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God’s grace and new braces for NadiyyaA young girl in Jordan who suffered a brain injury from extreme
abuse at age two is doing something
few people thought possible – walk.
She’s also being introduced to the love
of Jesus.
This is thanks to the persever-
ance of Michael Green, a CMS mission
partner and nurse in Jordan, who first
met Nadiyya seven years ago on a visit
to the hospital to which he has recently
been transferred. “She was four at the
time and most people assumed she’d
never walk,” Michael recalled.
“Once I got placed at this hospital
and became responsible for her care,
the first thing I did was get her assessed
for braces, which Nadiyya received a
few months ago.”
Not only are the braces helping Na-
diyya walk but they are straightening her
posture. “We work on her walking daily.
Sometimes she laughs and enjoys it and
other times it’s hard, but she’s doing
it! We take her for walks in the garden.
Because she is mostly blind, she likes
experiencing the smells and feeling the
plants.”
On Good Friday Michael took Nadi-
yya to an exhibition for children called
“The Journey to the Cross”, which had
multi-sensory activities to help engage
with the story of the crucifixion. “Nadi-
yya enjoyed the perfume smell of the
nard that Jesus was anointed with, she
ate bread like Jesus blessed, she felt a
crown made of thorns, she helped nail
pieces of paper with sins on them to
a cross and she touched empty grave
clothes. All while I explained to her the
death and resurrection of Jesus
in Arabic.
“Due to her learning disability, I
couldn’t ask her if she wanted to follow
Jesus, but it was so good to see her
emotional responses to the various
elements.
“I felt so privileged to take Nadiyya
through this journey and so encouraged
that the person who helped me was
a local nurse who heard the story of
Jesus’ death and resurrection. Please
pray for Nadiyya, giving thanks for her
growing ability to walk, and pray that the
truth and love of Jesus will continue to
make a deeper impact into all hearts
and lives here.”
“I explained to her the death and resurrection of Jesus in Arabic.”
A whole Hindu village in Bangladesh has come to Christ and now has a place to worship
him together, thanks to the Church of Bangladesh and a grant from CMS.
Former CMS manager for Asia Adrian Watkins said, “In 2009 CMS sent a grant for the con-
struction of a church in Rajshahi Deanery. The whole Santali tribal village had recently accepted
Jesus through the work of the Church of Bangladesh. The building opened in April.”
The Rt Rev Samuel Sunil Mankhin, Bishop of Kushtia, sent his thanks to CMS donors for
their generosity. In the past few years, seven new churches – with a combined membership of
over 700 people – have been started in the area. CMS has a longstanding partnership with the
Church of Bangladesh.
But that’s only because we
see this happening daily.
We see the love of Jesus touching
the hearts of prisoners, pagans and
presidents.
We see people we know giving
up good, well-paying jobs to go
and live out their mission calling
in remote, uncomfortable and
sometimes dangerous places.
We see God raising up gifted local
leaders in Africa, Asia and Latin
America who are bringing about
remarkable transformation.
We have witnessed the emergence
of grassroots mission movements
in non-western countries and
these have changed the way we
see and live mission.
We have seen the difference that
seemingly ordinary Christians can
make by living mission in their
everyday lives.
We see pioneers break new
ground, cross boundaries and
create new channels for the gospel
in our country.
So we ask you, do you see
what we see? Take a look at
these pages, be encouraged
by what God is doing through
CMS supporters’ prayers and
gifts and sign up for the CMS
bi-monthly Mission Update so
you can be part of the story.
Autu
mn
2012
Mission partner Michael Green helps Nadiyya, age 11, take physical and spiritual steps
A CMS grant helped provide this church for a village of new believers
365x265.indd 1 24/9/12 11:17:49
My story
My work with Sacred Space Kingston is about
engaging with spiritual seekers who might be more at
home at, say, a festival than in a church.
In March, Jonny Baker of CMS and I were invited to
speak at a diocesan healing day about our experience of
engaging with people at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in
London over the last seven years.
Derek Legg, who is on the organising committee of
the Lammas Festival, which is put together by the pagan
community in Eastbourne, heard us and suggested getting a
team together to run a stall at Lammas.
As I am also a student on the CMS Pioneer Mission
Leadership Training course, I joined forces with fellow
pioneer students and Eastbourne residents Glyn Moreton
and Karlie Allaway. Together, we gave training to local
volunteers.
This was the first time Christians had engaged with
visitors to this event and the response was overwhelming.
Emma Moreton from Old Town Community Church
decorated adults and children with temporary henna
tattoos, while other team members offered to pray for
participants, utilising resources like the Jesus Deck or
Ruach (spirit) cards, which contain biblical stories and
scripture passages.
Many festival-goers expressed surprise that Christians
were present.
One
attendee talked about the “really good vibe” in the
Christian tent and was moved to tears as she chose a
card from the Jesus Deck that talked about Jesus giving
her peace. She said that was exactly what she needed
and how unexpected it was that God knew that and had
touched her so deeply.
Another woman chose a card about love that costs
even to the point of physical pain, followed by another
that spoke of healing. She explained that she had been
a victim of domestic violence for many years and had
recently started her life over. It was prayed that she might
recover her sense of identity and receive a new sense of
purpose and hope. She went away thankful.
Others recounted tales of hurt and judgement they
had experienced in church and were pleased to have
the opportunity to encounter loving and welcoming
Christians.
The Rev Mike Blanch, curate at St Michael and All
Angel’s Eastbourne, called his participation in mission at
Lammas, “a truly wonderful experience encountering Jesus
in so many unlikely people, reaching out in unexpected
places and supported by the grace of God.”
At the end of the festival, organisers asked the team
to come back next year and suggested other pagan
gatherings to attend!
Together with the local church, we were able to take
a risk, step out and be Christ to those who are seeking
spiritual fulfilment in places and practices that will
ultimately only disappoint.
If you would like to know more about engaging with spiritual seekers at events like these, contact
Pagan festival: boldly going where few Christians have gone before By CMS mission partner Andrea CampanaleMission partner
Andrea Campanale shares Jesus with people that many Christians neglect
Mission pioneers shared the light and love of Jesus at a pagan festival this summer
These cards contain scriptures and stories that
become the basis for praying with seekers
“This was the first time Christians had engaged with visitors to this event and the response was overwhelming”
Did
you
know
?
From guerrilla leader to church leaderA man sentenced to 190 years behind bars for a brutal murder is now
leading a prison church in Colombia.
According to CMS associate mission
partners Pancha and Terry Barratt, this
came about through the prayers of
Christian prisoners and through the
SEAN theological education by extension
programme they help direct. “This man
was so violent he’d served eight years
in solitary confinement. But his Christian
fellow prisoners prayed for him daily –
they would sit outside his cell singing and
praying. One night God touched this man
and he believed.”
This had a big impact in the prison.
This man eventually graduated from
the SEAN programme in 2005 and
now helps lead the prison church. His
sentence has recently been reduced
to 19 more years for good behaviour
and the SEAN programme has been
welcomed in 23 out of 25 major prisons
in Colombia.
Colombian murderer is now a minister through CMS partner’s work
Asylum seekers find home in JesusThree Muslim-background asylum seekers from Central Asia have embraced
Jesus through a Bible study run by a UK mission partner who must remain
anonymous. “T, M and F have expressed a desire to get baptised and so I have
started meeting with them to have discipleship and baptism classes.” Over
the past months, the Bible study group has grown, as more Central Asians are
attending following seeker-sensitive Sunday services started by this CMS mission
partner. “We’ve also recently had an answered prayer as T, who was about to
be deported back to a potentially dangerous situation in his home country, was
released from detention and his fresh claim for asylum is being considered.”
Five years ago, someone like Sunmaya would have barely any chance
of being in church leadership in Nepal –
because she’s a woman.
Yet today her church has given her
responsibility over children’s and youth
ministry. She also preaches and teaches
and disciples others. Through her
InveSTIng In woMen leAderS helPS nePAl ChurCheS ThrIve
Sunmaya, one of hundreds of women helping shape the rapidly growing church in nepal
A boy named reagan, who was living on the DR Congo streets, has received a badly-needed leg operation and
returned home to his family, thanks to Centre Kimbilio in Lubumbashi.
“We’d noticed Reagan walking with difficulty and found a piece of metal embedded in his leg,” recalled CMS mission
partner Ian Harvey, who pioneered Kimbilio (‘place to go for safety’) with the diocese of Katanga.
A CMS donor paid for Reagan’s operation. “In a positive turn of events, Reagan’s father visited him in the hospital –
after the operation his family welcomed him back home,” Ian said.
Reagan is one of more than 100 boys living on the streets who have been reunited with their families in the three
years since Kimbilio was established. Recently, two boys who had been sleeping under market stalls were taken home
to their families in Kolwezi. Ian says the process is costly, but worth it to reintegrate children forced to leave their
families for a range of reasons.
In addition to helping boys return home, Centre Kimbilio supports up to 90 street boys a week with food, learning
activities, Bible study and a safe place to sleep.
Recently, Kimbilio opened its doors to a girl, a baby abandoned on the road. “Kimbilio residents named her Chancelle
Vie Ian – the first part means a chance to live,” said Ian. “We identified a local family eager to look after her.”
More than 100 street children get to go home
testimony, her entire family has come to
believe in Jesus.
Sunmaya and hundreds of women like
her are able to use their gifts to benefit
Nepali churches, thanks to the Leadership
Training Department (LTD) of the National
Churches Fellowship of Nepal, which is led
by CMS Timothy (local) mission partner
Manoj Pradhananga.
He says, “In the last five years, 250
women have been given leadership training
from 51 out of 75 districts of Nepal. Women
leaders from remote and rural areas are given
high priority for this training.
“The Nepali church constitutes a
substantial number of women. However,
many women are deprived of a number of
privileges in the patriarchal culture. They are
also prevented from several opportunities
for ministry…LTD has focused on releasing
women to use their God-given gifts and
talents.”
One pastor, who has sent six women
from his church for leadership training, said,
“The church has become more mature
spiritually through women using their God
given abilities.”
runners and walkers make great strides for missionIn the past year, hundreds of
pounds were raised for life-chang-
ing mission by people putting their
best foot forward. Some, like Domi-
nic Monney, completed a marathon
whilst others like Judith and Tony
Hodgson, opted for “a gentler chal-
lenge” – a lovely walk through the
South Downs. When asked why he
took on this sponsored challenge,
Dominic replied, “The work [CMS
does] is the most important work
there is and I wanted to support the
work of the kingdom.”
“I’m constantly amazed how many
gifted people volunteer for mission
placements, often in dangerous
places, for CMS and this is a testa-
ment to their extraordinary faith,”
said walker Judith Hodgson.
Huge thanks to all CMS sponsored
challenge-takers and to all those
who support them and God’s
mission with their gifts and prayers.
For more info on how you can do a
CMS sponsored challenge, write to
A Brazilian woman who once practised divination
and black magic, is living a transformed life, thanks to
CMS Latin partners Ian and Simea Meldrum at Living Waters
church in Olinda.
“When we first met Mrs Jo she was a ‘mae de santos’, a
spiritist leader. Her life had been one long tragedy, losing
four sons through violent deaths and her daughter had
severe mental health problems,” the Meldrums recalled.
Through the ministry of Living Waters church, Jo now knows
and loves Jesus. She has recently taken in her grandson
Ivson, who has been living at My Father’s House, a haven
for at-risk boys from Olinda’s violent streets.
“Ivson came to My Father’s House five years ago, when
he was 12,” says Simea. “We remember him carrying
handmade guns provided by the man living with his mother
at the time. Since then, his life turned around.”
A local child welfare judge agreed that Ivson can now
live with his grandmother, Jo, and My Father’s House will
continue to follow up with these two people who have
been transformed into family.
From witchcraft to godmotherSince our founding in 1799, more than 10,000 women and men have served worldwide with CMS
The CMS mission community currently has 2,500 members committed to making mission part of everyday life www.cms-uk.org/community
on 20 october, 13 CMS supporters will Jump for Jesus in a sponsored skydive, including a handful of canons and vicars. To support them in their leap for mission, contact [email protected]
CMS has a new executive leader, the Rev Canon Philip Mounstephen. To attend his commissioning celebration on 13 October in Oxford, contact [email protected]
Fundraising champions Tony and Judith hodgson and dominic Monney (below)
CMS latin partner Simea Meldrum leads living waters church in a Brazil shanty town
“My security is in god”: one of the boys
who has found a haven in Kimbilio
like what you’ve read in these pages? To get good news stories of how god is working in our world delivered to you by email or post every other month,go to: www.cms-uk.org/missionupdate Don’t forget to like Church Mission Society (CMS) on facebook and follow us on Twitter: @cmsmission
365x550.indd 1 24/9/12 11:20:13
My story
My work with Sacred Space Kingston is about
engaging with spiritual seekers who might be more at
home at, say, a festival than in a church.
In March, Jonny Baker of CMS and I were invited to
speak at a diocesan healing day about our experience of
engaging with people at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in
London over the last seven years.
Derek Legg, who is on the organising committee of
the Lammas Festival, which is put together by the pagan
community in Eastbourne, heard us and suggested getting a
team together to run a stall at Lammas.
As I am also a student on the CMS Pioneer Mission
Leadership Training course, I joined forces with fellow
pioneer students and Eastbourne residents Glyn Moreton
and Karlie Allaway. Together, we gave training to local
volunteers.
This was the first time Christians had engaged with
visitors to this event and the response was overwhelming.
Emma Moreton from Old Town Community Church
decorated adults and children with temporary henna
tattoos, while other team members offered to pray for
participants, utilising resources like the Jesus Deck or
Ruach (spirit) cards, which contain biblical stories and
scripture passages.
Many festival-goers expressed surprise that Christians
were present.
One
attendee talked about the “really good vibe” in the
Christian tent and was moved to tears as she chose a
card from the Jesus Deck that talked about Jesus giving
her peace. She said that was exactly what she needed
and how unexpected it was that God knew that and had
touched her so deeply.
Another woman chose a card about love that costs
even to the point of physical pain, followed by another
that spoke of healing. She explained that she had been
a victim of domestic violence for many years and had
recently started her life over. It was prayed that she might
recover her sense of identity and receive a new sense of
purpose and hope. She went away thankful.
Others recounted tales of hurt and judgement they
had experienced in church and were pleased to have
the opportunity to encounter loving and welcoming
Christians.
The Rev Mike Blanch, curate at St Michael and All
Angel’s Eastbourne, called his participation in mission at
Lammas, “a truly wonderful experience encountering Jesus
in so many unlikely people, reaching out in unexpected
places and supported by the grace of God.”
At the end of the festival, organisers asked the team
to come back next year and suggested other pagan
gatherings to attend!
Together with the local church, we were able to take
a risk, step out and be Christ to those who are seeking
spiritual fulfilment in places and practices that will
ultimately only disappoint.
If you would like to know more about engaging with spiritual seekers at events like these, contact
Pagan festival: boldly going where few Christians have gone before By CMS mission partner Andrea CampanaleMission partner
Andrea Campanale shares Jesus with people that many Christians neglect
Mission pioneers shared the light and love of Jesus at a pagan festival this summer
These cards contain scriptures and stories that
become the basis for praying with seekers
“This was the first time Christians had engaged with visitors to this event and the response was overwhelming”
Did
you
know
?
From guerrilla leader to church leaderA man sentenced to 190 years behind bars for a brutal murder is now
leading a prison church in Colombia.
According to CMS associate mission
partners Pancha and Terry Barratt, this
came about through the prayers of
Christian prisoners and through the
SEAN theological education by extension
programme they help direct. “This man
was so violent he’d served eight years
in solitary confinement. But his Christian
fellow prisoners prayed for him daily –
they would sit outside his cell singing and
praying. One night God touched this man
and he believed.”
This had a big impact in the prison.
This man eventually graduated from
the SEAN programme in 2005 and
now helps lead the prison church. His
sentence has recently been reduced
to 19 more years for good behaviour
and the SEAN programme has been
welcomed in 23 out of 25 major prisons
in Colombia.
Colombian murderer is now a minister through CMS partner’s work
Asylum seekers find home in JesusThree Muslim-background asylum seekers from Central Asia have embraced
Jesus through a Bible study run by a UK mission partner who must remain
anonymous. “T, M and F have expressed a desire to get baptised and so I have
started meeting with them to have discipleship and baptism classes.” Over
the past months, the Bible study group has grown, as more Central Asians are
attending following seeker-sensitive Sunday services started by this CMS mission
partner. “We’ve also recently had an answered prayer as T, who was about to
be deported back to a potentially dangerous situation in his home country, was
released from detention and his fresh claim for asylum is being considered.”
Five years ago, someone like Sunmaya would have barely any chance
of being in church leadership in Nepal –
because she’s a woman.
Yet today her church has given her
responsibility over children’s and youth
ministry. She also preaches and teaches
and disciples others. Through her
InveSTIng In woMen leAderS helPS nePAl ChurCheS ThrIve
Sunmaya, one of hundreds of women helping shape the rapidly growing church in nepal
A boy named reagan, who was living on the DR Congo streets, has received a badly-needed leg operation and
returned home to his family, thanks to Centre Kimbilio in Lubumbashi.
“We’d noticed Reagan walking with difficulty and found a piece of metal embedded in his leg,” recalled CMS mission
partner Ian Harvey, who pioneered Kimbilio (‘place to go for safety’) with the diocese of Katanga.
A CMS donor paid for Reagan’s operation. “In a positive turn of events, Reagan’s father visited him in the hospital –
after the operation his family welcomed him back home,” Ian said.
Reagan is one of more than 100 boys living on the streets who have been reunited with their families in the three
years since Kimbilio was established. Recently, two boys who had been sleeping under market stalls were taken home
to their families in Kolwezi. Ian says the process is costly, but worth it to reintegrate children forced to leave their
families for a range of reasons.
In addition to helping boys return home, Centre Kimbilio supports up to 90 street boys a week with food, learning
activities, Bible study and a safe place to sleep.
Recently, Kimbilio opened its doors to a girl, a baby abandoned on the road. “Kimbilio residents named her Chancelle
Vie Ian – the first part means a chance to live,” said Ian. “We identified a local family eager to look after her.”
More than 100 street children get to go home
testimony, her entire family has come to
believe in Jesus.
Sunmaya and hundreds of women like
her are able to use their gifts to benefit
Nepali churches, thanks to the Leadership
Training Department (LTD) of the National
Churches Fellowship of Nepal, which is led
by CMS Timothy (local) mission partner
Manoj Pradhananga.
He says, “In the last five years, 250
women have been given leadership training
from 51 out of 75 districts of Nepal. Women
leaders from remote and rural areas are given
high priority for this training.
“The Nepali church constitutes a
substantial number of women. However,
many women are deprived of a number of
privileges in the patriarchal culture. They are
also prevented from several opportunities
for ministry…LTD has focused on releasing
women to use their God-given gifts and
talents.”
One pastor, who has sent six women
from his church for leadership training, said,
“The church has become more mature
spiritually through women using their God
given abilities.”
runners and walkers make great strides for missionIn the past year, hundreds of
pounds were raised for life-chang-
ing mission by people putting their
best foot forward. Some, like Domi-
nic Monney, completed a marathon
whilst others like Judith and Tony
Hodgson, opted for “a gentler chal-
lenge” – a lovely walk through the
South Downs. When asked why he
took on this sponsored challenge,
Dominic replied, “The work [CMS
does] is the most important work
there is and I wanted to support the
work of the kingdom.”
“I’m constantly amazed how many
gifted people volunteer for mission
placements, often in dangerous
places, for CMS and this is a testa-
ment to their extraordinary faith,”
said walker Judith Hodgson.
Huge thanks to all CMS sponsored
challenge-takers and to all those
who support them and God’s
mission with their gifts and prayers.
For more info on how you can do a
CMS sponsored challenge, write to
A Brazilian woman who once practised divination
and black magic, is living a transformed life, thanks to
CMS Latin partners Ian and Simea Meldrum at Living Waters
church in Olinda.
“When we first met Mrs Jo she was a ‘mae de santos’, a
spiritist leader. Her life had been one long tragedy, losing
four sons through violent deaths and her daughter had
severe mental health problems,” the Meldrums recalled.
Through the ministry of Living Waters church, Jo now knows
and loves Jesus. She has recently taken in her grandson
Ivson, who has been living at My Father’s House, a haven
for at-risk boys from Olinda’s violent streets.
“Ivson came to My Father’s House five years ago, when
he was 12,” says Simea. “We remember him carrying
handmade guns provided by the man living with his mother
at the time. Since then, his life turned around.”
A local child welfare judge agreed that Ivson can now
live with his grandmother, Jo, and My Father’s House will
continue to follow up with these two people who have
been transformed into family.
From witchcraft to godmotherSince our founding in 1799, more than 10,000 women and men have served worldwide with CMS
The CMS mission community currently has 2,500 members committed to making mission part of everyday life www.cms-uk.org/community
on 20 october, 13 CMS supporters will Jump for Jesus in a sponsored skydive, including a handful of canons and vicars. To support them in their leap for mission, contact [email protected]
CMS has a new executive leader, the Rev Canon Philip Mounstephen. To attend his commissioning celebration on 13 October in Oxford, contact [email protected]
Fundraising champions Tony and Judith hodgson and dominic Monney (below)
CMS latin partner Simea Meldrum leads living waters church in a Brazil shanty town
“My security is in god”: one of the boys
who has found a haven in Kimbilio
like what you’ve read in these pages? To get good news stories of how god is working in our world delivered to you by email or post every other month,go to: www.cms-uk.org/missionupdate Don’t forget to like Church Mission Society (CMS) on facebook and follow us on Twitter: @cmsmission
365x550.indd 1 24/9/12 11:20:13
Now’s your chance to be like the runners, walkers
and skydivers for mission you met in the previous
pages. Raise much-needed funds for mission by
scaling the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.
Plus, you’ll meet local disabled African artisans who
are reaching new heights through Jesus’ love. 9–24
October 2013
Prefer a gentler walk, a bike ride or a different
trek? Choose your own adventure by calling Hannah:
01865 787521 or [email protected]
CMS has mission opportunities from a weekend to a lifetime. Check out our new GAP programme or enter our film competition to win £500 towards a short-term Encounter team trip to Kenya, Romania or Israel/Palestine! www.cms-uk.org/getinvolved
Calling all pioneers and those who love them! The CMS Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Course is on a roll, with dozens of new participants and a brand new MA course option! Our next open day is 20 November at CMS in Oxford. Or come to our Pioneer Friends meal on 9 October and learn how you can cheer on pioneers! More info: pioneer.cms-uk.org
Now open for Christmas! Buying presents from the
CMS web shop can mean a brighter future for many of
our brothers and sisters worldwide. Explore our wide
range of carefully chosen cards, crafts, jewellery and much
more – avoid the high street and do something sweet.
I want to be part of the story. Please send me your bimonthly free Mission Update and prayer guide by post by email (or go to: www.cms-uk.org/missionupdate and sign up there)Name: Address:
Email: Phone number:Send this completed request to CMS Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ Thank you!
Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ Tel: +44 (0)1865 787400 Email: [email protected]
Regi
ster
ed C
harit
y N
o 11
3165
5
PI312-C.GEN
365x265.indd 2 24/9/12 11:17:51