The Chapel Characters

Afshin Kargar Bafrani — Asylum Seeker from Iran

Do you like grabbing a beer with your mates?

What’s commonplace for Australians is strictly prohibited in some countries. Afshin grew up in one such place, and his journey to the Down Under is certainly worth listening to over a few drinks.

As a kid in Iran, Afshin learned all about Islam in school. Beyond mere religious knowledge, the integration of sharia law in the Islamic republic meant that daily routines and faith-based obligations were also prescribed by the authorities. This mandatory rule-keeping burdened him.

Afshin’s eyes were opened entering into adulthood. As the internet expanded and unveiled a wealth of information, he began to recognise the flaws of Islam. Yet to overtly abandon the Muslim identity would put him at a great disadvantage in the Iranian world; he would become a second-class citizen, to say the least. Therefore, anything he did out of line had to be done out of sight.

One day, he went on a road trip with a couple of friends, and a couple of cases of beer. Their outing was cut short, however, when they encountered police patrol. A search of the vehicle led quickly to Afshin’s arrest over alcohol consumption — a legitimate criminal offence for Muslims.

His parents managed to bail him out as he awaited trial and sentencing. You may think that Afshin would’ve faced the music; after all, the crime wasn’t particularly severe. Yet sometimes, the weight of oppression is measured not just by how cruel punishment might be, but by how little it takes for the government to lock you up. The overall lack of freedom in the ordinary, everyday affairs of citizens under Islamic rule pushed Afshin over the edge, with this incident being the last straw.

And so after bidding farewell to his family and his home, Afshin contacted a smuggler who arranged a flight to Indonesia. That was the easier half of the journey. From there, he intended to reach Australia by boat with about a hundred other asylum seekers.

Bad weather foiled their first go at setting sail. On the second attempt, local authorities detained Afshin before departure. He exhausted nearly all of his cash to bribe his way out of confinement.

Boarding a vessel for the third and “lucky” time, Afshin later discovered at sea that the smugglers had confiscated his belongings instead of packing them with the cargo — a promise broken, but by then, it was miles too late to do anything.

Things took a steeper turn for the worse when a thunderous storm rolled into their course. The boat lacked integrity to withstand the onslaught. Before long, Afshin joined other panicked passengers to bail water out of the hull with buckets when the automated bilge pump died. This lasted several days and nights as they continued to be tossed around by violent waves until even the main engine of the entire vessel malfunctioned.

What would you do if you’re stranded in the middle of the ocean on a sinking boat?

What could Afshin do at that point, but pray?

Though he had left the Islamic faith, Afshin still maintained a belief in God. He asked quite simply for his life to be spared, so that he may yet have the opportunity to come to know his true Creator.

That prayer was answered when the Australian Navy picked up their distress signal. As the weather cleared up, the soldiers located and moved the people onto their ship and proceeded to burn down what’s left of the smuggler’s boat. Afterward, they transported everyone to Christmas Island.

After a few months of immigration processing, Afshin was then granted refuge in the city of Sydney. He possessed nothing, but at least made it in one piece.

It would be quite a while before he was bestowed the official right to work. Being ever resourceful, Afshin found some cash-in-hand jobs in the meantime to survive, including a stint at Chatswood Chase that involved corralling supermarket trolleys.

Of course, he soon passed by the front steps of The Chapel Sydney next to the shopping centre. Afshin once again remembered his prayer and desire to seek God, and accepted the invitation to check out Christianity. The love and forgiveness that he saw in the biblical Jesus stood in stark contrast to his prior religious experiences. He became convinced that this was the Saviour who protected him during the most perilous hours of his life, who gave him a second chance to flourish.

To this day, Afshin cherishes the hope that we have in Jesus, and values being able to freely investigate God and gather in worship without government intervention. In these times of growing state control, we could very well use some encouragement from a man who has witnessed the grace of our Father despite the worst of circumstances.

Joyce Lee — International Student from Taiwan

For those who have come across Joyce at The Chapel Sydney, you would know that she is an approachable, vibrant character. Speaking to her is both engaging and energising.

However, this girl from Taiwan wasn’t always so outgoing. During her mid-teens, Joyce struggled with self-esteem issues that impaired her ability to relate to others. She often felt inferior to her successful brother, and with added expectations projected by the parents, there appeared to be no respite from the mounting pressure.

She grew to be very timid and didn’t have the courage to confide in anyone apart from her pet dog. And yet, the puppy soon died, leaving Joyce utterly alone with overwhelming fear and helplessness. The incident pushed her further away from family and friends, as she dreaded that relational intimacy would inevitably lead to painful, unbearable separations.

Darkness continued on until one day, a classmate reached out to Joyce and invited her to attend church. She wasn’t anticipating much, but there learned about a God that descended to earth to gather the lost, comfort the broken, and even neutralise the sting of death once and for all. Just by visiting the community, she began to uncover the Jesus of the Bible — a Saviour who, by his sacrifices and triumphs, bridged the gap between humanity and our Creator, then provided a foundation of love upon which people may live again in harmony with one another.

Over time, Joyce found herself drawn to the church’s message, and eventually responded to God’s own desire to redeem her life. She connected with Jesus and grasped onto the identity and strength that believers enjoy in Christ, empowering her to seek reconciliation with many, including family members. Shortly before moving to Australia for studies, she was baptised at the age of nineteen.

Life for an international student can be demanding. For the first few years in Sydney, Joyce worked two jobs to survive while tackling courses taught in a language not of her mother tongue. Despite the busy schedule, she participated in FOCUS (Fellowship of Overseas Christian University Students) at Macquarie University, a campus ministry offering the spiritual sustenance that she needed.

Around this period, news arrived of her grandmother’s passing. The plague of death attempted to mess with her mind a second time, but Joyce, knowing that her grandmother had also been a believer of Christ, recognised the sure hope of reunion beyond the boundaries of this current world. She had truly grown to become a woman of faith who trusted in the healing power of God to conquer every fear and obstacle in life.

In 2017, Joyce joined The Chapel Sydney. Relatable preaching and the liveliness of our community were among the first things that captured her attention. With an interest in Southeast Asia, she also desired to learn more about our church’s mission trips to places like Cambodia.

Joyce is now serving as a welcomer on Sundays. It is a fitting role thanks to the affable personality developed in her transformation, and her fluent Mandarin grants additional opportunities to connect with the people who visit us here in Chatswood. May God use her as an ambassador of hope to draw in those looking for a life-changing experience reflective of Joyce’s own journey.

Anthony Byun — Welcoming Team Captain

The Chapel Sydney welcomes all humanity, for this is the intended reach of God’s display of love. Some big words for a small church, perhaps, but upon meeting Anthony and his welcoming team, one may appreciate the heart and soul behind this noble endeavour.

New visitors grace our doorsteps every Sunday — a privilege the church enjoys being near the centre of Chatswood. It is from here that the frontline of the ministry begins to reflect the hospitality of Jesus as they greet new friends, helping them feel at home during time spent in our congregation.

Although, the work of welcoming doesn’t just end here. The team’s commitment extends beyond the scope of Sundays; they aid in the transition of newcomers into belonging within the community, bridging them with various members and groups of the church body.

Anthony understands that this is no easy task, requiring much sacrifice. Yet as he recalls when he first came to church, it was this level of investment from believers that drew him deeper to God’s generosity. He now recognises the overflow of this grace in our lives as the fuel by which we gain passion and energy to continually serve in the long run.

Furthermore, it is Anthony’s hope that the team’s efforts are a leading example, so that the spirit of welcoming may be ingrained into the culture of the church. After all, this rewarding ministry is tied to the mission of every believer — the bold proclamation of the gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Only through our work together in the Spirit are we to even dream of loving our neighbours, blessing our city, and winning the world for the Saviour it needs.

Doing a little welcoming is a great first step!

James Jang — Music Worship Leader

Music has always been an integral part of Christian worship. Like many churches, The Chapel Sydney lifts up melodic praise each week as we gather to celebrate our deserving God. As a leader in this ministry, James is passionate about seeing people connect with Jesus, whether by singing, prayer, scriptural study, or building relationships within the community.

During his formative adolescence, a fondness for the guitar was what initially set James onto the path of music. Along with it, he fostered a precocious affection for blues and jazz, which provided nourishment for the teenager’s intellectual and emotional development. In particular, the history behind these genres and the innovative playfulness conveyed both a sense of tradition and of freedom that captivated his imagination.

While young James started to know Jesus and experience congregational praise, his eyes (and ears) were opened to something deeper. Not only did he see that the Christian tradition of blessing the Lord through song has a rich history spanning thousands of years, he also realised that this very act resonates with eternal harmonies proclaiming God’s limitless glory. As a display of freedom, musical worship reaches beyond creativity and into the redemptive qualities of Christ’s identity and work. Very often, in practice, it is a tuning process aiming to realign participants to the love of the heavenly Father and his best intent for our lives.

James joined the music team in hope to share what Jesus has revealed to him. Over time, he became a leader that seeks to honour the Creator on and off the stage, both in public and in private. True ministry is a lifestyle for him. In this pursuit of God, streams of praise keep his heart focused, against the distractions and temptations that permeate modern existence. The rejuvenating delight of how music and our purpose entwine serves as a great motivation: “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy” (Psalm 33:1-3).

May God continue to build up James and his fellow musicians for the shaping of our community in worship that exalts the King of kings and the Lord of lords.