World Mission
We were unable to show a short video during the morning services on Sunday 31st January. Please right-click below and choose ‘Play’ to view the video from Samaritan’s Purse.
Mission Partners:
The Nason Family working with MAF in Uganda:
 The Nason family in Uganda |
How long have you been working with MAF in Uganda? Since March 2003 What are your main roles and responsibilities? Laurie – pilot and IT manager What do you most enjoy? Resting at home with family and friends! Playing the violin (Emma), playing with the kids (both of us), playing squash (Laurie), seeing Ugandan countryside |
What do you find most challenging?
The difference in our concept of time between Westerners and Ugandans. It becomes very frustrating at times. Traffic is appalling. Very hard to not be cross when you’re driving. The frustration at wondering whether MAF is really making a difference to peoples lives. I know they are really…but on a day, we wonder.
In what ways can you see God at work in your daily activities?
Multitudinous ways! His protection over our health, Laurie’s flying safety, His provision for sufficient funds to let us do this job, His merciful kindness is allowing the kids to be well adjusted and enjoy school.
For their latest news letter, please click here.
The Hopcraft Family working with Agape Leipzig, Germany:
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How long have you been working with Agape? Bianca and I have both been with Agapé for four years now and have spent all our time in the student ministry. We started as interns in Hamburg in September 2005, where we stayed for 2 years and did our training. In September 2007 we joined full-time staff and moved to Leipzig, in eastern Germany. |
 The Hopcraft family in Leipzig |
What are your main roles and responsibilities?
Our roles are in the two areas of evangelism and discipleship. In terms of evangelism this means taking the initiative and talking to students about spiritual issues and going deeper with those who are interested in finding out more about who Jesus is. Our roles for discipleship are quite varied and diverse. On the one hand this means coaching and supporting students in leadership in the group in Leipzig – whether those in the leadership team, those that lead small groups or those in charge of projects. On the other hand we try to keep the whole group in focus, to encourage and equip all students to grow in their relationship with God and to actively share their faith with their friends.
In addition to that I also look after a smaller group of students in the nearby city of Halle.
What do you most enjoy?
I am a person that needs a balance between time with people-orientated and task-orientated work. Therefore I enjoy spending time with students – whether to just to chat, to pray with them, read the bible together or to coach them. However I also enjoy my work ‚in the office‘: planning, praying, preparing a bible study or even doing certain administrative tasks!
What do you find most challenging?
Lots of things! Since Matthew‘s arrival the biggest challenge has been working from home (before then it was a lot quieter and there were less distractions!) Even after many years it still requires courage to start talking to people about their faith and to ask challenging and far-reaching questions. It‘s also hard to find the balance between on the one hand trying one‘s best, being strategic and planning well and on the other hand being fully reliant on God for ‚fruit‘, remembering that He is the one who has to work in people‘s hearts.
In what ways can you see God at work in your daily activities?
Firstly God has blessed us with a team, and a team that gets on: that we work and get on so well with one another is a big blessing and not to be taken for granted! Then there are always encouraging things we see in the lives of individual students: E.g. a person decides to follow Jesus; a student takes on more responsibility in the group or starts to share his/her faith; a graduate decides to do a year‘s placement with us. Obviously each step is different for each person, but to see those kind of things happening in others show that God is blessing our efforts.
For their latest news letter, please click here.
The Cloud Family working with Crosslinks in Morocco:
 The Cloud family in Morocco |
How long have you been working with Crosslinks?
Helping with the “unrecognized church”, meeting and encouraging believers and administrating the national training centre in Meknes. Also assisting the 10 others centres and helping to plan/create 2 new centres each year!
What do you most enjoy?
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What do you find most challenging?
Not being discouraged when periodically believers grow cold or uninterested. Helping them overcome fear related to going in a different direction than the culture!
In what ways can you see God at work in your daily activities?
Encouragement in seeing small progress physically or spiritually/being challenge to respond mercifully to the constant stream of beggars. His grace in safety and forgiveness when we fail to show Christ love.
For more information about the work of Crosslinks, please click here http://www.crosslinks.org/
Bethany Church working with Moldova Ministries in Moldova:
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The work of Moldova Ministries started in 1992. The initial purpose was to deliver humanitarian aid to the most needy. A strong local team ensured that aid was not ‘siphoned off’. Over the years this team has been built up and changed from distribution of aid to the building up of individuals and communities. Moldova Ministries now work with numerous communities across the country through a network of churches to provide practical support to the poorest of Moldovan families.
The rise and fall of communism in the USSR devastated the economy and society of Moldova. Many people live in extreme poverty and homelessness, alcoholism, prostitution and crime are commonplace. This leads to children being left to fend for themselves as their parents travel to neighbouring countries to find work. |
 Bethany Church |
A growing number of children are sold and trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, and in the most extreme cases for their organs where volunteer donors are in short supply.
Moldova Ministries, working through the Bethany Church base in Chisinau support a number of project aimed at helping the community, particularly children at risk. The ‘Hands and Heart’ project working from the church provides a safe place for children away from abusive domestic situations and the dangers of life on the streets. Children are given food, clothing and money for the bus fare home and back the next day. For some of these children the church is their main support system. Bethany Church is providing support to over 100 children a year, a fraction of the children in need of care. The children’s work continues to fulfill a vital need and is growing from strength to strength.
The church also engages in support for the elderly, another people group who are marginalized in Moldova. The collapse of the economy has left many elderly with a pitiful state pension and saving of little value. With no state support, the church works to feed and care for 60 elderly each week. Providing food, essential medication and an opportunity to meet together, the Elderly Feeding Program is a great example of supporting those in need.
Supported Organisations:
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Bible Society |
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Church Pastoral Aid Society |
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Christian Against Poverty |
 CORD |
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Scripture Union |
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Tearfund |
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For more information about the churches commitment to local and global mission, please contact our mission group co-ordinator – Jon Farley – on 01926 493851 or (mrfarley@gmail.com). Jon heads up the World Mission Action Group.
At St. Mark’s we have a policy of giving away 10% of our general income to mission and other causes.