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“This was the year...” The 2008–9 story
In the future, when we look back on 2008–09, it will likely be remembered as a pivotal time in CMS history. This was our first full year in Oxford. This was the year we made huge strides toward releasing CMS Africa to fulfil its own vision for mission. This was the year the members of CMS and the South American Mission Society voted to integrate. This was the year the Church of England formally acknowledged CMS as a community of mission service, laying the groundwork for us to move away from being a mission “agency” and further toward becoming a global mission family. It was of course a year full of challenges: a cyclone, earthquakes, a global recession, intensified persecution of Christians and violence in places close to our heart, like the Middle East and DR Congo. Perhaps you’ve heard the Leonard Cohen song that says, “There’s a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” As you’ll see in the following pages, God’s light continued to prevail in broken situations. And what was one of our greatest sources of hope? That during both exciting changes and times of difficulty, you have chosen to remain with us, participating in God’s mission through your time, prayers and gifts. You are one of the main reasons why we will always say of 2008–09 (if you’ll pardon the slight change to the famous psalm): “This was the year the Lord made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Thank you.
The Rev Canon Tim Dakin CMS General Secretary
The Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Southampton Chair of Trustees
Journey to justice For almost three years we prayed for Sabina, who was taken from her Bangladesh village at age 12 and sold as a sex slave to an Indian brothel. After seven nightmare years she escaped back to Bangladesh. Sadly, other villagers and some of her family treated her with scorn. But through the Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme (a CMS partner), Sabina completed a tailoring course and received an interest-free loan to start a business. As she became more self-reliant she began attending CBSDP women’s meetings, telling her story and raising awareness of trafficking. Last year, Sabina boldly decided to take her traffickers to civil court to try to get some compensation and see them punished for their crimes. The traffickers tried to scare her off, even getting her father and brothers arrested, but the CBSDP backed her all the way, getting her relatives released and demanding justice for Sabina. A year and thousands of prayers later, the traffickers were forced to sign a court statement admitting their crime and promising not to engage in trafficking again. Furthermore they settled with Sabina, paying her the equivalent of £450 upfront, a fortune for her and her family. This was nothing short of a miracle, according to James Pender, a CMS partner working with CBSDP. Commenting on the number of people who have prayed for her, Sabina said, “‘God has shown his face to me through their prayers.”
Sabina with her father
Caring for “Who cares”?
Lee and Sally Proudlove’s work in Kalubian and Bahala, Philippines began “almost by accident” as they were working to establish a congregation near Cebu. One day Lee gave a children’s worker a lift home and discovered she didn’t
live locally, but in a fishing village called Kalubian, about an hour’s walk away. Kalubian consists of about 40 families. The fishermen catch and sell just enough to feed and clothe a family, but not enough to pay for school fees or healthcare. They had no church. The mothers in Kalubian asked Lee to begin a Sunday service in a small shelter. Soon he was leading Bible studies. They started a healthcare programme and helped provide new shoes, clothes and books for the village children. The church began to grow. Lee was invited to visit another village nearby called Bahala (translated “Who cares?”) where 30 or so families live under the highway bridge along the riverbank. It’s public land but nobody cares if people squat there because it’s basically a flood plain. Villagers live in one-room shelters build out of bits of wood and corrugated iron. Lee took three Kalubian people to visit Bahala. “It was encouraging to see them sharing their faith with Bahalans. Together, we started a church community programme like the one in Kalubian.” As ministry in these fishing villages grew, the Lees prayed for the right person to take over when they left. In spring 2008 they happily handed over to a Filipino man, Pastor Glemar. Also in March, Dave Bookless, CMS mission partner with Christian creation care
ministry A Rocha, published the acclaimed book Planetwise: Dare to Care for God’s World.
Rwanda — As Meg Guillebaud got up to preach at a church in Bwanika, she looked around the congregation, thinking about how much things had changed in 12 years. When she first started training church leaders in Rwanda, the wounds of genocide were still fresh and the church was being criticised for being weak, even complicit, during the massacre. “Many of my students had to forgive the unforgivable — the murder of their loved ones, the rape of their children, the destruction of their homes and lives,” says Meg. Yet, out of the ashes of tragedy emerged a new, stronger generation of Christian leaders. Meg, who has had the privilege of training hundreds of them, comments, “Faces that were once clouded with despair now shine with hope. I believe that for all they’ve suffered, these people will become an example to the world of how God can bring peace and reconciliation, even from ashes.” As Meg retired from mission partner service in April, she passed the baton of her responsibilities to a gifted African leader named Pheneas. This transfer was in many ways symbolic of a greater movement going on in CMS throughout 2008 — the releasing of CMS Africa to become its own self-governing mission. Pheneas
Meg Guillebaud
Africa: passing the baton
Shaken to the core “Emergency meeting. Let’s go.” Upon hearing of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan, China, CMS staff gathered together to figure out the best response. Our partner China Christians ActionLove was one of the first groups on the scene, providing aid and comfort to thousands. Their efforts caused the Chinese government’s top earthquake relief official to comment: “You Christians are ahead of everybody…you build hearts and souls.”
Opposites attract British Asians in Birmingham “Pall” and “joy” may mean opposite things in the English dictionary, but Pall and Joy Singh are a well-matched pair. From a Sikh background; Pall became a disciple of Jesus in his late teens. Together, he and Joy have pioneered several innovative ways of bringing the message of Jesus to British Asians in Birmingham. Pall helps lead Sanctuary, a safe place for British Asians and anyone else who is on a spiritual journey toward Christ. Much effort goes into making the atmosphere peaceful and welcoming to Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. Symbols are very powerful; at one event the eating of Asian sweets during prayer helped explain how Jesus brings joy into sorrow. Along with people coming to trust in Christ, bridges are being built across cultures and faiths. In June, Sanctuary and India-inspired worship band Aradhna were invited to share at a local Sikh temple. The plan was for Aradhna to perform worship songs in a small hall downstairs and Sikh friends would come in after the service. But, Pall says, “God had other plans! We were humbled as Aradhna was asked to sing two bhajans – devotional melodies to Christ – in the main service for 200+ people!” Later the group were publicly blessed by the temple leaders. In November, Sanctuary celebrated “Christ the Light” at Diwali. “It’s powerful to see people from the east and the west, praying together and lighting a candle for Yeshu’s light to fill the temple of their hearts,” said Joy, who also manages the renowned
Anawim project, providing hope and to women made vulnerable by prostitution. Our first day inhelpOxford...
Burmese bishops and spouses
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams surrounded by CMS volunteer team
Imagine being a child and never getting to play. Alison Fletcher, head of physiotherapy at Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda says, “Our monthly activity days for HIVpositive children began in 2004 with a few timid kids. Today, more than a hundred, aged 0 to 17, come from all over the community.” Many of the older ones have lost both parents to AIDS-related illnesses. Some have been terribly isolated and neglected. Alison says, “They need a place to simply have fun. We play games for an hour; then the main programme revolves around a spiritual theme. We sing, use puppets and drama, and then the children split into groups for discussion, Bible study and crafts.” It’s taken a while for them to feel comfortable talking, but it helps that some of the volunteers are HIV-positive; they understand the children’s struggles. This is the first time most of the kids have been able to play like other children, with other children. At first they could only run for a short time; now it’s hard to get them to stop. In August, Alison and her team hosted a three-day extravaganza for the kids, which helped build relationships among them and the volunteers. “It’s about showing them there’s more to life, and above all there is hope.”
Hope: the best medicine
Bangalore – December 1995. It was a bad time to hear the doorbell. Youth workers Jacob and Sheela Isaac had just buried their newborn, John, who’d died from a heart disorder. At the door Jacob found a young man with long hair and an earring. He introduced himself as John. Suddenly, Jacob felt God saying, “Your John is gone – live for Johns like these.” It confirmed something Sheela was feeling – that somehow, God would bring good from tragedy. Over the next few months, Jacob and Sheela looked for creative ways to connect with youth in the “Silicon Valley of India”. They opened a cafe, a relaxed space where young people could meet, talk and hear about Jesus. “Soon young people we wouldn’t have expected were coming in saying, ‘We didn’t expect you to talk about God in a place like this.’” The coffee house buzzes with activity, but it’s only part of Kerygma’s vision to “permeate the urban society with the gospel of Jesus Christ.” To engage Bangalore’s students, Coffee Talks (Bible studies and discussions) are held weekly in hostels throughout the city. A few years ago a Kerygma staff member opened his home to a young man who’d been kicked out of his home for using drugs. This and similar stories inspired Kerygma to start the PATH centre for youth at risk. “I used to think life is about getting a good job and living glamorously,” said one PATH finder, “but I found out…the most precious thing about life is to live for God because God has a plan for us.” Jacob and Sheela believe that God has a plan to bring about a spiritual revival in India – and that this revival may begin among the youth God has entrusted to them. Elsewhere in India this month: More than 800 Christians, with Hindu, Muslim and Sikh representatives, held a solidarity rally in the capital of Orissa, in support of the persecuted Christian community.
Counter culture
Bangalore street
Also in September: A team of eight people cycled 300 miles — from London to Paris — to raise money for CMS mission.
A timely visit
We were honoured to welcome Dr C Rene Padilla to the Crowther Centre for Mission Education. Dr Padilla served as our missiologist in residence from August through November. As a leading South American voice on subjects such as Christian discipleship in a global world affected by consumerism, injustice, and oppression, his viewpoint was especially appreciated as the banking crisis came to a head.
New life in Congo Baby M spent her first three months of life in war-torn DR Congo, before her family fled to a refugee camp in Kisoro, Uganda. One by one, Baby M’s family members caught dysentery and were admitted to Kisoro Hospital. Baby M had to go, too, because her mum was breastfeeding her…until she died. Baby M’s father was too weak to care for his daughter. A woman visiting the ward offered to take Baby M home and the nurses agreed, not knowing how ill this woman was or that for 10 days Baby M would not be fed or washed. A neighbour discovered Baby M, ridden with head lice and dying of dehydration, and took her to the Potter’s Village, a child care centre set up by mission partner Jenny Green. Hearing a knock, Jenny opened her door and found two women, one clutching a bundle of blankets. Peering inside, Jenny saw a pair of unblinking eyes. Baby M’s lips and mouth were cracked; her tongue was coated with fungus and she was barely breathing. Jenny rushed Baby M to the hospital. There followed 10 days of anxious prayer and care. In the meantime her father died. Jenny arranged for his body to be returned to Congo and sent a message to the village, to see if any family members could claim Baby M. Three months later, there was another knock at Jenny’s door. There stood Baby M’s grandmother, the only other surviving member of Baby M’s family. With so many families torn apart due to violence in Congo this year, it was amazing to see two family members reunite.
The music is pumping, the dance floor is packed, and the alcohol is flowing. It’s midnight at Pussycats Night Club in Wellington, Telford and people are ready to party. Some will have a fun night out. Those less fortunate might drink too much, get in a fight or do things they’ll regret later. Others will end up down the street at Sanktuary, a venue set up by Wellington Methodist Church in Telford and Safespace, a Christian community pioneered by Mark Berry. Open Saturday nights from 11.30pm to 3am, Sanktuary is designed to be a haven where people can relax, sober up, order a taxi and have some coffee and baked goods. They’ll also find a listening ear if they need to talk. Since its opening in December, Sanktuary has welcomed a steady stream of late night clubbers. In their words, Sanktuary “feels so safe.” “As soon as you walk in you feel at home,” one person said. “The people here are so nice; it’s amazing to find people who just want to help.” Sanktuary has attracted unexpected media attention. During a visit to Sanktuary, a BBC Radio 4 producer overheard people discussing topics such as the nature of evil and the existence of God.
Also in December…the CMS Crossing Cultures team launched the Urban Encounter programme. During an Urban Encounter, groups immerse themselves in city life for a weekend. The first Urban Encounter team visited Anna and Chris Hembury who work with youth in Hull.
Urban beats
A time for unity As horrifying reports of increasing violence kept coming in from CMS partners working in and near Gaza, Tanas Alqassis’ and Joseph Steinberg’s message of reconciliation through Jesus became ever more poignant. Having worked with Musalaha, a CMS partner organisation that brings Palestinian Christians and Messianic Israelis together in reconciliation, Tanas, the Bethlehem-born CMS regional manager for the Middle East, knows firsthand that “peace is possible through the Prince of Peace.” Joseph, CMS fundraising and marketing director, who is from a Jewish background, agreed, saying that he and Tanas would keep touring churches, urging Christians to pray for the hope of Jesus to permeate the lives of people in Israel/ Palestine. Meanwhile, CMS gave support to its partners in the region, including Al Ahli hospital, which was founded by CMS. Meanwhile, as the world’s attention focused on US President Barack Obama’s inauguration, another vote was quietly taking place among CMS members. The issue was whether or not to unite with the South American Mission Society. CMS members voted overwhelmingly in support of integration, which should be completed by February 2010.
The 2008–9 Financial Summary Total income: Donations from churches: From individuals: From trusts: Legacies: Investment income: Other (rent, sales, etc.)
£2.2 million £2.1 million £0.5 million £1.0 million £0.9 million £0.3 million
Total Expenditure:
£7 million 31.4% 30 % 7.1% 14.3 % 12.9% 4.3%
£8.5 million
Programmes: £7.4 million 87% We work within a worldwide network, supporting partner organisations, the interchange of people in mission and projects that reflect pioneering, evangelistic, relational and faithful mission, including leadership training, evangelism, education, healthcare and development. Generating funds:
£0.9 million
10.6%
Governance: £0.1 million 1.2% We are responsibly investing in fundraising in order to offer people the opportunity to share in our commitment to mission now and in the future. Effective governance helps ensure that we operate with integrity and accountability. Relocation: £0.1 million 1.2% This figure represents residual spending associated with the move of our UK offices from London to Oxford in 2007. Also contained in this amount are some setup costs for the CMS community house of mission in Oxford. Mission partners and co-mission partners: 162 Africa 53, Asia 74, Europe 24, In training 11 Other people in mission: 80 Africa 40, Asia 39, Europe 1 Cross-cultural exchange programme participants: 97 Projects financially supported: 148
Note: This annual review contains highlights of CMS’s financial position. You can obtain a free copy of our fully audited Report and Accounts for 2008–2009 by contacting the CMS office.
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Registered Charity No 220297
CMS Governance 2007–2008 Patron The Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury Chair The Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Southampton Trustees Ms Alexis Chapman, Mr Keith Chua (as of 1 October 2008), Dr David Fulford (to 31 December 2008), The Rev Canon Philip Groves, Dr Mark Morgan (as of 1 January 2009), Mrs Shona Passfield, Mrs Paddy Payne (to 31 December 2008), Mrs Ann Tyndall (as of 1 January 2009), Mrs Katharine von Schubert, The Rev Martyn Snow, Dr Kang-San Tan, The Rev Dr Kevin Ward, The Rev Canon Mavis Wilson, (to 31 December 2008), The Rev Simon Winn CMS Leadership Team General Secretary The Rev Canon Tim Dakin Directors Regional Director for Asia: The Rev Phil Simpson, Director for Mission and Community: The Rev Canon Chris Neal, Finance Director: Mr Adrian White, Personnel Director: Mr Patrick Goh, Fundraising and Marketing Director: The Rev Joseph Steinberg, Transcultural and Reciprocal Mission Director: Mr Paul Thaxter (as of 1 September 2008), Mission Director for South America: The Rt Rev Henry Scriven (as of 1 Jan 2009)
Support from Trusts, Foundations and Dioceses CMS would like to thank everyone who gave to the Society’s work in 2007–8, especially the dioceses of Canterbury, Oxford, Rochester, Southwark, Swansea and Breacon. Listed below are the trusts and grant-making bodies who gave large gifts during the year. A D Trust, Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement, Allchurches Trust Ltd, Bates Charitable Trust, Billiet Trust, Candap Trust, Church In Wales Appeals Scrutiny Group, Edinburgh Centenary Mission Fund, Emmaus Christian Foundation, Evangelical Trust Limited, Exodun Charitable Trust, Forest Hill Charitable Trust, Fulmer Charitable Trust, Geneva Global Inc, Golden Bottle Trust, Trust Greenbelt, Hilden Charitable Fund, Irene Hammerton Charitable Trust, Jerusalem Trust, John James Charitable Trust, Loseley Christian Trust, Lydia Trust Fund, MCR Charitable Foundation, Minos Trust, Mr & Mrs FEF Newman’s Charitable Trust, Pan Charitable Trust, Persson Charitable Trust, Rowan Charitable Trust, Rozel Trust, Seven Fifty Trust, SLG Charitable Trust, SMB Charitable Trust, South Asian Concern Charitable Trust, Spring Harvest Charitable Trust, St Christopher’s Trust, The Constantine Trust, The Kyome Trust, Tisbury Telegraph Trust, Viccarage Trust, W & SM Dunigan Fund, Westhill Endowment, Whitecourt Charitable Trust, Woodford Wells Ministry Trust.
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CMS is committed to evangelistic mission, working to see our world transformed by the love of Jesus Church Mission Society Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ Tel: +44 (0)1865 787400 Email: info@cms-uk.org www.cms-uk.org Registered Charity No. 220297