SOMA works for the transformation of individuals and churches and the healing ofcommunities and their lands through the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. This isthrough intercession and sending and receiving short-term mission teams across theAnglican Communion.

2012 No. 1

There are a few places on earth whereterrible things have been perpetrated, andthe spiritual history is deeply dark. Kubiparish, the site of the conference, is one ofthem. For many years the Headquarters ofthe notorious LRA, it was the base fromwhich children were kidnapped andbrutalised, adults tortured and killed, peopleenslaved and all kinds of evil perpetrated.The LRA leader Kony had a harem ofabducted women (we saw the huts) andwhen tired of them they were taken to the‘execution pit’ and beheaded. The teamprayed there for healing for all the sadnessand grief. Prior to us going to such a darkplace, God was already speaking. Therecurrent word given to Creddy in prayer was‘Holy Ground’, and we saw the churchreclaiming and re-consecrating the land andwere so privileged to have a part in this.

Even before we arrived the major issuewas obtaining our Visas in Nairobi – withoutthese there could be no Team, no

intercession@somauk.orgCalled to intercession? If you are, think you may be, would like to be or are exploring ifyou are, then do contact us! Intercession is the ‘hidden’ half of SOMA’s ministry. We arealways keen to hear from people who would like to pray regularly. SOMA Intercessors takeon a vital commitment, are an absolutely indispensable part of SOMA’s ministry, and playan invaluable and deeply appreciated role at home whenever SOMA Teams are abroad.SOMA Intercessors are supported both by regular Prayer Briefings and support Teamswith live, two-way information by E mail when SOMA Teams are abroad.

Please contact Intercession Coordinator Hilary Steynor at intercession@somauk.org oron 01483 301 013 for more details.

conference. We had submitted our papers tothe South Sudan embassy, and had to collectour Visas on Friday afternoon in order to flythe following day. We took the lift to the sixthfloor where the Visa section was located, andas the lift doors opened, we found the hallsolidly packed with people right to the closedand locked glass doors leading to the Visaoffice. We knew this mission was God’swork- but would we even reach the door byclosing time? Interceding at just this time, athome Creddy was given the words “open thegates, and let the King of glory go in”. Seeing

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Love is the Key

my clerical collar, someone in the crowd said“let the ‘Bishop’ through – he can get us in”and I was pushed to the front of the crowd.The door opened just enough to let me in,and soon after I emerged, via the back door,with our precious Visas!

Before we departed, Creddy had beengiven a picture in prayer of Christ as thecornerstone stood at one corner of abuilding, with Christians on either sideforming the walls, and Christians upon them,the walls reaching out towards heaven, eachlayer of new Christians standing on theshoulders of those saints who had gonebefore. Above all this were seraphim,overshadowing and protecting the churchbeing built. As we gathered together on thefirst day of the conference, I was consciousof the elderly, faithful clergymen and women,the next generation, some of whom wereforming a branch of Mother’s Union in ameeting parallel to the conference, youngerwomen with babies, and the children, allgenerations, worshipping God together.

The protection Creddy had seen came tomy mind early one morning, when I awokeunable to breathe with a strong sensation ofchoking. That helped to reclaim Christ’sprotection over us. Traditional African beliefsare never far away, as the drumming one

Husband and wife Ron and Creddy Hart have been involved with SOMA fordecades, Creddy as an Intercessor, Ron as Team member. Here they share theirinsights into these two core elements of SOMA’s call and ministry during therecent SOMA mission to Lomega, South Sudan.

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When we heard that the Lomega missionTeam had all arrived safely home, there was acollective sigh of relief from the Intercessors.During the time of preparation before themission we had been alerted that this was tobe a mission where a good deal of spiritualwarfare would be involved. As well as thegeneral intercessors, each team member hadpersonal intercessors, who themselves hadtheir own intercessors, and so a whole shieldof covering protective prayer was set inplace.

Even as the team travelled oneIntercessor was claiming the ground onwhich the conference was to be held. As she worshipped using the song HolyGround, she saw and then drew a picture ofChrist the Cornerstone, with living stonesbeing built into a temple and protected byheavenly creatures.

The site for the conference had been theheadquarters of the notoriously violent LRAand the scene of many executions andatrocities. We are very blessed to haveSOMA Intercessors’ coordinator Hilary’sdiligence and discernment and so this

information came from the Team by SMStext and onto us by email – as SOMAIntercessors we may be geographicallyseparate but are united in prayer.

So began the daily waiting on theinternet and waiting on SMS texts, neitherof which can be relied on, and of course,first and foremost, waiting on the Lord theHoly Spirit, who can always be relied on. We prayed for provision of Visas, for safetravel, for good health for the Team anddelegates, their families at home.

Information filtered through to usintermittently. We were able to praise God forthe provision of a roof and four walls for theteam. Psalm 23 came to mind “You prepare afeast for me in the presence of my enemies”and a picture of everyone standing in worshipas drops of oil fell and the words of anothersong of praise “All Hail the Lamb enthronedon high, his praise shall be our battle cry. He reigns victorious, forever glorious, Hisname is Jesus, He is the Lord”.

Hilary reminded us that praise is the bestweapon in our prayer armoury. As we prayedfor the provision of water for the conference,we remembered that Psalm 23 has thepromise of being led by still waters.Sometimes the things which happen in thenatural world are a sign of what is happeningin the spiritual, so the lack of physical waterreminded us of the need for the living waterof Jesus. The problem of communication bySMS text reminded us of the problemsthrown up by the enemy to prevent the truthof the Gospel being proclaimed, and theneed for hearts to be receptive to receive it.

We Intercessors prayed for the team asthey ministered in the power of the Holy

Spirit, not knowing whether we weresynchronised at the right time or not, but notworrying because God can sort all that out.We rejoiced at the commitments made, thetestimonies given, the delegates loosed, thecelebrations, the provision and the efficacy ofmedication, and we prayed for the delegatesas they returned to their homes in anincredibly poor but thankfully new nation withan uncertain future. We prayed that thosewho couldn’t read would be able to take amustard seed away with them, which wouldgrow and choke the weeds which would tryto smother it.

We later heard that the delegates and theteam had travel problems as they left but theteam made it to their flights and all of asudden they were back home to the cultureshock of a pre-Christmas England. Our roleas Intercessors didn’t stop as we continuedto pray for delegates and team for the nextfour weeks, that the Lord would establish thework which He had started, and continue toprotect them.

night reminded us, and though we werespiritually safe the objective reality was thathad there been a problem we werevulnerable.

One of the surprises at the start of theconference was the lack of Bibles. We hadplanned for 100 delegates, but in the event 169attended – with only ten or so Bibles betweenthem. Our teaching needed to be adapted toan oral culture – we told stories, and I haddramatised conversations with myself as bothJesus and the woman at the well. Creddyreceived the words “love is the key”. Perhapsour presence, our genuine love and concernfor them, and the way we were with each otherwere a real gift to the conference.

Intercession in Action

Delegates have practical as well asspiritual needs, and for us the big issue waswater. The two small boreholes wereinadequate for the extra people, and BishopPaul had wisely arranged two water towersand deliveries by tanker. But when the tankerfailed to come there was an anxious time.Creddy and others were given Isaiah 43:19 atthis time “the poor and needy search forwater”.

Many delegates gave testimony to beinggreatly spiritually blessed, something which

was also sensed by the Intercessors.Every SOMA mission is both a literal and

a spiritual journey. Creddy had a real senseof journeying with us, at times wishing she could be in Kubi rather than at home.Our journey home was fraught – delayedwhile they cleared a land mine in the road,then by two flat tyres, but we arrived homesafely – grateful to God for each other, andthose we had been sharing with in service,blessing, fellowship and intercession.

Ron and Creddy Hart

Intercession is a vital part of SOMA’scall and ministry, here a SOMAIntercessor shares her experience.

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The new tarmac road at the airport was thefirst sign of arriving in a new country as theUK Team members’ plane touched downsmoothly at Juba airport. The Team wascompleted in the arrivals hall when we weremet by Sudan Team members Evans andLobalang. After a few hours at the ECSguest house in Juba, where there was anopportunity to meet with Bishop John fromBentiu and others, the team travelled the 45miles south east to Lomega Area Diocese’sKubi Parish where the Youth Conference was

to be held. This was the sixth in the series ofSOMA – ECS Provincial Youth Leaders’conferences, in part partnering with theSalisbury - Sudan Link. As Evans drove(again a new tarmac road almost complete)the sound of singing in the distance becamelouder; the van stopped and we weresurrounded by members of the youth whohad been waiting on the road. The team wereled into the church where the warm welcomecontinued; realisation dawned that a greetingwould be required… oh, the one so carefullyprepared left in the van! Then to the guest

house where the team would be staying;how it had changed from the

pictures Bishop Paul (our host)had sent just a few weeks

earlier – it now had a roofand walls, and a

generator providedlighting for theconference – it wasamazing to seewhat the localchurch had builtfrom their ownresources in sucha short time.

While most ofthe team had

previouslyministered in Sudan

with SOMA, all werepart of the first SOMA

team to the newRepublic of South Sudan…

Before entering the world’snewest country the team spent

time in Nairobi preparing and

prayerfully negotiating the current Visaprocedure.

Communication with the SOMAIntercessors’ network was intermittent –South Sudan mobile networks had chosenthat week to transfer numbers to the newCountry code and our UK phones would notwork… This gave everyone an increasedopportunity to rely on the Holy Spirit forguidance.

One hundred youth had been invitedfrom six archdeaconries; it came as nosurprise to find there were many moredelegates than that – at the end of the weekTeam leader Stephen, Bishop Paul and theMinister of Co-operatives & RuralDevelopment awarded 169 attendancecertificates!

On the first Sunday the team divided andattended two churches - Kubi and AruJunction – two parishes that would becompeting at football for the ‘SOMA Cup’later in the week, then, in the afternoon,Bishop Paul opened the conference – so wewere ‘straight in’ on Monday morning.

The team saw that many delegates didn’thave Bibles and, because of the lack ofschools and past LRA activity in the area,many were yet to be able to read. Theministry was adapted and from the start ofMonday morning to the celebration on Fridayevening the programme proceeded more orless as planned. Each team member led aBible study during the week along with twoor three main teaching sessions centred onthe conference theme, from Mark 8:34, ‘takeup your cross and follow me’.

Kubi had been the centre for LRAoperations until five years ago. Bishop Paul

“In my dream I was praising God…”

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PO Box 69, Merriott, TA18 9AP T: +44 (0)1460 279737 E: info@somauk.org W: www.somauk.org

CHARITY NO. 279759

@somauk

/SOMA UK

SOMA UKUK Registered Charity No. 279759. UK National Director: Revd Stephen Dinsmore

Finance Administrator: Mr Steve Fincher, Patron: Rt Revd Graham Cray.

sharing is published by SOMA UK.

YES I’d like to support SOMACome on a TeamWe are constantly looking for new teammembers to bring fresh impetus to ourteams. Team members finance their owntravel and costs, trips last between 10 and20 days. Teams are always exciting,challenging, faith building and life changing!

Give FinanciallyWe are always in need of financial support forSOMA’s missions and ministry abroad. Yourfinancial gifts further this strategic work ofthe Holy Spirit and make a real and lastingdifference to people and communities abroad.

PrayPrayer and Intercession are the solidfoundation of SOMA’s ministry. Partner withSOMA in prayer and intercession in thisunique and invaluable ministry.

InviteSOMA carefully and prayerfully considers all invitations for teams to minister andresponds positively whenever we can.

Please detach and return to Stephen Dinsmore, SOMA UK, PO Box 69,Merriott. TA18 9AP, UK. Thank you.

My response

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

EMAIL

PHONE

Please…

tell me about becoming part of a SOMA Team

tell me about becoming a SOMA Intercessor

tell me how to financially supportSOMA’s ministry

send me details of giving to SOMA bybank standing order

send me SOMA’s free regular SHARING newsletter and Prayer Diary

contact me as I would like to invite a SOMA team to my Diocese

tell me more about my church becominga SOMA Parish Mission Partner

SOMA UK’s TrusteesAs a registeredcharity SOMA UK isoverseen by a Boardof Trustees. Theirlegally enshrined roleis to support,encourage andappraise the NationalDirector; safeguardthe vision, missionand values of SOMA;to consider, ratifyand monitor strategy;to work with the NDto ensure that SOMAUK has the capacityto fulfill its mission;ensureaccountability;maintain effectivegovernance andpromote SOMA.

At the beginningof this year JohnWatson passed theChairmanship toCanon PatrickWhitworth. Recentlythe Trusteeswelcomed to theirnumber Ms JennyBrown, Revd DavidMcDougall and MrsElizabeth Cooke whotook up the the roleof treasurer fromhusband Andrew.

SOMA Teams 2011 – 2012South Sudan WauDR Congo BogaTanzania RoryaSouth Sudan Awerial Youth LeadersPakistanKenya Clergy SchoolSouth Sudan West Equatoria ClusterSouthern AfricaIndia DurgapurDR Congo BukavuSouth Sudan CueibetKenya BungomaSouth Sudan Mundri

Contact the SOMA office for furtherinformation or to register your interest inthese or other emerging Teams.

Canon PatrickWhitworth

Jenny Brown

Revd DavidMcDougall

Elizabeth Cooke

has ministered to the people throughout andtheir respect and love for him and hiscommitment to them was evident during ourtime together. Teaching and prayer ministryaddressed healing of past hurts and healingof community memories which gave furtherinsight to the story of the area and how it hadshaped the lives of the delegates.

God was at work in so many lives duringthe week; on Friday afternoon we sharedtestimonies. So many delegates spoke ofhearing from God in dreams:

“All nights of these four days I have beenpraising God with others in my dreams, whenI wake I know God has done something.I know I will go back to help others who havenot had this teaching.”

“Since coming I have been very happy, lastnight I had a dream and was very happy…”

“Before the conference my wife and inlaws were enemies, but yesterday in-lawscame to greet me. God has done somethingunique. Yesterday wife came and forgave;something new is happening to my family.”

“Life has changed like gold.”It wasn’t just the delegates who were

changed during the week – the team toowere taken to new levels in their relationshipwith God. For one it was a mixture of joyand tears: “The Lord had fun with me -pushing me but never beyond what I couldhandle with Him.”

The return journey for the team waseventful: a road block, two flat tyres and asecurity check by zealous guards on theshort journey from Kubi to Juba all helped toconfirm that the enemy had been disturbedby what the Lord had accomplished duringthe mission.

When the team left, not only had theyexperienced the Youth Conference, they hadwitnessed the inaugural football matchcompeting for the ‘SOMA Annual ChampionsCup’ (won by Kubi Parish v Aru Junction 2:0),the ‘SOMA Guest House’ had been dedicatedand was well on its way to being fullycompleted, the Mothers Union had beenenrolled and, most importantly, lives had beenchanged by the power of the Holy Spirit…

The team for the SOMA Youth Leaders’Conference, Lomega Area Diocese, SouthSudan: Evans Gogonya and Lado Lobalangfrom South Sudan; Lindy Cameron, Ron Hart,Stephen Dinsmore, Kate Brankin from the UK.

Kate Brankin

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“The seed you planted, it will grow andbear much fruit”SOMA has a long term relationship with Kinkiizi, Uganda – not surprising, asRenewal in the power of the Spirit is a relational and continuing process, we areto ‘go on being filled’ with the Spirit. Here we hear voices from the mission.

Rt Rev Dan Zoreka, Bishop of Kinkiizi:Greetings from myself, family and all

Diocesan office staff in the name of JesusChrist our Lord and Saviour. This comes withmy special gratitude and appreciation to youfor sending a team to Diocese of Kinkiizi. We were blessed indeed by the SOMA team’s ministry and much impact was madeamongst our clergy who were empoweredand refreshed to continue ministry in thepower of the Holy Spirit. May God bless you.

Justus Tibesigwa, Diocesan Secretary:We praise God that you have returned

home safely. What a blessing for the clergy inour diocese to have a SOMA conference. We were all renewed and changed in thepower of the Spirit. You were all a blessing tous. I compare your work in Kinkiizi with themustard seed. The seed you planted, it willgrow and bear much fruit. Your preparationwas marvellous. What I’m sure of is that Godspoke to us. What a joy to have knownwonderful people as you. To God be the glory.Be blessed. The peace of the Lord be with you.

SOMA Team leader Tom: Bishop Dan and all the key Diocesan staff

and clergy participated in the main four dayconference. We fine tuned our programme

through ongoing feedback. Changes werediscussed between team members and withthe Diocesan secretary, Justus Tibesigwawho was a very helpful in organising themission conference.

On the Sunday the team members wentout to preach.

For the second phase there were fourone day archdeaconry conferences, eachlead by a team member together with severalof the clergy who had attended the four dayconference. The teaching revolved aroundthe person, gifts and work of the Holy Spirit,and there was much prayer ministry at eachcentre.

The Dioceses is blessed with BishopDan and DS Justus, Godly and organisedleaders with vision to see this diocese growand prosper under God. The whole missiondrew upon the gifts and skills of keydiocesan clergy. They particularly wanted theHoly Spirit to be a real partner in the clergy’sministries.

The clergy were genuinely excited aboutthe conference and the one day event. Someof the elder and more senior clergy recalledthe first SOMA team in 1998, the severalfollow up teams, and also sendingsome of their clergy on SOMA UKSudan teams.

Team member Margaret:It was a sense of great

privilege and joy toshare and serve in thelife of Kinkiizi.Deeper awarenessand value of thechurch family inUganda helpsme think and

pray with more imagination for my owncontext. Praying with many conferencedelegates, with a variety of personal needs,has refreshed my desire to pray with, and see God at work in the lives of those Hebrings my way. My patience and trust wasstrengthened and I have more awareness ofthe confidence He’s giving me in teachingand preaching. Also, I will be more pro-activein seeking opportunities to share God’shealing love in the power of the Spirit.

Team member Steve:I have learnt more about leadership.

The Lord was very gracious. A great stepforward was made towards reconciliation,unity and healing within the Diocese as wellas much personal ministry to individuals.Praise God, the ministry times were beyondmy expectations, especially at theArchdeaconry Holy Spirit Day.

We were very blessed and wonderfullysupported by the many SOMA Intercessorsand our individual parishes. Bp. Dan’sexpectations for the conference concerningunity and reconciliation were achieved andhe was so delighted with the Team’s ministryand teaching. The Holy Spirit days, that eachof us led in a different Archdeaconry, werewonderful. Yet again the Spirit blessed somany Readers, Evangelists and Lay leadersof the churches. ‘How much more will theFather give the Holy Spirit to those who askHim!‘ Each ministry time witnessed awonderful presence of the Spirit amongst us.It is a great privilege to be a part of SOMA’sministry and to enjoy such wonderful times with our African brothers and sisters.These blessings are the result of committedfaithful prayer, without which little would beachieved: our great thanks to all who werepraying.

Team: Rev Tom Hewson - team leader (UK); Rev Rosie Hewson (UK); Rev Moses Bushendich (Uganda); Rev Margaret Simmons (UK), Rev Steve Holmes (UK).

Renewal for Mission in the UK‘I’ll never be the same’UK Team members returning fromSOMA missions abroad share howthe experience has impacted them,their faith, life, mission and ministryback here in the UK.

It’s made me want to focus onforgiveness issues and community with my young people. It has broadened myexperience. I now know for sure that I wantto go on further missions and be activelyinvolved in mission including undergoingfurther training.

I’ll never be the same. I can’t imagine notgoing again. I feel a fulfilment that is differentfrom any other previously experienced.Humbled that God could choose to use methis way.

I seemed to go deeper in my prayer life.I’ve more awareness of God looking out forme all of the time (not just when I ask Him);more of a realisation that there’s no pointworrying when God’s in control – so I may aswell stop wasting time worrying about thedetail and get on with the journey.’

It was a privilege to pray with thedelegates at the site of so much killing andoffer all the pain and destruction to God.This is a community transformed from thepresence of bleak evil to the hope of Christ.The teaching and ministry blessed me.

Each time I return from a mission, I seemto be even more relaxed than the last time,when it comes to the weight of responsibilityI feel for the impact of my work in the parish.It doesn’t all rest on my shoulders, it’s God’swork through the Spirit. I’m much more, ‘Go with the flow’. I have learnt more about leadership.

God is so good, full of grace, and I amso humbly grateful – He blessed us.

Deeper awareness and value of thechurch family abroad will help me think andpray with more imagination for my owncontext.

Praying with many conference delegates,with a variety of personal needs, hasrefreshed my desire to pray with, and see Godat work in the lives of those He brings my way.

Also, to be more pro-active in seekingopportunities to share God’s healing love inthe power of the Spirit.

SOMA Parish Mission Partners“I thank God for leading SOMA to Africa.The Holy Spirit led the Team here”

“Every SOMA Team I’ve brought backto the UK has had a massive impact onthe DNA of mission in my church”

Being a SOMA Parish MissionPartner builds a live, active and mutuallybeneficial relationship between yourparish and SOMA, envisioning andrenewing your church for Holy Spiritministry and mission at home as well asabroad.SOMA Parish Mission Partners receive■ SHARING for each member of the

congregation■ a SOMA speaker for a Sunday about

once a year■ invitations, information and

encouragement for leaders andmembers of the congregation toparticipate in SOMA mission teamsabroad and for Intercessors to jointhe SOMA Intercessors Network

■ regular communication with thedesignated SOMA parish contact, aswell as the Incumbent & staff team

In return SOMA Parish MissionPartners■ encourage prayer for SOMA in

services, groups and by individuals■ regularly communicate news about

SOMA to their congregations■ encourage individuals to get involved

by joining Teams, becoming SOMAIntercessors, hosting visitors,attending SOMA activities

■ seek to support SOMA financiallyFor further information or to discuss

the scheme contact Stephen Dinsmore atinfo@somauk.org or 01460 279737.

Come on a Team!We are always looking for Teammembers for SOMA missions. So, if youare willing to take a step of faith, pushout into the unknown and move out ofyour comfort zone then being a SOMATeam member could be for you!

Of course, Team members includethose who can teach and preach but ifyou can at least tell your story and prayyou could be part of a team too. Teammembers are responsible for fundingtheir own travel and accommodation –but in the last five years not one personwho has said ‘yes’ in faith to being on aTeam has not seen the Lord’s provision,sometimes in remarkable ways.

For an ‘application to be consideredfor a SOMA Team’ form simply contactthe SOMA office by email, phone or post.We look forward to hearing from you!

SOMA UKCONFERENCE 2012

Tue 30 October - Thu 1 November 2012

High Leigh, Hoddesdon, Herts,EN11 8SG, UK

A date for your diary!You are invited tojoin with SOMAIntercessors, ParishMission Partners,Team members &leaders,supporters, staffand officers to joinus as we encounterthe Spirit, areenlivened formission, envisionedfor intercession, empowered in faithand renewed for ministry and missionboth at home and abroad.

There will be time for fellowship, topray, worship, share, learn, reflect, berefreshed by the Spirit and meet withothers involved with the vision, missionand ministry of SOMA.

To inspire and encourage us we willwelcome special guests experienced inIntercession and Mission, and to leadour worship Julie Dunn. There will alsobe shared experience and insight fromSOMA team members and intercessors,news, updates and prayer ministry.

The conference starts with lunchtogether at 1300 on Tuesday 30thOctober; closes at 1400, justafter Lunch, on Thursday 1stNovember. The conference includesaccommodation in ensuite rooms withfull board and all conference facilities.High Leigh is well connected by road tothe M25 and by rail from London andthe North.

To reserve a no-obligation place atthe conference E mail your details toinfo@somauk.org, subject line‘conference’ or contact us by phone orpost.

Julie Dunn

Stephen Dinsmore