inMission 52

Issue 52 Spring 2016

www.cmsireland.org

Breaking through: New life in hard places

Inside this edition

4 10

6 14

Blessing from brokenness In the midst

In the detail Making money count

Global Partners (by country)Burundi Dioceses of Gitega & Matana

DR Congo Dioceses of Bukavu, Kindu & N. Kivu

Egypt Diocese of Egypt

Kenya Diocese of Kajiado; Urban Development Programme, Nairobi

Nepal Human Development Community Services; SD Church

Rwanda Dioceses of Kibungo & Shyogwe

South Sudan Dioceses of Ibba, Kajokeji, Maridi & Yei

Uganda Dioceses of Luwero & Madi West Nile

Zambia Diocese of Northern Zambia

Mission PartnersRory & Denise Wilson, with Gideon Luwero Diocese, Uganda

Paul & Tania Baker, with Lana Luwero Diocese, Uganda

Ronnie & Maggie Briggs Kajiado Diocese, Kenya

Keith & Lyn Scott Preparation in Ireland

Short-Term Experience PlacementsNigel & Carol Weallans Ibba, South Sudan (January-August)

Jade Irwin Luwero, Uganda (January-March)

contents

ContentsinmissionSpring 2016

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Mission AssociatesIsabelle Prondzynski UDP, Kenya

Deirdre & Mark Zimmerman, with

Zachary & Benjamin Nepal

Alison & Paul Guinness Province of Burundi

StaffLinda Abwa Partnership Coordinator

Rachel Brittain Mission Resource Coordinator

Anne Buckley Finance Assistant

Jenny Christie Administration Coordinator

Roger Cooke Mission Resource Manager

Brian Lavery Finance Manager

Gillian Maganda Personnel Coordinator

Jenny Smyth Mission Director

Roger Thompson Partnership Coordinator

Kelly Yates Partnership Coordinator

Board of TrusteesRev Adrian Dorrian (Chair)

Robbie Syme (Vice Chair)

Trevor Buchanan

Rev Caroline Casserly-Farrar

Dr Elaine Elborn

Shane Fitzpatrick

Canon Brian Harper

Norman Jackson

Rev Dr Paddy McGlinchey

Philip McKinley

Niall Manogue

David Reynolds

David Shepherd

our peopleEditorial New life at the meeting place

Blessing from brokennessLinda Abwa offers a personal reflection from South Sudan

In the detailDenise Wilson shares some thoughts about spotting signs of new life in Uganda

In the midstKelly Yates provides an update from Burundi and shows how the Church there is making a difference

IgniteIntroducing our new annual conference

Money mattersAn overview of CMSI’s Designated Fund, with stories of how financial support from Ireland is transforming lives

SnippetsNews from CMSI

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Published by CMS Ireland www.cmsireland.org

Issue 52 Spring 2016

www.cmsireland.org

Breaking through: New life in hard placesInside this edition

4

136

14

Blessing from brokennessIn the midst

In the detail

Making money count

Issue 52 Spring 2016v1.indd 1

10/02/2016 08:58

facebook.com/cmsireland@cmsireland

Larger print versions of the magazine pages are available by contacting CMSI’s Belfast Office.

new life atthe meeting place

Meeting places are important for our Global Partners, whether in the form of churches, cathedrals, clinics or colleges, or even in everyday encounters at the market or on the street. These places, these encounters, provide opportunities for love to be shared, for hope to be discovered, for help to be found, for new life to break through.

In Ireland, spring is a time for celebrating signs of new life and to embrace the transition from dark to light. It’s a season of hope, renewal and promise. That’s why Easter is so well suited to this time of year: darkness to light; death to life; despair to hope; old to new.

Sometimes, new life appears in the most unexpected places. Even in the driest, most remote and barren settings, you can find the beginnings of something new, something beautiful. That’s certainly the story of the cross – that most significant of all meeting places, where true transformation and renewal emerge from abject pain, defeat and death. It’s also the experience of so many our Global Partners, as they help to bring about new life in hard places.

Editorial: New life at the meeting placeinmission

Spring 2016

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It’s been a busy couple of months for the Mission Resource team inCMSI. Work on this edition of inMission comes hot on the heels of the production and launch of The Meeting Place, CMSI’s Children’s Resource for 2016.

On returning from her recent visit to South Sudan, Jenny Smyth spoke of having been struck afresh of the witness and work of the Church in places of conflict and suffering.

“I stand astounded at the effect that ordinary local churches can have and are having; people living faithfully to Kingdom values, clinging on to the hope that we have in Christ and holding out the word of life to those around.

“We are the weaker if we do not stand with them ‘in the gaps’ through prayer and giving. We have the privilege of witnessing God intervening in the dark, hard places of His beloved world, and of being re-inspired to be His hands and feet in our own communities too.”

This spring edition of inMission is full of stories of new life breaking through, often in the most challenging contexts. We hope that you’ll be inspired by what you read, but we also pray that you will find renewed hope and purpose as you return to that meeting place outside Jerusalem’s walls and rediscover life, in all its fullness.

Roger CookeEditor

Blessing from brokenness

Page 4 Bishop Wilson confirms a young person in Ibba Cathedral

blessing frombrokenness

Linda AbwaPartnership Coordinator

inmissionSpring 2016

Blessing from brokennessinmission

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On Sunday, along with the team from Moira, I was privileged to be a part of the faith journey of 45 young people who were confirmed in St. Barnabas Cathedral, Ibba. The thatched cathedral building held about 500 people. Outside there were at least as many more, who were enthusiastic enough about the special service to spend the whole five hours sitting in the sun, catching glimpses and hearing snippets of the service.

The service in many ways looked entirely different from the kind of gatherings we partake in on a Sunday morning in Ireland. There was so much dancing that the dust rose enough to make us cough. There was a talk on social issues that we might usually have expected to hear in a healthcare setting. There were words we could never hope to understand without an interpreter, as well as ululations and shouts from the worship leaders, which we could never successfully mimic.

However, when the young people who had just been confirmed came forward to take Holy Communion, there was no mistaking that we were all partaking in something that transcends culture and local tradition.

In the moment that the bread was broken for us to see, every person in that place understood the message. Each of us were transported to the brokenness of our experiences in this damaged world, each of us were reminded of our own

brokenness before our Holy God. And as the broken bread was dipped in the blood-red wine, each of us was in worshipful awe of the Christ who chose brokenness, in order for ours to be healed.

To live a little while with our partners in the Diocese of Ibba has been, in many ways, an experience of brokenness. We have witnessed lives broken by war and global inequality, and we have felt our own brokenness in our responses, which are unable to heal or mend with the urgency we would like. Yet, in Holy Communion together, we truly experienced the mystery of Christ broken for all, and the hope of his resurrection and healing.

I was reminded of the words in Colossians 3:11 - ‘Here there is no Greek or Jew…slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all.’

As we rose from communion, we knew that we were God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved and that as church our only response to the brokenness we find is to…

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience….And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3: 12,14).

CMSI Partnership Coordinator, Linda Abwa, recently led a team from St John’s Parish, Moira, to Ibba Diocese in South Sudan – a place that has known genuine pain and suffering as a result of civil conflict and poverty. Linda shared the following reflection in a blog on the CMSI website on 13th January.

In the detail

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CMSI Mission Partner, Denise Wilson, lives and works at Kiwoko Hospital in Luwero Diocese, Uganda, along with her husband, Rory and their son, Gideon. Here, Denise offers some insights on God’s ever-present work of transformation.

in the detailsigns of life at kiwoko

Photo: Gideon’s ground nuts


In the detail

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Gideon’s science topic for January was Plants. This involved planting seeds and keeping a plant diary to record the growth. So, Gideon planted some groundnuts (monkey nuts), along with maize (corn) and a mango seed - not the common seeds planted in Ireland, I grant you.

Nothing appeared to be happening at first, and the Medical Director doubted our horticultural credentials. However, after a week of some love and attention, there was evidence of growth – new shoots bursting out and stretching toward the sun. Of course, the time between planting seeds and observing green shoots is filled with uncertainty and doubt! But the wonder, joy and satisfaction of seeing life bursting through the soil is fantastic - not just for Gideon.

Looking around Kiwoko, I sometimes feel frustrated by what I can’t see, in terms of God’s work - a bit like initially watching those seeds that Gideon planted. One day, as I walked around the compound and complained to God, He challenged me to pay attention and look more closely, so I did.

God was (and is) busy right under my nose in the details of people’s lives, working out His purposes, with exact timing and precision. For example: the student nurse who has discovered she has a major gift for leading worship and who is being nurtured by the worship team; the half dozen students who gave their lives to Christ at the end of 2015; the young married couple who suffered a miscarriage, yet have been able to trust God with their grief and disappointment and who remain outstanding in their witness for God; the individual conversations that believing staff have had with patients about their spiritual lives.

Recently, we had a men’s night. Believe it or not, even in Uganda it can be difficult to coax men out to meetings! The evening examined questions around men, faith and the expectations that men feel that they must live up to.

Some of our young men are struggling to negotiate the issues of life in the context of Christianity. For instance, one of the questions


addressed was, ‘Can you divorce your wife if she is involved in witchcraft?’ Not many men in Ireland will struggle with that particular question but there are other struggles common to both continents, related to roles within the home, dealing with ‘burn out’ from ministry activity, the pressures in relation to singleness, marriage and setting up home. It was encouraging to witness the earnest desire they had to be obedient as they negotiate life within the principles of God’s Word.

The Wives’ Club has been an education for me, in terms of seeing into the difficulties of marriage in Uganda. Recently, we had a session on Conflict Resolution. Sadly, the top three causes of conflict included unfaithfulness, lies and mistrust! It seemed to be taken as an inevitable event that at some point the man would find another woman. Other causes of conflict included money issues, extended family, unbelieving husbands, in-laws, children from previous marriages…

As I listened to the ladies share a little of what I believe to be the tip of the iceberg, I also noted the quiet determination in their eyes as they sought to learn how they could make the marriage better. It was humbling to hear the faith and trust in their prayers for their husbands and children. I suspect that as time goes on, we will hear more specific testimony of how God has stepped in at just the right time in these marriages.

“…after a week of love and attention, there was evidence of growth – new shoots bursting out and stretching toward the sun.”

In the detail

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Hadijah

On return from home leave last year, we were greeted with the news that one of our Christian administrative lads had married a Muslim nurse. There was a lot of concern expressed by the Christian community. Rory and I had the couple for lunch - it was very encouraging! Hadijah, a former pupil of mine in the Kiwoko Nurse Training School – a bright, young, vocal Islamic lady – had given her life to Christ!

Hadijah had suffered from severe headaches since childhood, and when a tele-evangelist called for people to trust God for healing during his television broadcast Hadijah decided to ‘try’ God. From that day onward she has never suffered from migraine headaches. God had laid the groundwork for this miracle over the years as Hadijah had attended Christian schools, including our own school of Nursing. Thankfully, Hadijah’s father gave her his blessing to worship God and marry a Christian man.

We meet regularly to talk, pray and read God’s word. I see leadership potential in this young lady and I feel blessed every time I meet her as I watch her knowledge and love for God grow. Since her conversion, Hadijah’s sister has also given her life to the Lord. Already the Lord is beginning to move in her family.

Another week has passed since I started to write this article and Gideon’s plants continue to grow. Two more containers that, a week ago, had no signs of growth, now have green shoots poking out of the soil. Thankfully I didn’t follow my inclination last week to discard them onto the compost heap. So it is at Kiwoko, there may not always be dramatic signs of God moving and yet He is ever present working out His plans and purposes in His way and in His time.

I would encourage you to ask God to open your eyes today to see what He is busy doing in your circles of ministry. You may be surprised to find that He is busier than you think!

Hadijah and her husband

In the detail

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Scotts return to Zambia

We’re delighted to announce that Keith and Lyn Scott were recently selected as CMSI Mission Partners and are hoping to return to Zambia later this year. This will be their second stint serving in the Diocese of Northern Zambia, having previously spent six years in Kitwe with their children, Adam and Hannah.

The Scotts returned to Ireland in 2008. Since then, Keith and Lyn have been involved in parish ministry in the Diocese of Limerick, based in the Rathkeale Group of Parishes. Adam and Hanna have completed their schooling and are studying and working in England.

In Kitwe, Keith will be involved in teaching and training at St John’s Anglican Seminary as well as some involvement in parish ministry.

Lyn will be involved in teaching English (academic and theological) to the seminary students, as well as seeking to improve their study and preaching skills. She’s also keen to engage with the work of the Mothers’ Union.

Please pray for Keith and Lyn in this time of preparation and transition. We hope to share a bit more from them in next edition of inMission, but you can also meet them at Shine - our members’ day in Swords, on 16th April.

We’re currently looking for parishes and individuals to engage with God’s mission in Zambia by supporting the Scotts through prayer and finance. For further information, please contact Gillian Maganda in CMSI’s Belfast office.

in the midst

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in the midstan update from Burundi

By Kelly YatesPartnership Coordinator

Burundi, a nation with a long and deep history of ethnic violence, appeared on our news streams again last June, when President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a controversial third term. This triggered political unrest and instability throughout the country, and the upheaval has continued. More than 240,000 Burundians have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, while others have abandoned their homes and livelihoods in the most volatile areas, and are staying with friends and relatives in more stable parts of Burundi.


These people have left behind the night-time noise of gunshots and grenades and the daylight discovery of dead bodies on the street. Those who remain go out to work if they are able, yet they do not know if they will come home. To date, at least 400 lives have been lost in this recent unrest. The world watches on as attempts at peace talks continue.

In the midst of this chaos, the Church in Burundi continues to be present alongside suffering

communities, offering the hope of Jesus, promoting peace and reconciliation. Despite the challenges, God continues to work through our Global Partners – Gitega Diocese and Matana Diocese. Both are based in more stable areas, where daily life continues as normally as it can.

Bishop John tells us that, during the recent Christmas celebrations, the Church in Gitega shared “the hope that God will one day give us the lasting peace we need in Burundi.”

Photo: Crafters at Matana Mothers’ Union

in the midst

Gitgea Diocese

In recent years, our partnership with Gitega Diocese has largely focused on theological training and church planting. These investments provide a firm and lasting foundation for the establishment of God’s Kingdom and this has been noticeable throughout the crisis. Here we see the fruit of our support take root, as church leaders in Gitega have put training into practice, pastorally supporting their people and preaching the truth of Jesus in the midst of trouble.

The most recent support from Ireland has been in the form of bicycles, which have enabled pastors to more easily reach remote areas at a time when presence together is particularly important. The bicycles were bought with money raised by Sunday schools, through the Wheels’ Appeal in our 2014 Children’s Resource.

In 2016, through the support of Link Parishes, we continue this support to church leaders. 20 lay evangelists will be equipped through the Theological Education by Extension programme and three places will be funded for higher-level theological study.

Matana Diocese

In the context of a widespread cycle of violence, there’s great value in investing in initiatives that nurture stability in homes and communities; sustainable peace starts in the home. In Matana Diocese, we have supported craft initiatives led by the Mothers’ Union and we’ve provided help for credit and loan saving schemes.

As the women in these groups meet, they share and pray together and they also talk about how to promote solidarity and peace within their own families and community. These women teach their young people about respect for life and peace, and are working together to help bring peaceful dialogue.

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Please keep praying

It is encouraging to see the work of God’s Kingdom continue in the midst of crisis. Yet, fear prevails. In Burundi people reflect that ‘the land of a thousand hills has become the land of a thousand rumours.’

Now Burundi faces a further challenge, with most regions observing very heavy rainfall, which is destroying houses and damaging crops. This worsens the national and household economy, which is already impacted by the issue of insecurity. Some say there is a threat of famine in the next few months.

Our partners are aware of the great concern and prayerful support from their friends in Ireland. As you join us in praying for peace in the nation of Burundi and freedom from fear, please also pray for this further challenge of heavy rainfall.

“We do appreciate the partnership we share in God’s mission and do thank you for upholding us in your prayers. We need them in a special way these days.”(Archbishop Bernard)


Burundi Refugee Appeal

Many of you joined with us to help our Global Partners in Rwanda and DR Congo support people displaced by the crisis in Burundi. With your help, they have provided basic essentials (including cooking utensils, clothing, toiletries and medicine) for those living in nearby refugee camps. They’ve also offered financial support to local families who are hosting people in their own homes. Through all of this, time is taken to pray with and offer pastoral support to those in need – a welcome comfort in the midst of upheaval.

Ignite

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Every year, CMSI organises and hosts over 20 different events in Ireland. These range from small, local gatherings – including brunches and focus events – to larger, annual occasions – such as Shine, Impact and, until 2015, the annual Glenada conference. From time to time, we also host special conferences – like those that have taken place in Armagh in recent years: Mpower, Mbrace and Changing Times.

Each of these events provide CMSI staff and volunteers with opportunities to share news and stories, updating our supporters on the work of the society and our partners. Just as importantly, however, these gatherings offer a chance to connect with people face-to-face and to nurture a shared sense of belonging to the CMSI family.

News and fellowship, stories and connections – it’s these things that we hope characterise our events. It’s these things that have shaped our thinking as we’ve planned for the newest, and largest, of our annual events.

Ignite – our new annual conference – is for everyone who supports CMSI or connects with our partners. It will reflect the breadth of CMSI’s work, bringing together parishes and individuals with particular global links and celebrating as one, wider CMSI family.

The conference will mark the start of a new year of mission, as we invite God to spark us into life and to reignite our passion for Him and for His work. We will also be challenged and commissioned to ignite others in our parishes as we impact our world together.

There’ll be worship, teaching and seminars – with updates from all of our Global Partners. But there’ll also be plenty of time to catch up with friends and to make new connections, sharing experiences over coffee and lunch. We’ll even have a Friday Extra programme for residential guests – a chance to make the most of our new venue, which is well worth the visit!

Ignite...then Shine. Two main events. Two big challenges! We hope you will join us.

Meeting Places are just as important for CMSI as they are for our Global Partners (see page 3).

ignite: sparking into lifeCMSI launches new conference

CMSI Conference 2016

Worship. Teaching. Seminars. Sharing. Community.

Saturday 24th September 10:30am-5:15pm

Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre, Newry

See enclosed leaflet for further details

www.cmsireland.org/events

Friday Extra 23rd September from 7:30pm

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CMSI Members’ Day 2016Saturday 16th April, 11am-4pm

The Emmaus Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin

Including

Stories from our Global Partners

Update from the Wilson family (Uganda)

Introduction to the Scotts - our newest Mission Partners

Sharing together through worship, prayer...and lunch

CMSI Annual General Meeting

www.cmsireland.org/eventsTransport available from Belfast, Lisburn and Newry.

Tel 028 9077 5020 / 01 497 0931 Email [email protected]

money matterspart 2 – designated support

Money mattersinmissionSpring 2016

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In the last edition of inMission, we shone a spotlight on CMSI’s ‘General Fund’ and highlighted the vital need for such support. We also explained our 100% policy for designated support. But what is this designated support and how is it used?

As its name suggests, designated support relates to all donations to CMSI that are given for a specified purpose. For the most part, such funds are given to support our partners in Africa and Nepal – whether our Global Partners (the dioceses and churches with whom we’re linked), or our Mission Partners (the personnel that we send and support).

New vehicle arrives in Ibba Diocese

Money mattersinmission

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Life-giving Legacies in Kibungo

Rwanda

Thanks to a generous legacy, CMSI was pleased to support Kibungo Diocese in launching a Parenting Programme at the beginning of 2015, to help young families learn good parenting skills and understand more about early childhood development.

Throughout the last year, the programme has worked through various phases with different groups, including: workshops with 2000 young people; training for 300 women who work with the Mothers’ Union and other community groups; training for 254 Church leaders; a three-day residential for 270 Sunday school teachers. 36 parishes in the diocese also led training for young parents and caregivers, teaching on child parenting, nutrition, and education.

This programme has proved a huge success. The results support this assertion: child malnutrition in the province has reduced by 3%; there is an increase in the number of pupils attending the diocesan school; those trained are continuing to teach others; the diocese proudly received a trophy from the Anglican Church of Rwanda in honour of its contribution to improving childcare and parenting.

One of the mothers impacted by the programme is Jeanne, a mother of four who

had been struggling to provide her children with an education. Jeanne told us:

“I joined the Parenting Programme in 2015 and in March we received training from the diocese. I then became one of the caregivers and women leaders in my local parish of Musamvu. After joining the programme, I started to educate my children and they are now good and studying at Itetero Christian School, where they excel in all fields.

“I also learnt a better way of improving my family nutrition, including fighting against malnutrition in the children. My children are now healthy and they work well in their classes. My children have the best behaviours in our neighbourhood and are now my best friends.” Jeanne is now leading a parenting group she founded after the training, where she teaches skills to her fellow mothers to help raise their children well. They have started saving at their weekly meetings to be able to support their families financially. In this group, they learn many skills such as cooking and cultivating crops, and other income generating activities such as raising goats and chickens. Jeanne told us that her life has completely changed and she has a new joy in her family.Kelly Yates

Most of these funds come from parishes and individuals in Ireland – although we occasionally secure funds from grant-making bodies such as the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal. In CMSI’s last financial year (Nov 2014 – Oct 2015), we committed over €700,000 in support of our partners. (See chart)

As the following four examples testify, these funds – and the prayers that go with them – really do make a difference.

Designated Support to Partners

2014-2015Total €700,377

(Draft Figure)

Burundi: 4.2%

DR Congo 9.9%

Egypt 1.4%

Ethiopia 0.3%

Kenya 18.6%

Nepal 3.4%

Rwanda 7.9%

South Sudan 23.2%

Uganda 12.7%

Mission Partners 18.4%

Page 16 Photo: Theological students at Gambella

inmissionSpring 2016 Money matters

A Garden in Gambella

Ethiopia

“I like to call this area the garden of Eden”, explains Bishop Grant Le Marquand, as he takes me around the Anglican Centre in Gambella, an area in the far west of Ethiopia, bordering South Sudan. It is low lying and exceedingly hot, so the trees and shrubs around the newly developed buildings provide welcome, shady respite for humans and birds alike. A stunning variety of birds flit through the trees. The humans are pretty diverse too!

The centre is about 2km from Gambella town, which has become a refuge for many thousands of people who have fled renewed fighting in South Sudan. Intercultural tensions are high and pressure on land and resources have been exacerbated by a very long dry season, with food and water shortages.

In 2008, CMSI accessed Irish Aid funding to begin construction on the Anglican site in Gambella, with the aim of supporting literacy and peace-building. The buildings were opened by Archbishop Mouneer Hanis in 2010. Since then, development has continued apace with staff housing, offices for church administration, a guesthouse, chapel, library, dining area and classrooms for St Frumentius Theological College.

In recent years, 80 new churches have sprung up in Gambella, so the need for trained pastors is intense. The Service books are regularly used in six different languages…a

reflection of the cultural diversity of the area. Worshiping together across the cultural divides is a demonstration of the power of Jesus to reconcile people, a much-needed witness in an environment of inter-ethnic tension. Church of Ireland parishes are sponsoring clergy training in Gambella, equipping leaders for ministry in this challenging environment.

The Anglican Centre also provides pastoral and spiritual training for the Mothers’ Union leaders in the form of literacy programmes, to enable women to read the Bible for themselves. These courses have helped generate positive changes in the lives of rural women, by developing an understanding of Jesus’ teaching on wholeness and his concern for the health of the whole community. Infant Mortality rates have been drastically reduced in the areas where the Mothers’ Unions have been working. One pastor reported 50 infant deaths in one month before the MU ministry, and none in the two subsequent months!

Life changing, life enhancing, life giving ministry!

The garden in Genesis is reflected in Revelation, where we read of the trees with leaves for the healing of the nations. Please pray for those who work and study at the Anglican Centre in Gambella, that they may be bringers of God’s hope and healing.Jenny Smyth

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inmissionSpring 2016Money matters

New starts in Kathmandu

Nepal

We recently received the happy news that the first participants at the SDSS Disabled Children’s Rehabilitation Centre had started school. As part of their long-term response to last year’s earthquakes, SD Church identified a need to support children who had developed disabilities as a result of the disaster. The children had come to Kathmandu for amputations and other operations and were staying at the SDSS compound.

These children are from remote, mountainous areas; had they returned home from Kathmandu their disabilities would have resulted in exclusion from schooling and from wider opportunities. SD Church wanted to help these children adjust to life with physical disability and to receive an education.

CMSI committed £14,100 of funds from the Earthquake Response Appeal for the programme; we’re delighted to see how the generous response from individuals and parishes in Ireland is already transforming lives. Our Global Partners in Nepal have displayed great faith, vision and perseverance to get this programme started. Not for the first time, CMSI has been able to help them plant seeds that can grow to something much bigger and more wide reaching.Roger Cooke

The staff and board of CMSI want to say a huge Thank You to all those who have supported – and continue to support - our partners through designated giving. Your generosity is helping to ensure that new life is emerging and growing, even in the most challenging environments. CMSI’s Annual Accounts for 2014-2015 are now available to view via our website. Copies can also be requested from the office.

A vehicle for Ibba Diocese

South Sudan

Roads and transport are extremely challenging in South Sudan, especially in the rural area of Ibba. For some time, one of Bishop Wilson’s priorities has been to acquire a vehicle for the diocese, to use in support of lots of activities including Peace and Reconciliation meetings and medical outreach events. One of Ibba’s link Parishes took on the huge challenge to raise the funds for a sturdy, reliable vehicle,

St. John’s, Moira, realised the proposed funding target shortly before a team from their parish visited Ibba with CMSI in January. The team were able to see the purchased vehicle in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, before Bishop Wilson drove it on the daylong journey back to Ibba. There was much jubilation on the arrival of the vehicle, which represents over a year of hard work and fundraising for St. John’s. It will impact Ibba Diocese and its people for many, many years to come.Linda Abwa

Snippets

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snippetsCMSI news in brief

Wilsons and Zimmermans in Ireland

The coming months will see Home Assignment visits by two of our mission families, with opportunities to catch up with them and hear their latest news.

The Wilson family (Uganda) will return to Ireland in mid-March for a ten-week stay. As well as sharing at our Shine event on 16th April and at a Uganda Focus Event, the Wilsons will be visiting a number of their link parishes to speak at Sunday services. Their speaking programme is available from the CMSI office.

The Zimmerman family (Nepal) will also be in Ireland in March and again in July on their way to and from the USA. You can hear them speak at any of the following events:

• 20th March, 10:15am Morning Service, Taney (Christchurch)

• 20th March, 11:45am Morning Service, Taney (St Nahi’s)

• 24th March, 7:30pm Maundy Thursday Service and Nepal Focus Evening, St Patrick’s Ballymena

• 25th March, 7:30pm Good Friday Service, Cloughfern Parish

• 31st July, 10:30am Morning Service, St Brigid’s Glengormley

Paul and Tania Baker are due to return to Ireland in August on Home Assignment – we’ll share more details of their visit in the next inMission.

CMSI Stars update

In the winter edition of inMission, we launched CMSI Stars - our new membership initiative. So far, over 70 people have signed-up – by renewing their membership or joining for the first time. They have each received a welcome pack and an invitation to our Shine event (page 13).

We’ll be sending out our first CMSI Stars update in the next few weeks and we’re keen to give ourselves as much work as possible – the more updates we have to produce and send, the better. If you’re a current member and haven’t yet renewed your membership, or if you’re someone who hasn’t yet joined CMSI, please visit our website or contact us for further information.

We need your prayers, your engagement and your support – so please do sign-up and shine out.

Busy blogging

If the website is anything to go by, it seems that CMSI staff and Mission Personnel have a lot to say these days. Recent months have seen lots of blog posts from teams, STEP volunteers, Mission Partners and staff members.

Following these blogs is a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest news and views from CMSI personnel and to get an insight into their lives and their ministry. We’d encourage you to visit the website for a read – or you can sign-up online to have blogs delivered directly to your inbox.


Snippets

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Legacies: a will to give

CMSI is hugely grateful for the financial support we receive each year from legacies, whether for designated programmes or for the General Fund. We also receive many gifts from families after a bereavement, in lieu of flowers. Such support really makes a difference.

We want to pay tribute to those individuals, and their families, who make plans to support CMSI at the end of their lives. We also want to encourage others to consider making such plans – by leaving a gift to CMSI as part of their will. Please contact us if you’d like to receive further information or advice.

Children continue to change lives

With the recent launch of The Meeting Place – our new Children’s Resource – we’ve been reminded of the significant impact that the material has on many children and young people (and, we hope, their leaders). But we’ve also been struck by the impact that these children have on our Global Partners, through their interest, their prayers and their fundraising.

Each year, around 70 parishes and well over 2000 children participate in the Children’s Resource. Over the past five years, they’ve raised more than £127,000 to support the various projects that feature in the resource. They’ve helped to train teachers and renovate schools in South Sudan, support charity care and provide a much-needed vehicle for SD


Church in Nepal, provide bicycles for clergy in lots of different places and helped support a Mothers’ Union programme and an orphanage in DR Congo.

We want to say a big ‘Thank You’ to the children for their efforts and to their leaders and teachers for taking the Children’s Resource material and delivering it with such enthusiasm and care.

The Meeting Place material can be ordered from the CMSI website or via our offices. It’s an excellent resource for Sunday schools and parishes who want to encourage their children to explore the biblical story of mission and to learn about the Global Church.

Children’s Resource 2016

Opportunities to serve

Programmes CoordinatorVocational Training CentreMadi West Nile Diocese, Uganda Mission Partner: 3+ yearsTo manage projects and staff at the VTC and help develop finan-cial sustainability

Church Mission Society Ireland is registered in Dublin, Ireland - Reg No. 26905 - as a Company Limited by Guarantee, with permission to omit the word ‘Limited’. Registered Charity Number (CRA No.): 20001476. Recognised in the UK as a Charity by the Inland Revenue - Ref No. XN 48809. CMS Ireland is a registered business name - Registered Office: Dublin Office, as above.

Belfast33 Dargan Road, Belfast, BT3 9JUTel +44 (0) 28 9077 5020 Email [email protected]

DublinChurch of Ireland House, Church Ave, Rathmines, Dublin D06 CF67Tel +353 (0) 1497 0931 Email [email protected]

www.cmsireland.org

facebook.com/cmsireland@cmsireland

English Teacher

Maridi Diocese, South Sudan

STEP or Mission Partner:

To provide language training to

diocesan staff, clergy and theo-

logical students

Youth LeaderSD Church, Nepal

STEP: 1 yearTo support work with young people, including those with disabilities

Advisor/Trainer in Disability MinistrySD Church, Nepal

STEP: To help develop a training

programme for Nepali Churches

in providing holistic ministry to

people living with disabilities

Development Officer

Maridi Diocese, South Sudan

(and other locations)

Mission Partner: 2+ years

To help develop of project

proposals, to raise funds, to

monitor programmes and to

liaise with donors

STEP = Short-Term Experience Placement

For details of these and other opportunities visit

the CMSI website

Opportunities to serve

P3 Teacher (Homeschool)

Luwero Diocese, Uganda

STEP

To support CMSI MIssion

Partners at Kiwoko Hospital

by teaching their son for his

P3 year

Documents

inMission 52