Prayerlines - June/July 2016

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Church Mission Society is a mission community acknowledged by the Church of England Registered in England and Wales, charity number 1131655, company number 6985330

JUNE – JULY 2016

The call in action | churchmissionsociety.org

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free

indeed. John 8:36

Prayerlines

The call in action

churchmissionsociety.org

THE CALL

IN ACTION

Welcome to the new

Church Mission Society

Prayerlines

“I urge that supplications, prayers,

intercessions and thanksgivings should

be made for everyone” 1 Timothy 2:1

Cover: Lee Norfolk, going to work with young people on the streets of Bolivia

Church Mission Society Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ


T: +44 (0)1865 787400E: [email protected]

Dear praying friends,

Along with this new (and newly designed) edition of Prayerlines you’ll have received a copy of the first edition of our new paper The Call. In it we highlight how people across the world are responding to God’s call to mission. We hope the stories you find there will resource and encourage you in mission in your turn.

But as well as calling us to mission, God calls us to pray. We find a clear call to prayer in Paul’s first letter to his young apprentice Timothy, in his instructions to the church in Ephesus: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings should be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1). No fewer than four words (supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings) suggests that this is an activity to be taken seriously.

But Paul sets all this in the context of mission: these prayers are to be brought before “God our Saviour who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2:3,4). And that in turn is set alongside the glorious fact that “there is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus... who gave himself as a ransom for all” (2:5,6).

So perhaps it’s providential that The Call and Prayerlines are being delivered together. The call to mission and the call to prayer belong together and must never be separated. May we always be faithful to both.

With my very best wishes in Christ,

Philip MounstephenExecutive Leader

THE CALL TO PRAYER

P R AYER DIARY - JUNE /J ULY 2016THE CALL IN ACTION A2

Send us a prayer

WEEKENDFOCUSSaturday-Sunday 30-31 July

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Please note: We are in the process of updating the people in mission map and will include it in the next edition.

PRAYER DIARY - JUNE/JULY 2016 3

30 MAY (M) PAKISTAN

30 May (M) PAKISTAN From F, a mission partner working to strengthen Pakistani Christians’ faith through theological education: “Please continue to pray for the nation of Pakistan, for peace and harmony between different religious communities, for security and safety for all and for good governance and integrity. Pray for the families of all those bereaved and injured in the terrorist attack on Easter Sunday in Lahore and pray for a complete change of heart in those who would perpetrate such atrocities.”

31 MAY (T) PAKISTAN

More from F, who teaches at a number of theological institutions in the region: “Praise God for all the students who have graduated from the various theological colleges and Bible schools in recent months, and pray that God may continue to bless and guide them in their daily life and service. Please pray for the newer students at those institutions, that they may be diligent in their studies and confirmed in their calling, and for all their teachers, full-time and part-time.”

1 JUNE (W) THAILAND

Please pray for Jason and Tracy Day, who will return to Chiang Mai in July with their daughters Ruby and Libby. Jason will continue to work with a partner organisation, providing personnel support for people in mission across South East Asia. While in the UK, Jason has been studying for a diploma in personnel and management. Please pray for the Days as they prepare for this transition.

The Day family, getting ready to return to Thailand

P R AYER DIARY - JUNE /J ULY 2016THE CALL IN ACTION4

2 JUNE (TH) NEPAL

Dan and Phillipa Munday report on progress being made as Dan helps develop palliative care in Nepal: “Dan recently took part in a forum in Kathmandu where they were discussing the development of a national strategy for palliative care. The forum was attended by medical professionals, World Health Organisation representatives

and government officials and Dan presented some results from a review of palliative care in Nepal. The strategy is now being written and Dan has a lead role in this as an adviser to the Nepalese Association for Palliative Care.” Please pray for Dan and his colleagues as they continue to survey palliative care needs in Nepal.

3 JUNE (F) ASIA

Two couples have begun their CMS mission training in Oxford in preparation for working in Asia: Andrea and Andrew Young will go to Nepal and B and M will go to South East Asia (names and specific location withheld for security reasons). Please pray for them during this time; pray that they will learn much and quickly feel part of the Church Mission Society community.

Dan Munday, helping to grow palliative care in Nepal

PRAYER DIARY - JUNE/JULY 2016 5

BY DR FRANCESCA ELLOWAY IN ARU, DR CONGO

One of our palliative care patients is a 32 year old lady, B.A. I’ve known her for years as she is the daughter of one of my nurses, and I used to see her quite often when she was a child. However, since she grew up and married, our paths hadn’t crossed.

She has been unwell for a long time with severe heart failure as a result of probable congenital valvular disease. This is something that would have been amenable to an operation if she had been born in a place where paediatric cardiac surgery was available. I was not aware of her illness but apparently for quite a long time she had been focusing on treatment given by traditional healers, which costs a lot of money and is not helpful. One of my colleagues asked me if I’d see her, which I was more than happy to do as long as she wanted to consult me. At that point she was extremely weak, almost

Dr Francesca Elloway

“When I first saw B.A. she looked nothing like the person that I’d known as a child. “

So happy to be wrong

WEEKENDFOCUSSaturday-Sunday 4-5 June

P R AYER DIARY - JUNE /J ULY 2016THE CALL IN ACTION

too weak to come to the hospital.

When I first saw B.A. she looked nothing like the person that I’d known as a child. As a result of her heart failure, B.A.’s whole body had become bloated from fluid retention. She also had a very distended abdomen.

We started her on treatment to try and reduce the fluid in her body, but I wasn’t very confident that it would be helpful.

How happy I am to have been proved wrong! Four months later she looked like the B.A. I knew years ago and her stomach was completely flat. Of course, she still has severe heart failure and the heart valve problem remains but she is a different person with much more energy, able to walk to the market and to do small tasks around the home and she has her smile back.

It’s been so good to see the change, not only in her physical state but also in her mental/psychological state. Furthermore, she has started to go back to the church she went to as a child and has been talking to the pastors on our palliative care team. She has also stopped seeing traditional healers. She is a wonderful example of the benefits of holistic palliative care.

B.A., palliative care patient

PRAYPlease pray for B.A., that we will be able to continue to control her symptoms for a long time to come and that her faith will be rekindled and strengthened.

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PRAYER DIARY - JUNE/JULY 2016

6 JUNE (M) UGANDA

Based at Kiwoko Hospital, Dr Corrie Verduyn (clinical lead for women’s health, obstetrics and gynaecology) writes: “I have previously shared about frequent staff changes at Kiwoko and the resulting challenges. In the past few years it has been particularly challenging to find somebody willing to take on the role of being the in-charge of maternity. Taking on responsibility when it involves being in authority over another person is a difficult thing in Ugandan culture; this is especially so when the person in charge is of the same age group as the others. So we reviewed the position again and we now have a person who really is in charge: Sister Hajarah. Please pray for her in this role.”

7 JUNE (T) KENYA

After four years in Eldoret, working in peacemaking and community based rehabilitation, David and Liza Cooke are back in the UK. They ask: “Pray for the flourishing of peace in the Borderlands and that, even though we will be at a distance, we will still be able to support the peace and civil society activists in a meaningful way. Pray for our personal adjustment, both practical and emotional, to life back in the UK and that we will be a faithful voice for God’s mission wherever we find ourselves.”

8 JUNE (W) TANZANIA

Dr Ruth Hulser is the health coordinator for the Diocese of Tabora and head of St Philip’s Health Clinic. She writes: “The clinic is at

Sister Hajarah, new in-charge nurse

David and Liza Cooke, readjusting to UK life

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THE CALL IN ACTION

present my greatest challenge; after the last general election the new president has started a great programme of improvement in all sectors including the health sector. Fortunately we had already started a great programme ourselves: updating guidelines, supervising performance, starting new levels of quality control, etc and so we managed to collect three stars in the big government health review this spring. We were the only ones to do so in the municipality and possibly in the whole region. Still, the review uncovered a lot of smaller things that we need to address and we are very busy. Please pray for us.”

9 JUNE (TH) TANZANIA

More from Ruth: “We have had a lot of rain and in many areas the maize harvest failed. Many houses have fallen down all over Tanzania. Everyone is now hoping for a good rice and sweet potato harvest. The local river flooded to a degree we never heard of before and getting to the villages [to provide healthcare services] is a test in endurance, ingenuity and perseverance. Pray for those who may suffer from food shortages this year.”

10 JUNE (F) UGANDA

Nurse and midwife Ann Moore works in the school of nursing and the special care baby unit at Kisiizi Hospital. She says: “The special care unit continues to be busy with small and sick babies. Baby Janet was very premature and sick. She really needed a ventilator and intravenous feeding. We could do neither of those things. Our prayer was, ‘God, we can’t, please take over.’ Perhaps this was the sort of intensive care she needed! Several weeks later she was discharged well. Do pray for the staff in the unit who work so hard.”

Ann Moore, nurse and midwifery tutor

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WEEKENDFOCUS

The Tester family in Peru

BY PAUL AND SARAH TESTER, WHO SERVE IN YOUTH MINISTRY IN LIMA, PERU

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C.S. Lewis

Faith in Christ must be life-changing, world-transforming, self-emptying and love giving. It is a lifelong process. But there is a danger that faith can be a bolt-on which can be jettisoned if it fails to be fully integrated in our lives. In our ministry with children and young people, we seek to demonstrate a faith that is of infinite importance. In doing so we hope and pray that those we minister with will do the same.

Here are some words from David and Monica, who now help us as part of the diocesan youth ministry team – David with workshops for young people and youth leaders, Monica in encouraging and enabling young people in service and mission. They are both young people we have worked with and we hope they illustrate faith that is maturing and

Infinitely important: whole-person discipleship

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Saturday-Sunday 11-12 June

THE CALL IN ACTION

beginning to bear fruit.

David, who has just graduated with a degree in psychology writes: “The greatest satisfaction and joy I have is in knowing that it is God who guides our way just as his word says ‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps’ (Proverbs

16:9). These are words that have lived in me....God invited me to see people as a holistic or a complete human being with a spirit, body and soul, rather than as a divided human being. So we should not look at people only psychologically and leave other areas alone; we have to pay attention to the spiritual, physical and psychological sides.”

Monica writes: “I help in the teenage ministry at St John the Evangelist’s Church. I began as someone invited to the teenage group. As the years passed I began to become more involved with the teenagers, playing and becoming their friend. But it was when I shared my testimony of how I had passed through problems at home, including family violence and poverty, and explained that God had always looked after me as I passed through these difficult problems, that I felt that many of them identified with what I had passed through. I began to listen to their problems and get closer to them. I felt they trusted me and that I could help them.”

All of the events and activities that we describe in our updates are examples of things that we are doing at different levels to “go and make disciples”, to tend to the faith of others and help it grow to maturity and to bear fruit.

PRAY

Pray for:• David, Monica and all young people

in the Diocese of Peru, especially for youth leaders

• We all need help as we walk in the ways of Christ

Youth activities: fun and fellowship

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13 JUNE (M) PARAGUAY

Give thanks for the publication of the whole Bible in the Enxet language, a project started by Tim Curtis more than 25 years ago and completed with together with a local team of translators. Four thousand copies have been printed and church leaders hope the new translation will deepen the faith of indigenous Christians as well as improve literacy rates in the Chaco.

14 JUNE (T) BOLIVIA

At the end of this month Lee Norfolk will move to Santa Cruz, to share the love of Jesus with children who have been living on the streets. He says, “Through four short-term visits to Bolivia, I have seen firsthand how many young people are left abandoned with no one to love them or even give them a second look. Please pray that I will be able to use my experience as a youth worker to be a mentor and advocate for these young people and show them what love is.”

15 JUNE (W) PERU

“We all continue to need help as we walk in the ways of Christ,” write Paul and Sarah Tester, who work with young people in the Diocese of Peru. “That is why Paul is now part of the diocesan discipleship team. The team, which includes bishops, priests and lay people, was formed because of concerns expressed by the youth ministry about many young people not remaining in Christ as they grow older. We are now coming to the end of visits to every Anglican parish and mission in Peru, seeking to find common reasons for this. We will then interpret our findings and are aiming to work with the parishes and missions to

Lee Norfolk, heading to Bolvia

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THE CALL IN ACTION

improve our discipleship as a Church with the hope of seeing many more bear fruit through radically changed lives in Christ.” Pray for this endeavour.

16 JUNE (TH) PERU

Pat Blanchard leads the Shalom Centre for children with disabilities in Lima. She’s also active in church ministry, community therapy programmes and advocacy for disabled people: “I have a monthly meeting at the local government office for people with disabilities; we are especially trying to help young people access workshops and employment possibilities. There’s a great need to enable those with disabilities to get the certification they need to obtain appropriate medical care and government recognition. There were terrible problems in the recent elections with people with disabilities being assigned to voting areas upstairs or in inaccessible places.” Pray for Pat in this work and as she develops liturgy that is appropriate for people with learning disabilities.

17 JUNE (F) BRAZIL

Mark and Jess Simpson at Christ Church in Rio de Janeiro write; “These are bemusing times to be living in Brazil. There is so much anger – you can ask one question about the Olympics and get a vitriolic diatribe on current politics or justice systems. The Olympics are certainly dividing opinion – there has been some very heavy-handed removal of dwellings and people by the city council. For many – especially those employed by the state or dependent on public funding – life is on hold. Everywhere, people of all classes and incomes have been caught in the mire of economic stagnation and the tossing waves of business boom and bust. We need wisdom in how not to waste time talking empty politics and yet also to be steered strongly by the politics of Jesus.”

Pat Blanchard helps provide therapy for dozens of disabled children in Peru

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BY MARJORIE, WHO WORKED WITH CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY IN LEBANON AND IS NOW LIVING IN SCOTLAND

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.’” Genesis 12.1

Ten years ago I made my first steps to Israel/Palestine and in 2008 I returned to Bethlehem for a year, where I developed a love for the Middle East and its people. After joining CMS, I went to Lebanon in 2010. I spent three years living and working in Beirut alongside the Anglican Church, the Near East School of Theology and a women’s centre. This was then followed by a period of home leave. Last year, I had the privilege of researching encounters between Lebanese Christians and Syrian refugees for an MPhil in religion and politics, during which I returned to Beirut briefly. Although the situation there is heartbreaking, there are also many glimpses of hope and stories of transformation and healing coming through the courageous

Hospitality and hope: Middle East and UK

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THE CALL IN ACTION

hospitality of Lebanese churches.In the past few months I have visited churches in the UK to speak on

the subject of hospitality and hope within the context of responding to refugees. I have been very encouraged by churches’ eagerness to learn more and to engage with the refugee crisis in Europe.

In December, I was recruited as a refugee support officer. The Middle East has come to Scotland! It was part time work for six months and involved anything from drinking coffee and playing with children to attending council meetings and interpreting hospital appointments. It has stretched my Arabic to the limits and every day presented new challenges but I really could not have invented a better job for myself. It’s been thrilling to use all my experience from the Middle East to help new arrivals feel safe and to support them as they build new lives in Britain.

My job has been to introduce refugees to British society but also to introduce British society to Arab culture (which is relatively new to this area) and I am amazed at the warmth and humanity of local people, being friendly and helpful whether on the buses or in the shops.

Of course, there have been stresses and strains, pressures and misunderstandings, heartbreak and tears, but when a young Muslim woman said to me that I had been “sent by God to help lead her out of a tunnel and into the light,” I could only praise God who came himself to lead us all out of our tunnels.

“By faith, Abraham… stayed and went even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11.8 So what is next? Yesterday a Muslim refugee friend reminded me of the words of Corrie ten Boom: “Don’t be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

PRAY

Please pray for refugees and for all those working to support them, nationally and locally, professionally and voluntarily, that we would see their needs and find creative ways to meet them.

“I have been very encouraged by churches’ eagerness to learn more and to engage with the refugee crisis in Europe.“

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20 JUNE (M) JERUSALEM

“Every day seems to hold a mini-adventure for us.... Again and again though, we are saddened when we hear or see the violence,” write David and Sara from Jerusalem, where David is chaplain to Archbishop Suheil Dawani. They add, “Please do pray for this place, and please pray for wisdom and strength for the archbishop.”

21 JUNE (T) NORTH AFRICA

A couple [names withheld] who are serving in a church in North Africa ask us to join them in giving thanks for new believers in Jesus and in praying for these believers to grow in their faith. They also ask for prayer for the government and security forces who are facing challenges from within and outside the country.

22 JUNE (W) LEBANON AND UK

From Marjorie, who is finishing her service with CMS after three years in Lebanon and time spent working as a refugee support officer in Scotland: “Please pray for refugees who find themselves in our country bewildered and homesick. Pray that they find refuge, community and the support they need to be able feel at home and to find healing for their traumas. Pray for families left behind in war-torn Syria or

David and Sarah learning Arabic

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THE CALL IN ACTION

scattered across Europe. Pray that we would have humility to learn from others and to serve one another in Christian love without fear.”

23 JUNE (TH) LEBANON

Amy and David are working with an Anglican church in Beirut, helping meet the practical and spiritual needs of Lebanese people and Syrian refugees. They write: “We give thanks for opportunities to share with others about Jesus and the peace only he can give. Please pray for peace and for God’s people working in the Middle East. In particular, please remember in your prayers a smart 10 year old Syrian boy, A, who misses studying in his Syrian school, but who is not eager to return to Syria or stay in Lebanon as he feels both are dominated by terrorism, making him tragically ashamed of his own land. Pray for A and other children like him, that God will reveal himself and give them courage to share God’s light in their own generation.”

24 JUNE (F) JORDAN

Please pray for Antony, who is working in north Jordan, close to the Syrian border. Antony has connected with a local Christian community that is actively reaching out to the huge influx of Syrian refugees, distributing basic supplies, providing education for children and visiting hundreds of families to help them feel welcome in Jordan. Please pray for Antony as he considers teaching English to those who want to learn and as he continues to learn formal and colloquial Arabic.

Giving blankets to refugees in Lebanon

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BY IAN ADAMS

We continue our series on prayer inspired by Jesus’ teaching on life and prayer as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” This part of Jesus’ teaching is uncomfortable for us to hear. It exposes any gaps that may exist between who we claim to be and how we actually live. To deny these gaps is to deceive ourselves. So this is a call into reality and honesty, to replace any confident self-deception with humble self-awareness.

To cry “Lord, Lord” is to claim what we think is due to us. What is required is a cry that opens up our deep need of God who is love: a cry of “Mercy, mercy.”

Let mercy be your prayer today.

For yourself, for all those for whom you pray, for your world.

Mercy, mercy…

Prayer exercise series: self awareness

Ian Adams, Mission Spirituality Advisor,Email: ian.adams@ churchmissionsociety.orgfacebook.com/spiritofmissiontwitter: @spiritofmission

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THE CALL IN ACTION

27 JUNE (M) UK

In addition to continuing to lead the Sacred Space missional community in Kingston, Andrea Campanale has been appointed pioneer network animator for Church Mission Society. This is a one-day-a-week role designed to create and build a self-sustaining network of pioneers who have connected with the pioneer training at CMS. As the programme’s first graduate and current MA student, she will be able to support and encourage relationships beyond the formal learning. She is currently organising a launch event on 8 July and setting up a number of regional groups; please pray for good connections to be made.

Anne and Dave Bookless, working in creation care

Andrea Campanale, building a support network for pioneer students

28 JUNE (T) UK

Please pray Anne and Dave Bookless in Southall, London, for Anne as she explores ordination and for Dave as he works to finish his PhD alongside continuing his role as director of theology at A Rocha, a Christian creation care organisation.

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29 JUNE (W) UK

In Hull, Anna and Chris Hembury ask for prayer for the formation of the mission community at Matt’s House: “Matt’s House is beginning to find its feet with a few residents and visitors so far. The back garden has had a long overdue tidy up and they have been busy collecting the necessary materials to build a chicken hut and run, in readiness for some ex-battery hens. We are exploring what works and what doesn’t work for us as a community in terms of a rhythm of life, prayer and praxis.”

30 JUNE (TH) UK

It’s summer festival season! Having launched our Free.In.Deed campaign at The Big Church Day out event in May, Church Mission Society will continue to encourage people to put their mission calling into action at New Wine, Greenbelt and One. If you are attending these events, please come by, say hello and take part.

1 JULY (F) UK

From Joan and Nigel Bull in Bradford: “Recently on a prayer walk through a part of the city with a sizable Asian populaton, we came across a chapel where Smith Wigglesworth used to do much of his work. That building is now derelict, but elsewhere in the city, living churches are following his example of bringing Good News to disadvantaged people in the power of God the Spirit.” Please pray for the Bulls and for their church, St Philip’s, as they build authentic relationships with people of other faiths in a very multicultural context.

Anne and Chris Hembury (right) with Matt’s House residents

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THE CALL IN ACTION


BY DR CORRIE VERDUYN AT KIWOKO HOSPITAL IN UGANDA

I want to tell you about Nakato. She died a few months ago. You will not know her and so I want to tell you about her life.

She came to Kiwoko as a patient 24 years ago as she was showing signs of a muscle wasting disease and was not expected to live much longer. Her family had abandoned her and nobody was looking after her. As she was not expected to live long, doctors were unable to issue a discharge. But she did not die, and so she remained in the female ward for all 24 years, being looked after by various generations of nurses who brought her food every day, cared for all her physical needs and bought her clothes and other personal items.

There is no one in Kiwoko Hospital who did not know Nakato. She had her own “room” (curtained off space) in the ward and had

Nakato’s surprising life and legacy

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attended every function and wedding of everyone within the Kiwoko community over many years, always finding a willing staff member to take her in a wheelchair.

The special thing about Nakato was that she always had a smile on her face, yet literally had nothing, not a single possession to call her own nor a penny in her pocket. Her faith in the living God was well known and she has been an inspiration for many people passing through Kiwoko Hospital over the years. A remarkable lady, sadly missed in our Kiwoko family.

PRAYGive thanks for the life of Nakato and the inspiration she has been

to so many people.

“There is no one in Kiwoko Hospital who did not know Nakato”

Nakato, beloved and missed by all

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THE CALL IN ACTION

4 JULY (M) DR CONGO

Berdine van den Toren-Lekkerkerker is grateful for a good time of teaching in February at Anglican University of Congo. Normally based in the Netherlands, Berdine was in DR Congo for three weeks to teach on their MA programme in theology of mission and Christian education. “This time I had a small class of five students, all with significant experience in parish or diocesan ministry. The students reflected on the course material from the perspective of their life and church experiences. This allowed for intense discussions.” Pray that God will give grace and strength to these students, who persevere in their calling amid many challenges.

5 JULY (T) KENYA

Caroline and Dick Seed work in theological education; Dick works with the Organisation of African Instituted Churches in Nairobi and lectures at St Paul’s University. Caroline lectures in the department of theology at the Presbyterian University of East Africa (PUEA). They ask for prayer for wisdom for the management team of PUEA as they seek to

steer the university through big financial challenges. Pray for Dick as he works alongside Latimer Trust to publish accessible theological books for the African market.

Congolese theology students

Dick Seed works in theological education in Kenya

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6 JULY (W) TANZANIA

Neema Crafts in Iringa trains and employs people with disabilities in a variety of skills and roles, from handicrafts to hospitality. Ben and Katy Ray, who head up Neema, write: “While the majority of our staff are Christians, we have noticed there is a real need for them to experience close Christian fellowship and an environment where they can have their many questions answered. Especially among our deaf staff, there is often little opportunity for them to really wrestle with scripture and ask questions in a place where they feel safe. This is why we have decided to run an Alpha course for a few of our staff. Please pray that this will benefit many at our centre.”

7 JULY (TH) UK AND DR CONGO

Amy and Dan Ross are planning to move to DR Congo to support the local Anglican Church in theological training for clergy, grassroots community development and environmental management. In preparation for this they will spend three months in France this summer to sharpen their French language skills. Pray that this will be a good and helpful time of learning.

8 JULY (F) EVERYWHERE

Today please pray for all those who are in the process of applying to serve in mission with Church Mission Society. Pray also for our team of selectors, that they will have wisdom and discernment as they ask questions, listen and try to determine whether or not people are ready to take further steps with CMS.

Amy and Dan Ross are preparing to work in DR Congo

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THE CALL IN ACTION


THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN BY A NEEMA CRAFTS ARTISAN

My name is Angelina and I work in the weaving department at Neema Crafts, creating beautiful scarves and fabrics. I lost the use of my legs when I was six years old.

One day I was walking along barefoot and I remember getting a thorn stuck in my foot; the next day I had a bad pain that started around the knee and quickly spread around my hip. By the following day I couldn’t use either of my legs. The doctors say I had contracted polio, but to this day I still believe it was something to do with that

“Mama Landlord”: Angelina’s Story

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Ben and Katy Ray, Neema Crafts, Tanzania

From Ben and Katy Ray at Neema Crafts Centre in Iringa, Tanzania. Neema trains and employs people with disabilities in variety of skills, from handicrafts to hospitality, and is stamping out the stigma surrounding disability.


Angelina

thorn. For the following eleven years I didn’t have a wheelchair and I had to crawl around everywhere I went. When I was 17, I was taken to a hospital many miles north, where I received three operations on my legs - which had by now withered and constricted so that I couldn’t straighten them at all. The operations allowed my legs to be straightened and be put into callipers so that I could begin to move around with wooden crutches.

People have always treated me differently because of my

disability and they are always amazed to know I earn a steady wage at my place of work. Because no one thinks a disabled person could ever earn good money, it has always been difficult for me to rent accommodation for myself and my three children. I had to start using someone else to negotiate

tenancies for me and even then, landlords would refuse to allow me to rent from them when they discovered I was disabled. It usually took six months’ rent before people trusted that I could pay.

In December last year, I moved into my new home that was built for me through the Neema Crafts housing scheme. It was such a relief not to have to deal with nasty landlords anymore and also to have a place I could call my own. I was surprised how happy everyone has been for me; all my old friends and even my pastor praise God that their disabled friend now has a house. They have even changed my name to ‘Mama Mwenye Nyumba’ or ‘Mama Landlord’! When we started to build the house on my plot, I was so encouraged that the whole community came out to help - even the local councillor came to my place to show his support.

PRAY

Last year, Neema used its profits to build 10 homes for its disabled staff. For 2016 we have set a target of 20 new homes. Pray for great blessing this year over our businesses and also that many people would catch the vision for this housing project.

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THE CALL IN ACTION

11 JULY (M) UKRAINE

In Kiev, Alison Giblett works in a variety of ministries, including helping people become free from substance addiction. With her church she has also led mission trips to India where they have run medical clinics, children’s programmes and street outreaches. Alison and her colleagues are currently running an evangelism training camp in preparation for sending 12-

15 teams throughout different parts of Ukraine this summer. She asks, “Please pray for long-term peace and stability in Ukraine and for God’s direction and blessing on our summer outreach.”

12 JULY (T) EGYPT AND UK

Angela and Chris and their children have just returned to the UK after living and working in church ministry and education in Egypt for 12 years. They ask, “Please pray for our family – especially the children – as we deal with the emotions of leaving. Pray also for our future ministry – we’re trying to be open to God’s leading. Pray for Egypt as pressure seems to be building again and for the diocese of Egypt and Archbishop Mouneer – we have enjoyed working for this vibrant and fascinating diocese. Please pray that it would continue to be a strong bridge between the

Alison Giblett (right) praying with people in India

The Chorlton family are back in the UK and praying about their future

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Orthodox and the Protestant and between Christianity and Islam. Lastly pray for the Episcopal Training Centre – for future management and for more English teachers for after the summer.”

13 JULY (W) MALTA

Doug and Jacqui Marshall, who help provide practical and spiritual support for refugees and asylum seekers, write: “Malta is seeing many Libyans applying for asylum. We also see the developments in Tripoli and the arrival of the formally elected government. What possibilities! Pray for Libya, that peace will become a viable option, and that its people can rebuild their lives. Pray also for a more humanitarian response to the asylum seekers entering Europe.”

14 JULY (TH) ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Pray for Sara, who is preparing to move to Jerusalem for two years to help a local evangelistic outreach ministry in an administrative capacity. She is also qualified to teach English. Having spent time in the Holy Land previously, Sara says, “The Lord really opened my eyes to all the different people, the complexities of living there [he gave me] a desire to understand the situation for the people on a daily basis. Please pray for peace and reconciliation among the people of Israel and Palestine.”

15 JULY (F) WALES

15 Jul (F) WALES Today and tomorrow is the annual CMS Wales and the Borders conference for members and friends. The theme is “mission with a Middle Eastern flavour” and the main speakers are Tanas Alqassis, our regional manager for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and Sara Afshari, who was for many years the executive director of SAT-7 PARS, a satellite television channel broadcasting quality Christian programmes across the Farsi (Persian) speaking world. Currently she is studying media and religious studies at Edinburgh University. Please pray that this conference will be a good time of learning, prayer and sharing.

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THE CALL IN ACTION


Eric and Sandra Read, currently in the Philippines

BY ERIC AND SANDRA READ IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Based on the island of Mindanao, their vision is to help local churches and other groups to reach out practically and spiritually to local communities. The farm they are cultivating helps build these bridges between people.

We’ve recently been exploring plans for building a library/reading centre; we have decided to revise this to a community resource centre so that it can also be a meeting room and training venue. This will make it easier for us to organise activities with the community. It will also be open to anyone who needs a place for meetings, training, seminars and film showings.

We are very grateful to have received a grant from a trust towards our budgeted cost for the building of the centre. We are now applying for the building permit and have had a visit from the inspector, who encouraged us to change the design to allow for easier future expansion! Boy, a local pastor, helped us make the contact and has expressed his excitement as the local church will have use of the centre. We plan to start building as soon as we have the permit.

Cultivating community

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Sandra meets weekly with some local primary school age children. They currently meet at our house, which is not ideal and puts off some of the older ones from coming. This will be the first group to move to the centre.

We also plan to use it to have workshops with local farmers on various aspects of sustainable and natural farming. The first of these will be on dry season vegetable growing using drip irrigation. Traditional drip irrigation is very expensive, so not appropriate for small scale farmers, but we are excited to have found a very low cost simple drip irrigation system produced by a man in his garage with the small farmer in mind! We have installed it in about two thirds of our guavas and it is working well. We are growing a demonstration plot of about 30 watermelon plants and we can help farmers work out their need and the costing and train them how to set it up. The drip irrigation for this costs less than £2.

Please pray for the construction of this community centre, that we will be able to find a good builder at a reasonable price and finish it completely. Also pray for the children’s meetings. As well as having fun, we plan to teach biblical truths and practical skills; the first one will be knots and then maybe some small scale vegetable growing. Our aim is for this to be a long term gathering. We are also starting a series of Bible studies with our farm workers.

PRAY Please pray that we will all learn and apply biblical values to our lives.

Top: Drip irrigation system Bottom: Site of future community centre

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THE CALL IN ACTION

18 JULY (M) INDIA

Hugh and Debbie Skeil work in Vellore at Christian Medical College. Hugh manages the development office, helping raise funds for treatment of poorer patients. Debbie, a doctor, works in rehabilitation. She is currently exploring ways for some of the rehab patients to earn an income, perhaps through craftmaking. She says, “The challenge is to turn the ideas into reality with training staff and then patients, finding outlets to sell what’s produced, etc. Please do pray for this.”

19 JULY (T) SOUTH EAST ASIA

Pray for A and L, whose names and location must be withheld for security reasons. They are currently in the process of learning the local language, adjusting to the culture and building relationships. Please pray for them, that God will guide their steps. Their hope is to provide practical and spiritual support for children living on the streets.

Fun and craft club, India

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20 JULY (W) INDIA

After five years in Delhi, D and R are returning to the UK. D and R have both been working among people marginalised by poverty and disability. They write: “We first approached CMS in 2008, and even before that the call to serve God among the marginalised and share Jesus has been a strong theme in both our lives. We remain committed to this calling and we hope that one day we will have the privilege of serving in India again as our ties to this country are of course very strong.” Please pray for D and R and their two children as they make this transition.

21 JULY (TH) PAKISTAN

Please pray for R, a teacher in Lahore, who is helping schools develop curriculum and introducing teachers to the concept of play in education. She says: “Psalm 61:2 is a verse that is very important to me. ‘When my heart is overwhelmed, I am led to a rock that is higher than I.’ I enjoy rock climbing and mountain walking and love to feel and see the rocks and high mountains that inspire and challenge. There are many times here when things seem overwhelming and it is good to be reassured that God is a strong and firm rock that we can depend on.”

22 JULY (F) INDIA

E and R live in Bangalore, where E works in theological education. They have also been hosting weekly Bible studies and it looks like this might form a church plant. “R has agreed to take on a formal role as coordinator for how we welcome people and what we do with children. Recently we have been looking at discipleship.” Please pray for the growth of this and for Chai 3:16, a newly-built cafe nearby, which provides welcome and support for students who often face great pressures in Bangalore.

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THE CALL IN ACTION


BY IAN ADAMS

We conclude our series on prayer inspired by Jesus’ teaching on life and prayer as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.

“The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall”. The series of sayings of Jesus in Matthew 5-7 ends with the memorable story of the wise and foolish builders. When the storm comes in, the necessity for good foundations becomes very clear. Only houses built on firm foundations will survive. Storms, of course, will come our way. Sooner or later the weather of life will beat down upon us.

Notice the weather today. Whether it is lovely, challenging or mundane, let it be an encouragement to you to access again the deep foundations that are the wisdom and presence of Jesus.

Jesus my Lord and friend Help me to ground myself today in your wisdom, and in your presence.

And so may I not fall.

Prayer exercise series: into the storm

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Ian Adams, Mission Spirituality Advisor,Email: ian.adams@ churchmissionsociety.orgfacebook.com/spiritofmission@spiritofmission


25 JULY (M) BRAZIL

Jimmy and Katia Rocks are starting a new church community in Florianopolis: “After months of having Bible studies in our home, in February we launched our first service and have since met on the first and third Sundays of the month. We are hiring a function room in a local guest house. We’ve had a good mix of people including some with no current church connection who are exploring faith.” Also, Jimmy has been helping a chaplaincy group with evangelism in a young offenders institute and Katia has been helping out in a local church run orphanage. “We are encouraged by what we see God doing in people’s lives around us; however we long to see more people give their lives to Jesus and get involved. Please pray for this.”

26 JULY (T) BRAZIL

From Andy and Rose Roberts, who head up ReVive, a ministry among girls at risk in Brazil: “We’re currently at capacity with 10 girls at the ReVive safe house. Over the past two years, a total of 23 girls have passed through the ReVive house, with 13 of them moving on to new families. Our most recent arrival is a girl who is 14 years old; she was sexually abused by someone from her immediate family. Do pray for her as she settles in and for the team as they begin to care for her.”

The Rocks family, planting a new church

ReVive staff care for abused girls

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Ian Adams, Mission Spirituality Advisor,Email: ian.adams@ churchmissionsociety.orgfacebook.com/spiritofmission@spiritofmission

THE CALL IN ACTION

27 JULY (W) BRAZIL

A bit more from Andy and Rose: “For all the successes we’ve seen, there are always setbacks. We work with girls whose lives are broken and whose hope is lost which will always be a challenge and a struggle. Recently two girls from ran away from ReVive. We take comfort knowing that their stories aren’t finished and that God is working, but it’s tough for us and the team not to take these setbacks personally. Do be praying for the team in these daily struggles and give thanks when the successes come.”

28 JULY (TH) PERU AND UK

Anna Sims is in the UK until September. She asks, “Please pray for me as I travel around the country sharing what God has been doing in Peru.” Anna is involved in a diocesan discipleship initiative called Christian Life and Formation; she and Paul Tester (also with CMS) and other colleagues have been visiting churches and missions across Peru to understand how discipleship can be more effective.

29 JULY (F) CHILE

Alf Cooper was recently consecrated as bishop for church planting and has wasted no time. “In early February, we were able to see a new Anglican mission in Puerto Natales come into existence. Then, after a few days in Tierra del Fuego, we were able to make the first contacts in Porvenir where, again, a promise of an established mission was laid

for the future.” Pray for Alf and Hilary as they continue to adjust to this new role and new responsibilities.

Anna Sims uses her creativity for the kingdom

Alf Cooper being consecrated as bishop

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Dear praying friends,

Along with this new (and newly designed) edition of Prayerlines you’ll have received a copy of the first edition of our new paper The Call. In it we highlight how people across the world are responding to God’s call to mission. We hope the stories you find there will resource and encourage you in mission in your turn.

But as well as calling us to mission, God calls us to pray. We find a clear call to prayer in Paul’s first letter to his young apprentice Timothy, in his instructions to the church in Ephesus: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings should be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1). No fewer than four words (supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings) suggests that this is an activity to be taken seriously.

But Paul sets all this in the context of mission: these prayers are to be brought before “God our Saviour who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2:3,4). And that in turn is set alongside the glorious fact that “there is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus... who gave himself as a ransom for all” (2:5,6).

So perhaps it’s providential that The Call and Prayerlines are being delivered together. The call to mission and the call to prayer belong together and must never be separated. May we always be faithful to both.

With my very best wishes in Christ,

Philip MounstephenExecutive Leader

THE CALL TO PRAYER

P R AYER DIARY - JUNE /J ULY 2016THE CALL IN ACTION A2

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JUNE – JULY 2016

The call in action | churchmissionsociety.org

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free

indeed. John 8:36

Prayerlines

The call in action


THE CALL

IN ACTION

Welcome to the new

Church Mission Society

Prayerlines

“I urge that supplications, prayers,

intercessions and thanksgivings should

be made for everyone” 1 Timothy 2:1

Cover: Lee Norfolk, going to work with young people on the streets of Bolivia

Church Mission Society Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ


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Documents

Prayerlines - June/July 2016