Announcements

We remember Rev Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo as others have: he was ‘a soldier of our Lord and a servant of God’s people’ and as one ‘that makes a difference he was most viciously attacked by the enemy here on earth’ (George Dunlop, email 26/5/29). In my short [printed] eulogy I said; ‘As all Christian leaders Patrick faced opposition and criticism however he was assured that God had called him to serve and share in the sufferings of Christ our Lord that is because we live in a fallen world cursed by sin and unbelief. This brought about a spiritual struggle and the believers’ challenge with self, Satan and the world. When writing to early saints the apostle Peter exhorted them to stand fast in the faith because of growing opposition in times of persecution and suffering and at length martyrdom:  “But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. … having a good conscience, 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:14-17). The apostle Paul in (2 Corinthians 6: 5-8) speaks of “tribulations, needs, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, struggles, ‘by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; and yet true.’” Both Men redeemed and in Christ’ service knew a heavenly calling and were steadfast in faith and zeal. We could also add the saints named in Hebrews 11 who ‘By faith “obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,  became valiant in battle …  were tortured, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 had trials of mockings and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.’ 37 They were … afflicted, tormented- 38 of whom the world was…

With profound sorrow and a heavy heart, we received the news of the passing of our beloved Corepiscopos Patrick Sookhdeo. Corepiscopos Patrick was a man who completely surrendered his life to our Lord and to His people. His commitment to his divine calling, his unwavering dedication to ministry, his compassion for the poor and needy, and his vision for the Church were truly unparalleled. He consistently chose to stand alongside the less privileged, the poor, and the persecuted, becoming a voice of hope and comfort to countless lives. He was a man of deep faith, truth, sincerity, kindness, courage, transparency, and accountability. Throughout his life, he extended his hands of love and service to churches around the world and to suffering humanity in areas of distress and persecution. Living with little for himself, he sacrificed his health, comfort, and personal interests so that millions might experience dignity, healing, hope, and a better future. His voice was prophetic. He never compromised with injustice or corruption but stood firmly for truth until his last breath. He loved the Church more than anything else and remained faithful to his Lord and His mission until the very end. The Syrian Orthodox Church in India, and especially our Seminary, can never forget this dedicated and faithful servant of God. Our beloved Corepiscopos Patrick will continue to live in our hearts and minds forever. Personally, I deeply desired to be present for the funeral service. However, due to an important meeting in Chiang Mai that had been scheduled and arranged well in advance, I am unable to attend. It is with great sadness that I remain away physically. Nevertheless, my prayers, thoughts, and spiritual presence will be with you during these moments of farewell and remembrance. I extend my heartfelt condolences to dear Rosemary and the…

Christ is risen!  With profound sorrow and heartfelt grief, I received the news of the passing of the Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo – a faithful servant of Christ, a compassionate advocate for the persecuted Church, and a man whose entire life was devoted to the suffering, forgotten, and oppressed Christians of our world. On behalf of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, I extend my deepest condolences to his beloved wife Rosemary, to his family, to the entire TBF Trust family, and to all who were privileged to labour alongside him in his noble and Christ-centred mission. From the time I served at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus, I came to know Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo as a man of remarkable generosity, sincere faith, and unwavering dedication to charitable service. During some of the darkest and most painful years endured by the peoples of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and the Middle East in general, he stood steadfastly beside the poor, the displaced, the persecuted, and the needy. Through his compassionate efforts and tireless support, countless Christian families received humanitarian assistance, encouragement, and hope, together with the comforting assurance that they had not been abandoned or forgotten by the wider Body of Christ. His love and concern for the suffering Church knew no borders or limitations. Even after my appointment as Archbishop in Germany, Dr. Patrick continued to support generously our Mor Jacob Monastery and numerous pastoral, humanitarian, and charitable initiatives within our Archdiocese. His kindness, encouragement, and practical assistance were always offered with humility, wisdom, and genuine Christian compassion. Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, scholarship, and sacrificial service. He dedicated his life to giving a voice to persecuted Christians and to bearing the burdens of those who suffered in silence. In many ways, his…

May 2026 Patrick is now with the Lord. The apostle Paul, that Pharisee of the Pharisees who became a disciple of Jesus, wrote to the Gentile Thessalonians, the people he would have in his previous life regarded as dogs, that through Jesus God will bring with him those who have died. Elsewhere he wrote to the Corinthian Christian Gentiles: “We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”. What are we to make of this? My own understanding, and there will be others, is that in using the term sleep, Paul was indicating that our experience at death will be the same as when we fall asleep after an exhausting day, and the very next thing we know the clock alarm goes off and it is time to get up. I suggest that we think of someone’s passing to eternal life with Christ like that. In their consciousness the next thing they know after they die is resurrection day and the return of Christ and all other believers will be there with them. There have been many testimonies throughout history of people who have seen Jesus at the point of death. Just think of Stephen, the first Christian martyr whose last words were “Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”. So what a joyous day it will be for Patrick. All those to whom through the support of thousands of others he has been able bring comfort, encouragement and help will be there with him – and us. The expressions of gratitude for that help have already begun. Today we have heard only a few of them. It is appropriate to draw on the Bible…

May 2026 It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, co-founder of Olive Aid Trust, who went to be with the Lord on 18 May 2026. Dr Sookhdeo dedicated much of his life to a cause that the world too often overlooks — the suffering and persecuted Church. His deep compassion for Christians facing hardship, discrimination, and persecution across the globe was the driving force behind the work he helped establish through Olive Aid Trust in South East Asia. It was his vision that brought this ministry to life in our region, and his heart for the marginalized and forgotten continues to shape everything we do. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Rosemary, to his family, and to all who knew and loved him. His passing leaves a great void, but also a great legacy — one built on faith, courage, and an unwavering commitment to standing alongside brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for their faith. Dr Sookhdeo once said: “My inspiration has always been Barnabas, the encourager, who stood up for the suffering saints of the early Church.” That same spirit of encouragement, courage, and solidarity lives on in the work of Olive Aid Trust, and we remain committed to carrying it forward. Nic Ng of Olive Aid Trust Malaysia said: “When Dr Sookhdeo was in Petaling Jaya shortly before his passing, he reflected on the many trials and challenges he had faced since the hostile takeover of the Barnabas Fund charities in the United Kingdom in April 2024. Despite everything, his response was to cling firmly to God’s promises in Romans 8:28: ‘And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to…

The Death of Very Rev. Patrick Sookhdeo, Ph.D., D.D. 19 May 2026 The Board of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL) heard with great sadness of the death of Dr Patrick Sookhdeo on 18 May 2026, at the age of 79. Dr Sookhdeo served as Executive Director of OCRPL and was the founder of Barnabas Fund, now known as Barnabas Aid. Dr Sookhdeo’s family came to the United Kingdom from Guyana in the 1950s. Leaving his Islamic background behind, he became a Christian at around the age of sixteen or seventeen. He later studied at London Bible College, where he met his future wife, Rosemary, who had come from New Zealand. Together, Patrick and Rosemary founded In Contact Ministries in 1975 — later renamed Servants Fellowship International — based at St Andrew’s, a redundant church building in Plaistow, East London. Their work focused on evangelism and compassionate ministry within multicultural urban communities. In 1989, Dr Sookhdeo established the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity. He and Rosemary also founded Barnabas Fund to provide practical support to persecuted Christians around the world. In 2000, he obtained a doctorate from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Over the course of his life, he authored, co-authored, or edited more than forty books. Nic Ng of Olive Aid Malaysia said: “Dr Sookhdeo dedicated much of his life to a cause that the world too often overlooks — the suffering and persecuted Church. His deep compassion for Christians facing hardship, discrimination, and persecution across the globe was the driving force behind the work he helped establish here in South East Asia through Olive Aid Trust. Dr Sookhdeo once said, ‘My inspiration has always been Barnabas, the encourager, who stood up for the suffering saints of…