Celebrating supporters

BMS Annual Report / 28

CELEBRATING SUPPORTERS

Nothing that featured over the last 29 pages could have happened without the incredible financial and prayerful generosity of UK churches and our supporters. From the small quiet prayer at your desk when a story of transformation drops into your email inbox to a fundraising event involving the whole church community, it all makes a difference. We are constantly surprised and inspired by the tales that reach us of supporters’ acts of kindness and sacrifice.

Perhaps no more so over the last year than when we learned of the escapades of 88-year-old Kenneth Hall. After hearing about the need for an x-ray facility at the hospital in Bardaï, Chad, Kenneth wanted to help. And so, on his indoor rowing machine, he set off to row 656km – the equivalent of the distance from Bardaï to the nearest x-ray facility in North Chad. He completed over 6,500 pulls on his rowing machine over three days and ended up raising over £13,000.

So many supporters came together after hearing our Covid-19 relief appeal for Nepal at the Baptist Assembly. We raised over £287,000, which went in part to support health workers like Chaha* to be equipped with PPE, portable vaccine boxes and fridges for storing vaccines – so they in turn could help others. In fact, because of our supporters’ gifts and prayers, we were able to say yes to other partners in Nepal and from neighbouring countries who also desperately needed help.

We have been truly humbled and deeply blessed this year by those who have given a final gift in their will. This act of selfless love leaves a lasting legacy that will enable BMS’ work for many years to come. Our legacy pack can be ordered from our website.

Alongside wonderful individuals, church communities have also sent us their stories. First, we heard from Prince’s Road Baptist Church, who raised over £2,500 by encouraging the congregation to donate what they might ordinarily have spent on an Easter egg. Next, Kidlington Baptist Church shared with us their youth group challenge, which turned into a church-wide attempt during lockdown to walk the distance to Guinebor II hospital in Chad and back, all to raise money for BMS’ Operation: Chad appeal. When the final step was taken, all who had participated managed to walk around 7,962 miles and raised over £3,400.

We know of many other such stories of faith-filled generosity and know too there may be many that we never hear about – or, when we do, we do so in the form of an answered prayer or an unmarked cheque. Our supporters make all that we do possible and for that we remain always grateful.

*Name changed

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.“

PSALM 28: 7