interest at all
that’s not earning any interest at all
that’s not earning any interest at all you could buy a house in stoke-on-trent
you could buy a house in stoke-on-trent
you could buy a house in stoke-on-trent this is probably one of the cheapest
this is probably one of the cheapest
this is probably one of the cheapest areas in the country to buy a house you
areas in the country to buy a house you
areas in the country to buy a house you could buy a house in stoke-on-trent you
could buy a house in stoke-on-trent you
could buy a house in stoke-on-trent you could have all the fun of doing it off
could have all the fun of doing it off
could have all the fun of doing it off of partnering with some of our skilled
of partnering with some of our skilled
of partnering with some of our skilled craftsmen and our volunteers and then
craftsmen and our volunteers and then
craftsmen and our volunteers and then you could loan that house to us for two
you could loan that house to us for two
you could loan that house to us for two years three years four years however
years three years four years however
years three years four years however long at the end of the period you got
long at the end of the period you got
long at the end of the period you got your house back it’s been lived in it’s
your house back it’s been lived in it’s
your house back it’s been lived in it’s been loved
been loved
been loved yes a lease at a profit which is
yes a lease at a profit which is
yes a lease at a profit which is probably far more than you would have
probably far more than you would have
probably far more than you would have got if you’ve got your investment
got if you’ve got your investment
got if you’ve got your investment setting in a bank accounts but so much
setting in a bank accounts but so much
setting in a bank accounts but so much more than that you helped to change a
more than that you helped to change a
more than that you helped to change a person’s life the people that we have
person’s life the people that we have
person’s life the people that we have lived
lived
lived houses maybe people who’ve gained
houses maybe people who’ve gained
houses maybe people who’ve gained refugee status but have not yet had the
refugee status but have not yet had the
refugee status but have not yet had the opportunity to in that 28-day window
opportunity to in that 28-day window
opportunity to in that 28-day window that they’re given to establish their
that they’re given to establish their
that they’re given to establish their lives 28-day is amazingly short period
lives 28-day is amazingly short period
lives 28-day is amazingly short period of time and it’s just a wonderful thing
of time and it’s just a wonderful thing
of time and it’s just a wonderful thing to be involved in and you could maybe
to be involved in and you could maybe
to be involved in and you could maybe befriend
befriend
befriend the guess that live in the house that
the guess that live in the house that
the guess that live in the house that you own it has a wonderful capacity to
you own it has a wonderful capacity to
you own it has a wonderful capacity to change people’s lives families can move
change people’s lives families can move
change people’s lives families can move on to the next stage and can become
on to the next stage and can become
on to the next stage and can become established can build up businesses the
established can build up businesses the
established can build up businesses the children can be educated and I just want
children can be educated and I just want
children can be educated and I just want to share the story of one more family
to share the story of one more family
to share the story of one more family with you sue and a half years ago a lady
with you sue and a half years ago a lady
with you sue and a half years ago a lady walked into the drop-in at st. Mark’s
walked into the drop-in at st. Mark’s
walked into the drop-in at st. Mark’s Church from she was a Syrian lady and
Church from she was a Syrian lady and
Church from she was a Syrian lady and she was in an extremely distressed state
she was in an extremely distressed state
she was in an extremely distressed state she her husband had been kidnapped
she her husband had been kidnapped
she her husband had been kidnapped tortured and then murdered and his dead
tortured and then murdered and his dead
tortured and then murdered and his dead body was dumped on the doorstep of their
body was dumped on the doorstep of their
body was dumped on the doorstep of their family home in Syria for her and her
family home in Syria for her and her
family home in Syria for her and her five children to find you can imagine
five children to find you can imagine
five children to find you can imagine how that was for them or maybe you can’t
how that was for them or maybe you can’t
how that was for them or maybe you can’t maybe we can’t even begin to imagine
maybe we can’t even begin to imagine
maybe we can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for families in Syria and
what it’s like for families in Syria and
what it’s like for families in Syria and other such places she had a five
other such places she had a five
other such places she had a five children were in grave danger and so she
children were in grave danger and so she
children were in grave danger and so she had no viable option other – and trust
had no viable option other – and trust
had no viable option other – and trust herself and her precious children into
herself and her precious children into
herself and her precious children into the untrustworthy hands of an agent or
the untrustworthy hands of an agent or
the untrustworthy hands of an agent or traffickers as we know them to be it
traffickers as we know them to be it
traffickers as we know them to be it didn’t go well and as happens in so many
didn’t go well and as happens in so many
didn’t go well and as happens in so many cases the mother and her children got
cases the mother and her children got
cases the mother and her children got separated she ended up here in
separated she ended up here in
separated she ended up here in stoke-on-trent with her toddler and her
stoke-on-trent with her toddler and her
stoke-on-trent with her toddler and her four other teeth that children aged
four other teeth that children aged
four other teeth that children aged between nine and fifteen were left alone
between nine and fifteen were left alone
between nine and fifteen were left alone in Bulgaria with no adults to care for
in Bulgaria with no adults to care for
in Bulgaria with no adults to care for them she sat across the table from me
them she sat across the table from me
them she sat across the table from me looking into my eyes and as I looked
looking into my eyes and as I looked
looking into my eyes and as I looked into her eyes I looked through her tears
into her eyes I looked through her tears
into her eyes I looked through her tears and I saw what the prophet saw I saw the
and I saw what the prophet saw I saw the
and I saw what the prophet saw I saw the great value of those children and what
great value of those children and what
great value of those children and what they meant that the mother and what they
they meant that the mother and what they
they meant that the mother and what they should mean to us alone vulnerable in
should mean to us alone vulnerable in
should mean to us alone vulnerable in Bulgaria well I did what any
Bulgaria well I did what any
Bulgaria well I did what any one who realized that a great treasure
one who realized that a great treasure
one who realized that a great treasure was line exposed and vulnerable would do
was line exposed and vulnerable would do
was line exposed and vulnerable would do I went to find it it wasn’t an easy
I went to find it it wasn’t an easy
I went to find it it wasn’t an easy journey but I remember well when that
journey but I remember well when that
journey but I remember well when that door eventually opened and those four
door eventually opened and those four
door eventually opened and those four children stood in front of me the oldest
children stood in front of me the oldest
children stood in front of me the oldest boy a dad age 15 said we wait we wait
boy a dad age 15 said we wait we wait
boy a dad age 15 said we wait we wait millions of people around the world are
millions of people around the world are
millions of people around the world are waiting they’re waiting for a door to be
waiting they’re waiting for a door to be
waiting they’re waiting for a door to be opened they are waiting for a smile of
opened they are waiting for a smile of
opened they are waiting for a smile of welcome but much more importantly they
welcome but much more importantly they
welcome but much more importantly they wait they are waiting to be discovered
wait they are waiting to be discovered
wait they are waiting to be discovered for the true treasure the true value the
for the true treasure the true value the
for the true treasure the true value the true beauty that lies within them the
true beauty that lies within them the
true beauty that lies within them the the people that could transform our city
the people that could transform our city
the people that could transform our city and all the places that they’re going to
and all the places that they’re going to
and all the places that they’re going to throughout the world they are the key to
throughout the world they are the key to
throughout the world they are the key to our prosperity but can we see it can we
our prosperity but can we see it can we
our prosperity but can we see it can we recognize them do we have hearts that
recognize them do we have hearts that
recognize them do we have hearts that can comprehend the concept of server to
can comprehend the concept of server to
can comprehend the concept of server to no harm and if we don’t if we can’t are
no harm and if we don’t if we can’t are
no harm and if we don’t if we can’t are we willing to be shown because the
we willing to be shown because the
we willing to be shown because the wealth of the nation’s is coming to us
wealth of the nation’s is coming to us
wealth of the nation’s is coming to us thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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