The Call ISSUE 15 | SUMMER 2020
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MISSION THROUGH. THE STORM.
Sharing the love of Jesus in turbulent times..
T H E C A LL I N AC T I ON
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CHU RCHM ISSIONSOCIETY.ORG
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IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION PRAYERLINES CAN BE SEEN ON EACH PAGE
ARTICLES AND FEATURE STORIES CAN BE SEEN ON EACH PAGE
Each week has dates at the top – go through page by page. Thank you for your prayers!
These are the pieces you are used to seeing in The Call. If you haven’t read it before, you might find something new to interest you.
04. Mission news
22. Mission spirituality
08. Ambassador of love
24. Heartbreak and hope
14. More than a sticking plaster
28. Office calling
What God is doing through your prayerful support
Ian Adams reflects on a text for our times
Local partner Nevedita brought hope in the aftermath of a bomb attack
Read how Heather Sharland is empowering girls in north-west Uganda
Meet mission partners seeing young lives transformed in Central America
Paul Read explains his calling to walk with people in mission raising funds
30. For art’s sake
Explore the power of art and the need for artists in our world
34. How to…
… do mission in a pandemic – see how CMS people in mission are responding
Church Mission Society Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ T: +44 (0)1865 787400 E: info@churchmissionsociety.org
If you have any comments about The Call, please contact the editor: the.call@churchmissionsociety.org. Opinions expressed in The Call are those of the authors, not necessarily of Church Mission Society.
churchmissionsociety.org
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/churchmissionsociety @cmsmission
Church Mission Society is a mission community acknowledged by the Church of England Registered Company No. 6985330 and Registered Charity No.1131655 (England & Wales) and SC047163 (Scotland). Also part of CMS: The South American Mission Society, Registered Company No. 65048 and Registered Charity No. 221328 (England & Wales); The Church Mission Society Trust, Registered Charity No. 1131655-1 (previously 220297). Registered and principal offices of all above entities: Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ.
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WELCOME
MISSION UNSCRIPTED: THROUGH THE STORM ALASTAIR BATEMAN, CEO, CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY
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nbelievably, one year has passed since I joined the CMS family in May 2019. There’s much I would love to say about my first year, but given the current circumstances, perhaps I’ll save these words and just use two for now: thank you. I’m so grateful to God and to you all for praying for me and CMS through my first, rather eventful, 365 days. In Mark 4, a Scripture passage that we as a staff team have been turning to quite frequently long before the current crisis, Jesus and his disciples get into a boat and face a sudden storm. It certainly feels as if we are in rocky seas right now. How good it is to know that Jesus is still with us. It’s certainly not the first storm that CMS has faced in our 221 years. Over the past two centuries our people in mission have often had to adapt quickly to unexpected turbulence or even terror. In fact you’ll read about one of them, Nevedita, in this edition as we look at how she and her colleagues have responded to people’s needs following the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka a year ago. You’ll also see how so many of our people in mission are faithfully serving
through the current global storm, this life-altering pandemic. The need for God’s mission is great and CMS people – mission partners, local partners and pioneers – are continuing to share Jesus in word and deed, both in the UK and overseas. This is thanks to your prayerful support. As for me and the senior leadership team of CMS, we have three key priorities at this time and I hope you’ll join me in praying for all three. First, much of our focus is on the well-being of our people in mission, our staff and our supporters. As a community, we have recently lost some wonderful friends and figures from our remarkable history, including former general secretary Bishop Simon Barrington-Ward and former principal of Crowther Hall Bishop Peter Vaughan. Our people in mission are facing big challenges in their personal lives and work, as you will see in these pages. Likewise, our staff and supporters are trying to navigate much change and while this can lead to more creativity, it has also been a wearing time for many of them. Second, while we are responding to present needs, we are also looking to the future. Many of you might recall that we’ve embarked on a strategic review of our organisation. In some ways the current crisis strengthens the need
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for this. With input from our global partners, we are being attentive to what God is saying to us in this storm. Please do continue to pray with me that CMS comes through this season with a deep conviction of the call on our lives for this generation. And third, these are uncertain times for us as a community financially. We are trusting that Jesus remains sovereign over our finances and that he is with us just as he was with the disciples on the boat amid stormy seas. You may have received a letter from me recently, inviting you to pray and give what you can as we hold up the arms of our people in mission (Exodus 17). We are so grateful for your response so far, even before this letter, and your ongoing faithfulness to CMS’s mission. My first year at CMS may have been unexpectedly stormy. Yet we know our redeemer lives and is making all things new.
PS You have no doubt noticed that this issue of The Call + Prayerlines looks different – we’ve combined publications on the advice of our printers, to make things simpler and save time during lockdown.
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MISSION NEWS
ReVive continues key care work The ReVive safe house in Olinda, Brazil, has been deemed an essential service, taking care of girls at risk. And even in lockdown, they are still able to work to get girls into families. Only “essential staff” – the educators, technical team and management who are looking after the girls – are allowed to go to the
house. Mission partners Andy and Rose Roberts, who founded and lead ReVive, report that they are able to do most of their work from home or online. They explain, “We’ve managed to create a work pattern which minimises the time our staff work, to help the staff stay at home as much as possible. Staff members in the risk categories have been told to stay at home with full pay, as have our service providers (judo, ballet, etc.).”
In ReVive’s wider work, they add, “One of our oldest girls is about to return to her family and our youngest is about to start the adoption process.”
Protecting medics and livelihoods
alimu Tailor-made mission: Mw fts Cra ma Dhahabu, the Nee ps elo dev r, che tea tailoring face mask designs
Court victory for indigenous communities in Argentina Indigenous communities numbering over 10,000 people in northern Argentina have won a landmark human rights battle. The InterAmerican Court of Human Rights has ruled that Argentina violated the group’s rights and ordered specific measures of reparation, including actions for access to adequate food and water, for the recovery of forest resources and indigenous culture, ending a case which began over 50
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Neema Crafts, led by mission partners Ben and Katy Ray in Iringa, Tanzania, have switched from crafts to making PPE for local medical workers. The Neema Crafts Centre, staffed exclusively by men and women with disabilities, closed its cafe and halted production in its workshops at the beginning of April, because of the impact Covid-19 could have in Tanzania. The team is now producing 800 masks, 120 face shields and 50 gowns per week from the safety of their own homes. The aim is to help protect the lives of front-line workers against Covid-19 as well as support the livelihoods of people with disabilities. Ben and Katy said: “We are proud of how the team at Neema Crafts have risen to the challenge of producing PPE.”
years ago. Mission partner Nick Drayson, Bishop of Northern Argentina, said: “Having worked for many years in northern Argentina, I am thrilled that this quiet, ongoing Land rights landmark: sta nding with indigenous struggle for recognition peoples in northern Argent ina has borne fruit of the rights of the original peoples to live without interference in these ancestral lands has finally Throughout its history CMS/ borne fruit.” SAMS has stood with the indigenous Paul Tester, CMS mission peoples of Latin America as they have development manager for Latin struggled to retain their land and America, added: “CMS and SAMS’s ways of life without interference from mission work in Latin America began outside.” with the indigenous peoples.
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Prayerlines MON – AFRICA/UK Please pray for Ann-Marie Wilson, founder and executive director of 28 Too Many, as she campaigns to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in the countries where it is still practised. Pray for God to use Ann-Marie in new ways as she cannot travel as usual at the moment. Even before Covid-19, vio lence and a new Ebola out break were driving hundreds of familie s to Bisoke Balikenga’s pea ce centre
Danger in DRC Rev Bisoke Balikenga in DR Congo reports that at the peace centre he helped to establish in Bunia, more than 400 extra families are now seeking refuge from local violent conflict. Bisoke is working to secure food, clothing, mattresses, soap and water for them. All this is difficult against a backdrop of rising costs for food and fuel. Bisoke said he and his team are also teaching these displaced people about preventing coronavirus as well as Ebola, as there have been cases of each in the area recently. He asks, “Please pray that God brings peace in Bunia, that killing will stop and that needs will be provided.” The violence has also seen a local evangelist killed.
Food banks helping more than ever
the service. Mission partner Sarah Yanez works with the food bank: “These families have lost their jobs because of the lockdown. Spain At the end of March, the ABC was coming out of a long crisis, (Asociacion Benefica Cristiana) and unemployment rates were very food bank just outside Malaga high already. But now suddenly was distributing food to 370 all these small businesses, people families locally. In just a month, who are self-employed, people 260 new families were referred to who’ve got a small family-run business, all of a sudden have no income. And people do not have a cushion to fall back on. Many people are now going on a month with no income whatsoever. During lockdown, we have thankfully been given permission to continue working because the food banks are seen to be a necessity. We haven’t had to turn anyone away yet.” d bank interest: Sarah Savage hike in foo 0 more families Yanez is helping to feed 26
TUES – OXFORD CMS pioneer student Sophia Popham is a daughter, wife, mother, home educator, experimenter and vicar’s wife. Please pray for guidance, support and trust as she continues her studies and discerns what God is calling her to in her local community at this time.
WEDS – BIRMINGHAM Ruth Radley connects with sick children and their families as part of Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s multi-faith chaplaincy team. Pray for her during this very difficult time when more families than usual are suffering and she will be called on to give even more of herself.
THURS – OXFORD Please pray for the CMS staff as they have adapted to changing work circumstances. Pray for those juggling extra responsibilities with children or neighbours needing care; those finding home working lonely; those working harder than ever to keep everything working (especially the IT team).
FRI – SOUTHALL Kailean and Kim Khongsai work in creation care in West London, including the Wolf Fields land transformation project. They ask for prayer as they plan to move from A Rocha’s UK centre (where they have lived for ten years) to their local church, St John’s Southall. 5
MISSION NEWS Teachers distribute food in Pakistan People in mission in Pakistan who would normally be teaching, either in schools or theological colleges, have turned their attention to food distribution. Lockdown has meant many people are unable to work and are no longer earning – so are struggling to buy food. After starting by producing 25 food packages in their local area, a theological college has so far distributed food parcels to more than 700 families and are receiving hundreds of requests through local pastors. The food parcels contain basic groceries, including flour, rice, sugar, tea, salt, lentils, chickpeas, pasta and cooking oil, and each provide for a family for 10 days.
PMC bringing peace A church in Oxford diocese has been creating space for five minutes of peace – even in lockdown. As part of the Partnership for Missional Church journey, they had been experimenting with ways to engage missionally with their community and noticed the stress and pressure many people were feeling. Before Christmas, they found a keen supporter in the local pub landlady, and launched “5 minutes peace” in the pub – a brief stillness and meditation session, which references Christian tradition. Although initially well attended, numbers dropped in the new year. And then “the world stopped”, as the vicar put it. She has carried on “5 minutes peace” on Facebook Live from her garden, and many are joining. She comments, “It is very much meeting a need for people at the moment.” They are now reaching far more people on Facebook and some of the community partners have started joining church services online.
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Pioneer teaching goes online CMS’s Pioneer Mission Leadership Training is continuing online this term – with teaching and discussion using video conferencing. This has made the training available to people further afield, with some new students in the UK joining, along with mission partners from Lebanon to Lima.
Bread of Life in Bolivia Mission partners Andrew and Lisa Peart have been baking bread every week to give to those in need in their neighbourhood in Bolivia during lockdown.
Dreamers who do CMS and St Alban’s diocese have launched a new hub for pioneer mission training. From September, this sixth regional hub will offer the CMS Certificate in Pioneer Mission to equip students for lay pioneer ministry and mission, and building church on the fringes.
Africa conference update The Africa forum are still planning that the conference will be able to take place in November, depending on government health advice. The keynote speaker will be Canon John Senyonyi, chair of CMS-Africa and vice chancellor of Uganda Christian University. Check churchmissionsociety.org/ac2020
Locked in during lockdown Mission partner Anna Sims was featured on BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship on 19 April, talking about prison ministry continuing in Peru with CMS link church Holy Trinity Platt, Manchester.
“... we rely on your support, we rely on your prayers and we rely on your generous giving.”
FINANCE UPDATE As I write to you from my makeshift office at home I want more than anything else to say thank you for your support, for your continued giving and above all for your prayers. BY CHARLIE WALKER, CMS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES
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t has been so good to be part of the CMS community during this time of lockdown. Prayer, faith, relationships and action have been at the forefront of the CMS community’s response to the impact of Covid-19. Almost all our UK staff are now working from home and Zoom’s video conferencing software has become our newest and best friend. At the time of writing, we are uncertain of the impact this pandemic will have on our income, but we are forecasting a negative impact. For this reason, we have taken the difficult decision to furlough some of our office roles while we wait for lockdown restrictions to ease. We want to
continue to be excellent stewards of all our expenditure during these uncertain times and focus it where it is needed the most. As you will see in this issue of The Call, CMS people in mission are still following their call and doing remarkable, exciting mission in the UK and across the world. Our international team in Oxford are working flat out to support our mission partners, mission associates and local partners as they seek to serve their communities in need. Our mission education team are continuing to teach and equip our pioneers through the use of online tools. So thank you, because we rely on your support, we rely on your prayers and we rely on your generous giving.
WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 6–7 June
PROVOKED INTO DOING SOMETHING NEW BY JONNY BAKER, DIRECTOR OF MISSION EDUCATION, FOLLOWING A RECENT TRIP TO CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND I loved this street art of a quaking church in panic mode. I am sure it was terrifying to experience the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch when many buildings fell down. Even now, there are buildings being repaired and many empty pieces of land where buildings once stood. Christchurch Cathedral was seriously damaged. While you wouldn’t wish a disaster on anyone, the earthquake was a provocation and an opportunity for creative thinking. And the church did get creative. A Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, designed Christchurch’s Cardboard Cathedral. Church buildings all over the world have been off-limits because of coronavirus. We are having to reimagine how to be church, to connect and encourage community, worship, discipleship, mission. Churches everywhere have been provoked, interrupted from business as usual. What are the creative and imaginative opportunities for churches? When the crisis is over, will we go back to business as usual or will we inhabit the new in an ongoing way? Pray for churches in PRAY the UK and across the world to see this season as an opportunity rather than a barrier. Praise God for creative new ways of doing church coming out7 of this time, and ask God for more.
COVER STORY
AN AMBASSADOR
OF LOVE
Easter Sunday, 21 April 2019. Just before 9am at least six blasts rocked Sri Lanka, killing 259 people and injuring more than 500. Covid-19 is not the first crisis faced by CMS people in mission. Heather Ramsey, church relations team manager at Church Mission Society, tells us about the life-changing work of local partner Nevedita Jeevabalan in Sri Lanka.
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n that tragic Easter morning, suicide bombers had targeted Christian churches and luxury hotels. Any semblance of peace achieved after the 26-year civil war ended in 2009 was destroyed. And at least 45 of the victims were children. CMS local partner Nevedita and her team were immediately called on to support victims and their families. It was a painful diversion from their already heartbreaking day job, caring for young victims of trauma of a very different kind. A mental health specialist, Nevedita manages ESCAPE (Eradicating Sexual Child Abuse, Prostitution and Exploitation), a programme of advocacy, intervention and rehabilitation for children traumatised through sexual abuse and exploitation. ESCAPE is part of the Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Service (LEADS), one of CMS’s key partner organisations in South Asia, where Nevedita has worked since 2001. This meant Nevedita and her team were ideal people to turn to in a crisis. When I met Nevedita at a conference in South East Asia in 2017, I was struck by her quick smile and sparkling eyes. But she speaks about her work with an authority that comes from honed expertise and hard experience. Her passion, rooted in her love for God, is to see broken children find lasting freedom and healing: “My mission is to show God’s love to children who have been through trauma and abuse. Most children who are referred for assistance have been abused, abandoned at a young age and been through various traumatic situations. All through their lives they may never have had a loving, trustworthy adult. Being an ambassador of God’s love for such children is the greatest difference I would like to make in their lives.”
THE NEED IS GREAT And the need is great, almost overwhelming. It’s only in the last two decades, as taboos have begun to disintegrate, that the prevalence of child sexual exploitation in Sri Lanka and across the world has come to light. A conservative estimate, says LEADS, would indicate that approximately 100 children in Sri Lanka are sexually exploited or abused in a single day. In the capital city, Colombo, it is estimated that one in every three children lives in a violent and abusive home. Nevedita’s mission to show God’s love to children who have suffered unspeakably is worked out in a number of ways. First, her child protection team provides residential counselling to young victims. Nevedita says, “we want to be there for a child who is hurting and support them and their family through that painful time”. They also work on prevention by speaking to children in schools and designing materials to educate children and adults in communities beyond the city. They want to help children understand what appropriate and inappropriate touch is, or alert adults to changes in a child’s behaviour that might indicate they are in trouble. They want to help children keep themselves safe. Another priority is government advocacy, lobbying on behalf of abused kids and for more safe residential care. Although the government in Sri Lanka is increasingly aware of the extent of child abuse and is putting laws in place to combat the problem, there is still a lack of capacity to provide sufficient safe houses for affected children and families. Most of the children referred to Nevedita and her team have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused by someone they know – and many by someone to
MON – ARGENTINA Some local police have been making things difficult for indigenous communities who depend on fish from the river and honey from the forest. Pray for local partners Mateo Alto and Crisanto Rojas who act as intermediaries between their culture and the dominant surrounding culture.
TUES – BRAZIL Rosie and Stu Bayford, working with atrisk girls in one of ReVive’s safe houses (but living elsewhere) have continued their work from afar. Pray for creativity and fresh ideas for Rosie and Stu and for the girls to know the joy of the Lord even during strange times.
WEDS – PERU A church pastor, local partner Anderson Sanchez, wrote last year that he expected 2020 to be a time of strengthening the church’s ministries, encouraging more Bible studies in homes and winning church members’ families for Christ. Pray that his church is able to grow in their faith and in number.
THURS – GUATEMALA Please pray for Mark and Rosalie Balfour, for wisdom to know how to practise pastoral care for workers at Street Kids Direct and other frontline urban ministries. Pray in turn for those working with Street Kids Direct; for them to know how to support the most vulnerable people at this time.
FRI – URUGUAY Please pray for strength, encouragement and wisdom for local partner Mechi Tarragona as she seeks to train church members and leaders and build church community. Pray for the church’s message to be made clearer and more audible by the difficult situation the country is facing. 9
AN AMBASSADOR OF LOVE whom they are related. A child’s trust is violated and their sense of safety is shattered. In many cases, when the abuse comes to light, a child is immediately placed in an institution, away from parental custody, and is often referred for psychological intervention because of behavioural problems caused by trauma and separation. Institutionalised, away from their community, it often feels like the child is being punished again. Nevedita’s vision is for at least one safe home for children and families in every province (of which there are nine), to ensure that sending children to an institution would be the last resort. LEADS have three homes in different locations across the country, one of which is managed in partnership with the state.
HOPE ON THE GROUND One mother came to LEADS in desperation, seeking help for herself and her three children. Her eldest daughter, aged nine, had been abused by her father for some time and kept silent by his threats of punishment. The child kept silent, terrified of the consequences of sharing her shame, even with her mother – until she realised he was abusing her four-year-old sister too. With all the courage she could muster, she opened up to her mother and the awful truth spilled out. Her mother immediately took the girls and their seven-year-old brother out of the home, well away from her husband’s reach, and walked straight to the nearest police station. She realised she was leaving everything behind; she had no money, no job, no security and she needed to find a place of protection for herself and her children.
After undergoing medical procedures, the children were separated from their mother by government officials and sent to a Child Development Centre (the kind of institution LEADS sees as a place of absolute last resort). But this mother was determined her children should stay with her. The family were referred to ESCAPE for counselling initially, but the team also began advocating on their behalf, to make sure the courts understood the children needed to stay with their mother. They needed to convince government officials and provide support to the mother. The entire LEADS team set to work. They found a new school for the children and day care places to allow the kids to be cared for outside of school hours while their mother was working. They found the family a place to live, gathered together the basic items that would make it a home and the mother found a job to provide for herself and the children. It was a long journey, but finally, with the support of the team at LEADS, the mother and her three children whose lives had been torn apart by abuse were able to begin rebuilding their lives together.
HOPE INTERRUPTED The day job for the child protection team is hard, physically draining and emotionally costly, but its value is almost beyond measure. And all of it was interrupted by a series of explosions on Easter Sunday 2019 that propelled the entire country into a new and familiar chaos.
Photos: Located on the outskirts of Colombo, Kedella is one of LEADS’s three therapeutic rehabilitation centres for traumatised children and young people. The centre has space for up to eight girls and eight boys. Survivors live in community, usually for about three months, and during that time they receive the equivalent of home schooling as well as intensive counselling and psychotherapy. The team offer lifechanging care and support to traumatised children.
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For the first two months after the bombing, Nevedita and her team focused all their attention on attending to the aftermath. They spent time listening and talking to victims and their families. They dealt with practical needs, finding necessary medicines or helping people who were confused, frightened and traumatised find their way around overstretched hospitals. They provided play equipment for children, and through playing together were able to give the kids much needed emotional support. One victim of the attack was a 10-year-old boy, whom the team met at the hospital. His mother had died in the bomb attack and his father was seriously injured. Such were the boy’s injuries that initially he couldn’t be told his mother had died. He suffered
terrible burns, meaning he would have to wear a mask over his face for six–eight months. He couldn’t go to school, play outside or simply enjoy the sunshine. Life and hope seemed shattered. For many weeks Nevedita worked with him, helping him adjust to an impossible new normal. And the team were far from immune to the horror. As experienced as they are in dealing with trauma, the bomb triggered memories of war for them just as for many others, and increased anxiety in carrying out even the simple tasks of life. In September, 110 staff participated in a debrief programme to help them reflect and process the experience, funded by a grant from CMS.
A YEAR ON… A year on, Sri Lanka is recovering. The team have moved past the impact of the bomb. Nevedita says, their “resilience is high because of the war”. LEADS’s work with schools is almost done and the Catholic church have taken responsibility for
continuing the work with affected families through local parishes. The boy was placed permanently with his mother’s sister, who cares for him as if he were her own. Happily, his father is now well enough to take care of him and his little brother at weekends. The boy still has to safeguard his sensitive skin and hasn’t yet talked much about his mother. These are still early days, but the family is fortunate, says Nevedita – they have a good support system. That, as she knows only too well, is a blessing many other families do not have. Back on the frontline, Nevedita continues to be busy, overseeing the work with traumatised children, with an increased focus on training and caring for staff who are looking after children. She says it’s time to “pass on experience and build capacity, so that the work will be more effective”. Often, when faced with the incredible challenges of her work, she recalls Isaiah 58:6 to express the response of her heart. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” She says, with a smile, “Some days are stressful, but most days I don’t know what else I’d do.”
ACT
Could you help CMS people in mission respond to the needs of those around them? Go to churchmissionsociety.org/support
WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 13–14 June
A PLACE OF PRESSING BY LEVI SANTANA, WHO, WITH HIS WIFE DEBORA, HELPS PEOPLE IN POVERTY AS WELL AS TEACHING AND EQUIPPING THE LOCAL CHURCH FOR MISSION IN GOIANIA, BRAZIL During this pandemic which threatens not only human life, but also the economic and political systems we have devised, our expectations of a happy, healthy and affluent life are rapidly vanishing. In times like these, it can be difficult to pray, or to see what prayer will actually achieve. But in Jesus’ darkest moment, in Gethsemane, he prays. The word Gethsemane is believed to mean “oil press”. The place where olives were brought, stacked up and pressed by a heavy beam. The more pressure, the more oil. Do not the current times feel like we have all been stacked together and placed under a huge beam? The Garden of Pressing places before Jesus a hard choice: Will he submit to the will of the Father or do something else? The Garden of Pressing shatters our expectations of a glorious king and reveals the anointing of the Anointed One is forged under pressure. The Garden of Pressing, the Holy Cross and the invitation to submission, is not what our minds perceive as liberation. While we are threatened by a worldwide pandemic, let’s choose Jesus’ stance. It may require that we bend our knees, though.
Pray for Debora and Levi: for PRAY eyes to see God’s hand in the difficult situations they are facing, and the 11 grace to bend their knees.
APPEAL FOLLOW-UP
“WEEPING MAY STAY FOR THE NIGHT,
BUT REJOICING COMES IN THE MORNING.”
Thank you for giving to our Lent appeal – so far you have given over £72,000 to support underfunded mission partners in the Middle East and North Africa. Because of your generosity, weeping is becoming rejoicing.
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ere are a few snapshots of what God is already doing, and what we are looking forward to seeing God do, in the Middle East and North Africa:
NORTH AFRICA One of our mission partners writes: “We met a man called G whose first priority in life was his work. He worked 14 hours a day and didn’t care much for a relationship with God. Surprisingly, he came to one of our outreach events and was convicted by the Holy Spirit. He and his wife prayed and he
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made a decision to put Jesus first. G now has new priorities in his life. Pray that God will continue to draw G and his family closer to him.” One of our newest mission partner couples is going to North Africa to support secret believers in places where people aren’t allowed to follow Jesus. This couple will be working to support and strengthen these believers and spread the gospel in new places.
MIDDLE EAST In the slums of Beirut, Lebanon, Phil and Sylvie
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Good live and work among refugees who have left dire situations in hopes of a better future. In Phil and Sylvie’s words, many of them have “gambled everything and lost”. These refugees often wait years for their bright future to materialise; sometimes it never does. In the meantime, they need to put food on the
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Prayerlines MON – SOUTH EAST ASIA table and provide some sort of education for their children. During this waiting, some of them meet Jesus through people like Phil and Sylvie; they find a light that comes close and gives them courage and comfort. Thanks to your generosity, mission partner “Alex”, a lawyer is getting stuck in and starting work. He knows that it might sometimes be difficult to see that his work is making a difference to the big picture. But to those Christians he is freeing from imprisonment and those
churches he is fighting to keep open, his work will make the world of difference.
Thank you for being a part of what God is doing in the Middle East and North Africa. You are making a real difference.
A local partner was able to share Jesus with his community at Christmas through visiting families in their homes, giving gifts and telling them the good news. Now, with many facing difficult times and looking for answers, pray for the seeds sown at Christmastime to bear fruit.
TUES – PHILIPPINES Eric and Sandra Read, equipping churches in holistic mission, write, “After lockdown, we are all going to find ourselves in a different world. Please join us in praying for wisdom, inspiration and God’s guidance as to how we respond to this in our work with churches and communities.”
WEDS – SOUTH EAST ASIA Mission partners doing prison ministry write that prison conditions are so bad that prisoners with chronic health conditions are being failed and even dying due to a lack of healthcare. Please pray for strength, encouragement and wisdom as our mission partners do what they can.
THURS – THAILAND Local partner Helen Avadiar works in Chiang Mai with Kingdom Multiplication Movement (KMM). Pray for her to be able to continue her work of counselling and sharing the love of Christ with survivors of human trafficking in new and creative ways during lockdown and beyond.
FRI – TAIWAN Pray for Asia-CMS as they seek to help their partners on the ground respond to the needs of the most marginalised and vulnerable people affected by the coronavirus crisis in some of the poorest parts of Asia. 13
FEATURE STORY
MORE THAN A STICKING PLASTER “I can’t be pregnant. I can’t be pregnant. I’ve taken precautions.” These were the words of a seven-month pregnant young girl who thought a sticking plaster on her belly button would stop her from conceiving.
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t the time these words were spoken at a local clinic, the average age of first pregnancy in Arua, north west Uganda, was 14. A lack of sex education is a big part of the problem; girls don’t know how their bodies work, and sometimes rumours about sticking plaster contraceptives are the most reliable information they have. In these rural communities in Uganda, teenage pregnancies happen all too easily. The issue is a complex one. Quite apart from a lack of sex education, girls have very low self-esteem and are desperate to earn some money. Poverty is widespread, and young girls struggle to afford food and their school fees. In the evening when young girls go out to collect water, boys are waiting at the water pumps. They know girls are easily won over with a few kind words. Older men are also waiting for these girls. Having left their families behind to get work in this part of the country, they are out looking for young
virgins. They know girls will sleep with them for as little as 10,000 Ugandan shillings (about two pounds). When a girl gets pregnant at 14 or 15 years old, she drops out of school. Pregnancy shuts down future opportunities that an education would have made possible, and every teen pregnancy contributes to passing on the poverty cycle to the next generation. Many girls in this part of Uganda see teenage pregnancy as inevitable. Why would their life take a different path from that of their mothers and older sisters?
CHANGING THE SCRIPT Breaking this long-standing poverty cycle isn’t easy; these girls’ mothers usually haven’t been to school, and the cultural expectation is that a girl learns how to do the household chores and is married off when she is old enough to produce children. Her impoverished family are likely keen to marry her off, as they will receive a bride price for her. Having raised a certain number of cows to buy a girl, a husband’s attitude is often, “I’ve paid for you. Therefore you need to produce children, you do the work that I want you to do.” She is not loved as a person, but seen as an object that has been bought. When she reaches menopause, her value as a wife is diminished, and her husband may buy another 14 or 15-year-old girl to satisfy his desires while his first wife sleeps in the kitchen.
BEGINNING TO DREAM CMS mission partner Heather Sharland, a midwife by profession, has a heart to show these young girls the love of Jesus, and show them what love really is. She has a passion for giving these girls a chance at a different future.
WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 20–21 June
GOOD SOIL, RECEIVING BY IAN ADAMS, MISSION SPIRITUALITY ADVISER FOR CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY This weekend, we pray with Jesus’ parable of the soils. Other seeds fell on good soil... (Matthew 13:8) Soil’s main task seems to be to receive – rain, sunshine, nutrients – and then allow them to bring life-giving change. Pray today, perhaps with an openhanded stance, that you may receive from God whatever you need to be the good soil in which the seeds of Christ’s mission can grow and flourish. Gracious God, Help me to receive from you all that I need at this time to be the good soil that you created me to be. Amen
MORE THAN A STICKING PLASTER Heather started a youth programme called Wise Choices for Life, which gives girls in these communities options through a mixture of education, peer encouragement and mentoring. Heather engages godly, educated girls in their 20s who can come alongside younger girls to set an example and show them what’s
“Why don’t you get another wife? Throw this one away. She’s not produced any children.” Page 14: Young mentors through Wise Choices for Life bring change one girl at a time Page 15, bottom photo: A young mother with her child Top right: Heather Sharland helps girls to understand how their bodies work – a first step to a different future Bottom right: Mentors Cindy and Harriet encourage a schoolgirl
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possible. The poverty cycle can’t be broken overnight, but change can happen one girl at a time. When they start the programme, some of the girls have such low self-esteem they don’t think they’re important to Jesus. Heather teaches the girls that each one of them is a beloved daughter of God and that he has good things in store for them. She shares God’s heart for them; that he doesn’t want them to be pregnant at 14. In one of Heather’s teaching sessions, she pressed a doll against a young girl’s stomach. “It doesn’t fit!” the girl said, struck by the stark reality of teen pregnancy. She was so impacted by the illustration that she started to cry, saying she didn’t want a baby yet. Heather linked her up with a mentor, who walked alongside her and encouraged her in her education. Now this same girl is in her third year of secondary school, with a bright future ahead of her. As well as addressing hopelessness, sex education and low self-esteem, Heather talks to the girls about goals. They talk
about how to set them and what kind of goals they might already have, or like to have. Many of them weren’t even sure why they went to school at all. One of the girls on Heather’s programme said she’d like to be a nurse. As a group they discussed what might prevent her reaching the goal and what seemed to get in the way of goals. The girls told Heather, “Girls in our community don’t go to further education.” The Wise Choices programme is a space to learn about the opportunities education can open up: becoming a nurse or a doctor or a teacher, and earning your own money. At the idea of earning their own money, the girls’ eyes light up, inspired by the idea of taking a different path, reaching their goals and being independent. They talk about the things that might stop them reaching their goals, such as distraction by boys and getting pregnant, and how to hold each other accountable and focus on their goals instead.
“THROW THIS WIFE AWAY” Heather and her husband David have never had any children. In this culture, a woman’s value is so tightly bound up with producing children that people say to David, “Why don’t you get another wife? Throw this one away. She’s not produced any children.” In this context, it’s hard for a girl to have a real sense of her worth apart from her ability to produce children or gratify a man. “It’s very hard for some of our young girls to understand the father heart of God because they’ve not seen a father’s love, they’ve not experienced love
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from a mother or father, because basically they’re an object to do things rather than to be loved.” David and Heather see part of their role in this community as modelling what marriage really means, and to validate the reality of being a woman who’s not had children and yet is loved.
A BRIGHTER TOMORROW Gradually, the number of young girls avoiding pregnancy and going on to secondary school
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Prayerlines MON – UGANDA Pray for David and Heather Sharland: for David as he finds new ways to serve struggling and marginalised farmers in the name of Creator God, and for Heather as she offers medical care to some of the most vulnerable people in their community.
TUES – AFRICA-WIDE Regional manager for Africa Steve Burgess asks for prayer for protection for people all across Africa. Pray for resources to be available to be able to care for the sick as well as deal with the Covid-19 crisis and its aftereffects (which could be wide-ranging and long-lasting).
is increasing. Since Heather and Cindy Okollo started this youth programme in 2015, the average age of first pregnancy in the area has increased from 14 to 16. By helping girls to make wise choices, the culture is being changed from the inside out, one girl at a time. It’s a long-term solution that has the potential to change the future for generations to come.
Now these girls have a beautiful self-confidence and can say, “I am valued.” Now there is hope for the future. Many young girls are setting their sights on education, meaning they won’t be dependent on a man for their basic needs. As for the next generation, there’s no telling how far they’ll go.
WEDS – MADAGASCAR Derek and Jane Waller, based in Toliara, are continuing as best they can with their work of making disciples and encouraging young Christians. Pray for encouragement for Derek and Jane as they turn their focus not only to God, but outwards in acts of kindness and generosity towards others.
THURS – UGANDA
PRAY
Pray for these young women and their families. Please pray also for the region where Heather and David work, facing locusts and the danger of coronavirus on top of the challenges that already existed.
Malcolm Pritchard, teaching at Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College, writes, “As many preach a message of repentance (2 Chronicles 7:13–15), let’s pray that a message of the God of love will draw us back to Jesus selflessly rather than be driven back… by images of a merciless god.”
FRI – SOUTH AFRICA Caroline and Dick Seed, resourcing key theological institutions across Africa through George Whitefield College, ask for prayer for priorities in work at this time when so many colleges across the continent need support in online teaching.
COMMUNITY NEWS
TRIBUTES The Church Mission Society community joins those around the world mourning the death of former CMS general secretary Simon Barrington-Ward, 89. After studying at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Westcott House, Simon was ordained. He served at Magdalene College (first as chaplain, later as fellow and dean), Ibadan University (Nigeria), Church Missionary Society (1975–1985), as chaplain to the queen (1984–1985) and as Bishop of Coventry (1985– 1997). Several members of the CMS community shared memories: “I recall his depth of spirituality, his brightness of thought and devotion, great sense of fun and humour and that sense when speaking to him that you had his full attention. He was a man without guile who inspired so many.” John Clark, former CMS communications director “We are so grateful to God for all that we learned from and through Simon, for his life and the depth of his ministry.” David and Jane Fulford, CMS Asia forum “Bishop Simon had so much gentle spiritual gravitas and wisdom. He has been a wonderful gift to CMS and the wider church. We remain truly indebted to his Christian life of service.” Paul Thaxter, CMS director of international mission We also grieve the death of Peter Vaughan, 89, who served as Principal of Crowther Hall, the former CMS training college in Selly Oak, from 1975–1983, though his CMS connections and his passion for mission extended back to his birth in Persia (now Iran) when his parents were CMS missionaries, and he and his wife Elisabeth also served with CMS in Sri Lanka. He later became Bishop of Ramsbury and then Honorary Assistant Bishop in Gloucester, Bristol and Bradford. His friends and colleagues speak much of his evident faith, graciousness, kindness, humility, pastoral care and love of God’s mission. We are sorry to share news of former trustees and staff of CMS/MAM/SAMS who have died in recent months, including: Ian Leakey, Kenneth Baker, Patrick Coghlan.
AYER, THE CMS COMMUNITY PR GTON-WARD IN RR BA WRITTEN BY SIMON
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o our life and death Lord, as you have entered int n life, l us into your death and rise and in all the world you cal forgive us our sins; and draw us we pray, ement of your Spirit, by the power and encourag d needs, into an exchange of gifts an joys and sorrows, strength and weakness re; with your people everywhe e grace to break through that with them we may hav every barrier, les to make disciples of all peop ryone eve h wit e lov r and to share you e. for your glory’s sak Amen.
CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY STAFF CHANGES WELCOME TO: Frauke Eicker, church mission enabler (February); Luke Harrison, video and multimedia content producer (March).
CHANGES: Leanne Saint, church mission project manager, started maternity leave (February); Danni Parker, individual fundraising officer, returned from maternity leave (April).
PEOPLE IN MISSION CHANGES MISSION PARTNERS ENDING SERVICE: Peter and Sally Bartlett have retired after their second term of service with SAMS. Peter was Bishop of Paraguay, where they have been since 2009, and Sally led small groups and an English-speaking congregation. Joan and Nigel Bull were mission partners in Pakistan for 10 years. When they returned to Bradford in 2013 Joan continued as a mission partner. Both have now retired but continue as mission associates. Maryam and Mohammad Eghtedarian served in the Middle East and have now moved to the Diocese of Leicester where Mohammad has a new role.
NEW MISSION PARTNERS: Tom and Verity Clare, with Ezra, Eli, Simeon and Joel, moved to Arua, northern Uganda, in March to be involved in health and reconciliation work. “Alex” has begun serving in the UK, advocating for Christians under persecution in the Middle East and North Africa.
NEW SHORT-TERMERS: Anthea and Martin Gordon, with Silas, Zachary and Imogen, have gone to Rwanda, en route to DR Congo, where Anthea will work for Tearfund and Martin will teach at the Goma Diocese Bible school. Two gap-year students, Emilia and Lucy, have gone to South Asia. Margaret Mockford, an experienced physiotherapist, has become a mission associate.
E X P LO R E YOUR CALL Ever wondered about serving God overseas in mission? Now is the time to explore your calling.
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t may seem counter-intuitive to start exploring overseas service now. But for many of us, discerning is not an overnight miracle. The process takes time. Time away from our usual routines gives opportunities to rethink, reimagine and rebuild life differently. We may have experienced this in the past with a move, a new job or even loss and bereavement – change, eventually, becomes an opportunity to evaluate. Sometimes it can be hard to discern what God is saying to us. At Church Mission Society we’ve put together some resources to help you with that. Head to churchmissionsociety.org/explore. Here are some questions to start with: What are you going to do differently as a result of this time? When this is all over, what do you want to change? What have you always wanted to change but it’s just never been the time? What have you had to lay down in this season that’s not worth picking back up again? What priorities have become apparent to you? One thing this crisis has shown us is that we are truly connected to each other. We are a global people. We are a global church. We can’t go anywhere in lockdown, but you can
explore a calling to overseas mission. Now is the time to come before God, pray and seek his leading. Now is the time to start to talk to some trusted Christians who can discern with you. Now is the time to take a first step. Get in touch with us and we’d love to discern with you. We offer gap opportunities from January 2021, as well as short- and long-term opportunities. Have a look on our website to see the full range. We will walk with you as you explore what God is saying. You’ll have interviews with various staff, and a discernment weekend if you are looking to go long term. We work with our overseas partners and you to find the right placement where you can learn, grow and share who you are. All programmes have training built in to the preparation stage. So it’s never too early to get in touch with us. Take some time to pray about this for yourself. Encourage others to explore, too.
ACT
Head to churchmissionsociety.org/ mission-opportunities to find out more about opportunities with CMS, or get in touch: vro@churchmissionsociety.org
WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 27–28 June
BENDING, NOT BREAKING BY HELEN KISAKYE, A DANCE ADVOCATE, HELPING TO CHANGE ATTITUDES TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN UGANDA THROUGH SPLASH DANCE COMPANY Today I wish to share a message of encouragement with you from the Bible. In Psalm 16:8 it is written, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” This is indeed a time where we are shaken but let us remember that we will not be overcome. I also wanted to share the image above of the vibrant tree (created by Emma Lou from my church) bending in the wind but not breaking. The image of the tree is a powerful image that speaks of lasting hope when all around is darkness. Let us remember the light we have within that continues to glimmer boldly despite everything. There is so much information about washing hands, which is imperative at this time, but let us also remember to creatively use our hands to bless others from afar. In 1 Corinthians 4:12 it is written, “We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it.” How can we use our hands today to share, care and bring a little love? You might be the only person who reaches out to someone who needs it today. We will get through this and we will get through it better together.
PRAY
Pray for Helen as she seeks to use her hands to bless others. 19
29 JUNE – 3 JULY 2020
PLACES WHE OUR CALL IN
Prayerlines MON – SPAIN/MIDDLE EAST A mission partner couple are praising God for the safe arrival of their third child at the end of last year and are now settling into life as a family of five. Pray that they will learn to shine Jesus’ light in new ways.
The call in action
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TUES – ISRAEL Local partner Oleg Kligman, director of the Beer Sheva Rehabilitation Center, lives with and is available to his 14 rehabilitants 24/7. Praise God that he is changing the lives of these 14 men; pray for Oleg as he spends more time than ever at the rehab centre due to coronavirus restrictions.
WEDS – NETHERLANDS Berdine van den Toren Lekkerkerker, who resources others for a life of mission through teaching, asks for prayer for the Anglican University of Congo’s house of prayer, a place of healing prayer. Pray for God to continue to pour out his healing even while the building is closed.
THURS – NORTH AFRICA M and T ask for prayer to be people of faith who stir faith and hope among those in their circles of influence during a time of fear. Pray for them as they continue their work of preparing and supporting mission workers to serve in challenging contexts in North Africa.
FRI – JERUSALEM Local partner Rami Fellemon, part of a dedicated team who walk alongside people on their faith journey, is very busy during lockdown, engaging with people through social media and answering questions about Jesus. Pray for Rami to have the right words to say to each person he encounters. 20
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Argentina Bolivia Brazil Britain Bulgaria Burundi Cambodia Central African Republic Chile Colombia DR Congo Ecuador
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WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 4–5 July
WHEN THE DOORWAY BECOMES A TUNNEL BY PHIL AND SYLVIE GOOD, WORKING AMONG REFUGEES ALONGSIDE CHURCHES IN BEIRUT
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Serbia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Uganda Ukraine Uruguay
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CMS PEOPLE ALSO WORK IN SENSITIVE LOCATIONS IN: Central Asia
East Asia
Middle East
South East Asia
North Africa
To find out more about our people in mission go to: churchmissionsociety.org/pim
Refugees usually see their current situation as temporary; they are on their way to a better future. It is like being in a doorway between past and future, but over time the doorway becomes a tunnel. Most of our friends have been in this tunnel for four years or more, and in that time they have had to make a life in the tunnel. Civil unrest and economic collapse seem to fill the news every day, putting us all in a tunnel with the bright future receding as the difficulties get bigger and the possible solutions diminish. Coronavirus has now been added to the load we must carry as if there weren’t enough uncertainties to live with. We are all living in uncertain times and despite the continual economic, technical and medical advances we have seen, it seems we have as much need of security as we ever did. We find ourselves praying to connect with the faithful God whose love is certain and where we find a security that is better than anything the world can offer. We need this security as we face the uncertain future because our job here is to testify to the people around us that our God is big enough and strong enough for them too. Pray for continued PRAY opportunities for Phil and Sylvie to testify to those around them that God is with us and cares for us through times of 21 great trial.
MISSION SPIRITUALITY
PART 5: BENEDICITE
By Ian Adams, mission spirituality adviser for Church Mission Society
CANTICLES: SONGS OF THE CHURCH The mission of the church has been shaped over two millennia. One wonderful repository of this experience lies in the collection of texts we know as canticles, which emerged from some of the earliest songs of the Church.
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hese songs have been sung in times of plenty and in times of need, in times of joy and of persecution, of hope and fear. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by experience, they continue to offer gifts to us now as we seek to live and share the Jesus Way in the time of Covid-19.
d: Bless the Lord all you works of the Lor sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 2 Bless the Lord you heavens: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 3 Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord: bless the Lord all you his hosts; heavens: bless the Lord you waters above the sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 4 Bless the Lord sun and moon: bless the Lord you stars of heaven; bless the Lord all rain and dew: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 5 Bless the Lord all winds that blow: bless the Lord you fire and heat; er cold: bless the Lord scorching wind and bitt sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 6 Bless the Lord dews and falling snows: bless the Lord you nights and days; bless the Lord light and darkness: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 7 Bless the Lord frost and cold: bless the Lord you ice and snow; bless the Lord lightnings and clouds:
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What might happen if we begin to speak or sing these canticles under lockdown? How might we be changed if we allow them to shape our response to pandemic and its chaos? This series in The Call continues by exploring the canticle Benedicite. The photo was taken in winter on the coast of South Devon.
sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 8 O let the earth bless the Lord: ; bless the Lord you mountains and hills und: bless the Lord all that grows in the gro sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 9 Bless the Lord you springs: bless the Lord you seas and rivers; t swim bless the Lord you whales and all tha in the waters: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 10 Bless the Lord all birds of the air: bless the Lord you beasts and cattle; bless the Lord all people on earth: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 11 O people of God bless the Lord: bless the Lord you priests of the Lord; d: bless the Lord you servants of the Lor sing his praise and exalt him for ever. 12 Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit: humble bless the Lord you that are holy and in heart; y Spirit: bless the Father, the Son and the Hol sing his praise and exalt him for ever.*
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6–10 JULY 2020
Prayerlines MON – HONDURAS The coronavirus lockdown made Steve Poulson’s work of mentoring at-risk boys extremely challenging; pray for Steve and other mentors to find ways to continue to encourage and guide those they mentor through this time.
TUES – CHILE
The Benedicite is a text for our times. It places us and our circumstances firmly within the context of cosmos and creation, asking us to give attention, through all we face, to creation’s relationship to the creator God and calling us to respond in word and action. The canticle draws heavily on Psalm 148, and on The Song of the Three, an apocryphal text included in some versions of the book of Daniel, a text shaped by experience of great trial. The canticle’s focus is never on our plight, but on the goodness of God and on the enduring nature of God’s creation. It begins in the wide open spaces of the cosmic realm: Bless the Lord you heavens... It then focuses in on the earth and its creatures: O let the earth bless the Lord... And it concludes with the human being: O people of God bless the Lord... In taking this path the canticle reveals our place in creation and our relationship to it, calling us to echo creation’s praise of God and in all circumstances to add our own *Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.
praise to that great symphony. The opening stanza acts as a template for the whole song, charting its content and direction. Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord: sing his praise and exalt him for ever. So three closely linked actions are urged: Bless the Lord/ sing his praise/exalt him for ever. What might happen if we choose today, whatever we face, to bless the Lord, sing his praise and exalt him for ever? Many of the elements of cosmos and creation are addressed personally as “you”. Each is thus given honour and value. So creation is not impersonal, but intimate and full of holy life and wisdom – requiring our love and our care as people who are priests and servants of the Lord, of upright spirit, holy and humble. The final stanza gives bold Trinitarian shape to our praise: bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: sing his praise and exalt him for ever.
PRACTICE
Say (or sing) a line from the Benedicite each day for a week – perhaps in the open air if you can get out to exercise. See what this does to you, allow it to shape a moment – then perhaps a day, even a lifetime – of praise and love for the Creator God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Alf and Hilary Cooper are in Santiago, where Alf is auxiliary bishop and rector of Trinity Parish Church. Pray for them as they continue church online and seek to be as effective as they can through virtual Bible study, Sunday services, prayer and helping those in need.
WEDS – ARGENTINA Nick Drayson, diocesan bishop, and Catherine Le Tissier, who coordinates the work of the Argentine branch of Mothers’ Union (AMARE), ask for prayer as AMARE focuses on families this year. Pray for families to understand and live out how God intended family units to love and support each other.
THURS – PARAGUAY Engaged with indigenous communities in Paraguay through pastoral visiting, forming small groups and discipling people, local partner Victor Gonzalez writes that many people have experienced the power of prayer over the past few months. Pray for people to press in to the power of prayer even more.
FRI – PERU Paul and Sarah Tester, serving in mission development and children’s ministry respectively, seek to “consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10). Pray for Paul as he supports CMS’s people in mission across Latin America, and for Sarah as 23 she supports local friends.
FEATURE STORY
HEARTBREAK Top: The CMS Central America mission partners with Paul Tester (left), mission development manager for Latin America Top right: Steve Poulson with one of the young men from the mentoring project Bottom: Fernando made huge progress in reading at Proyecto Alas
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AND HOPE In 2017, CMS sent four mission partners to work among marginalised people in Central America. We caught up with them to learn how God is at work in Guatemala and Honduras.
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teve Poulson had known that Honduras would be a part of his future ever since he first visited in 2009. Likewise for Mark and Rosalie Balfour, their call to Central America started with a youth mission trip to a home for rescued street children in Honduras. Later they also ended up travelling to Guatemala. When the time came to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary they realised they “wanted nothing more than to go back to the streets of Guatemala City.” Azaria Spencer’s journey to knowing that God was calling her to Guatemala was more gradual. She just knew she had a passion to work
with people on the edges of society, particularly children and young people. All four ended up training and being sent by CMS around the same time. All four are working with a local organisation called Street Kids Direct, helping to offer children and young people an alternative to gang life, violence and drugs. And in their first three years of service, all four have faced huge challenges – including the current crisis – and seen their roles change and grow in surprising ways.
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MENTORING MATTERS Steve reflects, “One of the difficult things about being in Honduras is reminding yourself that you can’t do everything. There’s so much need and so much to do.” Mentoring young people at risk is a core focus of Steve’s work. He explains, “Mentoring is proven to be the most effective way of working with… particularly highrisk children and young people.” A landmark study in the 1990s identified a caring and consistent adult as the only thing that changes outcomes for children at the highest risk from traumatic experiences in their lives. This is what Steve and his colleagues hope mentoring can provide through projects in Tegucigalpa and Talanga, a town about an hour further north where a mentoring centre was opened in 2019. Interest in mentoring has grown: “There is some excitement about
mentoring in Honduras because it’s still so new. People have told me that they’ve realised mentoring is what’s been missing in their ministry or project.” Steve comments, “One of the best things is definitely seeing transformation in people. One of the boys we work with is 18 and I’ve known him since I first went to Honduras in 2009. His mum died when he was four and his dad totally rejected him. It’s a privilege to see him now about to finish the equivalent of his GCSEs. “The kids at Proyecto Alas in Talanga finished their first academic year with us in November 2019 and they’re doing really well. I was so proud when Cristian, who I’ve been mentoring for two years, was presented with an academic excellence medal and certificate. “Another boy, Fernando, was illiterate. He couldn’t recognise any letters or numbers. Towards the end of the year, I saw him sitting in the corner reading a book. He was on page 190 of the children’s Bible that we had bought him. It’s amazing that in a few months he has learned to read. This year, he started school, and was moved straight up to second grade because of all he had learned at the project!”
“Mentoring is proven to be the most effective way of working with… particularly high-risk children and young people..”
CULTIVATING CREATIVITY Much of Azaria’s work in Guatemala City has also been
WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 11–12 July
GOOD SOIL, GIVING BY IAN ADAMS, MISSION SPIRITUALITY ADVISER FOR CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY We continue to pray with Jesus’ parable of the soils. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold... (Matthew 13:8) You are not responsible for the crop or the harvest; but if you commit to truly receiving whatever you need to be good soil, then grain will, in God’s grace, come. As you been receiving, so you will find yourself giving. New life will emerge where you are. Risen Jesus, As I receive from you, so I pray will you enable me to give something of your resurrection life to those to whom I am called. Amen
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HEARTBREAK AND HOPE
Left: Azaria Spencer runs a group where girls can find space for themselves Right: Danilo, one of the youth, helps distribute resources at Street Kids Direct Guatemala Far right: Rosalie and Mark Balfour’s new home offers space for retreats
with boys at risk, which can be challenging. She tells of one Friday morning, going to work after a great evening with the young people. “We joined together and worshipped God…. But then heartbreak. We heard that Pablo, one of the young men who lived on the streets, had died that morning. He was only 20 years old. My heart broke for him, but also for those team members whom I love, who poured so much into Pablo.” Yet she also tells of Danilo, who in the midst of the coronavirus
crisis took the lead in helping deliver food to vulnerable families: “The most unexpected part of my day was being blessed with the gift of seeing just how far Danilo has come. He is not just one of my youth, he is one of our team and a good friend. I’m so proud of him.” In recent months Azaria has started leading a group for girls aged 12 and over, “to create a space where they will learn about God and have activities just for them”. Azaria shares, “Building trust
takes time, but we are having small victories. We follow a pattern of prayer to start each session and now they ask to do this if they arrive late…. I feel God’s gentle Spirit rest with us at these times.” She also connects with children through art: “At one workshop, one of the boys was tapping his marker to spray ink on his picture the way you might with a paint brush. He was creating beautiful splatters of colour across the image of a peacock. He wasn’t doing it because he had
¡ADELANTE! GOES ONLINE 25–26 September 2020
We’ll be holding our first virtual gathering to celebrate, learn about and pray for mission in and from Latin America.
Sign up today at: churchmissionsociety.org/adelante
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13–17 JULY 2020
Prayerlines been told or taught to. He was simply expressing himself, trying something new. I told him how beautiful his picture looked and how much I liked how he had used the markers. He blushed and said thank you. I was left inspired.”
FRONTLINE FRIENDSHIP Paul Tester, mission development manager for Latin America, said that Azaria, Steve, Mark and Rosalie “are [in Central America] to encourage, release and connect with people doing amazing mission – working on the frontline and walking with those on the frontline.” In addition to the mentoring projects in Guatemala and Honduras, Mark and Rosalie have been involved with a whole range of groups either directly supported by Street Kids Direct or in similar urban contexts. These include: •
Go Guatemala: in one of the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City, working with street-connected and at-risk children
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Sigo Vivo, a church run on the streets
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Tamar’s Hope, a project reaching out to women in prostitution
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La Cafe GT, which trains and employs women coming out of difficult circumstances.
They said, “We count it an enormous privilege to serve in Guatemala, but working in the midst of such violence and death carries an emotional and mental
cost, one that we have seen borne out in the lives of others. Which is why we believe Jesus is calling us to a pastoral ministry that supports and encourages others working in difficult urban contexts. The work takes a huge toll and people can be verging on burnout. To have people to listen and pray with is really important.” The Balfours have moved into a home that allows them to create space for both young people and those working in tough contexts to come for refreshment. Even amid curfew and lockdown, Mark and Rosalie have continued to provide pastoral support to frontline workers.
MON – ASIA A couple fighting human trafficking in a number of ways write, “The longer we are in this work, the clearer it is that these activities are all linked to the highest levels of society. We need to pray for those in high positions to repent and submit to Jesus.”
TUES – CAMBODIA Chhinho Saing oversees 32 house churches throughout the country and asks for prayer for more churches to be planted in the northern part of Cambodia. Pray for the gospel to continue to work in people’s lives.
WEDS – NEPAL Andrea and Andrew Young provide vital pastoral care to United Mission to Nepal (UMN) in Kathmandu, Tansen and Okhaldhunga. Currently in the UK, Andrea and Andrew Young ask for prayer as they discover new ways of caring pastorally for those in UMN through challenging circumstances.
THURS – INDIA Shirish Suresh Suryawanshi uses his skills as a pastor and teacher to proclaim Christ in various private and public sectors of India. Pray for Shirish’s students to use this time to assimilate what they have learned so they are well prepared to go and share the gospel.
GIVE
Could you help us to support people in mission sharing the love of Jesus with those on the margins? Go to churchmissionsociety.org/support or call 01865 787489.
FRI – PHILIPPINES Local partners Kats and Kumar Aryal teach, mentor and coach students at the International Graduate School (IGSL) of Leadership in Manila. Praise God for IGSL’s singles’ conference where many felt affirmed and encouraged for the first time in a culture where their singleness means they are often belittled and marginalised. 27
OFFICE CALLING
THE SUPPORTRAISING JOURNEY: THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD In his role as people in mission funding manager, Paul Read helps make sure mission partners have the resources they need to put their call into action. In these turbulent times, he says, people in mission need the kind of backup team that CMS provides.
Paul, could you tell us what you do? My brief is to work with others to make sure that the mission partner programme is sustainable financially. I send finance reports to each mission partner, keeping them and office colleagues up to date about funding issues. My job is to monitor those issues and collaboratively adapt plans that address them. If some support is lost, what are we going to do about that? Is it possible to find new support? I’m always trying to evolve and develop the funding plan to make sure that it’s sustainable for the future.
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That sounds like it could be all about spreadsheets. What is it in your job that excites you? Having been a mission partner, I know what it is to raise support. What I really enjoy now is helping others on a journey I’ve taken with my family. The job I do is part of the calling that I have in this season to resource people in mission. I’m using what I was trained to do and passing on my overseas experience, including from microfinance work I did. I don’t see the job I do as work at all, really. Even though it is work. It’s very much a feeling that I’m in the right place at the right time. I’ve never asked a mission partner
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to do anything I haven’t done myself. If they’ve just lost £10,000 of support, I’ve been there. In the middle of a financial crisis when we were in India we lost support, which we had to make up. And there were questions: “Are we still called? Lord, do you still want us to be here or do you want us to come home?” And then we made that decision. We felt, “Lord, you’re telling us to stay.” We had peace about that. And then the support that we needed was more or less there within a few months. Nothing is guaranteed. When we were overseas, it was all about one day at a time. And now with this pandemic, it’s all one day at a time. But it’s not just financial. It’s about raising people in partnership. And that’s what I think is important. All people in mission need people on
a journey with them – and it’s good for supporters because they need and want to give. We bring those people together. CMS facilitates all that as part of a mission movement. We’re partnering with people in mission to keep them going. Everything we do is couched in our policy of making sure people in mission are fully resourced – it’s a holistic approach. We’re looking after them, not just in terms of their funding needs, but their pastoral care, their professional development, the duty of care we have to them. All these ingredients go towards making sure that they can do their work, knowing they’ve got a backup team.
Some people might feel fundraising is unspiritual – we should be praying in support, not going out asking for it. What’s your response to that? I believe that living on gift income as a called person in mission has a biblical heritage. We see it in the lives of the Levites; they served religious duties for the Israelites. We see it in the life of Jesus. We see it in the way that Paul interacted with the Philippians and the Corinthians. The idea of God’s people being set apart from direct income-generating work and being supported by others is a heritage that’s found in Scripture. Again, it’s all about developing partnerships. God gives us those partnerships. So I have no qualms about saying that fundraising is a completely spiritual thing to do. I often use an illustration about a farmer with sacks of seed in his barn. He doesn’t look at the empty field and complain there’s no crop. He goes out and starts planting
seeds. So, when you have a need, you plant a seed. That’s exactly what we’re doing in fundraising. We have to work at it.
We talk about mission partners being called and your role as part of your calling. But can giving be a calling too? Absolutely. Giving and finding support are all part of the journey. When my wife and I were mission partners, it was always part of our job to communicate and develop supportive relationships. We believed from day one, if we are called to go somewhere, then it follows that there are people called to support us. If those people are called to support us, we have to go and find them.
What would you say to someone who feels as if their giving is far removed from mission and what God is doing? I tell people how important a gift is. Their gift makes a difference. One of the things we heard from our early days in missions is that some people give, some people go, but it’s always God that gives the increase. Everybody needs a backup team. In the office, we’re part of the backup team for people in mission. None of us can do mission and be involved in a mission movement on our own. We all have a part to play.
GIVE
Could you be part of the mission journey with us? Go to churchmissionsociety.org/ support or call 01865 787489.
WEEKEND
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 18–19 July
EVERLASTING ARMS BY JASON AND TRACY DAY, WHO ARE BASED IN THAILAND AND SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH EVERYONE THEY MEET. JASON IS A PERSONNEL MANAGER SECONDED TO OMF, AND TRACY IS A CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER, HOUSEWIFE AND MUM “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). Moses wrote these words looking back over 120 years of God’s faithfulness, as he was pronouncing his final blessing on the Israelites. For the last 40 years he had led them out of Egypt, across the desert to reach the Promised Land. The people had failed many times, but God had not. In his struggles as a leader, Moses came to know God, both as a terrifying and awesome God, but also as a trustworthy friend. He knew that the compassionate, caring and alwaysnear God was his refuge. God’s arms were underneath, carrying him along. These last four months we have faced a number of health related personal/family challenges. In 2020 there will likely be more challenges to come, relating to finances and work. In the UK, friends and family face challenges, as does the whole nation. As we each walk these journeys, let’s remember: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Pray for encouragement PRAY for Jason and Tracy and boldness as 29 they live out this truth.
FOR ART’S SAKE
G N I S P A L L O AC PRESENT, : E R U T U F A NEW S T S I T R A R O F D THE NEE IN OUR WORLD
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20–24 JULY 2020
Prayerlines Before the lockdown, over 100 people gathered at CMS to explore the power of art, particularly in relation to mission, community and pioneering. We caught up with three of the artists to get a sense of why it’s important to cultivate creativity: SARAH CLARKE Sarah Clarke, pioneer undergraduate course leader, organised the For Art’s Sake day.
She started the day by declaring why she is so passionate about the arts. Her defining point, repeated much during the day by other participants, was that as people made in the image of God we all possess the creative impulse, whether or not we fit into the modern category of artist. In fact, she lamented the fact that we have ceded art to the experts, as well as divorcing it from its innate connection to God.
DAVID BENJAMIN BLOWER David Benjamin Blower, musician and theologian, addresses the connections between art and the prophetic.
I think if we encountered the Hebrew prophets today, we would probably think they were artists of some kind – performance artists. Standing in public and wailing naked – that’d be a very artful thing to do. Gathering a crowd and just smashing pots together, tying yourself up and laying down on the floor for days and weeks and months, and then writing reams and reams of poetry. Very bizarre and artful poetry. But because it’s all locked up in a holy book, it’s sort of within the realm of religion. We think of them as holy men, holy women. I’m not really interested in defining what art is. Or who’s an artist and who isn’t. I think this term is always in flux. I think maybe the important question is looking at the artists among us and beginning to ask ourselves whether we’re in the presence of prophets. Whether the creative people around us are there to amuse us or make life more beautiful or put nicer things on the
MON – SPAIN Felipe and Sarah Yanez, helping to run a food bank in Malaga, have been working extremely hard as lockdown caused loss of many jobs and so many more people need food parcels. Pray for Felipe and Sarah to be able to share Jesus’ love with people during this difficult time.
TUES – NORTH AFRICA H, who does discipleship training for North Africans, writes that he and his young family have their own living space for the first time since he and his wife got married. Praise God for his provision of a flat for six months, and pray for more long term stability.
WEDS – MIDDLE EAST A couple involved in Bible translation write that most of their team have left their location. Pray for J and his team as they continue Bible translation via Skype and do an online Hebrew course. Pray for R as she does language study online.
THURS – SPAIN Pray for God to reach the hearts of the Basque people, who local partner Daniel Scott is working among. Daniel has recently written a book which speaks about Jesus and shares biblical values in the Basque people’s own language and style of poetry. Pray that it will be published soon.
FRI – UKRAINE Alison Giblett leads the Genesis ministry, which helps people grappling with addictions to receive God’s healing, shed destructive habits and learn to rely on God instead. Pray for Alison as she trains new facilitators and for the facilitators as they support recovering addicts remotely.
FOR ART’S SAKE Left: “We are all created with the creative impulse”: connecting with our creativity during the conversations day Right: The Safety Net – an art installation by Lou Baker in the CMS prayer room
wall, to make life more bearable and help us cope with life, or whether these are people giving us an integral awareness of the present, helping us to be very much in the realities of the present, beautiful or painful. People who are envisioning possible routes into new futures or giving us the tools to enable us to let go of dying pasts. Art must always do what it’s there to do. It must be absolutely free to do so. So, the commandeering of art for the purposes of the church or the purposes of an endeavour or process that we might describe by the way of mission becomes
“I’m not really interested in defining what art is. Or who’s an artist and who isn’t.” problematic for me. But the reality is art is so often missional. Marshall McLuhan used a beautiful phrase. He said that artists are “people who build
PIONEER MISSION LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Noah’s arks into new futures”. And in that sense the artist is a missional person creating work that rescues people from a collapsing present into a renewed future. I think if there is a missional kind of description of art, McLuhan put it quite beautifully.
CHRIS DUFFETT Chris Duffett, prophetic artist and founder of the Light Project, shares how art helps him to make connections. As an artist, I love to bring images and words and symbols to people’s hearts from God’s heart. And I hope and pray that I would bring comfort, encouragement and strength to those I paint for. I call them prayer paintings. People will often ask what I’m doing. And I will just cheerfully reply, “I’m painting prayers for people. Can I paint something for you?” Nine times out of ten people say, “Oh, okay, go on then.” I’ll then pray and
Put your pioneer call into action: Offering BA, MA, PhD, certificate, diploma and individual modules Multiple learning locations across the country Lay and ordained students welcome
Read student stories, download a prospectus and attend our next open day: pioneer.churchmissionsociety.org
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ask, what is it that God wants to say to that person? Sometimes it’s a symbol, sometimes it’s a scene. Sometimes I’ll hear a psalm or a proverb that I try to communicate. One morning I read in Proverbs about one who sticks closer than a brother. I was on Bardsey Island serving as a chaplain. And I went down to the cafe and there were day visitors coming off the boat. I kept thinking about that verse, about one who sticks closer than a brother and a couple came and asked what I was doing and what
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prayer painting was all about. And I said, “I could paint something for you.” And the lady looked at me and she said, “Would you really paint something for me?” I said, “I’d love to.” And she started crying. She said, “I’m really sorry. I don’t know what’s going on. I feel really emotional.” I drew a picture of a sister and a brother and the verse, “There is one that sticks closer than a brother.” I gave it to this lady and she said, “Well, the reason I’m emotional is I’m thinking about my brother.” And she just poured out her heart about her brother, heartache and difficulties he had gone through. The painting spoke to her and she said, “We knew we needed to come to this island, but we didn’t realise it was to meet someone.” I felt really encouraged that I’d been able to bring something of comfort and strength to this couple, that they could leave the island knowing that they were known by God. There really is something very special about how God communicates through the arts.
So as a painter, I love to bring something that words can’t quite bring. So often people will look at something and they’ll feel something of God within what I’ve painted. And they may not have the language or the words to communicate, but they will say things like, what is this? Why am I feeling this? The mystery is that I might paint something that I didn’t even know would communicate. Perhaps it’s a colour or a symbol that will communicate with someone in a way that I would never have imagined.
WEEKEND JOIN
FOCUS Saturday–Sunday 25–26 July
SEND US A PRAYER Find out more about studying pioneer mission with CMS: pioneer.churchmissionsociety.org
We invite you to write to us with a prayer request and we will count it our privilege to pray for you: info@churchmissionsociety.org 33
LAST WORD
HOW TO… DO MISSION IN A PANDEMIC As we gaze across the world during this turbulent time, we see CMS people in mission living out the community’s values: being pioneering, evangelistic, relational and faithful in many ways – some totally unexpected. Following are some lessons we’ve learned about being in mission when plans change.
1. PRAY AND BE AS PRESENT AS YOU CAN As the world locked down, CMS people in mission turned to God in prayer. Andrea and Andrew Young, who had to leave Nepal, said: “I (Andrea) remember as a child being carried from the car into the house after a long journey. The feeling of safety in my dad’s arms. I’ve reflected on the image of God as a parent carrying his children, especially when we feel helpless. All we can do is allow ourselves to be carried by him who will not let us go.” The Youngs remain in touch with their Nepali community and Andrea is encouraged that some of the young women she’s mentored have volunteered to help children who are currently suffering from anxiety. Also in Asia, A and L prayed about staying while many expat friends and colleagues left: “It may get a lot harder to be here, but we feel it’s the right thing to do. Much
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ministry is on hold yet we seek to be a light by remaining. We will give birth to our next child here. We feel like God is doing something through this; we can’t see it yet, but he is with us.”
2. ACCEPT THE LIMITATIONS While many people in mission have spoken of unexpected opportunities during this time, many have had to face the difficult reality of pausing/stopping some work and doing what they can. Heather Johnstone, who leads the Rehema Project, supporting vulnerable women in Tanzania, wrote: “The heartbreaking reality is we have no choice but to close the business at least until the end of June. When I told the women this news, they told me not to worry, God would provide. They humble me! Fortunately, we were able to pay wages for March and April. I hope to give
a small investment to each of them to enable them to somehow be resourceful in providing for themselves and their families.”
3. LISTEN TO PEOPLE’S NEEDS Mission partners in Pakistan, normally educators, are getting involved with local foodbanks: “More and more people here are unable to support themselves, meaning more people than ever are requesting supplies.” In Lima, Peru, Paul and Sarah Tester said, “Sarah aims to be in touch with friends who are alone during lockdown or single parents. She has brought mums together in a WhatsApp group to share ideas of how to keep kids fit and content. When a friend’s daughter had a birthday, with no party, other children sent birthday videos. Community is so needed now.”
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Top left: Audrey Gibson is supporting parents and children with special needs remotely Top right: Visual aids are used by Derek and Jane Waller to educate people about coronavirus Bottom: Jimmy Rocks in Brazil has started leading church online
27–31 JULY 2020
Prayerlines MON – ARGENTINA Many Bible translation projects are being put on hold for the time being. David and Shelley Stokes, serving indigenous churches in the far north of the country, ask for prayer for the Lord to open up the way for what he wants to happen this year.
TUES – PARAGUAY
4. BE ADAPTABLE Andy and Rose Roberts and the CMS team at ReVive in Brazil have shared that ReVive’s work with abused girls is considered essential: “We’ve been able to let some of our staff stay home, with the rest on a rota to ensure the girls are cared for.” In the UK, Kailean and Kim Khongsai had to cancel events at the community green spaces they are developing, but, “in order to keep up with site maintenance, we take turns, allowing only one volunteer per visit.” Jimmy and Katia Rocks (Brazil) add: “Like many churches across the world we are pastoring our community online. We have seen God at work in people’s lives as they are putting their trust more fully in him.” In Lebanon, Audrey and Colin Gibson have also adjusted: “We
are both working from home. With schools closed, Audrey is sending out online worksheets to her special needs students along with ideas for games and activities. Actually, the Parent 2 Parent support group for those with children with special needs is flourishing. The group has grown together since lockdown, supporting one another on WhatsApp. Give thanks for this.”
5. IMPROVISE NEW LIFE The Rocks report how they had to change their usual direction suddenly: “Lockdown in Brazil had huge, immediate consequences for folk who don’t have a fixed income so we had to mobilise in a short space of time, providing food and cleaning supplies for 70+ families. It has been amazing to see God’s provision and humbling to hear families expressing their gratitude to the church.” In Madagascar, Derek and Jane Waller weren’t sure what to do at first: “We are now supporting local bishops in educating the diocese about coronavirus. Our visual aids help adults and children alike.”
6. TRY TO FIND HOPE AND PRACTISE GRATITUDE Kailean Khongsai said, “It is easy to feel discouraged but in an ever-changing world we serve an unchanging God.”
Bev Richardson is preparing to return to Paraguay where she supports a local church leadership team and teaches in the chapel and at Colegio San Andres (CSA) in Asuncion. Pray for God to give her wisdom in setting priorities once she is back in Asuncion.
WEDS – GUATEMALA Please pray for Azaria Spencer, who recently started up a girls’ group as part of her work with street children and young people at risk. Pray for God to continue to guide Azaria as she builds relationship and ministers to these girls.
THURS – BRAZIL Daniel and Sarah Brito Medeiros have been praying for God to use lockdown to transform the Church. Pray that Daniel and Sarah, and the Church as a whole, are able to be honest with ourselves, repent where necessary and receive God’s love and forgiveness. Pray for us all to emerge transformed by God’s grace.
FRI – PARAGUAY Tim Curtis, currently on home leave in the UK, works with church leaders in the Paraguayan Chaco region, developing study materials and promoting use of the Scriptures. Tim asks for prayer for the older indigenous people as water supplies become scarce during the winter and amid coughs, colds, flu and coronavirus. 35
LOCKDOWN CANNOT LIMIT GOD’S LOVE or the willingness of CMS people in mission to share it with the world.
ide them v ro p to s u lp e h n a c u o y Today, d. e e n y e th rt o p p su e th h it w
“I am very grateful to [CMS] for their support, care and concern, and especially for treating us as individuals in the context of the church and country in which we work…. Other people in the charity sector are not so fortunate, I’ve realised.” Catherine (Taiwan)
“By being here, even just by our presence, we are a reminder that faith in Jesus produces a foundation that is able to withstand the tidal waves of uncertainty that seem to threaten our very existence.” Phil and Sylvie (Lebanon)
“Stuck at home, with one day out [per week], how should we use our time? Telling people about the compelling love and mercy of our Lord, who gave up his only son, Jesus, for us.” Andrew and Lisa (Bolivia) are using time in lockdown to bake bread and deliver it to their neighbours most in need.
God’s mission has not stopped. CMS people in mission are as much in need of your support as ever. Play your part in sharing God’s love at this difficult time. Please make a gift to Church Mission Society today.
Give online: churchmissionsociety.org/support By phone: 01865 787489 The call in action
Or fill in the enclosed form and return it to us.
