MISSION NEWS
Pioneering young leader takes on international role
WEEKEND FOCUS
From September, Andy Roberts will take up the role as director of international mission at Church Mission Society, succeeding Paul Thaxter. Originally from York, Andy has spent almost half his life in Brazil, where as mission partners with SAMS and then CMS, he and his Brazilian wife Rose founded ReVive International, which meets the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of girls who have been abused, exploited or neglected. ReVive have also recently lobbied for increasing foster care and adoption possibilities in Brazil. Earlier this year Andy was awarded an MBE for this work.
Andy Roberts
“Andy and Rose have been pioneers in developing ReVive in Brazil with hearts passionate to serve the most vulnerable.… I know Andy will bring that same pioneering spirit, passion and heart for God’s transforming mission to his new role,” says Paul Tester, CMS mission development manager for Latin America.
Saturday–Sunday 5–6 June
OPEN TO ENCOUNTER By Ian Adams, mission spirituality adviser for Church Mission Society This weekend focus links to the article From the Garden (page 26). In John’s telling of the story, Mary Magdalene is at first unaware of who she is speaking with in the garden of resurrection. It is only as she hears her name, spoken in love, that she realises she is encountering the risen Jesus. As you enter prayer today, create space for possible encounter with the Christ. This, of course, cannot be forced. But we can make ourselves available – even through our tears. Risen Jesus, I commit myself today to being open to your quiet presence. In your grace, through any tears, may I sense you close to me, and even hear my name, spoken in love. Amen
Email: ian.adams@ 4 churchmissionsociety.org
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Virtual pioneer festival attracts hundreds
for serendipitous “bumping into” people on the screen. Additional spaces such as The Moon and The Beach (complete with rushing ocean sounds) proved popular and the event rounded off in true festival style with an evening of music and poetry, a quiz hosted by performance poet Harry Baker and sitting round virtual campfires.
In April Gather, a CMS day-long virtual festival, brought together an international crowd of mission pioneers and others for a truly unique online experience. Over 200 people at any one time gathered in an on-screen version of a green-field festival site The Gather virtual designed by CMS pioneer festival site course graduate James Fox-Robinson, using the Gather.town online platform. With 10 venues, there was a wealth of variety, with conversational storytelling spaces, short talks and discussion areas, as well as worship, prayer zones and an art exhibition. The format also allowed
