The magazine of Us (the new name for USPG). Founded 1701. Winter 2015

Meet the first woman in Asia Page 12 Cover: Bishop Pushpa Lalitha, of Nandyal Diocese, Church of South Finding hope India. See page 12. (Stephan Metzler) here is so much pain and T tragedy in the world that it We are Us. We are an Anglican sometimes seems difficult not to mission agency working in partnership feel overwhelmed and it can be with churches around the world. easier to look away. Together, we work alongside local communities to improve health, In this edition of Transmission put children in school, tackle we read about the hardships facing discrimination, nurture leaders, give refugees in Europe and in Ethiopia. a voice to women, and much more. We read about communities Founded 1701. devastated by large-scale mining in the Philippines. And we hear directly Us in Britain Us., Harling House, 47-51 Great from children and teenagers about Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BS the pain they feel as they face an 020 7921 2200 uncertain future. [email protected] Thankfully, there is always hope www.weareUs.org.uk in Christ. As Bishop Pushpa explains facebook.com/UsWorldwide on page 12: ‘Jesus came to make twitter.com/weareUs_tweets Registered charity number 234518 us strong and give hope to the hopeless.’ Us in Ireland Without this hope in Christ, all of Us in Ireland, Egan House, St Michan’s our work, however commendable, is Church, Church Street, Dublin 7 in vain. +353 (0)86 858 6337 It is because of this hope that our [email protected] www.weareUs.ie church partners around the world Charity numbers: CHY 7988 (in Ireland), dare to reach out with a belief that XT 26530 (in Northern Ireland). lives can change for the better. God needs our hearts and hands Transmission is the magazine for to do his work, and we need to live in supporters of Us. The views expressed the Spirit of God if we are to make here may not always represent the official position of Us. sense of a suffering world. ISSN 0967-926X Janette O’Neill Edited by Mike Brooks Chief Executive, Us Designed by Monika Ciapala Printed by Fretwell Print

Transmission is sent free of charge, although donations to cover the cost You can subscribe to receive Transmission of publication are appreciated. by post or email. You can also order copies for your church. Call Eunice Kasirye on 020 7921 2211 or email [email protected]. uk, letting us know your full name, title and postal address.

2 Supporting Europe’s refugees

The Diocese in Europe has meet the immediate needs of ↑ Refugees at appointed Us to receive refugees, which is especially Gevgelija donations to support its work critical as winter sets in. on the among refugees. The diocese is also developing Macedonia/ Over 500,000 migrants are a longer-term strategy because Greece border. estimated to have arrived in the situation is unlikely to settle (Dragan Tatic) Europe this year. Many are Syrians for a long time. who have fled fighting in their At the moment, the diocese country. Large numbers have has committed to the following been living in over-populated and initiatives in partnership with the under-funded UN refugee camps Greek Orthodox Church: in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. • On the Island of Leros, a With conditions in the camps church centre is housing refugees deteriorating – and hopes for and providing food, clothing, peace in Syria fading – desperate toiletries and medicine. families have been travelling • On the Island of Samos, overland to the coast of Turkey, a church hostel is caring for then taking boats to Greece, 600 refugees, many of whom hoping eventually to find refuge have medical needs. The hostel and a home in Europe. is mostly supporting Iraqi and Families arrive in Greece feeling Afghan refugees. exhausted. Many are in urgent • In Athens, the church need of medical care. Children and is working with the Salvation young people are vulnerable to Army to provide food, water human trafficking. and medicine to refugees who The Diocese in Europe is congregate in local parks. ■ working ecumenically with local churches and agencies, with a particular focus on Greece, while also working through Anglican Read more and make a donation at chaplaincies across the continent. www.weareUs.org.uk/europe Your donations will help to

3 Church is caring for war refugees

Us has sent emergency funds to support the Anglican Church in Ethiopia as it reaches out to refugees fleeing war in South Sudan. A civil war between political factions in South Sudan saw 350,000 refugees fleeing the country for Gambella and Asosa in Ethiopia during 2014. Fighting intensified in July and a further 150,000 refugees arrived in Ethiopia, putting immense pressure on relief efforts. Most of the refugee families arrive with only what they can carry, usually a few clothes. The needs are enormous. ‘There is a camp near the town of ↑ Children But, with support from our Rapid Dima which is ethnically mixed, sleeping under Response Fund, the Anglican with Nuer, Dinka, Anuak and mosquito nets Church is doing what it can to Murle – all traditional enemies. supplied by provide food aid. In addition, However, when I went there, they the Anglican churches in the refugee camps told me they didn’t want separate Church for a provide education and serve as churches. They wanted to show refugee camp community centres. their people it was possible to live in Gambella. The Rt Rev Dr Grant together. (Bishop Grant LeMarquand, Area Bishop of ‘We named their church LeMarquand) Ethiopia, often visits the refugee Holy Family, both because Mary, camps. Joseph and Jesus were refugees Amid the drabness and scarcity and because this church was of life in the camps, he was able demonstrating what true holiness to report the following highlight: means.’ ■

Mission accomplished in Malaysia and Singapore Two mission associations – The Rachel Parry, Us Global Borneo Mission Association (BMA) Relations Director, said: ‘The two and the Singapore and West associations accomplished their Malaysia Diocesan Association task having helped to establish (SWMDA) – have been formally churches that are now fully closed, with BMA’s trust funds indigenous, vibrant and self- transferred to Us to use for the supporting.’ benefit of the church in Malaysia. She added: ‘The dedication of Us is an ideal home for the the BMA and SWMDA missionaries funds because we sent the first and their families was incredible, Anglican missionaries to Borneo with many early missionaries losing over 150 years ago. their lives to tropical diseases.’ ■

4 The new Us blog is now online at www.weareUs.org.uk/blog and features the news, views and opinions of our world church partners.

Activist killed in the Philippines

Opposing destructive large- “extra-judicial killings”, perpetrated scale mining operations in the by armed groups allegedly Philippines, and around the organised, funded and maintained world, is literally a matter of life by government security forces.’ and death. Since 2010, under the current Just one month after attending Philippine president Benigno S the International People’s Aquino III, there have been 11 Conference on Mining, held in the massacres in indigenous Philippine Philippines, human rights activist communities, accounting for 49 Emerito Samarca was tortured lives, including seven children. and killed by armed forces on 1 Fr Herbert said: ‘Those affected September. by mining need people around the He is one of hundreds of world to hear their cry and their activists – including journalists, longing for justice and peace. Let lawyers and church leaders – us listen to them and become their who have been murdered after voice.’ speaking out against human rights Us is supporting initiatives to ↓ Fr Herbert abuses in the Philippines. combat destructive mining in the (right) Fr Herbert Fadriquela, Philippines. and fellow the Anglican Chaplain to the • For a full report from activists at the Filipino Community in Leicester, the mining conference, see conference. represented Us at the conference, www.weareUs.org.uk/mining ■ (Fr Herbert) which looked at how lucrative mining operations are destroying communities and poisoning the environment. He said: ‘In the Philippines and around the world, the stories of how communities have been affected by mining operations are innumerable. ‘Family members have been killed, people have lost homes and farms, communities have lost access to drinking water, children have lost schools and playgrounds, communities have lost churches and graveyards. ‘Community leaders that oppose mining are intimidated and harassed and, worse, they become the victims of so-called

5 Priests explore in Asia

Church leaders are full of praise Eric writes: ‘I was really excited ↓ Britto for a new training academy that to attend the academy and learn Santharaj is providing fresh insight into more about the word of God and and fellow what it means to be a Christian how to be more effective in my participants in Asia today. ministry. In fact, the training has at the Asian Organised by the newly- changed my perspective and Theological founded Asian Theological attitude towards my ministry. Academy. Academy, the first in a series of ‘I knew that God was opening (Britto monthly training events took doors for me. We shared a lot Santharaj) place in Sri Lanka this summer. In about the joys and sorrows in our attendance were 15 young church ministries. The sessions on social leaders – men and women – from justice and liberation theology Bangladesh, India, Mauritius, and on inter faith and ecological Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri issues were very helpful. The Lanka. overall lesson was that God is not Future seminars and workshops just open to the Christians but to will be held in different countries everybody, especially those who in Asia. are suffering. Here are the thoughts of two participants: Britto Santharaj, a graphic designer who supports children’s and youth ministry in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, India, and Eric Luximon, a priest in the Anglican Diocese of Mauritius. Britto writes: ‘I was really excited to take part in the academy because I met people from all over the world and learned so much. ‘I was particularly impacted by the teaching that God lived and died for the vulnerable. ‘As the co-ordinator of the This teaching contrasts with the family department in my diocese, prosperity gospel, which is so I am sure the course will help me common among churches in India. to develop projects which will help I will certainly be sharing these and encourage those who are things with our youth.’ suffering.’ ■

Us Conference 2016 The Us conference for 2016 will be held on Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 June at The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. This is a change from our more usual London venue. We hope this will give our supporters in the north a special opportunity to engage more fully with Us. Us welcomes new Global Goals

The new Sustainable In Myanmar, we are supporting ↑ Esther bathes Development Goals (SDGs) were a team of volunteer health her baby at formally adopted by the UN on workers who are providing primary a church- 27 September to replace the healthcare to remote villages. funded well Millennium Development Goals In Bangladesh, Bollobhpur and in Senama, (MDGs), which expire this year. Rajshahi Hospitals are providing Zambia. Through our global partners, we healthcare in rural communities (Us/Leah are actively engaged in supporting and training health professionals. Gordon) the SDGs (aka Global Goals). Us International Programmes Goal 5: Gender equality: Us Manager Davidson Solanki said: partners in India, South Africa ‘The SDGs provide a framework as and Zambia are working with we seek to eradicate poverty.’ communities to promote women’s The examples here show how empowerment. we are addressing the SDGs. In India, the Delhi Brotherhood Society is providing counselling, Goal 2: Zero hunger; Goal 8: legal protection and economic Decent work and economic growth: empowerment to women. In South In India, Lesotho, Malawi, the Africa, we are supporting the Philippines, Zambia, Zimbabwe survivors of gender-based violence. and Zululand, we are supporting church-led community Goal 11: Sustainable cities and development, which helps communities; Goal 13: Climate communities to set up income- action: This year, our church generation projects. partners have responded to See all environmental and human-made the SDGs Goal 3: Good health: Our partners disasters, including Cyclone Komen at www. in Bangladesh, India, Ghana, in Myanmar, the earthquakes in globalgoals. Lesotho, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, the Ebola outbreak in West org Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe Africa, flooding in Malawi, and the are working in health programmes. refugee crisis in Europe. ■

7 ‘I no longer go to school. I don't know how I will survive.’ This Advent we are encouraging churches in Britain and Ireland to pray for children around the world.

hildren live in a world created young siblings with healthcare A child → C by adults and look to adults and education. searches for nourishment, protection and among rubbish guidance. Fatima, 8, Bangladesh: in the streets Sadly, being so vulnerable, I study at a centre run by the looking for children are often on the receiving Church of Bangladesh. something end of all the hardships and I live with mother in a slum. of value, conflicts adults create in the world. I do not have a father. I collect Bangladesh. In this article, we hear from useful things from rubbish dumps (Church of children in four countries and learn and sell them to earn money. Bangladesh) how the church is trying to help There are many dangers. I am with support from Us. afraid that I might be trafficked. Children urgently need our I pray that I will get regular meals prayers, love and support. three times a day. I wish we could live in a better place that is safe. Agnes, 17, In the future I want to be a Zambia: social worker. Both my father • Fatima was interviewed by and mother the Church of Bangladesh, which died of HIV/ is helping to provide urban street AIDS in 2013. children with shelter, protection Since they died, I have been taking and education. care of my brother and sister. My brother’s name is Michael Chushi, Kayise, 9, who is five years old, and my sister Swaziland: Grace Kunda is seven years old. I live in Mvutjini, We live in the house left by my a poor place, parents, and life has become very with my difficult because I have to provide grandparents for my brother and sister. For me and cousins. My parents are not to buy food, I have started selling alive. I help my grandmother with kapenta [small fish] and tomatoes chores; I like washing dishes. on the streets. I love school and everything I no longer go to school. It about it, especially the food. pains me a lot to see my friends When I’m older I hope to go to going to school knowing that I am secondary school. But I don’t like not. I don’t know how I will survive the long walk to school; once I was in the future. hit by a car on the way to school. • Agnes is receiving help from I spend a lot of my time at the Zambia Anglican Council the local NCP [Neighbourhood Early Childhood Development Care Point, set up by the Anglican Programme, which is providing her Church].

8 I like to play mabhacelwane We were put into quarantine [a hiding game] and mkoko for 21 days. We were given food, [hopscotch]. When I grow up soap, and cloths for washing. I want to be a nurse. During this time, my mother I love going to St Matthias also got sick and was taken to Church and Sunday school. I like hospital. Two days later, she died learning bible verses and singing of the Ebola virus and was buried. hymns. I miss my mother and uncle. • Kayise is one of thousands During the outbreak, we did of children in Swaziland who have not attend school for nine months. lost both parents, often to HIV. My hope for the future is to The Anglican Church is supporting be educated and to become a feeding programmes and schools. doctor so I can help my family and country. Andrew, 17, • The Anglican Church in Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone is reaching out to Before the communities left reeling by the outbreak of the Ebola outbreak, the worst of which Ebola virus, I has now passed. ■ was staying with my mother and father in Bonde village and attending secondary Pray with Us for children school. The current edition of Pray with Us contains In August 2014, one of my more stories of children around the world. uncles, who was staying with us, Order copies for your congregation at fell sick. They took him to hospital www.weareUs.org.uk/order and he was tested positive for Ebola. A few days later he died.

9 ‘We have started a savings programme so we can save for our futures.’ An Us-supported development programme has changed the lives of a group of teenage girls in Bangladesh.

new self-help group is helping Muslim population. Left to → A to transform the lives of a I am very happy to have right: Uzzala, group of teenage girls and their received training in the Umoja Ashatota and community in the rural parish of programme, which is a bible- Ratna. (Church Paitapukur in the western district based development process. It has of Bangladesh) of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. broadened my knowledge about Set up with the support of Us the Bible and inspired me to do and the Church of Bangladesh, a good things for the church and the group of 14 girls has adopted the community principles of the Umoja self-help The adolescent girls’ self-help programme, which encourages group has decided to save money communities to identify and pool to help the poor. Some of us their skills and resources then set donate ten taka [about 90p] each up development projects. month for the needy. To date, the Paitapukur Umoja May the loving Lord bless us group has raised awareness of all to do something good for the gender discrimination, organised helpless. an inter faith Bengali New Year ↓ Uzzala studies festival, planted trees in their Ratna, 17, writes: outside her village, and started a savings Since high school, I have not house in scheme to give them opportunities faced any sexual violence or ‘eve Paitapukur for living a fuller life. teasing’ [harassment of women (Church of Here, three members of the in the street]. My parents told me Bangladesh) Umoja group tell their stories.

Ashatota, 14, writes: I am fortunate in that I have not been affected by violence against women, though it is a major problem in Bangladesh. We are very aware of it. My Santali community is good at networking with other Bengali people to resist violence in home and society. In our village, we all celebrate Pohela Baishakh [Bengali New Year]. It is a day of national observance for all citizens, so it is a chance for Santal people to be in harmony with the local majority

10 that violence against women was Uzzala, 14, writes: severe in the past, but now the Training and orientation given situation is better. by the Umoja programme has At home, I help my parents raised our sense of living together with cleaning, cooking, rearing our in mutual care so we can build a goats, and collecting water. better society. We have seen more My parents encouraged me girls in school and more kitchen to take higher education. This is gardens in the village. a male-dominated society, but The Bangali New Year is a I have been trying my best to national day related to the main pursue my goals by continuing harvest that begins with the with my studies at college. monsoon, and is a common day The aim of the Umoja process of celebration irrespective of caste, is self-transformation. This concept creed and religion. Observing has changed our attitudes. It has this day gives Santal people an inspired us to accept responsibility opportunity to connect with for the benefit of our church and different caste and ethnic groups. community. The Umoja self-help group is With the other young women, growing. We want to start income- we have started a savings generating activities, such as goat programme so we can save for our rearing, fish culture and small- futures and invest in alternative scale agriculture. We also want to sources of income for resisting raise money so the poor can have poverty. education and health support. ■

11 A message of hope from the first woman bishop in Asia

The following is an edited version of a talk given by Bishop Pushpa Lalitha, of Nandyal Diocese in the , at this year’s Greenbelt Festival. As a child, Bishop Pushpa was taught by USPG missionaries.

esus came to make us strong These women are forgotten by Bishop → J and give hope to the hopeless. many, but I will always remember Pushpa Lalitha This radical mission and them. pictured in the ministry of Jesus demands us to It was not easy to be ordained Us office. (Us/ be the church of the marginalised. as a woman in India. But my Leah Gordon) Jesus reached out to the bishop (LV Azariah) was very Samaritan woman, the Leper, forward-thinking and, in 1983, he the Syrophenician woman, the took the initiative and ordained woman in the house of Simon, three women. I was one of them. the Shepherds, to everyone. Jesus I worked in many towns and brought them to the centre of villages. I was treasurer for my society to be his witnesses. diocese for a time. And God gave In John 4, we read about me opportunities to undertake a Samaritan woman who had mission training in England and been rejected by her community . So when there was a because of caste, class, gender and vacancy for the role of bishop in tradition. As a consequence, she my diocese, I found that I was well was not permitted to participate qualified. in public life. But Jesus did not ignore her. Though her life was full of challenges, the love of ‘Let us wait on Christ Christ changed her. She became a shining lamp that gave light to who can transform us so her village. She became the first Evangelist, and she was a woman! that we become a channel of hope for the people on First woman bishop I want to explain how I became the margins.’ the first woman bishop in the Church of South India. Actually, the first woman bishop in Asia. Eleven candidates were put I come from a small village. forward: me and ten men! My family were farmers. I never In the first round, I got the expected to join the church. But highest number of votes. But in I attended a school that was the next round the men organised founded by USPG [now Us] and themselves – so the voting went I was inspired by the women against me, and I finished in fifth missionaries who worked in the place. school and boarding hostels, in When I lost the vote, many the orphanages, and in our village. people called me and consoled me.

12 One woman in my congregation a woman. And yet the Lord has told me she had received a bible brought me from the margins to verse for me from the Lord, the centre. By ‘the centre’, I mean Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the the place where we meet the rich plans I have for you... plans to give and the powerful. you hope and a future.’ Being a leader from the I then heard that irregularities margins is challenging, but it is not in the voting procedure meant an impossible task. He empowers the election needed to be re- us to speak about our experience taken. And so, the council voted on the margins. He gives us a again and it happened that I was voice. elected. I became the first woman And, because of this, the bishop in the Church of South people in the centre – the rich and India. the powerful – and, indeed, the whole of society must take notice Miracle of us. They can be enriched by us. This is the Lord’s doing and it is So let us continue to pray for a miracle. It is a miracle because God’s intervention in our lives. I am from the margins. I come Let us wait on Christ who can from an agricultural family in a transform us so that we become a remote rural village. I am from channel of hope for the people on the untouchable caste. And I am the margins. ■

13 It’s not paradise: Outreach on the streets of the Seychelles

Retired occupational psychologist Vicky Howard spent nine months in the Seychelles with our Journey with Us church placement programme. She helped to set up an outreach scheme for people who live on the streets.

he Seychelles is known for Each Saturday, from 9.30pm until ↓ Vicky Howard T its beaches, wildlife and 2 in the morning, four volunteers and volunteer coral reefs, and might sound like would walk the streets, while two Doreen Wong. paradise, but it also has a very dark volunteers remained at our base (Vicky side. in prayer; we kept in touch with Howard) It has the highest incidence mobile phones. of heroin addiction in the world, We were mostly speaking in with 1 per cent of the population Creole, of which I speak little, so affected. There are many cases my part was largely to accompany of HIV and Hepatitis C, but no the volunteers to provide training. medicines available. There are sex workers, many of whom are also heroin addicts. Many people are homeless, and an estimated 1 per ‘The whole experience cent of the population is in prison. At the same time, the has been a real boost Seychelles is a very God-centred for my faith. It has put society; Christianity is a part of the culture, so while doing outreach it things into perspective.’ was not unusual for people on the streets to ask for prayer. I was born in the Seychelles – One man had been brought and named after the capital city, up in a children’s home. When we Victoria – and I had always wanted first met him he was completely to go back. So when I retired out of it on drugs or alcohol. But from my job as an occupational we met him each week, and prayed psychologist, I finally got the opportunity through Journey with Us. The bishop in the Seychelles, the Rt Revd James Wong, knew I had helped to set up a street outreach scheme when I was living in Penzance, so he asked me to do something similar on the island.

Volunteers We called our scheme Night Pastors. We had 30 volunteers, including the bishop’s wife.

14 with him, and he started to get have no-one to listen to them, so ↑ Night better. Now he is more sober and what we are offering isn’t a small Pastors comes over to shake hands. It was thing. However, it is a sad reality volunteers fantastic when he said he had that many people who really need after found a job as a casual labourer. help don’t necessarily have the completing We felt it was an answer to prayer. capacity to receive it. It can be their training. Of course, not every story is a heart-breaking. All we can do is be (Vicky success. Another man, an ex-heroin there and trust that the love we Howard) addict, also managed to sober up offer will stay with them, perhaps and find a job as a labourer. But planting a seed for the future. when his colleagues found out he I’m very grateful to Us for was HIV-positive he got fired. being the catalyst and allowing this to happen. The whole Sex workers experience has been a real boost We had a lot of conversations for my faith. It has put things into with sex workers. One worker was perspective. desperate to come off heroin. I hope and pray the work in the We accompanied her to a clinic Seychelles continues and grows. where she attempted to go cold It has been a privilege making a turkey, but this proved too much contribution. ■ for her. She wanted to try another route – making use of Methadone and counselling – but sadly she Journey with Us is open to anyone aged 18 disappeared. Hopefully we will run to 80 from Britain or Ireland. More information into her again sometime. at www.weareUs.org.uk/journey Many of the people we met

15 Programme is reaching out to HIV-positive mothers Us International Programmes Manager Fran Mate reports on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Tanzania.

his story is about Furaha ya with HIV, giving them hope and ↓ Agnes and her T Mama Agnes, whose name healthcare. baby. (Church means ‘The joy of mother Agnes’. Us is working in partnership of Tanzania) Furaha is a widow. Her husband with the Anglican Church of died of HIV in December 2014. Tanzania in Dodoma to provide In February this year, I met community health services to Agnes in Mzula village, Tanzania, pregnant mothers with HIV, while visiting a programme set helping them and their babies. up by the Anglican Church of Tanzania for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. This programme is supported by Us. The prevention team met Agnes in Mzula during an outreach visit. Agnes was seven months pregnant but had never attended a mother and child clinic because she was HIV-positive and feared she would be ill-treated or stigmatised. The prevention team counselled Agnes, and Agnes agreed to take another HIV test, which confirmed her HIV-status. Agnes was given antiretroviral drugs, which combat the effects As a result of this work, the of HIV, and given an appointment attendance of mothers and their at a prevention clinic at Mvumi spouses at PMTCT clinics has Anglican Hospital. increased by over 25 per cent. In April, Agnes delivered a baby More people are now aware of girl and called her Agnes. their HIV-positive status, which At six weeks, baby Agnes was means they can be treated, which tested for HIV. A blood sample means fewer babies born with HIV. was sent to Muhimbili National Thanks to the success of this Hospital, in Dar es Salaam, and in programme, the initiative is to be July the results showed that baby rolled out nationwide. ■ Agnes was HIV-negative. Mama Agnes is feeling very happy. Prayers and resources for World AIDS She has helped to found a new Day at www.weareUs.org.uk/hiv community group in Mzula which is helping pregnant women living

16 Us Pilgrimages

An Us Pilgrimage is a chance to journey with the world church.

We are inviting churches to organise an Us Pilgrimage as a creative way for exploring what it means to journey in faith with the world church.

Holding an Us Pilgrimage is a chance to: • Raise awareness about the world church; • Pray for mission initiatives around the world; • Raise funds to support the world church; • Bring together your local church and community.

On our website you will find our step by step guide to organising a pilgrimage, including ideas for prayers and worship.

For more information, visit www.weareUs.org.uk/pilgrimage

Alternatively, call Us Community Fundraising Manager David Brand on 020 7921 2210 or email [email protected] Equip your congregation seven days a week, not just Sundays

Article by the Revd Canon Anthony Eiwuley, Provincial Secretary of the Church of the Province of West Africa.

hat I call ‘equipping encouraged to serve God in their W churches’ are churches daily work and daily lives. that support their congregations This is not about putting extra throughout the week, not just on expectations and obligations on Sundays. people who are already struggling These churches ask themselves: to fulfil church commitments. It is ‘What are our people doing during about affirming the fact that being the week?’ These churches have a school teacher is godly work; that devised ways for acknowledging excellence in bed-making brings the busy daily lives of the people: glory to Christ; that managing where they are and what they do. a company budget is good This information can be shared stewardship of God’s Creation. and displayed in many ways: as pins and labels on a map of the local town; on a photo board; via a PowerPoint presentation showing ‘The aim is to find photos of congregation members creative ways to equip at work; or in a booklet listing people’s jobs and interests. Christians so they feel ‘Equipping churches’ give their congregations a sense that each more encouraged to person has been strategically serve God.’ placed by God to make a difference in their workplace. One church showed photos ‘Equipping churches’ offer on a big screen of people in their encouragement and a new sense workplaces during a time set aside of purpose to people during their for meditation and prayer, while a daily lives, seven days a week. song about the meaning of work It is about supporting people was played through the sound in their pressured lives and helping system. Some people laughed with them to better integrate faith, delight to see members of their work, family and all of life. ■ church dressed differently in their work clothes, for example, wearing suits and ties when they would normally wear a T-shirt to church. Chat to Us about how your church There is no single model can engage more deeply with mission. or simple formula for being an Call Carrie or Emma, in our Mission ‘equipping church’. The aim is Engagement Team, on 020 7921 2200. to find creative ways to equip Christians so they feel more

18 Migration and movement Us Lent study course 2016

This five-week course is an opportunity to explore the complex issues of migration and the global movement of people. It features stories from the Anglican Churches in Brazil, Malawi, Myanmar and Zimbabwe, and a look at the lives of Filipino migrants living in London. Topics covered include: economic migration, the plight of refugees, human trafficking, and the displacement of people due to natural disasters. The course also has prayers and challenges for us to consider as both a local and a global church.

Order FREE copies of the study booklet or find it on our website: • www.weareUs.org.uk/lent • 020 7921 2200 • [email protected] Us Advent Appeal 2015 Help Us to support Europe’s refugees

We are the official agency for Anglican churches to channel donations to support the Diocese in Europe as it provides food, shelter and healthcare to refugees, with a particular focus on Greece. Your donations will help to meet the emergency needs of refugees as winter sets in, as well as supporting a longer-term strategy being developed by Us and the Diocese in Europe.

Plus, order FREE copies of our Advent prayer card for your church: Light Advent candles and remember the refugees in Europe.

Read more and make a donation at www.weareUs.org.uk/europe

Us. The new name for USPG