Learning to Live the Life

Christ ChurchDownend ‘building loving relationships’ Mission Partners 2011-13

Mission Partners 2011-13

As a church we are committed to partnering with ten missions. These missions represent many aspects of God’s work in the world including the relief of poverty both locally and abroad; the provision of medical support in parts of the world where there are few hospitals; provision of equipment and buildings for a school in South Africa; support for a church planter in Moldova; short breaks in the UK for young people still suffering in Belarus from the results of the Chernobyl disaster; funding and prayer support for many who are suffering persecution in various parts of the world. In addition we support Christian Aid by collecting door to door in the local community and our harvest food donations are distributed to a Bristol project supporting homeless people with drug or alcohol dependency.

Six of these missions are allocated one Sunday during each year when a representative is able to thank the church for its support and to bring us up to date on what is happening in their particular area of mission.

We are thankful for the mission champions in Christ Church who act as the link between the congregations and the individual missions. They bring the church latest prayer requests and explain how the money donated is being used. These missions will be supported for the next three years.

A Rocha A Rocha is an international Christian organisation which, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects. In all the countries where it works, A Rocha is identified by five core commitments and to a practical outworking of each:

• Christian: Underlying all we do is our biblical faith in the living God, who made the world, loves it and entrusts it to the care of human society. • Conservation: We carry out research for the conservation and restoration of the natural world and run environmental education programmes for people of all ages. • Community: Through our commitment to God, each other and the wider creation, we aim to develop good relationships both within the A Rocha family and in our local communities.

Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners 3 • Cross-cultural: We draw on the insights and skills of people from diverse cultures, both locally and around the world. • Cooperation: We work in partnership with a wide variety of organisations and individuals who share our concerns for a sustainable world.

As well as its conservation projects in the UK and overseas, A Rocha leads the Eco-congregations programme, the Living Lightly website, Climate Stewards, and provides Environment Resource packs for schools and churches. They have partnerships with The Bible Society, BMS World Mission, Church Mission Society, Lee Abbey, Tearfund and others.

Further information: www.arocha.org, www. arochalivinglightly.org.uk, www.climatestewards.net, www.ew.ecocongregation.org

Local contacts: Rich Harris, [email protected] and Geoff Payne, [email protected]

Christians Against Poverty Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a national debt counselling charity working through a network of 150 centres based in local churches. In June 2008 Christ Church Downend opened a CAP Centre which is based at Haven House, 133 High Street, Staple Hill, BS16 5HQ.

CAP aims to show God’s love in action by providing sustainable poverty relief through debt counselling, advice and practical help. CAP’s unique ‘hands on’ approach empowers people to help themselves out of poverty and be released from the fear, oppression and worry generated by overwhelming debts. We are providing sustainable poverty relief as our service teaches clients vital budgeting skills that will last a lifetime.

Through our CAP Centre, Christ Church Downend offers a free debt counselling service to members of the local community and beyond. We are fully committed to providing this service into the future and helping more and more individuals and family to obtain release from the burden that debt brings. Through this service we aim to actively demonstrate Gods love.

Further information: www.capuk.org

Local contact: Hilary Kitchen 0117 956 6384, [email protected]

4 Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners Chernobyl Childrens Life Line This is a national charity founded in 1992 with over 140 “Links” established throughout the United Kingdom, raising money to support the children of Belarus, whose lives will be forever affected by the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

The main activities are: • Raising the funds to bring eighteen children to Bristol each year for four weeks of fresh air, uncontaminated food, fun, love and attention as well as dental and eye check ups. They come from the town of Osipovichi and surrounding villages. Nationally around 3,000 children will be brought over by the charity’s links. • Recruiting host families to have two children each for two or four weeks each summer and organising a whole programme of events and visits for the children and their hosts.

Imagine: Living the rest of your life in a radioactive polluted environment. There is no escape. Money cannot buy protection. The World Health organisation (W.H.O.) state that 500 000 children in Belarus are at risk. Imagine: Eating contaminated food that may harm you, but what else can you do? Imagine: Coming to the UK and eating fresh food and breathing fresh air and going home with your immune system recharged. Imagine: Knowing that people do care.

Further information: www.ccll.org

Local contacts: Hugh Hanna 0117 3026417, [email protected]

Children of Clarens This Mission initially started by seeking to support the education of orphans and train local teachers at the Dihlabeng Christian School in Clarens, South Africa, a small town on the border with Lesotho, the majority of whom live in townships surrounding Clarens, mostly in shacks with electricity and running water nearby but no sanitation. The school has grown from nine pupils in 2001 to now over 115 pupils - 21 are orphans who also receive a meal daily at school.

Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners 5 The school is linked to Dihlabeng Church which also manages the People of Hope, a team of paid workers and volunteers who provide care and prayer for the most vulnerable people in the townships. This includes testing, and accessing of anti retroviral drugs to combat HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to maintain loving relationships with the community through reciprocal personal visits (five since 2005), and to financially support their programmes for the most needy through Christian faith and action.

Further information: www.childrenofclarens.org

Local contacts: Bill and Sheila Robbins, 0117 9573357, [email protected]

Church Mission Society (CMS) CMS is a community of people in mission, working in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and Latin America. As a community it is involved in evangelistic mission through the exchange of people, ideas and resources; in project funding and training, with a particular commitment to work in places where the name of Jesus is rarely heard. Its priorities are to work with people in five key contexts on the margins; in cities; among people of many faiths; against a background of materialism and secularism; amongst and with women in marginalised situations; and young people and children. We are linked with Ben and Katy Ray who, in Spring 2011, went to work in Tanzania in the Diocese of Ruaha on a project called Neema Crafts. The purpose of this project is to provide handicraft training and employment for deaf and physically disabled people in Iringa region and also to change negative attitudes to people with disabilities. Keep up to date with Ben and Katy’s work at www.benandkatyray.blogspot.com and find out about some of the people that have been helped at www.neemacrafts.com.

Further information: www.cms-uk.org

Local contact: Janet Howe, 0117 9560971

Eurovangelism Eurovangelism is a local Christian Charity based in Kingswood making grants to Christians in Eastern Europe. Christ Church has decided to focus its support in Moldova and in particular a church in Pelinei and Ursoaia. Mihail Hiorescu the Pastor, together with his wife, works with children from socially vulnerable

6 Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners families and the last two winter months have been rich in events at the local church especially for the young people and with their involvement.

Events included: A visit by a theatrical group which was brilliant for the older children and for the kindergarten children, presents were given out – with the older children giving them to the younger.

For the future, Church Members plan to visit regularly a relatively new - (Old people’s home) in their village, which opened at the end of last year where the people sometimes have need of visitors and also extra food.

Further information: www.eurovangelism.org.uk

Local contacts: Myra Brown, 0117 9562616

Mercy Ships Mercy Ships is a world-wide Christian charity which has operated ships manned by volunteers to help the poorest countries of the world since 1978. Following Jesus’ example, Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the poor. Although most noted for its provision of free surgery and medical care, Mercy Ships also partners with local communities to improve health care; offering training, advice, materials and practical help, and assists local churches in proclaiming the Gospel.

There are also projects to provide help in building, engineering and agriculture, and to train local people to continue such work after the ship has left. At present only one ship, the Africa Mercy is in service, but she is bigger and more efficient than any of her predecessors, enabling her to perform more functions in any given time. In addition, Mercy Ships has sent medical teams to help the relief in Haiti.

Further information: www.mercyships.org.uk

Local contact: Roger Lancaster, 0117 9402449, [email protected].

Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners 7 Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

MAF’s mission is “Flying for Life: Bringing Help and Hope: Bringing Urgent Medical Care” Flying to thousands more destinations than any other airline, MAF is a Christian organisation operating light aircraft in developing countries so that people in remote areas can receive essential help. Today, countless men, women and children remain cut off by difficult or dangerous terrain, deprived of basic necessities for a full and healthy life. MAF planes enable those who are bringing vital medical, relief and development services, as well as hope and love, to many people.

Every three minutes a MAF plane is taking off or landing. Over 1290 aircraft at work in more than 30 countries speed physical and spiritual care and hope to those living in isolation. MAF works in close partnership with indigenous groups, national churches, government departments, missions, local aid workers and international aid agencies.

Tanzanian village chairman Leonard Hamas explains “Without the airstrip and MAF, clinic here would not be possible at all during the rainy season, when Birise cannot be reached by road. There are no other medical facilities nearby”

Further information: www.maf-uk.org

Local contact: Robert Powell, 0117 9493592

Open Doors Open Doors is an international ministry built on ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things because of God working in and through them. It began in 1955 when Brother Andrew first distributed a suitcase of Christian literature behind the Iron Curtain thus beginning the service of serving persecuted Christians and churches worldwide. Open Doors supplies Bibles, leadership training; Scripture-based literacy programmes; livelihood support and advocacy services. It seeks to mobilise the church to serve Christians living under religious persecution.’

At Christ Church there has been a small group since the late 70’s with increased numbers this past year. Open Doors send all members a free monthly magazine detailing daily which country is in most need of prayer. Many of the people we pray for suffer tremendous hardship even torture. We have heard from several people that it has been this prayer by others far away that has sustained them.

8 Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners Further information: www.opendoorsuk.org.

Local contacts: Mary Massey, 0117 9572447 and Beryl Chamberlain, 0117 9567943

USPG USPG (United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel): now known as Anglicans in World Mission, works with churches to share God’s love in practical and life-changing ways. They work in partnership with Anglican Churches in over 50 countries, helping strengthen the church and build communities. We at Christ Church, support in particular St. James Mission Hospital in Lesotho (project 215). Lesotho is a small country entirely surrounded by South Africa. It is mountainous and the people very poor. Health care is very hazardous and people walk many miles for treatment at the hospital. HIV and tuberculosis are the most common illnesses. To have a strong Christian influence is vital in the running of the hospital.

Further information: www.uspg.org.uk

Local contact: Sue Lake, 0117 9564044

Christ Church Downend | Mission Partners 9

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