Connect May-2010

with the CMS community online www.cms-uk.org

SHARINGJESUSCHANGING

LIVESIssue 1:2010

Community voices inspiring each other in mission

Welcoming Third SpaceWelcomes matter. I remember the warm welcome I found the first time I visited Third Space, an emerging community in Matlock, Derbyshire. A lovely meal shared around a big old wooden table, a group of people from a variety of Christian backgrounds and spiritual traditions, a mix of ages, and conversation

shaped for intentional living and mission. Third Space was the first group to formally link with CMS.During that first visit I discovered that the wooden table around which we sat had once belonged to a Quaker meeting house. How appropriate that this table is again the context for a continued search for God and for life.

Ian is missional community developer for CMS. To learn more about small missional communities: cms-uk.org/smcOnline network: cmskindling.ning.com/group/smcThird Space: www.third-space.org.uk

that often fell into laughter, but which also ventured into some tough things.Third Space take their name from the concept of a place where people engage with each other “that’s neither home nor workplace but somewhere in between...a place to share in each others’ lives without the pressure to do or be someone other than who we are.” I’ve been really excited to see them working out how to create this space, and to become a Christ-centred community shaped for their setting. We are currently in conversation with over 70 individuals and groups interested in creating Jesus-following communities

Twelve thousand people from various walks

of life have been invited to consider joining

the new CMS community. Each has received

a membership resource pack that includes a

booklet called 40 Days of Yes in time to be

used for Lent.

With the integration of CMS and SAMS having

completed on 1 February 2010, all existing

Over 12,000 people considering new CMS membership

CMS members are legally required to re-join

if they wish to remain members. All SAMS

and CMS supporters who wish to become

members for the first time will also need to

sign a member declaration.

“Now is a great time for people to prayerfully

consider what membership in the new CMS

mission community means and if they can

say ‘yes’ to the seven membership promises,”

says Anita Matthews, mission community

facilitator, adding, “We’re encouraging people

to go through 40 Days of Yes to help them in

that process.”

What does it mean to be a member of the new

CMS community? It’s essentially a commitment

to Every Member Mission — community

members aim to live a life shaped by God’s

mission, to participate in mission globally and

locally, and to help others do the same.

Members of the new CMS community will

receive the Connect publication three times a

year so they can share mission ideas and news

with one another. There will also be increased

ways to connect online.

One person who is renewing their membership

stated: “CMS is building on a 210-year history.

The values are the same, the commitment

to mission is being reaffirmed so strongly,

especially with the SAMS integration; why

wouldn’t I want to be part of that and stay

connected with others who share my passion

for mission?”

If for some reason you haven’t received a

Members Resource pack, please contact

the CMS office and we will send you one

immediately. Phone: 01865 787400 or email

[email protected]

40 D

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SMALL MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES NEWS

by Ian Adams

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Ian Benson, London Hello I’m Ian. I worked with SAMS in theological education by extension in Chile from 1979

until 1991. Now, as Associate Director of the International Missionary Training Network of the World Evangelical Alliance Missions

Commission, I lead the Missionary Training Service (MTS), running the Evangelical Training Directory. My wife Rosemary and I were

attracted to the CMS emphasis on unreached peoples. The

MTS is a small mission and we thought that it would be good

to be part of a larger community with which we share the

same values. Although I am an Anglican minister, I am not a

denominationalist, and value the non-sectarian focus of CMS.

We strongly believe in local united action and have formed

a fellowship of Christians who live in our street, following the

lines of www.lightsineverystreet.org. We hope to be able to

participate more closely in CMS.

Evangelical Training Directory:

www.trainforChrist.org/englishNew

MeM

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Co

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Swapping languages, shopping localPat Hooker, once a mission partner in

Varanasi, India, on establishing common

ground with her neighbours in Leeds:

On the door of an Asian clothing shop I saw a

notice advertising coaching for school children.

Inside, having observed the normal courtesies

and seeing some booklets on a shelf, I asked the

shopkeeper, who proved to be the local imam,

whether he had a beginners’ Urdu reader. He

did, and with his help I began to decipher Urdu

script.

When I needed a vegetable scraper, I decided

to go to the Asian-owned shop across the

road. When I spoke in Urdu to the cashier, he

graciously offered me a cup of tea!

While for some in my church such encounters

are really challenging, inshalla, God-willing,

over time some will choose to shop in Harehills

rather than Harrogate.

Mission on the menuAnne Fox, Christchurch Long Hanborough

For years our parish held an annual sale,

raising around £700 for mission. When the

lady who led the project died, no one felt they

could take on this huge organisational task, but

three ladies felt that together, they could cook

a good meal for 50 people.

We already provide a two-course meal every

two weeks for about 48 villagers so we had

access to cookers, cutlery, crockery, tables etc.

Some supportive friends offered to help. The

venue is the daughter church in the parish,

which has chairs, not pews so there’s room

for eight to ten tables, leaving a bit of room

for amateur entertainment. Our menu this

year featured:

Starter: stuffed eggs, salad and hot breadMain: chicken casserole, carrots, beans, broccoli, roast potatoes and gravySweets: Ten different sweets freely provided by wonderful friendsCheese boardextras: Wine, fruit juices, tea, coffee, chocolates.

We also had a small bring and buy table.

Entertainment consisted of half an hour of

amusing poems and tales provided by a group

of Methodist friends. In previous years we’ve

had a pantomime, singers or short theatre.

People usually help restore the “restaurant” to

church in time for Sunday worship.

Tickets cost £10 each; our aim each year is to

raise £500 for mission. We feel this is a great

occasion to get together with church and non-

church parishioners of all ages – a night of fun

as well as fundraising.

Want to host a dinner party for mission? Go to

www.dinner4good.com/cms for some great

ideas, or call / email Ruth: 01865 787519 or

[email protected]

Photo: Jonny Baker

CMS financial updateCMS continues to struggle in the economic downturn. Income from churches and individuals has been hardest hit and we are in the process of reducing our costs to cope with this reduction, with the emphasis on reducing UK support costs. Please pray for wisdom and an increase in giving during these difficult financial times.

Shop in multicultural Harehills

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Rhema Faith Ministries sets itself no

small task. Yordanos Tesfay, a member

of the church and a staff member of CMS,

says Rhema’s vision “is to be disciples to the

whole world, to preach the Gospel and to

make disciples.” Rhema has six branches in

the UK; most members, like Yordanos, are

from Ethiopia and Eritrea, and speak Amharic

and Tigrigna.

Pastor Robel from Rhema explains their

mission vision: “God is bringing people from

the nations which Britain has reached to reach

Britain…. Some say the number of believers

in Ethiopia has reached 18 million from a few

thousand 30 years ago. Rhema in the UK has

grown from 40 members in 2004 to over 400

in 2006. It is estimated that 75,000 Ethiopians

and Eritreans could be here in the UK. I believe

reaching this community will have a great

impact on Britain.”

Adapting to life, let alone mission, in the UK

isn’t easy. When Rhema began here in 1999,

it became a vital hub for worship, community

and support. But how could they carry out

their vision of making disciples in an unfamiliar

culture? Similar challenges are shared by

many diaspora churches in the UK, who often

face language barriers, limited resources and

significant cultural differences.

On 28 July last year 22 members of Rhema Faith

Ministries centres in London and Birmingham

visited CMS to find out more about cross-

cultural mission. Sessions on mission, church

relations, sharing stories and networking

proved useful to Rhema members. “We

became different people after that day,” says

Yordanos, adding, “The way we understand

mission is different.” That initial day has been

followed up with further visits to identify

training needs and possibilities. CMS and

Rhema report that there is a growing trusting

relationship between the two groups.

According to CMS’ Anita Matthews, connecting

with diaspora churches is crucial for CMS, “not

because of what we give, but because of what

we can share with one another.”

Below: CMS & Rhema are learning from each other

Migration to mission

A definite need to remainWhat do you do when the people on your street — the street

you love — are in such dire need?

What do you do when your neighbour — a fantastic family man,

helpful in the community and very handy,

selflessly so — is picked up by the police

and “thrown in”, leaving his family struggling

for sheer survival?

What do you do when you discover that your

other neighbour, whom you have grown to

trust as a friend, is a “distributor” and uses

the teenage children of your other friend as

runners?

What do you do when a newcomer to the

street is robbed twice in the same month and

consequently moves away?

What do you do when a good member of

the residents association has her door kicked

in while her partner is at work and she is

looking after her one-year old and four year old?

These are just a few things that have happened in the last six months

on my street. But, the question is, what do you do? What does one

do to be effective in a community like this? More specifically, what

should we do – we the Yoberas?

What does God expect of us? He sent us to

Harpurhey, Manchester; we have been here

for seven years and counting. We love the

community, so leaving is not an option, at least

not for the foreseeable future.

Recently, I was meditating on Nehemiah 6:3:

“So I sent messengers to them with this reply:

‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot

go down. Why should the work stop while I

leave it and go down to you?’” It’s as if God is

confirming this very need to stay. What do you

do? We stay.

originally from Kenya, Cyprian and Jayne

Yobera live and work as mission partners in

Harpurhey, Manchester.

Cyprian Yobera

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to events: www.cms-uk.org/events

to CMS people

England minister and has been a vicar and a leader of churches for over 16 years. She has particular experience in children’s ministry, as well as ministry to the most vulnerable in society. Their three children, Leah, Natalie and Joel, have travelled to Thailand with them.

FarewellLiz and Robin Watson, with their four boys Luke, Joe, Ben and JJ, have returned to the UK after 10 years’ work in Sudan. Rob has been instrumental in developing discipleship training, often in very difficult circumstances in the Muslim North of the country. In the last few years he has headed up the Episcopal Church of Sudan’s national education and training programme, a massive task involving forming a strategy and coordinating training of teacher trainers all over the country. Needless to say Rob’s passion for making disciples of Jesus meant that even during teacher training programmes, optional (and very popular) discipleship courses ran in the evenings. Liz taught science at Khartoum’s international school and helped pioneer King’s Kids holiday clubs in Sudan, a ministry that

Peter is leader of an Ecumenical parish just outside Cambridge. They will spend the day with us and share in our time of worship in the evening. Everyone is welcome. Contact Douglas Durand on 01263 822388

Oxford region10 April Sponsored group skydive at Hinton Airfield, 8am–1pm. Contact Ruth on [email protected] or 01865 787519.

Worcester Archdeaconry CMS13 March Coffee Morning at Alison Sheehan- Hunt’s home at 25, Richmond Road, Malvern Link, WR14 1NE from 10.00 to 12.00.

28 April ANNUAL OPEN MEETING at St Stephen’s Church, Worcester at 7.30pm. Speaker, Rob Watson on his work in the Sudan. After a short AGM there will be a bring and share supper.

16 July Coffee Morning at Peter and Penny Burch’s home at 6, Jordans Close, Willersey, (near Broadway) WR12 7QD on Friday 16th July fom 10.30 to 12.00. Contact Peter Burch on 01386 853837 for all these events.

York & District CMS15 March Prayer Lunch, 11am–12pm, Spurriergate Centre, York, followed by optional lunch. Contact Neill Mackay on 01904 412971

14 June Summer Meeting & AGM with bring & share supper, 7pm, Quiet Garden, Sheriff Hutton. Contact Eileen Wishart on 01904 633705

17 June Refreshment Day (fundraising), 10am–4pm, St Crux, York City Centre. Contact Miranda Smith 01904 424322 or Jean Mackay 01904 412971

6 Sept Prayer Lunch, 11am–12pm, Spurriergate Centre, York, followed by optional lunch. Contact Neill Mackay on 01904 412971

11 Sept Refreshment Day (fundraising), 10am–4pm, St Crux, York City Centre. Contact Miranda Smith 01904 424322 or Jean Mackay 01904 412971

19 Nov Advance notice: Annual Supper (details tbc), Christ Church, Stockton Lane, York.

Yorkshire CMS20 February “Missional Communities” with Chris Neal and Anita Matthews (CMS community facilitator), Anna and Chris Hembury (CMS mission partners in Hull), 10.30 for 11am – 3pm, St Columba Church, Laburnum Avenue, Holderness Road, Hull. Bring packed lunch, drinks provided. Contact Allen Bagshawe on 01482 326573

26 June Summer Tea Party, York (venue tbc), with some missional contribution from recent short-term team visits to Uganda and Sierra Leone. Contact Allen Bagshawe on 01482 326573

National events12–14 March (Leeds) & 7–9 May (Southampton) ReSource training weekends – for leaders pioneering mission in the emerging culture. Themes: Transforming Community and Personal & Team Formation. Book at www.resourcemission.com/weekends

1–10 May Machu Picchu trek – two CMS supporters are trekking in the Andes to raise money for mission (see www.cms-uk.org/challenges).

3–6 May Pioneering Mission with Jonny Baker, The Windermere Centre, Cumbria. Four days on reaching the people traditional church doesn’t reach. See http://windermere.urc.org.uk for more details.

9–22 May ‘REvOLUTION’ sponsored cycle tour. Cheer on our cyclists en route and come along to special services in each city they visit. Find out about taking part or how to sponsor a cyclist by calling Chris Woo on 01865 787517 or email [email protected]

Itinerary 9th Hull (St Columba’s Drypool 10.30am) to York (York Minster 7.30pm)10th York to Manchester (Christ Church Harpurhey 7.30pm)11th Manchester to Sheffield (Christ Church Pittsmoor 7.30pm)12th Sheffield to Nottingham

(St Nicholas Nottingham 7.30pm)13th Nottingham to Birmingham (St Martin in the Bullring 7.30pm)14th Birmingham to Ledbury (St Michael and All Angels 7.30pm)15th Ledbury to Cardiff (St Mark’s Gabalfa 7.30pm)16th Cardiff to Bristol (Holy Trinity Stapleton 6.30pm)17th Rest day18th Bristol to Winchester (Christ Church Winchester 7.30pm)19th Winchester to Guildford (St Saviour’s 7.30pm)20th Guildford to Woodford, North London (All Saints Woodford Wells 7.30pm)21st Woodford to Ealing (St Mary’s 7.30pm)22nd Ealing to Oxford (King’s Centre – Day 50)

Visit www.cms-uk.org/revolution for more details

22 May Day 50 The long-awaited celebration of the new united mission community of CMS and SAMS takes place in Oxford. With the Rt Rev John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, as the keynote speaker, it’s sure to be a special day. Lots of opportunities to celebrate God’s mission around the world, meet mission partners and dedicate ourselves to making mission our lifestyle wherever in the world we are.

reached into many of the deprived communities of internally displaced people around the capital.

Daniela and valentin Kozhuharov have finished their time as CMS mission partners, having worked in Moscow since 2002. They are equally pioneers, having been CMS’s first Orthodox mission partners. Valentin has mainly been working in the area of theological and religious education, and Daniela in library management and teaching church history. Apart from teaching at the Orthodox University of St John, Valentin developed curricula and syllabuses for Orthodox schools and colleges throughout Russia.They believe passionately that for the sake of mission in Europe, Western and Eastern Christians need to understand each other better and they’ll continue to be devoted to this aim as they return to their native Bulgaria, to catalyse mission in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and build more links between Western and Eastern churches.

Congratulations to John Kafwanka, former CMS regional manager, who after a secondment from CMS to the Anglican Communion Office has been

appointed their Director of Mission.

At the end of October, due to restructuring, we sadly lost our dynamic youth advisers Mike North and David Pollendine. They have both served CMS very creatively and along with Anita Matthews (now CMS Community facilitator) pioneered the massive youth theatre tours Free For All, marking the abolition of the bicentenary of the slave trade in 2007 and World to Rights, focusing on children’s rights in 2009. David’s talent’s in theatre, especially with young people, are rightly renowned and Mike, no slouch in the drama department, also launched the trax16 youth podcast. Dave and Mike are continuing to work together on more theatre in education programmes focusing on environmental issues.

We also say goodbye and thank you to Laura Harvey and Tony Whelan, who have served as freelance editor and designer, respectively, and whose talents helped produce Mid Africa News and other publications.

In November the staff team said goodbye to Dani Wetzler, who’d been a temporary assistant receptionist

and one of CMS’s sparkier characters.

Our final farewell is to Bunmi Olayisade, who has been Head of Facilities at the Oxford office since the building was still a building site. We’ve all appreciated Bunmi’s warmth and passion for Jesus – and now she taking that to the Methodist Church where she’ll be responsible for their mission partners.

DEATHSSeptember 2009: Peter ruffle, India 1945–52, CMS staff 1952–57.

eileen Taylor, Taiwan 1969–79.

october: Malcolm ridyard, India 1962–71, CMS staff 1971–1980.Donald Simcox, CMS staff 1984–97.

bob Vass, Sudan 1951–62, Uganda 1971–74.

November: Alison Margery Crabb, Sudan 1941–51.

Thelma Scott, Uganda 1961–74.

NEXT CONNECT WILL BE SENT IN JUNE

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Riding to the occasionby Jenny Hyatt, Berkhamstead

Why am I doing the 13-city Revolution cycle

ride? I’ve been asking myself this question. My

husband, Peter, and I both love cycling, but

this two-week ride is going to be tougher than

most of the cycle treks we’ve done in recent

years. So, why am I doing it?

It’s partly for the physical challenge; but it’s

also because of the links we have with CMS.

Peter is a CMS trustee, and he’s also been a

trustee and treasurer of SAMS for the past ten

years, while I did a brief spell as a Mid-Africa

Ministry volunteer in Rwanda in the early

1980s. We are both excited by the possibilities

for mission that the new joint entity of CMS/

In addition to the national Day 50

celebration in Oxford, 13 churches across

the country will be holding local dedication

services.

For addresses, directions, or any

other details, contact Chris Woo at:

[email protected] or 01865 787517

Wheels in missionThe REvOLUTION Sponsored Cycle Tour

9-22 May

Mission is the heart of the CMS community,

so in the run-up to Day 50, a team of

cyclists will be doing a two-week, nationwide

sponsored cycle ride to raise funds for CMS

mission. Setting off from Hull and stopping

at each of the local church celebrations,

the group will roll into Oxford in time for

the national Day 50 event. To join the

Revolution or sponsor a cyclist, contact Ruth:

[email protected] or 01865 787519

Home cookingSome CMS groups and associations have

expressed interest in hosting a community

meal to commemorate Day 50. CMS has

developed a menu and activity pack for this

special occasion. To receive the pack, contact

Russell Price: [email protected] or

01865 757490

Countdown to day 50...Date Church

Service

9 May St Columba Drypool, Hull 10.30am

9 May St Oswald’s, Fulford, York 6.30pm

10 May Christ Church Harpurhey, Manchester 7.30pm

11 May Christ Church Pitsmoor, Sheffield 7.30pm

12 May St Nicholas, Nottingham 7.30pm

13 May St Martin-in-the-Bullring, Birmingham 7.30pm

14 May St Martin and All Angels, Ledbury 7.30pm

15 May St Mark’s Gabalfa, Cardiff 7.30pm

16 May Holy Trinity Stapleton, Bristol 6.30pm

18 May Christ Church, Winchester 7.30pm

19 May St Saviour’s, Guildford 7.30pm

20 May All Saints Woodford Wells, N London 7.30pm

21 May St Mary’s, Ealing, W London 7.30pm

Countdown to day 50...Countdown to day 50...

SAMS provides, and this is a great way to raise

its profile.

I hope we’ll make it all the way to Oxford for

the Day 50 celebrations. But, whatever hap-

pens, it will be a great experience to take part

in. How about joining us for a few miles, or

even the whole trip?

It’s not too late to join the Revolution! This

sponsored cycle challenge begins 9 May in

Hull and ends at the CMS Day 50 celebra-

tion in Oxford on 22 May. To come for all

or part, or sponsor a cyclist, contact Ruth on

01865 787519 or [email protected]

No Yes? For the time being, CMS is ceasing production of Yes magazine. This is due mostly to the financial downturn. CMS will be making more news and stories available on its website, in Connect and in the bimonthly Mission Update. Thank you for your understanding in this matter and look out for future editions of Connect, which will be sent to everyone who signs the CMS membership declaration.

Cycle route

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It’s for all of usThis Pentecost let us Celebrate God’s mission in our world Recommit our lives

to his call Dedicate the CMS Community to his purpose

Saturday 22 May 2010 1.30pm–6pmThe King’s Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES

with The Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York,The Rev Canon Alfredo Cooper, Chile; Dennis Tongoi, CMS Africa,

The Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry (CMS Community Episcopal Visitor)

worship with Tribe of Judah Gospel Choir from Jesus House, London

For tickets visit www.cms-uk.org/day50 or call Anita: 01865 787496

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place...”

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In your areaHull & District CMS 10 March Spring Lunch, 12 for 12.30pm, Holy Apostle’s Church. Bring some food and share with others. Drinks provided. Speaker tbc. Contact Isabel Gooder on 01482 342231

1 July Annual Meeting, St Matthew’s Church, Boulevard (corner of Anlaby Road). The Hull short-term team visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone, will be making a full, visual report of their May/June visit. Contact Isabel Gooder on 01482 342231

Mid-Northants CMS Group11 March The next meeting of the CMS Mid-Northants Group is at St Katherine’s Church, Irchester NN29 7ABThe cost will be £5 per ticket and hot pots are being served. It will start at 7.30pm.The title is: NATIONS - A DIFFERENT WAY OF MISSIONIt will feature the Koreans who are the main part of the work of Nations here in Wellingborough. Contact Yvonne York on 01933 229311

Norwich CMS Association8 May We shall be holding our Association AGM at St. Andrew’s Church, Eaton, Norwich at 2pm to plan for the year ahead. The Rev Peter Wood and his wife Emma, former mission partners in Congo, will be coming to speak to us about mission in Africa and in Cambourne where

WelcomeNew mission partners Gillian and John Robinson are based in Bangkok, Thailand, working with a prison ministry.John’s powerful personal story of finding the transforming love of Christ – after a life that took him from brutal foster homes to borstal, prison, and life on the streets – is told in the book Nobody’s Child, which was translated into Thai a few years ago. When John was invited to speak in prisons there, one prisoner came up to John in tears and told him that since reading Nobody’s Child he had prayed every day that somehow he could meet him, and he was so overwhelmed that God had answered his prayer. When John shared his story of hope in Jesus Christ, over 100 inmates committed their lives to Christ. The prison ministry asked John to consider coming to Thailand with his family to do long-term mission work with these searching prisoners, as well as out on the streets of Bangkok. After much prayer, the family are answering God’s call.Gillian is an ordained Church of

Like daughter, like fatherAt age 85, the Rev Geoffrey Brookes

shows no signs of letting up on his

passion for the environment. In fact, he

hopes to be part of an “Environmental

Network” within the CMS community

that will enable members with a similar

passion to share experiences, resources

and stories.

As for Geoffrey’s story, he worked in

advertising in Saudi Arabia and as a

missionary in the Middle East before

taking a position with Church Action for the

Unemployed (UK) in 1988. Around this time

he went and heard Trevor Huddleston reflect

on his 50-year faith journey. Preaching on Mark

16:15, the Bishop said, “God’s salvation has to

include all creation.”

These words stuck with Geoffrey and years

later, whilst visiting his daughter Judy at her farm in Canada, it all began to click. Judy and her husband purchased 155 acres, aiming to live as simply and sustainably as possible. They built a homestead with renewable energy, solar panels and a small number of animals. Geoffrey recalls a deep sense of splendour and spirituality. “I realized God is at work here. I was witnessing a broader God than I’ve been worshipping.”Geoffrey began asking challenging questions about the impact of our eating habits in the UK and the consequential damage being done through intensive farming. He believes that, as Christians, we must take seriously God’s love for all he has made and proclaim good news to the whole creation.If you are interested in being part of an Environmental Concern Network with Geoffrey and others, contact Anita at CMS and she can

put you in touch.

Down to EarthClimate change and caring for the

environment are getting higher on everyone’s

agenda. Whether it’s changing to energy-saving

light bulbs or petitioning government to cut

carbon emissions – we all have a part to play.

So say Mike North and David Pollendine, who

are launching a new creative arts project to help

schools explore these issues in an interactive, fun

way. DOWN TO EARTH, produced in association

with CMS and creation care ministry A Rocha,

follows on from two recent CMS theatre arts

projects: Free for All in 2007, which marked the

bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade,

and World to Rights in 2009, which highlighted

the plight of street children in Manila.

Down to Earth is currently booking a national tour

of schools and cathedrals, aiming to use music

and drama to raise environmental awareness

amongst young people aged 8 – 11, and provide

practical ways for them to make a difference.

“The 1990 Kyoto Agreement challenges

participating countries to cut their greenhouse

gas emissions by 5.2% by 2012. The race is

on, and the challenge clear. DOWN TO EARTH

will put children at the heart of the issues and

help them change the way they think about the

world forever,” says David.

To find out more, or to bring DOWN TO EARTH to

your local school – please email Mike and David

at [email protected], visit

www.scenechangetheatre.com, or call David

on 07862 728056.

verity’s a rarity Did you know that there are only five trained physiotherapists in all of Sierra Leone? That’s five therapists for more than six million people. Verity Furneaux is hoping to add to that number. Having recently returned from Sierra Leone, where she set up a pioneering physiotherapy outreach called Enable the Children (CMS Mission Update December 2009) Verity is now looking to cultivate a network of people here who may be interested in using their phyiso/

OT skills overseas. “There seem to be networks for doctors and nurses who want to go abroad, but not much for physio,” she says. “I’m interested in being in touch with people who

want to know how they can do therapy in places like Sierra Leone, with no equipment. If we can give people some basic training and show them it is possible to make it up as they go along — like I had to do — maybe more people will feel empowered to help.” If you or someone you know would be

interested in a network like this, contact Verity: [email protected]

Concern for planet bridges generation gapM

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Church Mission Society, watlington road, oxford, oX4 6bZ t: 01865 787400

ReSourced for real estate missionby Christopher Hughes My involvement on Oxford housing

estates started three years ago, primarily

through volunteering, partnership and listening

to others’ stories.

After working on the Blackbird Leys estate for a

year or so, I turned my attention to the Barton

estate, gathering all the Christian leaders

involved on the estate together to form a new

multi-denominational team. We launched a

research project to get a greater understanding

of the community’s needs; this took almost a

year to complete.

We discovered people felt a need to address

youth and antisocial behaviour. Since June I

have worked with a group of teenagers and

young adults. Joining me is a youth worker

employed by the council; he grew up on

Barton. I am teaching basic self defence and

using video to share Christian testimonies. We

then have time for reflection and discussion.

For several months I was a member of a

community house of mission in Oxford,

a CMS initiative. When I moved in, I knew I

needed further study to equip myself for tasks

ahead. One morning I met Jonny Baker, from

our house support group, and he invited me

on a ReSource course for pioneering mission

in emerging cultures. The first topic “Mission

& Culture” was the first area I’d planned

to study!

ReSource gives lots of time for reflection,

learning about others’ journeys, and discussion.

The first weekend we had a session with

Bob and Mary Hopkins, (CMS partners with

Fresh Expressions). Listening to them, I felt

confirmed in my decision to initially research

the needs of the Barton community.

From other ReSource weekends I have been

given practical ministry examples to draw from

and I’ve developed good friendships. Tim and

Chris, members of the Eden project team

in Manchester, have invited me to stay for a

weekend so I can see work on their estate.

www.resourcemission.com

Note from NepalManoj Pradhananga, Director of the

Leadership Training Department,

National Churches Fellowship of Nepal,

writes about his recent CMS-sponored

tour in the UK:

“My visit to the UK in September was

an exciting time to understand mission

cross culturally. My co-worker, Ram Prasad

Shrestha, and I were asked to speak about

the church in Nepal and our ministries

within several churches and groups.

I was surprised to see that people in

UK have a very special place in their

hearts for Nepal, the Nepali people, and

Nepali churches. CMS had publicized

and prepared for our tour and we were

warmly welcomed. A number of people

were encouraged and challenged to fulfill

their responsibilities for church growth

in the UK when we shared about the

unusual church growth in Nepal. They

expressed regret for the decline of the

church in their own country.

“I am encouraged to know that people

in the UK who have never seen us have

been praying for us. One leader, John,

from Lechlade, wrote to me, ‘I have been

concerned about the health of your wife

Anjila, and I have been praying for her

every day.’ I was touched by this letter.

I am convinced that we can learn a lot

from the church in the UK and they too

can learn a lot from the church in Nepal.

I feel closer to them than before and am

praying more seriously than ever before

after this visit.

“My special thanks go to the CMS family

and hosting churches, who made this

visit possible.”

FOR THE CMS COMMUNITY, FROM THE CMS COMMUNITY You may notice that this edition of Connect is a bit bigger. We’ve dedicated more space to stories from the spread-out CMS community. We really want

Connect to be a place where CMS people share stories, ideas and fuel for mission life with

each other. Of course, we’ll still update you with things you need to know, but this is really

your publication. So please send in stories of how you are participating in mission and we’ll

try to include as many as possible. Send your stories to [email protected] or to

Naomi Rose at the CMS address. Thank you!

From a ReSource weekend. Photo: Jonny Baker

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