2016-17 Annual Review by Church Mission Society

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ANNUAL REVIEW

The Church Mission Society 2016/17 Annual Review Following are 16 of our favourite mission highlights from the 2016 financial year. Thank you for your prayerful support, which made all these headlines happen.

“…thanks be to God…who manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14a THE CALL - AUTUMN 2017

NEW PEOPLE IN NEW PLACES Church Mission Society people in mission broke new ground for CMS in Gambella, Honduras, Guatemala, Cambodia and another Asian country we can’t name for security reasons. These intrepid men and women are providing theological education among refugees, ministering to children living on the streets, caring for children with disabilities and standing in solidarity with the local church.

More than 60 churches across the UK participated in the Partnership for Missional Church process, a threeyear journey that helps groups of churches discover what God is doing in their local community – and join in.

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NEW PEACE CENTRE ADDRESSES CONFLICT IN CONGO

A centre to promote peace and reconciliation among young people began being built in Bunia, DR Congo, a country that has been plagued by conflict. The initiative is being spearheaded by CMS local partner Bisoke Balikenga, national coordinator of the youth department for the Anglican Church of Congo. At least 100 young women who have suffered violence are being taught practical life skills to help them recover and rebuild their lives.

LOVING OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBOURS We took a closer look at how God is working among Muslim people through our people in mission in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the UK. “We are called to step out in love,” said Tanas Alqassis (regional manager for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) in a candid interview. “When witnessing to Muslim people it’s not about how wrong their faith is; it’s about conveying the beauty of ours. If I can share how my faith affects my life and what Jesus has done for me, they will listen. You don’t have to be an expert evangelist to reach people; you just need to be a disciple.”

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In November 2016, the bicentenary of the arrival of the first CMS missionaries in Kerala, South India, was marked in the most appropriate way – by the commissioning of 210 new missionaries by the vibrant and thriving Church of South India. Tens of thousands of people joined in further celebrations, including bishops, moderators and other dignitaries.

ANVIL ARRIVES

CMS became the home and publisher of Anvil: a journal of theology and mission. churchmissionsociety.org/anvil

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DEVONPORT IN DETAIL

We spent three days with Ruth Sayers in Plymouth and met some of the people who make use of the work club where she serves, helping people access employment advice and training. We also spent time in the combination church/public library/cafe. Ruth told us: “Coming here after years in mission in the Middle East has made me think about what mission really is. It’s about walking alongside the community. I often just sit and listen. We’re not here to judge. We accept people as they are and love them.”

SCHOOLS RISE ON SITE OF SUFFERING After years of terror from the Lord’s Resistance Army, people in Gulu, northern Uganda saw two new primary schools constructed. Garry Ion, a building consultant who played a key role in developing these schools, said, “I have visited and prayed for these communities for 15+ years, first getting to know them during displacement when communities often lived in protected camps as villages had been destroyed. Despite unimaginable hardships the community is optimistic about the future. What a privilege it is to be involved with this community.”

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WELCOME TO

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RECORD-BREAKING PIONEER ENROLMENT 2016 saw a record number of students enrol in our Pioneer Mission Leadership Training course. A total of 28 students began training as mission pioneers, pioneer ordinands and lay pioneers – a significant increase on previous years. Course leader Jonny Baker called this “a wonderful endorsement, not only of the quality of our training but of the effectiveness of pioneering mission.” Also, our first pioneer distance learning hub, the St Cedd Centre for Pioneer Mission, was established in Romford as a joint initiative between CMS and the Diocese of Chelmsford. The pilot year intake included 14 students.

In summer 2016 we launched a campaign to find 1,000 people who were willing to take a further step in God’s mission. Through festivals, events and print and online publications, we engaged with 1,700 people who indicated they wanted to be set free into their calling.

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NEW MISSION HOUSE IN HULL

KERALA CELEBRATIONS

joined the CMS community, bringing us closer to the 3,000 mark. CMS members commit to praying for mission, learning from mission and participating in mission – together.

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A joint community project between Church Mission Society and Hull Youth for Christ was given a long-term boost with the purchase of a former vicarage to serve as a permanent mission house. Anna and Chris Hembury, who have worked with CMS in Hull for 18 years, said: “The community was named Matt’s House, a reference to the vicarage’s former connection with the now-closed St Matthew’s Church, and to Jesus’ radical choice of dining at the home of Matthew, the tax collector. Hospitality and inclusion of those on the margins are the hallmarks of this community.”

MORE THAN 50 NEW MEMBERS

FREE.IN.DEED SUCCEEDS

OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITY The Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil provided the Church Mission Society team in leadership at Christ Church many chances to carry a torch for the gospel, including family fun days at the church and a hospitality outreach.

SETTING CHURCHES FREE

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LOVE IN ACTION IN NORTHERN ARGENTINA In a few short years, AMARE, the Argentine branch of the Mothers’ Union, has grown from 50 members to more than 800 women committed to “love in action”. "We are seeing a shift from them being the receivers, the poor, the oppressed, to seeing themselves as women with something to give,” said mission partner Catherine Le Tissier who has worked alongside Shelley Stokes, another mission partner, and a leadership team comprised of Wichi, Toba and Criolla women to see AMARE become the fast-growing, empowered movement it is today.

NEPAL: ONE YEAR ON A year after the devastating 2015 earthquakes, CMS local partners in Nepal were still distributing food, re-building homes and providing spiritual support for traumatised people. Said one local partner: “Many used to think that Christians only gave out Bibles or tried to convert people, but when Christians arrived with food and clothing and shelter, they saw things differently. People from other faiths have softer hearts toward Christians…. The government and community developed trust in Christian NGOs and churches due to their effectiveness and efficiency. In some cases our missionaries were able to get to places no other NGO or organisation could reach. And the people know we are here for the long term.”

T H E C A L L - AU T U M N 2 0 1 7

CMS GETS A “FACELIFT”

In June we unveiled our new look and feel, our “rebrand” – which included a new logo, new strapline (the call in action), new website and new flagship newspaper publication, The Call.

ANNUAL REVIEW Income and expenditure highlights

1 February 2016 to 31 January 2017

NOW FOR SOME ‘SWEET’

Total incom e£ 7.6

STATISTICS

Mission partners:

141 in 32 countries

Local partners:

63 in 28 countries

Mission associates:

132

Short-termers:

Pioneer Mission Leadership Training students (Oxford):

Pioneer hub students:

Encounter trip participants:

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PEOPLE IN MISSION 2016/17

CHURCHES £1.9M

INDIVIDUALS £2.3M

TOTAL INCOME £7.6M INVESTMENTS £0.8M

LEGACIES £1.8M

TRUSTS £0.3M

OTHER INCOME £0.1M

Projects financially supported: 69

CMS INCOME:

TRADING £0.2M

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES £0.2M

CMS EXPENDITURE:

Church giving: £1.9m Individual giving: £2.3m Legacies: £1.8m Trusts: £0.3m Charitable activity income: £0.2m Trading income: £0.2m Investment income: £0.8m Other income: £0.1m Income total: £7.6m

Expenditure on raising funds: People in mission: Mission education: Mission grants: Local partners: Enabling mission networks: Church and community mission: Expenditure total:

£0.8m £4m £0.7m £0.5m £0.5m £0.3m £0.7m £7.5m

NB: Support costs (finance, HR, facilities, ICT and governance) are included within these figures. They are allocated to each activity based on time spent on each area of work.

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This annual review contains highlights of CMS’s financial summary. You can obtain a free copy of our audited Report and Accounts for 2016/2017 by contacting the CMS office.

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY