An Update From Committee For Global Partnerships In

Mission For 2022:

Nurturing Meaningful Partnerships

The Committee for Global Partnerships in Mission had a full and meaningful year across the globe. From partnerships within the Episcopal Church to other areas of the world, lives were touched and made better.

Within the church, the Committee for Global Partnerships in Mission continued its work and involvement as a changemaker in the Global Episcopal Mission Network. This year's annual conference focused on Women in Mission. There was engagement with the Office of Global Partnerships and the Standing Commission on World Mission to support and host Diocesan Mission Advocates, a new initiative to promote global mission work from the General Convention.

Visiting Costa Rica

In spring 2022, seven leaders from the Diocese of Texas attended an exploratory trip to Costa Rica where they had an opportunity to spend time with Bishop Orlando Gomez and Roger Pennant Grant, Church Deployment Office (CDO) and project manager. They also visited Hogar Escuela locations (Barrio Cuba and Heredia); El Buen Pastor, Todos los Santos; and Iglesia San Lucas, Guacimo. Leaders explored Iglesia Santa Maria, Siquierres; San Francisco de Asis, San Marcos; and San Jose Obrero (site of the future diocesan center).

Hispanic Lay Leadership Conference

During summer 2022, leaders hosted the Rev. Kattia Corella Cubillo and Tony Wynter, both delegates at the Hispanic Lay Leadership Conference.

Mission trip to Limon

Later in 2022, Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, and St. James’, Austin, sponsored a mission trip to Limon to continue construction work at San Jose Obrero. They also held “Descubriendo Nuestro Encanto: Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts” lock-in for youth from across the Diocese of Costa Rica.

Mission trip to San Jose

St. Alban’s, Waco, hosted a mission trip to San Jose where they held a week-long vacation Bible school at El Buen Pastor.

Partnership with companion dioceses continues

In January 2022 after months of planning and collaboration with Project C.U.R.E., over $400,000 in medical supplies arrived in southern Malawi for the purpose of furnishing a medical clinic in Mindanti.

In March, over $10,000 was provided to Malawi for flood relief (in response to the latest flood Malawi endured in early 2022).

Soon after in May, six people from Malawi made a pilgrimage to Texas. It was an exciting time as the visit came to fruition after having been delayed by the pandemic in previous years. The committee contributed $3,000 to help fund the pilgrimage. During the visit, the Malawians were able to spend time in Waco, Austin, Houston, and Galveston. Multiple parishes were blessed by their presence, gifts through song, and willingness to serve.

In August, the Mindanti clinic saw a proverbial finish line for completion, and we contributed $35,000 as a final push to this goal.

Partners in North Dakota

As our partners in North Dakota continue in a time of diocesan transition, co-chairs the Rt. Rev. Jeff Fisher and the Rev. Meredith Crigler visited North Dakota during their October Diocesan Convention to listen and learn. Particular attention was paid to the Indigenous ministries, their work towards reconciliations with boarding schools, environmental reparation, enculturated liturgies, and the Lakota story of place.

Helping through grant funding

The committee also discerned a call to financially support multiple initiatives from organizations actively participating in God's mission around the globe. This included constructing 12 cisterns in southern Mexico to empower rural farms to transform their life and land. Multiple medical centers were helped to increase their capacity to provide essential medical care to those in need. Also, the committee empowered multiple schools with resources as they sought to improve education and the lives of their students.

Wrapping up 2022 and moving forward

With the Rt. Rev. Jeff Fisher serving as executive and the Rev. Meredith Crigler committed as chair, the Committee for Global Partnerships in Mission experienced a year filled with inspiration. The committee remains committed to meaningful years ahead.

To learn more about the committee’s work, please visit its Facebook page by searching “Global Partnerships EDOT.”

Privileged to listen and bear witness to sacred stories of the North Dakota Council on Indian Ministries at their Convention, hear our Presiding Bishop preach, and connect with new friends.

All Saints, Fort Worth, Visits Kenya

All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, parishioners spent most of the last two decades working to better the lives of orphaned girls in Kenya, ensuring safe housing and education through high school for most of them and helping many go on to college. While the pandemic created hardships, Amazing Grace schools and their girls rebounded with grace and energy.

How did a small group of people who wanted to help girls orphaned by AIDS make this happen? As the schools’ name implies, it was with the grace of God and the energy and commitment of dedicated volunteers, many from All Saints’.

In 1999, Episcopalians Bill and Yvonne Morgan met Kenyans Clarice and Abuto in the United States. Abuto invited the Morgans to go to Kenya with him. In 2000, they did so, taking a team of six to Kenya. It was this trip which led the Morgans and others to work with Abuto and Clarice with girls orphaned by AIDS.

By 2001, a ministry was established in which Clarice and Abuto supported orphans in the homes where they lived. Father Joshua Ogendi, a priest at the Cathedral in Kisumu, oversaw that early program. Over time, it was decided that a home for the girls would be a much better approach. The Morgans personally purchased the land in 2002 or early 2003 and held it while continuing to help the children in their current situation as funds for the home were raised.

In 2004, five acres of land were purchased in Awasi, Kenya, for the girls' home. Construction of the girls' dormitory, the admission of 16 girls, and the completion of water cisterns and latrines were accomplished. The girls’ home opened Dec. 21, 2005.

By 2006, All Saints’ began what would become regular mission trips to Kenya to support the home. That year, mission trip volunteers helped complete the kitchen and dining hall and second cistern, drill a water well, and add a chicken coop. Seventy-two girls were in residence.

Beginning in 2012, visiting parishioners constructed the high school, adding a fishpond for farming tilapia and a gas generator to ensure electricity. A guest house was renovated adjacent to the property. In 2013, the Amazing Grace Secondary School of Awasi opened

A 35-seat bus was purchased in 2014. Most importantly, that same year the first five high school graduates were off to college. The next year, the Barbara Tucker Cummings Guest House was completed and open for business.

By 2017, 40 of the original 72 girls had completed high school, with 27 of them in college. A new dorm for girls was built, and 25 new girls were admitted in the primary grade. By 2018, there were 26 girls in college and 20 girls in high school. Nineteen young women finished their education and are now adults working independently in the world.

Amazing Grace Primary School opened in 2019, serving both the Amazing Grace girls as well as girls from the surrounding neighborhood. By then, 49 girls had graduated from high school, with 20 in post-high school education and seven in four-year universities.

Today, a few of the alumni have returned to work at Amazing Grace as teachers, cooks, guidance counselors, and dorm mothers.

In 2022, All Saints’ committed to supporting 26 additional orphans.

As Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

Couple that with the power of God’s amazing grace, and anything can happen.