The Call - issue 4 - Spring 2017

Mission post Brexit?

The antidote to nationalism

People who don’t exist 48 hours among asylum seekers in Glasgow

Mission meditations 40 thoughts for Lent

FIGHTING LIKE A GIRL Ann-Marie Wilson shares about defeating FGM and some of her own personal battles

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| CHURCHMISSIO NSO C CIET IET Y. O RG

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

ISSUE 4 | SPRING 2017

The Call

The call in action

Welcome to The Call, produced quarterly

by Church Mission Society.

The Call is a platform for global voices in mission. In these pages you will get to know people from around the world who are joining in God’s mission in a variety of ways. By sharing their stories, insights and reflections, our goal is to give you hope that God is still at work in our world and to inspire you to put your own mission call into action, if not with Church Mission Society then with someone – but preferably with Church Mission Society.

In this edition

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MISSION NEWS

21

MISSION MEANS...

09

FIGHTING LIKE A GIRL

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KERALA CELEBRATIONS

13

48 HOURS IN GLASGOW

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EVERYBODY DANCE NOW

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40 MISSION MEDITATIONS

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HOW TO...

What God is doing through your prayerful support

Ann-Marie Wilson on her 24/7 call to end female genital mutilation (FGM)

People in mission walking alongside asylum seekers

Thoughts on mission in the way of Jesus for Lent

...handling the ambiguity of power: a perspective from northern Argentina

200 years of mission and counting: a reflection

A stunning photostory of dance as mission in Uganda

...pursue your mission call when your dreams become disabled

... and much more churchmissionsociety.org 2

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WELCOME

THE MISSION OF GOD

and the people of God

PHILIP MOUNSTEPHEN EXECUTIVE LEADER

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Church Mission Society Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ T: +44 (0)1865 787400 E: info@churchmissionsociety.org churchmissionsociety.org

/churchmissionsociety @cmsmission Church Mission Society is a mission community acknowledged by the Church of England Registered Company No.6985330 and Registered Charity No.1131655 (England & Wales). Also part of CMS: The South American Mission Society, Registered Company No 65048 and Registered Charity No. 221328 (England & Wales); The Church Mission Society Trust, Registered Charity number 1131655-1 (previously 220297).

Registered and principal offices of all above entities: Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ.

ow excited are you about being a member of the church of God? My fear is that in the day-to-day grind, we all too easily lose sight of just what a huge privilege it is to belong to God’s people.

Calling a people to belong to him is God’s stock-in-trade when it comes to mission. It’s why he chose the people of Israel. There was nothing inherently special about them but he chose them to be his for a privileged role in the unfolding of his purposes.

And as with the Old Testament so with the New. Peter applies all the God-given qualifications of Israel to his fledgling new people: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people” (1 Peter 2:9). And why do they have such status? “... in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”.

We too are the privileged people of God, entrusted with this awesome responsibility of making known his grace and love.

Perhaps we take this for granted. If so, then let’s consider this: God did not have to do things this way, but it is the way he chose. As Lesslie Newbigin says in The Household of God: Lectures on the Nature of Church, “It is surely a fact of inexhaustible significance that what the Lord left behind him was not... a creed, nor a system of thought nor a rule of life, but a visible community....

He committed the entire work of salvation to that community.”

Ours is the highest of callings: to be the instrument of making God’s love known in his world.

Furthermore, we are not only the means of making God’s good news known. We are, as the New

Testament so often asserts, the Body of Christ. It is the Spirit of Jesus himself that has been given to us, breathed into us and inspires us. To encounter the church of God is to encounter Jesus Christ himself who indwells the church through his Spirit.

In the last edition of The Call I suggested that God has no mission apart from Jesus.

“Everything of significance our God has done,” I wrote, “in

“...it’s not just that God’s power compensates for our weakness – as if to say, ‘If only we were a bit stronger God would have to do less...’”

creation and in redemption, he has done in and through Jesus.”

Understanding the church of God as the Body of Christ enables us to see how God’s people can have such a key role in this mission, which is focused with pinpoint accuracy on Jesus. We have no mission apart from him, yet we are the primary means he chooses to make himself known in his world.

The people of God have a central role to play in the mission of God: the mission of God which is focused fully on his Son Jesus Christ. So far so good – but there is a danger of becoming triumphalist

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about this, puffed up by this huge sense of privilege. If we do, we forget what it truly means to follow Jesus. The one we follow is indeed the triumphant Lord, but he is also the man of sorrows, who hangs in weakness from the cross. “We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us,” writes St Pau (2 Corinthians 4:7).

We are nothing more than simple clay pots. And because we are just jars of clay – brittle, flaked, cracked, battered, broken even – mission can be tough. But we are jars of clay with God’s treasure within, and that makes all the difference.

But it's not just that God’s power compensates for our weakness – as if to say, “If only we were just a bit stronger, the Lord would have to do less.” Our very ordinariness plays its part.

We demonstrate in ourselves the weakness, the frailty, the humanity, the death of Jesus, so that in us his resurrection power may be seen. The point of a jar of clay is to be empty, ready to be filled. If it’s full of itself, it’s not a jar; it’s a useless lump. The point of a jar is that it can be filled with something else. So our jar-ofclay-ness is vital.

Jesus’ humility and his death on the cross wasn’t a shortcoming – it was the very heart of the matter. Following his example, our “weakness” in mission becomes the means for the will and purpose of God to be done. So our calling is not to be strong; it’s to be weak, that in us the power of God may be seen, so the risen life of Christ may be at work in the lives of those among whom we minister.

As we enter Lent let’s embrace our emptiness so that the life, glory and love of Jesus may be seen anew in us, his beloved people.

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MISSION NEWS Young people in Pakistan bring disability stigma to centre stage Young people in the rural Sindh, Pakistan, are using theatre to reduce the stigma surrounding disability. And hundreds of people are getting the message.

“Disability is taboo here,” says L, a local partner who heads up the Primary Education Project (PEP) in the rural Sindh. “There is no approval in society for those who have mental or physical disabilities.

It is felt that the only way to survive is to be shut away from society.

The families of disabled people feel shame.”

L reports that a young group of graduates from the PEP schools of Khowaja Goth are determined to inspire communities to stop treating disability as a taboo, because they believe that people with disabilities are just as important

as other members of society.

“These graduates have joined together from the 12 PEP schools of Khowaja Goth and formed a theatre group that serves to raise awareness on different social issues in rural Sindh. Their recent theatre on disability left the audience in complete awe.

“A total of 1,066 students from the community watched the performance along with other community members. Audience members were asked to do a selfassessment of how they perceive and treat disabled people, and sadly many of the people accepted their participation in making disability a taboo. They promised to work on their behaviour towards disabled people and encourage disabled children to join PEP schools.”

Out of the mouths of babes: children challenging communities to treat disabled people with dignity

PEP promotes peace and harmony through working with local communities to provide education in Pakistan’s most ignored, impoverished and marginalised places.

To date, more than 100 village schools have been started, along with other empowerment programmes.

Asia-CMS and Church Mission Society jointly support L in her work with PEP.

First Wichi woman presbyter ordained

Football to faith

Left: Anderson receiving a commendation from the Peru police for his prison work Right: Anderson and Jeremy, whose life has been transformed

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A 15-year-old boy called Jeremy in Lima, Peru, has found faith in Jesus and a spiritual father figure, thanks to the ministry of Anderson Sanchez. Anderson serves as pastor of Christ the Redeemer Church in the San Juan de Miraflores district; he also ministers among young offenders at a local prison. He first met Jeremy when the young man was playing football in the street in front of the church.

“We could see that he loved football but his attitude towards the other players wasn’t good. We decided to offer him refreshments and have a chat.

“At first he was reluctant, but we talked about how well he played and he began to open up. He told us he grew up without a father and his mum didn’t really care what he got up to. She has a new partner and he doesn’t treat Jeremy well, which partially explained his aggressive attitude.”

Since that first meeting, Jeremy has turned to Jesus and become a faithful member of the church family. “I feel I am his spiritual father,” said Anderson. “We thank God that meeting Jeremy’s need for love and encouragement has made such an amazing difference to his life.”

Anderson recently received an award from the Peru National Police, recognising his ministry to young offenders. He was honoured at a special ceremony this past summer.

In the Chaco, northern Argentina, a local church leader called Elena Calermo is the first Wichi woman to become an ordained presbyter.

David Stokes, who helps equip church leaders in the Chaco, writes: “Elena’s husband was a much-loved pastor in the remote zone of Nueva Pompeya; he died a number of years back. She was made a deacon (partly because of her husband’s role) some years ago, and is the acknowledged leader of the church.

So when the diocesan synod voted to allow women to be ordained presbyter last year, she was one

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of the most obvious candidates.

She has also for a number of years attended annual training courses in Juarez for new leaders, usually bringing with her a number of other women.”

David also reports that there are new Wichi congregations emerging, one in Mision La Paz, which had to move due to flooding a number of years ago and which now has new leaders and a new building. Two further congregations have formed in Alto la Sierra, a fast-growing Wichi community.

Wichi Christians celebrate after the dedication of a new church in Alto la Sierra

MISSION NEWS Left: Christian tries on his white coat for the first time Right: Christian assists with his first surgery, defying expectations

Paraplegic pioneer prevails against prejudice “Get this patient out of the operating theatre!”

“He’s not a patient; he’s a medical student here to observe the surgery.”

This exchange between an anaesthetist and a student nurse took place as Christian entered the paediatric surgery department at Kigali Central University Hospital in Rwanda.

Christian, a fifth-year medical student, is no stranger to hearing adverse reactions when people find out he’s pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. Born prematurely in 1989, Christian lives with paraplegia, using crutches to get around. For many, this means he should give up his dream.

“Even though he received top marks in his exams and has proven his ability time and again, many have tried to persuade him to switch to something like pharmacy,” said Drs Bertha and Wim Schoonbee, who have long been among Christian’s greatest supporters.

The Schoonbees met Christian when they were working with Church Mission Society at Gahini Hospital. Christian attended Gahini primary school before moving on to secondary school and then the University of Rwanda. Before the Schoonbees,

another CMS mission partner at Gahini, Liz Hardinge, had done rehabilitation exercises with Christian; this was halted during the 1994 genocide.

For Christian the pursuit of medicine is personal: “I knew disabled children who were hidden in a room at home and this motivates me to work harder, so I can help disabled people in the future.” A few years ago, in response to initially being told by university staff that it would be difficult to accommodate his physical needs, Christian urged them to adapt: “It isn’t right to move me from medicine because of the way I was born,” he wrote at the time. “They are changing the way houses are constructed. Why is it not possible to provide facilities for disabled students to be comfortable?” The university eventually relented.

Given the struggles Christian has faced, this latest operating theatre encounter came as no great surprise. “The surgeon and anaesthetist began discussing what I ‘should’ be doing instead of medicine. The surgeon said that in medicine nothing is done while sitting down, but funnily enough both he and his resident sat the whole time while operating.

“The surgeon asked me who had advised me to do medicine, adding that whoever it was, it was the wrong advice.

“I challenged him to make me his surgical assistant next time. So we alerted the nurses to book a room with an adjustable bed and extra chairs to elevate me.

When the time came, we operated sitting down. It’s something I will never forget.

“I hope that, as we operated on the child, at least some of the team’s bad opinions about my practice were washed away.”

War rape victims seek peace at Congo centre A new peace centre in Bunia, DR Congo (see The Call, issue 2) which is being established

by Bisoke Balikenga (above) and the youth department of the Anglican Church of Congo, is now providing vital support for girls and women who have been raped during the ongoing conflict in the region.

According to an article about the centre by the Anglican Communion News Service (21 December, 2016), “Rebels are using rape as a weapon of war. The majority of the 79 women and child rape victims being cared for [at the centre]…are aged between 13 and 15, but the youngest is just three and a half years old and the oldest is 60.”

In the article, Bisoke said that victims had received medical care from Medecins Sans Frontieres, but that they are still suffering from trauma and isolation. “[The older girls and women] need some activities like business,” he said, adding that the peace centre is working to provide practical skills training.

Bisoke is jointly supported by CMS-Africa and Church Mission Society.

Mission is ageless Pilot project is freeing minds in Indian prison “I believed I was good for nothing…. I now believe I can do something and survive outside prison. I will make a life for myself and my family.”

These were the words of a female prisoner who was able to take a beautician training course thanks to a new initiative by Chitra and Rabbi Jayakaran, who work in peace and reconciliation in Bangalore, India. They explain: “We began in 2016 by stepping out in faith to work for rehabilitation of women prisoners. Since then, the project has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks to God’s amazing favour and the passion and commitment of our team.

“The work has included a life skills programme, which provided training modules such as a beautician course, jewellery-making, legal aid, education and health care support to prisoners’ children and families.”

Hope knows no boundaries

One prisoner said, “These sessions are enabling us to develop our mind. We had become so stagnant.

But now we feel there is a possibility of another chance and we have hope.”

Chitra and Rabbi ask: “Please pray for the right people to join in this ministry, for continuing transformation and for funding to keep the project going.” The Jayakarans are jointly supported by Asia-CMS and Church Mission Society. You can read more about their work at www.asiacms.net

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At age 73, a Christian man in western Nepal is just starting out in mission – and the response has been remarkable.

Karna was born into a Hindu family. When his sister became a believer in Jesus he reacted with hostility. One day his wife became ill. She underwent various treatments but showed no signs of improvement. Then some local Christians offered to pray for his wife, after which she began to get better. Karna put his faith in Jesus.

Wanting to share the gospel with others, Karna looked for training opportunities. He enrolled on a three-month residential course that M, a local partner with Asia-CMS, helps lead.

“I was an old person but I learned so many things…. I learned to walk with God and how a leader should be,” Karna said.

After graduating, Karna served in his church.

After a few months he sensed God calling him to go and share the gospel in a remote hilly area of western Nepal. So he and his wife obeyed God’s call. M reports: “Within 18 months he has led 10 people to Christ and he has started a worshipping community.”

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MISSION NEWS Spirits “lifted” at Shalom celebration

Kopila, third from right, celebrating with friends after her baptism

Nepali nursing student finds faith in the Philippines In 2011, Kopila, like hundreds of other Nepali medical students, arrived in Manila to further her studies. “Back then, I had no idea that an incredible transformation would happen in my life,” she said.

Kopila struggled to adjust to a new land, culture and language.

“I felt lonely and worthless,” she recalled. “Then a friend introduced me to Nepali Christians at the International Graduate School of Leadership (IGSL). I was so happy after meeting them.

Seeing their heart to serve God and their loving nature inspired me and gave me hope.”

Among the people she met at IGSL were professors Kats and Kumar Aryal. Kats was one of the people who shared the gospel with Kopila. Kopila attended a local church regularly and came to know Christ.

“My family practises Hinduism, so I worried about how they would react or what would happen if I got baptised,” Kopila said. “So many questions were stopping me from declaring my faith publicly. But I kept praying and attending church and small group. Advice from my brothers and sisters in Christ helped to clear my worries. God prepared my heart and provided me with wisdom. Eventually I got baptised.

“My journey from completely not knowing about Jesus to proclaiming him as Lord and saviour is a great privilege. I thank the Lord for everything he has done in my life.”

Kats and Kumar report: “Kopila has returned to Nepal; pray that she will connect with other believers and that she’ll be able to share her testimony with her family and friends.”

Kats and Kumar are passionate about reaching out to Nepali medical students in the Philippines, as the country becomes an increasingly popular destination for study. You can read more about Kats and Kumar at www.asiacms.net as they are jointly supported by Asia-CMS and Church Mission Society.

New pioneer programmes launching Youth ministry and pioneering go hand in hand. Now, thanks to a creative partnership between Church Mission Society, Oxford CYM and Frontier Youth Trust, pioneer youth ministers and children and family workers can join a unique learning programme that combines the best of both worlds. The Pioneer Youth Ministry Training certificate in mission, ministry and theology launches in September 2017 along with a certificate in Pioneer Children and Family Work.

For more information visit: pioneer.churchmissionsociety.org 6

Congratulations to Pat Blanchard and the team at Shalom in Lima, Peru, who celebrated 15 years of ministry in September 2016. Shalom serves more than 100 children with disabilities as well as their families, providing various therapies, workshops and pastoral care.

Shalom began with a few meetings and therapy sessions a month, which led to starting a church with the community and then renting and eventually buying property and constructing a purpose-built centre for the work.

One of the highlights of the September celebration was finally being able to use the lift, after a two-and-a-half-year series of delays. More than 150 people attended the celebration and, thanks to the new lift, part of the party was held on the rooftop patio.

“A big thank you to all of you who have supported us in this endeavour, enabling us to now have a fully accessible building,” said Pat. “We are praying for God's wisdom and direction for the years ahead regarding the expansion of activities.”

Above: Pat (in white) emerges from Shalom’s new lift during the 15th anniversary celebrations Below: The lift made it possible for all to celebrate on the roof terrace

Reaching people in the red light district

Biscuits and blessings: the red light district outreach team, Jason and Tracy Day are top row, second from left

Around 1,000 people in the red light district in Bangkok received gospel tracts this past Christmas, thanks to efforts of Jason and Tracy Day and a small outreach team. “We had the chance to chat to people as we visited the bars and massage parlours,” said the Days. “A surprising thing was how many people work in the parlours. There are only ever one or two girls standing out front, but when we said that we had biscuits to give out with the tracts the doors opened and many girls and older ladies came streaming out. Hopefully, some tracts will be read. They may not be well-received in the UK, but here in Thailand we have heard of a few people who have come to know Christ through reading them.”

All for run On a Saturday in September the cheering congregations of the Canonry Benefice saw Nick Hassell cross the finishing line of a punishing 35 mile run for Church Mission Society.

A keen runner, Nick charted a route around the benefice boundary, going across ploughed fields, through woods and along footpaths. People from the benefice of Ash, Chillenden, Elmstone, Goodnestone, Preston and Wingham joined him at various points to

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encourage him, including his wife, daughters and running mate Ian Belsey.

Nick reflects: “It wasn’t the distance that I remember (although it was my longest run to date); it was the fantastic support that moved me. People came out to encourage me and many people ran a section with me. I was humbled by the sense of community that was created.”

With the help of his friends, Nick raised £650 for CMS. Both Ash and Wingham churches are long-time supporters of CMS’s work in Kenya and Tanzania.

WORLD VIEWS

TOUGH

BUT BEAUTIFUL ...getting to know Gambella When we first arrived in Gambella Suzy would look up in the sky whenever she heard a plane and long to be on it. The intense heat, the numerous mosquitos and scorpions and the threat of snakes amid other challenges made our first few weeks here somewhat overwhelming. But Gambella is beginning to feel more like home.

Ethiopia

By Chris and Suzy Wilson

T

here are many things that are hard about this place, but many more things that are wonderful.

Gambella is beautiful. The impressive Baro River passes through the town; freshly caught fish is served at restaurants. The marketplace is vibrant and bustling, one of the few places where you will find highlanders, Nuer, Anuak and Opo people together.

On the church compound where we live, a myriad of stunning birds

St Frumentius students reading The Call issue 2, which featured a story on them and how God is at work in Gambella

can be found among shady trees. There are plenty of colourful butterflies and lizards that our daughter Abigail loves to chase. In the distance the highlands can be glimpsed. We have planted papaya, mango and banana trees around our house and although we will wait a few years for the fruit, the prospect of investing that amount of time here feels natural and exciting.

Since we arrived in mid-August, Chris has been teaching two courses at St Frumentius Anglican Theological College. There’s a great bunch of students and it’s a privilege to be working with them. Slightly more than half are refugees from South Sudan; others are Ethiopians from the Gambella region. The college is unusual in that it’s the only place, as far as we know, where Anuak and Nuer students are gathering daily to worship, pray and study together.

Many people in Gambella believe the two ethnic groups should live, worship and study separately.

A highlight of the week is our evenings of food and fellowship with some Mabaan students. They are South Sudanese refugees who all hope to go back and help further establish and strengthen the church in their home country. Our times of worship together have always lifted our spirits. It is exciting that these

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humble and inspiring men are being further equipped to help lead the church in South Sudan.

It’s an incredible privilege to study the Bible together with these students.

Our eyes are being opened to how much of the Bible is about people who are displaced, and how these texts can encourage those who find themselves in similar situations. Chris once asked the students what they thought of Moses as a leader: whether there were any aspects of his character that church leaders here could learn from. One of our older students – a refugee – answered that when you find yourself leading a church of people who have fled into the bush and have no food or water, there’s a lot you can learn from Moses.

Suzy spends the days taking care of Abigail and Matthew. Abigail has thrived here. Matthew is still adjusting.

We really want to invest in friendships, which requires us to learn Anuak, a very difficult language. However, we are enjoying our lessons with a student from the college, and these have also been great opportunities to learn more about the local culture. Slowly but surely, we are making progress.

There are lots of days when it feels easy to be here, and there are times when we wish we were somewhere else. But we are confident that, for now, we are just where we should be.

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WORLD VIEWS

Holistic mission: chickens, church and choices What does holistic mission look like?

Philippines

By Sandra Read

It’s almost bedtime and Eric gets a phone call from our friend Jojo. His wife and baby just got discharged from hospital and can’t find transport home, so Eric offers to fetch them.

I get up at 4.25am to prepare seminary lessons. We only had two weeks’ notice of confirmation for teaching, so we are just barely a step ahead with preparation. Eric takes advantage of a better early-morning internet connection to deal with emails.

By 5am the guinea fowls are screeching. I go out to feed them and the chickens. I then continue the lesson plan. I pause to prepare my son Peter’s packed lunch and breakfast; better do my devotional time now.

Pastor Nady arrives and he and Eric discuss a project he’s running: helping other pastors to be self-sufficient. They bought guava seedlings from us to grow and sell fruit. Nady has invited us to sit on the board for a local mission group, which has worked in the Philippines since the 1950s. It focuses on hard-to-reach people groups and places Filipino missionaries within the Philippines. We feel privileged to be connected to this group.

Soon, a neighbour arrives with two cockerels and a hen, wanting to give them up. We don’t really want them, but he says he needs the money. Apparently his wife has left him because of his drinking problem. Think, think, think – where to house the chickens? We then chase the errant cockerel and suddenly a tiny chick, motherless, appears from nowhere; it will have to sit on my desk for now to keep it safe from the dogs.

I try to think of a way to invite this neighbour

to a Bible study on marriage which we’ve started with our farm workers. There is a resistance to Bible studies here, which are perceived Sandra and Eric Read are called to help churches love and serve their communities. as a “Protestant In addition to teaching at a local seminary and developing a new community centre, they thing” and hesitation are also cultivating an organic farm to help support their work. because the venue is our house. This is one reason why hopefully why we should not only focus on people’s the Kapihan-sa-Barakah (translated as “overspiritual needs, but be concerned with their a-cup-of-coffee”) community centre we are physical, emotional and social needs too. constructing will help, as people will be more Holistic mission is living the everyday comfortable meeting there. life and intentionally making choices that I am getting anxious about my lesson plan. help us to be God’s instrument for blessing.

But half an hour later Dodong, the caretaker, Why should we do it? Because it is a natural arrives, wanting advice about problems at consequence of what happens when we love, home. honour and obey God and follow Jesus.

Holistic mission takes in all aspects of life.

However, at times I am confused. Am I It’s about understanding people’s concerns for supposed to be a missionary? A farmer? A their children. It’s about checking our reactions counsellor? A social organiser? All of the above towards appalling driving manners. It’s about and more. That’s just how it is. making decisions on how to help without We do get tired. We have friends but it can creating dependency. It’s about making still get lonely. We get discouraged and wonder choices such as whether to spray weed killer or whether we are doing the right thing. At times do tedious hand weeding, which is better for we want to yell in frustration and, if no one the environment. It’s about how to counsel a is looking, kick our old car that won’t start.

Christian couple who fight endlessly. It’s about We worry about our children, the weather, deciding how to talk to the neighbour whose the pound falling. Our faith gets weak and chickens are creating havoc with the mulch on the vision of our ministry gets dim. And this our guavas (we didn’t in the end; we figured is when your prayers can make a difference. that they at least help eat pests). It’s about Please do keep praying for us. discussing with the seminary students

“Can I be baptised?”

North Africa By a couple working in North Africa (names and location withheld)

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“Can I be baptised?” The request came from one of the Europeans detained in a local prison. We have been visiting two prisons for almost a year now with a small team.

We are only allowed to visit those who claim to be Christians but, now that we have become regular visitors and are known to the authorities, we are well received by the staff. Neither of us had ever visited anyone in prison anywhere before, so this was a new venture. As we made our way through security on the first occasion we wondered how many people might want to see us and what their expectations would be. But they quickly made it plain that whatever their other physical needs, what they really wanted from us was to hear the word of God

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and a message from that word. With that reassurance, and realising that the staff were happy for us to do this, we essentially started running a brief service, after which we spend time talking to the prisoners. To hear them singing is a powerful and emotional experience.

We also take simple refreshments, some gifts of toiletries and sometimes clothing, which we hope will make life a little bit more bearable. The clothing is sometimes given to us, usually women’s clothing.

Bringing men’s clothing often requires a rummage in a local secondhand market. The stall holders must wonder sometimes why we are buying two dozen T-shirts or hats!

As for the baptism, we checked with a member of the prison staff. Once we reassured him that it would be a simple ceremony during our normal visiting time, we were given permission. Preparing the candidate has been a special experience and we are looking forward to the baptism on our next visit.

WHEN CULTURES INTERVIEW CONVERGE

FIGHTING LIKE A GIRL

INTERVIEW WITH ANN-MARIE WILSON

It is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone the ritual of female genital mutilation (FGM), and current trends indicate that each year, approximately three million girls under the age of 15 are added to these statistics. As founder and leader of 28 Too Many, Ann-Marie Wilson has dedicated her life to ending FGM.

INTERVIEW

Ann-Marie’s call to help end FGM has taken her to a variety of places.

Top left: The Gambia Top right: Presenting an inter-faith pledge against FGM signed by 350 faith leaders at the inaugural Girl Summit hosted by then Prime Minister David Cameron Bottom right: speaking on the Woman’s Hour radio programme Bottom left: Kenya

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A FEW YEARS AGO, IT SEEMED LIKE HARDLY ANYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM). TODAY IT FEELS HIGH ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA AND GREAT STRIDES ARE BEING MADE. HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED? Yes, it’s been 11 years since I first started fighting FGM. Since then there have been huge steps forward. Some of this has been down to lobbying the government. Another thing that’s had an impact is that survivors of FGM used to suppress their stories for fear of persecution; there might also have been a level of shame.

Now survivors are speaking out together and supporting each other. I’ve listened to 3,000 girls’ stories and they all say that they 100 per cent wish that FGM hadn’t happened to them.

The media has also played a part; the Guardian and Evening Standard have both featured our work. I was recently interviewed for Good Housekeeping; not long ago it would have been unheard of for them to pick up a story like this.

28 Too Many (the charity I founded and lead) certainly aren’t the only ones working to raise the issue, but we have been on the case. Since 2012, we have done 11 country reports (with extensive research on the prevalence of FGM in each country); we plan to do 28 (one for each country in Africa where FGM is practised). These have had global impact and have pushed the UK government to act. Before, they thought FGM was something that just happened over in Africa; now they know it happens here too in the diaspora. We’ve helped put codes of practice in the NHS for FGM; we’ve helped advocate for mandatory reporting of FGM; we’ve done prevention work in schools.

In the last 11 years I’ve probably spoken to over half a million people in different contexts about FGM. My aim is that every time I talk to someone, they will take some action, be that praying, giving or being an activist. We’ve got a movement behind us.

28 TOO MANY IS GOING INTO ITS SEVENTH YEAR. WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE? For a tiny charity, we’ve been able to punch above our weight – to have gone to the UN in 2012, to have been instrumental in contributing to ending FGM at a global level, to have been chosen as the UK representative with the UN on FGM and harmful traditional practices...it’s extraordinary. And while accolades aren’t everything, to have won a global advertising award for our FGM awareness campaign last year, to be picked by Random House publishers to contribute to one of their projects – these are things I didn’t expect to happen.

I’m pleased that we are seen as a safe pair of hands in the sector; we’ve stayed in from day one, we have no particular political affiliation and we have faith in our midst – we work with people of any faith and none.

We are currently working with a pro bono body of lawyers called Trust Law. Lawyers from six top law firms around the world are looking at case law and FGM in 28 countries. Because if you don’t have an anti-FGM law, you’ll never stop FGM. That’s why we were so glad that after we were in The Gambia last summer, the law changed. In Mali, where we were told that the law would never change due to political reasons, we have made progress, getting 30 charities and NGOs together to address this issue. This is all way beyond our initial remit.

WHAT ARE YOU PROUDEST OF? I’m proud of the fact that 11 years ago, a 10-year-old girl walked into my life while I was volunteering at a refugee camp in West Darfur; she’d had FGM and then been raped and become pregnant and even though we couldn’t do much for her (apart from giving her and her baby a safe delivery) I began to worry about other girls. I’m proud that instead of just being worried or traumatised or tearful, I was moved to action. I gave up my job as an HR consultant, my regular income and comfortable life in the West to do something.

LOTS OF PEOPLE THINK FGM IS A BAD THING. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THINKING THAT AND HAVING A CALLING TO END IT?

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

I think without a calling you’ll give up when the going gets tough. I feel like a cowardly Jonah.

Jonah heard God and ran. I’m too cowardly to do that because I think God will get you anyway.

I didn’t want to run from this calling and get called back in an undignified way; I think it’s easier to say yes to God the first time.

And he has shown himself faithful.

Our board is mostly Christian; most of our staff have faith and I feel it is God who has enabled people to follow this call, whether employees, volunteers, donors or churches. You know, this calling isn’t exactly a pleasant issue and still, churches want to link with us and pastors have trusted me speak to their congregations on a subject which could frighten away the less robust.

HOW DID YOU BECOME PART OF CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY AND WHAT DIFFERENCE HAS THIS MADE FOR YOU? In the early 1990s, maybe even before that, I felt called to work with the most disadvantaged in society. Of course there are disadvantaged people in many areas; the issues are bottomless.

I was really impacted by the Romanian children’s crisis in the late 1990s. I said to God, “When the next big thing happens I will go.”

I took a sabbatical in last three months of 1999 to consider, “What am I going to take on in the next millennium and what am I going to let go of?” I was a fairly new Christian with this fairly unrefined calling. I went with YWAM to DTS (Discipleship Training School) and later did a degree and spent time ovreseas and felt my call being honed down.

At the time, no mission agency was doing anti-FGM work, so I applied to anyone doing education or medical work in Africa. CMS was the one that most embraced this calling and who had the most connections in countries I was going to focus on.

Because it is often mistakenly thought that FGM is performed for religious reasons (though it pre-dates the major faiths and is not required by

WHEN CULTURES INTERVIEW CONVERGE “Everybody I meet hears about FGM. People in taxis, on the bus – I don’t ever not talk about it. Because I’m passionate about it ending and that’s the way to do it.” any religion) I’ve always felt that the way to crack the problem of FGM was through faith bodies at top level (archbishops, the Pope, imams and their relevant mission agencies) as well as the UN-type bodies. I’ve met the Archbishop of Canterbury and I’ve briefly met the Pope and I keep trying to get top people to embrace this, including First Ladies of a number of countries. I try to lobby at top level as well as the grassroots level to give the grassroots the resources to do their job.

Going with CMS has provided a network; I have linked with other pioneers through the pioneer training which has been invaluable to me, to not feel like a complete misfit in society. I’m in with a group of misfits, which is reassuring! Through spending time with CMS-Africa I have a network of people who understand what I do and who can take the work further. And having a movement of people who pray and give is reassuring. I don’t think I’d be here today if it weren’t for prayers that have kept me alive, safe, encouraged and heartened. And the way churches have got behind me…I don’t earn a salary from 28 Too Many; I live by faith on a stipend and that’s difficult in London. I feel God meets my needs and that gives me confidence. And whether it’s the support of the CMS communications department or the church links department or the finance team or my African colleagues, I feel uplifted. I’m planning to be licensed as a lay pioneer in Edmonton this year. This will enable me to work across dioceses and that’s thanks to CMS.

HOW HAVE YOU KEPT GOING, ESPECIALLY WHILE RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR CANCER? You never expect cancer to happen to you.

I have great love and support from my church and I have great medical support. I want to carry on working so it’s a matter of asking what can I do and what can only I do? I attend European global events as I can’t travel to Africa at the moment – others go for me. I think it’s similar to any entrepreneur who has to face founder’s syndrome – you’ve birthed something and you

do everything and know everything and then you have to let go and be more of an executive director. I have an amazing deputy colleague holding things together organisationally and an amazing staff team and volunteer base. It’s a little strange to step back, but it enables me to do things I need to do.

AHEAD OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ON 8 MARCH, WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD’S DREAMS ARE FOR WOMEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY? Violence against women has no place in a civilised society. We should value equality of women in pay, status and potential, and meet women’s health and education rights. If women had their education rights met there wouldn’t be FGM. Girls who have education don’t tend to practise FGM to the same extent.

Usually on International Women’s Day I do a walk along the South Bank in London, called In Her Footsteps, which is re-walking the suffragette walk. I do feel a bit like a modern suffragette, fighting for the rights of people who can’t fight for their own rights.

IF YOU COULD SAY JUST ONE THING TO OUR READERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Everyone can take some action. FGM happens across all society, in the UK and in diaspora communities across Europe, in America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I’d like people to be aware of FGM in their community, to lobby their local MPs, to get health passport information sheets placed in their local GP surgery, to talk to teachers, nurses and social workers about mandatory reporting (which means everyone who has FGM needs to be reported, not to arrest them, but to make sure they know it’s illegal in the UK and children are protected).

And pray. We are literally kept alive in unsafe countries by prayer. I’d love people to make a prayer chain or fast for health and healing for me and for 28 Too Many. We live on giving. I’d love people to give to my support (churchmissionsociety.org/ annmariewilson). If people want to help there are always opportunities listed at 28toomany.org. There are currently trustee vacancies; we need people to proofread our reports, everyone can get involved.

WHAT DOES MISSION MEAN TO YOU? To me mission is not an option. It’s a requirement.

We are all called to mission. Recently I was in a writing group and someone was late and, when I asked her why, she told me about a girl she knows who is critically ill in hospital. She was going to visit that evening and I asked, “Would you like me to come with you and pray with her?” I spent two hours there, one with the woman who is probably dying and one with her son and husband. None have a faith, yet they were willing to accept prayer and felt comforted. I was glad that I had gone, even though it wasn’t convenient or comfortable.

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

We are called to be uncomfortable in mission. I don’t always feel comfortable doing what I do. But I do it anyway. And I’m usually not turned away. Mission for me is about God’s heart, Jesus’ heart for the lost and marginalised, people who are in pain. I think Jesus would have eaten with people with FGM. Maybe the woman who was bleeding and reached out for Jesus had FGM. I don’t think everyone has to be called to fight FGM but everyone needs to get in touch with what God is calling them to. It’s never too late. People sometimes ask me, how did you know this was your calling? I knew God was calling me to this but I also did things to allow God space to speak and to grow my experience.

Everything in life is useful for work in mission. Nothing in your past is wasted. It doesn’t matter if you zigzag around until you get to what your call is. When you do, it will dictate the direction of your life. My call is like a precious light I carry around and it dictates who I am and what I do 24/7. Everybody I meet when I go to a hospital appointment hears about FGM. People in taxis or on the bus – I don’t ever not talk about it. That’s because I’m passionate about it ending and that’s the only way to do it. When everyone finds their own calling they will do the same. It gives you energy.

DO YOU THINK FGM CAN END IN A GENERATION? Yes definitely, and much more than when I started.

At first I thought it would take about 60 years. But I think the pace of change is getting to a tipping point. Kenya could be the first country where FGM becomes a historic event. I do think that with prayer and intercession things could shift in many countries in one generation. If not one, then in three. Definitely within my lifetime.

LEARN Some facts about FGM: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a traditional cultural practice involving the cutting or removal of the external female genitals. It results in pain and emotional and health problems, often life-long. Most FGM takes place in 28 African countries and in some communities in the Middle East and Asia. As a result of immigration and refugee movements FGM can also be found in other countries including most European countries, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: 28toomany.org 11

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LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 2017

“As a youth minister I found training through the lens of pioneering mission with CMS amazing – I am really excited about this new course.”

PIONEER YOUTH

MINISTRY TRAINING Certificate in mission, ministry and theology

Youth ministry and pioneering go hand in hand. Now, thanks to a creative partnership between Church Mission Society, Oxford CYM and Frontier Youth Trust, pioneer youth ministers and children and family workers can join a unique learning programme that combines the best of both worlds.

James Henley, pioneer youth minister, The Lab, Newport

Accredited by Durham University Common Awards Endorsed by CYM Pathways for both youth ministry and children’s and family ministry Come to an Open Day: 14 March and 13 June 2017

with Church Mission Society

For more info email: pioneer@churchmissionsociety.org Call: 01865 787439 | Visit: pioneer.churchmissionsociety.org

S N W O D H SOUT LLENGE SPONSORED CHSaAturday 13 May 2017 od WHERE? Set out from Goodwo y to gatewa Racecourse, West Sussex – e South Downs the rolling splendour of th – from hike ntle 10km to a robust 60km

WHAT? Choose your distance a ge

WHY? Raise vital support for

their people in mission putting call into action worldwide her WHO? Enjoy a day out with ot n for people who have a passio rier! mission. The more the mer

Find out more at: churchmissionsociety.org, . call: 01865 787400, or email challenges@churchmissionsociety.org..

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GLASGOW FEATURE

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BUSINESS AS MISSION

“I think it’s great that you can walk alongside somebody in relationship and you can offer prayer, friendship, practical support... We can offer hope that God hasn’t forgotten about them...”

– Andrew, working with asylum seekers in Glasgow Govanhill, a multicultural area of Glasgow

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CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

WRITTEN BY JEREMY WOODHAM PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHAN SELF

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Top: Faye and Andrew are called to demonstrate God’s love, compassion and truth to refugees and asylum seekers Bottom: Andrew shows writer Jeremy Woodham around Glasgow, giving him an inside view of asylum seekers’ struggles

n a chilly church hall in Glasgow tonight up to 30 men who don’t exist will be getting ready to sleep.

They tell me the heaters will be on at Anderston Kelvingrove Church of Scotland by the time it fills up with mattresses, duvets and destitute asylum seekers.

These are the people who can neither stay nor leave. Their claim for asylum refused, they have no right to benefits or accommodation, and are ‘forgotten’ by the system.

This happened to 27-yearold Aziz from an Afghan refugee family living in Iran. He wasn’t a Christian when he left Iran but he was a young man with an urge to discover “the true way” as he puts it. He put himself in the hands of a “guide” and travelled by bus, car and on foot, to Turkey, on to France and then to the UK and finally Glasgow. Here came the turning point in his story when he met a group of Christians who treated each other well.

Soon he was attending City of Peace, a service especially created for refugees and asylum seekers. He was able to sing in a familiar language, hear the gospel and ask questions about it with a fluent Farsi speaking Christian.

It took three years for Aziz to be ready to be baptised. Every year his good friend would ask him and he would reply that he wasn’t ready. Then one night he had a dream of a tall man in a white robe pouring water on someone’s head and then flicking some towards him with his right hand.

When he woke he knew it was time to be baptised.

“I can feel Jesus in me, his energy and beauty and peace,” says Aziz as we sit in his spotless council flat. The decor may be sparse but the hospitality is not. Cakes, grapes, bananas, nuts, ice cream and delicate Iranian tea are all served before we leave, despite having timed our visit for after lunch so that Aziz would not feel obliged to feed us.

“My hairs stand on end when we come together like this and talk about Jesus,” he says.

Aziz arrived in Glasgow in July 2010.

His initial claim for asylum was refused, after which he had to survive in the grey economy, with no official right to work.

For the first year after his claim was denied he was allowed to stay in Home Office accommodation but then one day an eviction letter arrived and the locks were changed.

He eventually succeeded with a fresh claim for asylum in 2014, due to the fact that he had become a believer in Jesus and it would be dangerous to live in Afghanistan or Iran. All that time, a small group of faithful Christians, Andrew Parfitt of Church Mission Society among them, walked alongside Aziz.

GOD IS DRAWING PEOPLE TO HIMSELF “That’s the way I view mission,” says Andrew, who has been living and working in Glasgow for six years. “I know God is drawing people to himself and I want to be alongside him in that.

“I think both my wife Faye and I want to use skills that God has given us to

warm welcome from the volunteers of Unity, a local refugee charity who now run the shelter. It’s part of the legacy of Andrew’s team.

AN EMERGENCY SITUATION He explains: “We knew there was an issue with destitute asylum seekers so about three years ago we got in contact with Glasgow City Mission and started a pilot scheme. We had a group of six or seven guys who spent the night with us over the winter and, out of that, this slightly larger, more permanent project has started in Anderston Kelvingrove Church.”

The charity Unity came on board as Andrew’s small team did not have the capacity to carry it on and now, with a full time manager employed, and a host of volunteers largely drawn from the city’s student population, the shelter runs all year round.

The issue of destitute asylum seekers is still close to Andrew’s heart: “When somebody comes to the UK to claim asylum, that is their legal

“My hairs stand on end when we come together like this and talk about Jesus,” says one refugee as we sit in his spotless flat. love people, to help, and also to use our experiences to come alongside people. Faye being from Iran, me having spent time in Afghanistan – with a little bit of language, a little bit of cultural understanding – we want to use that and offer our gifts to the church.

“Our calling, our passion, our vision has been to come alongside Muslim people to love them, especially those coming from the Persian speaking world.”

It is those people who join Andrew for a weekly Bible study on a Wednesday night at Govanhill Free Church.

“Last week we looked at the parable of the landowner, where he gives the same wages to everybody (Matthew 20) and we were talking about equality of all believers with God, and the way that our God loves everybody. For me it was quite a big thing that they acknowledged that they had seen this in the church, in the people that they had encountered.”

This is significant; you are certainly not going to feel equal if you are going through the asylum system in the UK. On our second evening in Glasgow we drop in to the night shelter for destitute asylum seekers and get a

right under international law. If the government thinks that somebody does not have a case, then they lose all status within the country. They are told that they should go back to their country and they lose any accommodation, any monetary support and they also have no right to work. They are left destitute.

“The problem is that people don’t go back: some people can’t go back; some people the government can’t send back because their countries won’t take them; some people just refuse to go back.

“Often people have appealed against that initial decision or put in new claims or have new evidence but they are waiting for documents to arrive. It’s very, very common for people at some point to be destitute during the asylum process. If you come and your case is recognised immediately, you are one of the lucky ones.”

A quarter of initial refusals are overturned on appeal, but in the waiting period, many asylum seekers effectively disappear. In 2015, the Red Cross said the number of destitute asylum seekers in the UK reached 9,000.

Continues next page

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

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GLASGOW FEATURE

“A lot of churches and charities in Glasgow are responding to that as the emergency situation that it is,” says Andrew. “The difficulty is that these people are very much forgotten by the system and, less so now but certainly a few years ago, people were reluctant to work with these people. It’s a real grey area. They are not here in the country illegally because they are exercising the right to be recognised as refugees but people are sometimes reticent to help, because they don’t know where they stand legally.”

In any given week, the majority of people Andrew will meet are somewhere in the asylum and refugee system, typically from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kurdistan (whether that’s Syria or Iraq). And they are usually people who have come to faith or are very interested in Christ and are on the journey to faith.

“Although everyone’s stories are different, they are on the journey of being a refugee here with all the problems and worries that that entails: starting a new life, looking for housing, looking for jobs. I learn a lot from them actually, because they pray a lot and they have to trust in God a lot. I actually think I end up learning more and being challenged more in my discipleship every time I meet with them.”

Andrew hears these stories not just through his direct mission work, but from the students to whom he teaches English as a way of helping to support himself and the family.

One former student is young mum Wahazit Tesfankiel, 21, from Eritrea. Wahazit and her sister Siham, 17, came to Glasgow in 2013 to be reunited with their mother who has been living here for 15 years.

Above: Wahazit and Siham are from Eritrea, where their Pentecostal faith would make them criminals

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BELIEVE TO REMAIN? Wahazit and Siham are Pentecostal Christians. Although they came to Glasgow on family reunion visas, Eritrean Pentecostals usually receive a straightforward ‘yes’ from the Home Office to their asylum claims, because it is clear that they have no freedom of religion in Eritrea. In fact Wahazit knows at least 10 people in prison for their beliefs.

The Eritrean Pentecostal church is underground. “They meet in people’s houses,” says Siham. “If the neighbour hears them praying or singing they will call the police. Believers are still being sent to prison – it’s normal.”

It’s because of these threats that Eritrean Pentecostal churches in Glasgow are full on Sundays; some who attend are Eritreans from other faith backgrounds who are looking to bolster their asylum claims.

“Many of them come for the process,” explains Siham, “but it takes a long time.

Maybe they get refused but they are still coming to church and then maybe after two years they become really believers – they give up to Jesus.”

It’s an obvious critique to make: don’t people become Christians just to get asylum?

“Of course they do,” says Andrew, “we’re not naive. It happens. There are lots of Iranian churches in Glasgow and I think they would say the same thing: lots of people come to help their case. But they come for a year or two, hearing the gospel regularly, and eventually they come to believe.”

MAKING A NEW LIFE Iran is another subject close to Andrew’s heart – very, as his wife Faye is Iranian. She arrived in Britain to study in 2009 and soon met Andrew. She had become a Christian while living in India and had been nurtured by some American Baptist missionaries. And she wanted their job!

“I thought, they are amazing, I wish I could be like them! That was one of my dreams: I said to God this is what I want to do. And then it was amazing to meet Andrew and become a mission partner with CMS. I thought, oh my goodness, I haven’t even tried to get here; it just happened.”

When she and Andrew got married, Faye started working at The Well, a multicultural advice centre in the tenements of Govanhill, Glasgow’s most multicultural area – unfairly slurred as ‘Govan-hell’ by some.

CMS has had a long association with The Well, which deals with people once asylum has been granted (and with anyone in need of help). Things don’t get easier, it seems, as we listen to Rhoda, The Well’s manager, reel off the types of advice they give, from benefits to job searches to setting up electricity accounts to simply using a computer, which many, especially the older generation, have never done.

Faye is smiling as she recalls her time at The Well: “Because I didn’t look Scottish, I felt like I could connect with people better, so they were telling me about their life stories. Also they were asking me ‘Are you Muslim?’ – many people started the conversation this way. I usually started with ‘I believe in Jesus’ rather

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

than ‘No, I’m not Muslim.’

“Sometimes you can see from their face that they are in trouble or they just want to talk to someone. People were really open with me – even if it wasn’t speaking about faith – just having a good conversation or offloading on me. It was draining for me to always listen but at the end of the day you feel good that at least you made somebody smile.”

WHERE IS HOPE? Before we head to Glasgow Central for the sleeper to London, I have to ask Andrew something. In what he frequently describes as a “very messy” situation, walking alongside people in all the ups and many downs of seeking asylum and hopefully building a new life here, what gives him hope?

“I was asking myself that last night, as I was speaking to a guy, trying to offer some hope. I don’t necessarily have the ability to offer legal hope – that’s why I think it’s great that you can walk alongside somebody in relationship and you can offer prayer, you can offer friendship, you can offer practical support.

“We can offer the hope that God hasn’t forgotten about them, we can offer friendship and hopefully we can offer Christ as well.

“I see people coming to Christ: migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, especially from Muslim backgrounds, in a way which is extraordinary if you look at it historically. I was in a church recently and somebody from a Muslim background just walked into the church seeking God. Many people will have prayed for this to happen, even for decades – and actually we are seeing it now. It confirms that God is doing it really: we’re alongside him, we are welcoming people, we have a job to do but it’s God’s timing I think in all of this.”

PRAY

1 Pray for Andrew and Faye as they walk alongside asylum seekers

2 Give thanks for how God is at work in people’s hearts

3 Pray for more

Christians to show love and support to ‘people who don’t exist’

LENT: 40 WHEN MEDITATIONS CULTURESON CONVERGE MISSION

LENT 2017 40 meditations on mission

What does mission mean to you? We hope these 40 short reflections will stimulate prayer, thought and action as we seek to share in the life of Jesus in these demanding times.

Church Mission Society’s approach to mission is shaped by three themes – pray, learn and participate – and they are woven through these 40 meditations. You might like to ponder on one reflection each day for Lent. They can be used individually or in a group settng.

Church Mission Society's call is to see people set free to play their part in the mission of God. Becoming a member of the CMS community is a great way to explore our sense of being called together to share in Jesus' mission.

This Lent, we encourage you to consider joining the CMS community, or if you are already a member, to reaffirm your membership for another year.

To join the community: churchmissionsociety.org/community For guidance in reaffirming your membership, see the new community members' handbook, now available at churchmissionsociety.org/ handbook

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

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LENT: 40 MEDITATIONS ON MISSION

DAY 8

N O I S S I M F JESUS O Y A W E H IN T

DAY 1

THE HEALING OF EVERYTHING Every aspect of existence is seeking its healing from all that brings harm. All is included, nothing is forgotten or excluded.

DAY 2

A LIFE OF PRAYER

Mission is the natura l result of a life lived ever m ore consciously in union with God. Mission is what emer ges when we pray. Prayer chan ges us.

Prayer changes the wo rld. Visit: churchmissionsocie ty.org/pray

IS...

DAY 4

A LEARNING PROCESS

Participation in the healing of the world around us cannot help but change us. Mission is a learning process, throug h which our imagination for the scope of that healing is expanded.

DAY 5

CO-IMAGINATION WITH GOD

e in Mission is an exercis God’s co-imagination: to let ape sh ke ta rk reconciling wo to ts, ar he d in our hands an to d an e tiv va be bold and inno t. iri sp g in nurture a pioneer

DAY 6

PARTICIPATION – A LOT LIKE YOU

DAY 3

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DAY

N THE RECONCILIAATNIO OF THE HUM PERSON

Your passion for a better world now and how that might look are part of the healing story. Mission will look a lot like you, calling on your unique mix of gift and passion, experience and story. churchmissionsociety.org/ opportunities

DAY 7 GIVING

us Mission calls for serio e stewardship of all th en be ve ha ich wh resources e giv t’s Le . us entrusted to , ion iss m r prayerfully fo full of gratitude for all to us. that has been given or ty. g/give churchmissionsocie

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DAY 10

RECONNECTING WITH THE EARTH The earth is suffering. Her creatures are at risk. Humanity is both at fault, and in danger.

We need to renew our connection to the earth. In God’s mission the healing of creation begins.

DAY 12 PRESENCE

Presence is one of th e great gifts of the Jesus sto ry. And so mission is about pres ence. "Just be here" is good advic e for life, church and mission.

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LIFE LI

Words matter. B the most persu of mission is life lasting transform from life

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EVERYWHERE

The good news of Jes us, if it is truly good news, need s to be experienced as good news in every context. Not jus t on our own ground, but here , there, everywhere.

DAY 13

WITH THE SUFFERING

Mission is always at its most fruitful for the world when it is characterised by a desire to be alongside others in their suffering.

DAY 1

A WAY OF PRACTISED SHARE

Any attempt to foll daily call into a wa is a gift to the wo needs to be abou shared experience faith tradition

DAY 14

WITH OUR SUFFERING

epened Healing mission is de llingness and propelled by a wi ings and to face our own suffer erability brokenness with vuln and authenticity.

A thought for each day of Lent, by Ian Adams, mission spirituality ad

WHEN CULTURES CONVERGE

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IVED

But perhaps uasive means e lived. Longmation spreads e to life.

DAY 18

ALWAYS NEW

Mission is sharing the healing life of Jesus in ever-new contexts. In the power of the Spirit pioneering leaders for ge new paths of transformation. churchmissionsociety.org/ pioneer

OF JESUS IS...

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low Jesus is a ay of life that orld. Mission ut creating a e for living the n each day.

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You are being entruste d with something prec ious and vitally important , a gift to be shared for all pe ople, for all the world.

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DAY 21

DAY 19

ALWAYS CONNECTED

If mission is always new, the re is also a vital need to connec t to what has gone before. We are one people and one church , local and global, living and sharing the same unfolding story. churchmissionsociety. org/history

DAY 20 HUMBLE

ission is Your expression of m g line of just one more in a lon lation adventures. That reve d humility calls for humility. An r for good. has enormous powe

DAY 22 ING

STORIES MEET STORIES

ologue.

Mission is not a mon ries sto n, tio It’s a conversa ion iss M s. meeting storie abling needs to be about en and gle stories to meet, min on m m so perhaps to find co tio ec n. source, hope and dir ty.org/ churchmissionsocie stories

DAY 23

SPIRITUALITIES MEETING SPIRITUALITIES

Thoughtful missio n looks for shared languages, ideas and rituals around the quest for human meaning an d belonging – accessible in the culture, yet true in spirit to th e essence of the Jesus way.

DAY 24 RED

CURATING SAC SPACE

Jesus Mission in the way of with do to must be, in part, es ac sp opening up sacred ich wh in l) (physical and notiona y. lit ibi ss holy encounter is a po an als us d Sacred encounter he heals the world.

DAY 25 BLESSING

ission of May the healing m easingly Christ’s people incr In a world focus on blessing. ungracious that can seem so essing and exploitative, bl s brings in the name of Jesu n. io at m transfor

DAY 26

RESISTANCE

There are times when missio n needs to engage in resistance .

Some things in this world – the forces at work that deal in abuse of power, death and destruction – need resisting.

DAY 27

DAY 31

EXPRESSED IN ART

Mission is about imaginative engagement with the myste ry of existence. Mission must increasingly be about nurtur ing the human spirit through the arts, in both personal and public space.

REMEMBERING Mission in the way of Jesus is an exercise in seeing and remembering. It’s about bringing the forgotten back into memory. In God’s mission people on the margins flourish.

DAY 28

JESUS THE CHRISTCOME-CLOSE

To engage in mission is to participate in the revelation tha t Jesus the Christ desires to dra w near to every human person.

DAY 32

ROOTED IN THE BEATITUDES

Counter-cultura l, tough and insightful, the be atitudes of Jesus are a gift, shaping lives for the healing of the world in the 21st centur y.

DAY 29

US AS JESUS

us’ We are invited to carry Jes . In presence wherever we go rist Ch of e lov the God’s mission s renews people and place . ere everywh

dviser for Church Mission Society. Ash Wednesday is 1 March 2017.

LENT: CONTINUED

COMMUNITY NEWS

MISSION IN THE WAY OF JESUS IS...

40 meditations on mission

DAY 33

CONTEMPLATIVE

There is a paramount the need for us to explore een deep connection betw d mission, contemplative life an us and to seek the mysterio d who Go of ce beautiful presen aling he s ay is always close, alw . the world

DAY 34 RECEIVING

It’s good to host, but sometimes in the spirit of Jesus it is good for us to allow ourselves to be the guest.

Not always the giver, but sometimes the receiver.

5 DAY 3 ENTAL

SACRAM

HOPEFUL

In a demanding world a key element in the mission task is keeping alive a sens e of hope, rooted in the deep ho pe at the heart of Jesus’ being.

DAY 38

PROPHETIC

However tough things appear in the world, mission in the spirit of Jesus asks us to re-imagine what is possible, to be prophetic in the public sphere in word and in gesture, in art and in action.

DAY 39

RESPECTFUL

t for nts are a gif w e m ra c sa e Th d. Ho of the worl the healing able e r them, o n can we take ver re e erge, wh them to em are? people

When we connec t with others in a respectful w ay, the sense of what we do an d say as being "in the name of Jesus" may be received as a sh ared and even welcome insigh t.

DAY 36

DAY 40

PEACEMAKIN G If ou

r own peace is the gift the world aro und us needs, acts of peace making and reconciliation remain vital tasks for mis sion in our tim es.

PRAY

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DAY 37

LOVE OF GOD, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR

Only the love that is God and l that comes from God can hea life e nat sio pas ry the world. Eve ls rooted in this love quietly hea . the world

To see these thoughts online throughout Lent, follow Church Mission Society on Facebook and Twitter: @cmsmission

WHY NOW IS A GREAT

TIME TO JOIN THE CMS COMMUNITY

BY MARK BERRY, COMMUNITY MISSION MOBILISER

W

hy join the CMS community now? Well, you don’t need me to tell you that our world feels ever more complex and confused. Our 24-hour media fill our senses with stories of division, fear, hatred, pain and violence. Happy endings seem scarce and people are feeling increasingly disconnected and helpless, even angry.

We are often told that religion has no public place; it should be a private matter and keep its mouth closed. Mission is a "thing of the past" and it should remain there.

However, we see the church mobilising; food banks and community stores have blossomed across the UK. Christian communities have opened their doors to refugees, the lost and the homeless. Pioneers have helped new mission communities emerge as peacemakers and agents of change in our towns and cities.

Fresh expressions of church have been born, making churches easier to access for those who have never done so. Global churches are growing in our land, bringing richness and wisdom from across the world. Despite – or maybe because of – the challenges we face, the gospel is being proclaimed with vitality.

I’m excited that the CMS community, our family, is right at the heart of this. Of course this should be no surprise; our calling is the same as it has always been: to join in God's mission, to bring challenge, change, hope and freedom to our world. But what makes the CMS community so special for me is that we strive to connect the dots, to see the big picture of God’s mission across the world. We know that God has a global vision and for over 200 years we have sought to be part of it.

This is what brings us together.

The CMS community is not a club; it is a movement. We are a family

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

who believe in making a difference; we don’t just talk about mission, we do it. We are a family who don’t stand still; we share our stories and learn together. We are a family who believe that God is alive and involved; our relationship with God is at the heart of all we do and dream.

I know that many of you reading this are already a part of the wider CMS family, but I’d like to encourage you to join the CMS community.

Being a member means connecting with others who recognise the same call to participate in God’s mission; it means sharing learning together through our experiences and, of course, it means praying for each other. When you become a member, we can help you be more connected and keep you informed of news, events, community prayer needs and opportunities. Most of all, being a CMS community member means participating in this great local and global movement of mission.

In the centre of this edition of The Call you will find a series of mission meditations for Lent written

by CMS mission spirituality adviser Ian Adams. I encourage you to use these and as you do, to consider joining the CMS mission community.

We have also just produced a brand new handbook for members that contains community prayers, a guide to our rhythm of life and much more. You can find this at churchmissionsociety.org/handbook So you see, it really is a great time to join the CMS community.

JOIN To join others who love mission go to: churchmissionsociety.org/ community

WHEN CULTURES MISSION REFLECTION CONVERGE Name: Chris and Helena Wallis Location: Anglican Diocese of Northern Argentina, based in Santa Maria, Salta Province Our call: To share with the Wichi people in the pursuit of knowing the trinitarian God, understanding his word in their language and living as Christ taught us

Mission means...

Our roles: Visiting Wichi churches, preparing and promoting Wichi-language small-group materials to increase knowledge of Scripture and deepen faith

handling the ambiguity of power

BY CHRIS WALLIS

“S

ay to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.’” (Psalm 66:3) Do we not all long to see manifestations of the power of our Lord? Seeing them, others will believe and, incidentally, believe us who seek to spread the name of Jesus among the nations. We cannot doubt that Jesus worked wonders: he healed the sick, raised the dead and fed the 5,000, but when the people sought to make him king he withdrew to the mountain by himself. Evidently, it wasn’t power that he sought.

Satan tempted Jesus to show off his miraculous powers by throwing himself down from the highest point of the temple. But Jesus knew that the motives for such a demonstration would be like those of the Israelites at Meribah, when they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17) Do we not sometimes pray for a miracle to prove that God is with us? This may not be far from manipulation and can become an attempt at somehow possessing God. We cannot escape the fact that our hearts are not always right before God and that, like Simon the sorcerer, we may be attracted by the power of the Holy Spirit for the wrong reasons (Acts 8:9-24).

Simon was a man who had a great following. And just as he amazed the people of Samaria with his magic, so he was astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw performed by Philip. His desire to purchase from Peter and John the ability to confer the Holy Spirit reveals that he understood this ability or power as a personal possession to be acquired.

SEEKING POWER: THE WICHI CONTEXT Before the arrival of the gospel in the last century, the Wichi indigenous people, with whom we live in the Chaco region of northern Argentina, depended on shamans to relieve them of woes: sickness, drought, evil spirits and other enemies. The “saving” ability of the shaman is derived from his or her relation to spirit beings who, like the mythical

ancestors, possess powers not found in human beings.

This kind of power in the Wichi language is called käpfwayaj and can be compared with that typified by Aladdin’s lamp: say the word and it becomes reality.

What we might call a truly effective word. And so it has often been translated as meaning a “blessing” or a “curse”. It is the power to transform reality for both good and evil ends through pronouncing words. This power was frequently exercised to produce selftransformation. Thokfwaj, about whom there are many enthralling stories, eluded one calamity after another by transforming himself from one entity into another.

Käpfwayaj, like Simon’s magic, is essentially a possession and within this mode of understanding spiritual power the key issue becomes how to access it, directly or indirectly, whether it be for our own benefit or others’.

enemies and evils of one kind or another. And it is not surprising that for many Wichi it is the manifestation of God’s power in their lives that becomes the touchstone for belief.

Faced with this kind of attitude, there has often been a tendency in missionary apologetics to want to show that the power of God is greater than all other powers. And there are certainly many stories that demonstrate that this is true. In the 1930s there was an early Wichi convert called Fwapo Chalaj (Mariano Perez), who became a missionary among his own people and had several encounters with Wichi shamans. Despite repeated death curses against him, he survived and the shaman who threatened him suddenly died. It is said that "after this manifestation of God’s power many of the Wichí in that village surrendered to the Lord and from then on Mariano taught them the Word of God" (from the writings of Helen Sohns).

A COMMON QUEST There are so many situations in which there seems to be no way to bring about change other than spiritual intervention. Inevitably, this tends to be even more the case for those who do not possess material means that might offer a physical solution.

Situations of suffering, violence, injustice, sickness, anguish or our own deep failings, can repeatedly lead us to pray for a manifestation of God’s power.

Sickness in particular has always been understood by the Wichi as primarily a spiritual condition and healing likewise is sought through bringing spiritual forces to bear on its cause. Sickness may also become a way to acquire spiritual power, since within the Wichi shamanistic tradition, that which causes sickness is the same power that can remove it. So a person who survives some dire ailment may be thought to have acquired some special power and can thus become a channel for healing others.

Common to this way of thinking, and maybe not so distant from some contemporary expressions of Christianity, is the idea that spiritual power is what we need to tap into or harness for overcoming

SEEKING LOVE While we wouldn’t ever want to deny the power of God acting to transform lives, it is crucial – especially when living and working among peoples who put a high priority on access to spiritual power – to remember and to teach that Jesus healed not to prove his power, but as a manifestation of God’s love and compassion. All his miracles are signs of God’s compassionate nature.

Jesus didn’t say that all will know that you are my disciples by the mighty acts of power that you perform, but rather that they will know this “if you love one another...as I have loved you” (John 13:3435). The power of God revealed through Christ, the power that Paul sought to know, is the power of Christ's resurrection (Philippians 3:10), but this power comes through “becoming like him in his death”. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

Christ’s death on the cross is surely the supreme expression of God’s love for humankind and should compel us to seek before all else, even before his power, the manifestation of his love in our lives.

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

21

FEATURE STORY

A BICENTENARY FOR CMS IN INDIA,

A POWERFUL REMINDER FOR ME SHEMIL MATHEW REPORTS AND REFLECTS ON THE CELEBRATION OF 200 YEARS SINCE CMS MISSIONARIES FIRST ARRIVED IN KERALA

I

was born in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Kerala boasts a long Christian heritage as it is believed that St Thomas brought the gospel there in the first century CE. My family traces its origins to one of the people converted through the work of St Thomas.

In its early years, the church in what is now Kerala developed its own liturgy and had some connections to the Eastern Orthodox churches in the Near East.

In the early colonial age, as requested by the governor general of the British East India Company, the Rev Thomas Norton

22

became the first CMS missionary to south India in 1816. His aim was to help the Indian church in its mission and training of clergy.

In later years, the wide theological and ideological gap between the Anglican and Eastern churches made them arrive at a decision to part ways. My greatgrandfather decided to join the missionary/ Anglican church.

RENAISSANCE MEN Thomas Norton and the CMS missionaries who came after him inaugurated both an evangelistic and social revival in Kerala. They worked to eradicate the slave trade, worked against the oppressive caste system and started schools, colleges and hospitals. The current diocese of Madhya Kerala is a direct descendant of CMS activity and still continues its work through more than 400 schools, many institutions of higher education and hospitals, most of them still known as CMS institutions. This social transformation through the work of western missionaries was so radical that the 1998 economics Nobel laureate Amartya Sen called it the “Kerala model”.

When the bicentenary of the CMS missionaries' arrival was celebrated last year, the current chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, said their approach to the inclusion of marginalised people had brought the idea of equality into mainstream thinking.

Those first missionaries included Joseph Fenn, Henry Baker and the now legendary Rev Benjamin Bailey, who set up the state’s first printing press in 1821. He not only

created the first typescript for the Malayalam language but translated the Bible into Malayalam.

Bailey also created the first English–Malayalam dictionary and was the first principal of the CMS College of higher education at Kottayam, where my father also taught.

He became a senior professor there, having had the joy and privilege to be educated in CMS institutions from kindergarten to university level.

A FAMILY CALLING My parents are members of the Madhya Kerala diocese and in my childhood they encouraged me to consider a calling to be a priest and possibly work as a missionary.

In my teenage years I took it as my own vocation and thought that I would be a missionary from Kerala to possibly the northern part of India. But then I was introduced to the idea of doing a gap year in the UK by one my tutors at CMS College in Kottayam. At first I was not sure about this as I thought that I was going to be a missionary in India, not in a Christian country like the UK. In the same week Barry Morgan, until recently the archbishop of Wales, came to visit CMS College and spoke about the decline of Christianity in the UK. He concluded his speech by saying, “We need missionaries to the UK.” MISSION COMES FULL CIRCLE I came over in 2001 and worked as a youth and children’s worker in a suburban church in Manchester. After completing my theology degree from Redcliffe Bible College I worked in the CMS office, where I met Becky, who was at the time a CMS mission partner in Sri Lanka. Once we were married we moved to Sri Lanka as CMS mission partners. During a year of maternity and study leave in the UK, we were convinced that although we would like to go back to work in Asia, at least for now God is calling us to be missionaries in the UK. Now Becky is working as a priest in Oxford diocese and I have been recently appointed as the Anglican chaplain to

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

Above and below: Tens of thousands joined in the celebrations marking 200 years since the arrival of Thomas Norton, the first CMS missionary.

Photos: Shemil Mathew/Church of South India

FEATURE STORY Edison of Asia-CMS. The conference was on a giant scale – over 50,000 people (some estimate 100,000) rallied around the city and gathered together at a sports ground. The Rt Rev Thomas K Oommen, bishop of Madhya Kerala diocese and moderator of the Church of South India, welcomed and chaired the conference.

John Holbrook (Bishop of Brixworth) represented the Church of England and read a message from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

All 24 bishops of the Church of South India, the moderator and representatives of the Church of North India, Church of Bangladesh and bishops from other denominations were present. The meeting was inaugurated by the chief minister of Kerala.

Bishop John congratulated the church in South India for not only keeping the missionary zeal but also continuing to be a transformative force and a source of God’s love in the community.

Oxford Brookes University. I am still very much part of the CMS community by being a selector of new mission partners and part of the Asia forum.

It was as a member of that forum and as a missionary from Kerala to the UK, that I was invited to an extraordinary event to mark the bicentenary of Thomas Norton’s arrival in Kerala.

TENS OF THOUSANDS GATHER The diocese of Madhya Kerala had organised a four-year long programme of celebrations.

All members of the diocese were invited to contribute a month’s income to various projects which included 120 homes for homeless people, a palliative care hospital for the poor, a microfinancing project and many small projects focusing on creation care.

The culmination was a public meeting and rally through the town of Kottayam on 12 November 2016. Also representing CMS were Raj Patel, regional manager for Asia and Stephen

NEW WAVE OF MISSION Bishop Thomas promised, in the spirit of the early missionaries, that “Our mission now is to initiate a ‘New Exodus’ – to liberate our land from the clutches of slavery which is expressed in new forms.”

On the following Sunday, at the morning service in the cathedral, Bishop John and Bishop Thomas together dedicated more than 200 lay missionaries to work in the diocese.

The conference was a powerful reminder for me that although my work in the UK may seem small and insignificant, I am part of something big. It is encouraging to see how the seeds that were sown by early missionaries have produced a harvest so plentiful that the Indian church, for some decades now, has been playing its part in world mission and is drawing on its own heritage and momentum in sharing the love of Christ with the wider world.

10am – 4pm at CMS in Oxford

SHORT-TERM

MISSION

LEADERS’ TRAINING DAY 18 MARCH 2017

LEADING A SHORT-TERM MISSION VISIT CAN BE DAUNTING. With 200+ years of cross-cultural mission experience, CMS can help you avoid potential pitfalls and make the most of your time.

Come learn more about: Leadership in a cross-cultural context Developing a positive relationship with your host Group dynamics and spiritual care Practicalities and preparation

Standard ticket: £39pp includes two-course lunch, refreshments and resources. Discounts available for multiple bookings from the same church/ institution.

PRAY

1

Pray for Shemil and Becky as they put their calls into action in Oxford

2

Pray for the 200 new lay missionaries commissioned during the Kerala celebrations

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT HELEN: helen.brook@churchmissionsociety.org or call 01865 787493 Book online: churchmissionsociety.org/leaderstraining

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UGANDA PHOTOSTORY

Name: Helen Burningham Location: Uganda My call: To bring lasting change through the power of dance My role: To contribute my time, skills and eort to programmes that are supporting children at risk Helen , above, right

24

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

UGANDA PHOTOSTORY Mission in motion: to see more photos of Helen’s story visit churchmissionsociety.org/stories

H

elen Burningham works with CRANE (Children at Risk Network) in Uganda, teaching educative dance at many of its 20 Creative Learning Centres.

These are staging posts to enable at-risk girls, many with heartrending stories, to get back into mainstream education.

She leads dance workshops, including with girls with varying disabilities, and trains teachers on how to use dance within a classroom setting for learners of all abilities.

“Dance does have some connotations of being for the elite and strong bodied, but it doesn’t have to be experienced in just that way; instead, it can bring unity where words fail.”

All photos taken by Chris Tabu, CRANE

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

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MISSION ISSUES

MISSION POST The courage of compassion in a post-truth world

BY STEPHEN EDISON, SOUTH ASIA COORDINATOR FOR ASIA-CMS

I

began university as an undergraduate in India in 2001. Hope and optimism were in the air. Globalism was seen as a positive force, which would usher in a new era, breaking down barriers. We were experiencing paradigm shifts in communication technology which were going to knit us closer together. The internet was going to be the tool to end propaganda, dissolve biases and bring us closer together as a ‘global village’. Within the church and mission world, there was a revival of zeal and passion to reach out in countries which were opening up and to minister to people from all over the world arriving at their shores. Cheap airlines and more lenient border controls opened doors for mission initiatives in regions previously challenging, and in some cases, impossible.

Then in September, two planes crashed into two towers and things began to change as the years rolled by. In August 2005 I arrived in the UK to pursue my postgraduate studies, travelling outside my country for the first time. Not realising how much a bombing in London a month earlier would affect perceptions within the country. In the years since, against a backdrop of economic downturn and fear and mistrust towards certain ethnic and religious people groups within the country, I witnessed an intensifying struggle.

On one side were the majority who put their values and compassion first and resisted the urge to discriminate or stereotype. On the other side were people who were seeking simple answers to complex issues; among them were those who had suffered the most in the shift of the British economy from a mainly production-based economy, to a service and technology-based one.

Facing an uncertain future, feeling abandoned and betrayed by ‘politically correct’ mainstream politicians across party lines, they were fertile ground for emerging political forces who tapped into this anxiety, gained a foothold, shaped perceptions and helped bring us to where we are today.

Just 16 years into a new millennium, it seems we have come full circle. A journey which started with hope and optimism now seems shrouded in

26

uncertainty. The year 2016 will be remembered as the year of Brexit. The year which confirmed a farright swing across Europe and much of the world.

The year which witnessed the highest number of refugees and displaced people in modern history.

The year in which a surreal election cycle in the United States resulted in a surprising president.

The communication and new media platforms, which were to bind us together, have instead morphed into ideological ghettos, providing exclusive ecosystems that validate our own perceptions and demonise those who do not think similarly. The term ‘post-truth’ is increasingly being used to provide context to a reality where perceptions and emotions tower over facts.

There are reasons for where we are today, which merit reflection. The fears and worries expressed are not without basis. However, scapegoating entire people groups – some of whom are the most vulnerable in society – for all our problems is an easy way out; it allows us to merely vent frustrations rather than analyse the social and economic policies of the past few decades.

Now is the time when the church as the Body of Christ has to hold firm and witness through our words – and more importantly, our actions – what it means to be followers of Jesus.

Within society, and to some extent the church, there are voices that are challenging the ‘naivety’ of western values (which have been inspired a great deal by Christian values). Tempering compassion, empathy and justice seems to be increasingly acceptable – when it comes to certain people groups. This tempering is often done with a justification: “We live in terrible times; these are extenuating circumstances.”

The first step towards a climate of mistrust and discrimination is the lack of interaction between people of different faiths and ethnicities.

Perceptions of whole people groups are formed based on secondary sources. Actions by a few will be seen as reflective of the entire group, which leads us to framing an image of them without seeing the whole picture. When this image is reinforced by events that receive continuous media coverage, as Christians we may find ourselves at a crossroads. Do we go with the flow or do we stand firm, even at the cost of opposition or ridicule?

In times such as this, it may be helpful to read

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

through the Gospels and draw inspiration from the life of Christ, especially his parables and interactions with people. Perhaps there are some parallels between the Samaritans and Romans of his day and immigrants and minority groups in Britain today. Using this lens, we may be able to better appreciate the courage and compassion of Christ and understand the outrage of those who opposed him. Perhaps this may help us to then prayerfully reflect on how we, as individuals and as a church, perceive those around us. We may be in need of inner healing before ministering to them.

“..as Christians we may find ourselves at a crossroads.

Do we go with the flow or do we stand firm?”

Looking back at the history of the church in Britain, we come across inspiring examples of what is possible when we live our faith. God works in and through us, bringing justice and peace where there is injustice and conflict, and transformation that seems impossible.

Over 200 years ago a group of Christians like us had their hearts moved and responded as Christ would want them to. Among this group were people like William Wilberforce, John Venn and John Newton. They started a movement which broke chains, freed the oppressed and led to the founding of Church Mission Society. There are numerous such examples in every part of the world.

On the other hand, when the church stays silent and is not a prophetic voice, we witness a very different and heartbreaking picture. Grace, forgiveness and hope for redemption for each individual without exception is the essence of our faith. May we not be found wanting in extending to others that which Christ lavished upon us without measure, which is why we have hope of salvation.

Today, and in the months and years ahead, what incredible things can we accomplish if we look at people through Jesus’ eyes?

MISSION ISSUES

BRE XIT? Breaking down barriers in Bradford

BY JOAN AND NIGEL, WORKING WITH CMS IN BRADFORD AFTER SEVERAL YEARS IN PAKISTAN

“O

n this occasion of the concourse of so many strangers, and needy and suffering people, let your hospitality and your good works abound.” – St Augustine How is it that words from the fifth century should still apply today? How can it be that, despite our modern sensibilities and advanced technical knowledge, we still don’t know how to live together in peace? In his 2016 New Year message, Pope Francis spoke of the “monstrous evil which selfishness has spawned in our midst” and ended with a reminder of the power of God’s love and grace to transform us: “The grace of God can convert hearts, and offer mankind a way out of humanly insoluble situations.”

In Bradford, we are very aware that there are needy strangers and suffering people all around us, and our response of love is vital. This is especially necessary in the present climate since the Brexit vote was taken. During the campaign we were saddened by the poor level of debate, and then appalled at the result. The people at our church have been working hard to build relationships with the Slovak Roma people who live here alongside Pakistani people who form the majority community. One young Slovak, who works incredibly hard at a local children’s centre, admitted that many members of his community were feeling unsafe and scared of being sent back. We are happy that the Roma children who live near the church continue to come on Sunday mornings, and that they know our church is a welcoming and safe place to be.

When we were house hunting, one of our essentials was that our home be within walking distance of the church – after our time in Pakistan we appreciate the privilege of simply walking around the streets in safety and we have found that the walk to and from the church is one of the most effective ways of building relationships with the community. Especially in summer, we are usually able to get into

conversation with somebody, encouraging them that the church is open and available to them.

Every month one of our friends from another church organises a prayer walk, usually in a part of the city with a large Muslim community. Again, although the emphasis is on prayer, we often get into conversations, and sometimes people allow us to pray for them there and then.

Many Asian women attend the English language classes we offer. We also host a knitting class, where some of the ladies regularly ask for prayer. A recent tragic incident in which an 11-year-old Pakistani boy committed suicide led to some meaningful discussion between us all, especially about how best we could pray for the boy’s family and for the wider Muslim community as they supported them. On the other hand, the trial and sentencing of Tanveer Ahmed earlier last year, who travelled from Bradford to Glasgow to kill Asad Shad, the Ahmadi shopkeeper, has been met with silence. There are still some subjects which can be discussed, and others which are too sensitive.

At a recent barn dance at church we had an unexpected visitor – a mother with her two young children. Seeing the lights on in the church and hearing the laughter and the music, her five-year-old son urged her to come in and see what was happening. She and her husband are Hindus from Afghanistan, where they suffered unspeakable attacks because of their religion. By a long route involving many hardships they have arrived, traumatised, in our parish, where they are now seeking asylum. Their third child is due to be born very soon, and through our friends in a local Christian health charity, we have been able to give them a basket full of baby supplies.

During a recent Pray for Bradford meeting, Bishop Toby Howarth spoke of the many refugees arriving in Bradford, who tell how they have been helped again and again by Christians along the way. It is so important for us to give them a loving welcome when they finally reach

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

what they hope is the end of their journey. We feel privileged to be helping this young Afghan couple and pray that they will learn more about God’s love for them through our friendship.

Pray for us and our congregation as we build relationships with people from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Pray for our country: that all of us who are followers of Jesus may be salt and light in our communities at this time of change and uncertainty.

A prayer: “Lord, thank you that in your love you crossed the greatest barrier – the barrier of my sin – and brought me back to yourself. Give me courage, by the power of your Spirit, to cross every barrier I know to bring your love to others.” (from 365 Days of Yes, published by CMS)

RESPOND

Are you or your church supporting immigrants, refugees or asylum seekers?

Why not tell us about it?

Your actions may inspire others. Email: the.call@ churchmissionsociety.org

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COMMUNITY NEWS

HOLY LAND

Beautiful, troubled and hoping for peace For many years we had planned to visit the Holy Land and we were pleased in 2016 to join a group of Christians on a Church Mission Society study tour. This was not just a tour of popular historical sites of the Bible, but also an opportunity to meet and share with local people and with organisations committed to working for reconciliation in this troubled land.

BY IRENE AND MALCOLM CRAWFORD THE HOLY LAND OF YESTERDAY The biblical sites were inspiring: from the heights of Mount Carmel where Elijah competed with the prophets of Baal, to Bethlehem, Nazareth and Capernaum to experience something of Jesus’ life and then to the crowded, ancient city of Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall and the traditional sites of Jesus’ final days and resurrection. Maybe some of us had doubts whether the traditional shrines, with their ornate religious decorations, were actually the sites of his birth, death and resurrection, but it was humbling to know that we were within a few hundred metres of the locations of these events. Sharing communion at the Garden Tomb was a deep reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for each one of us.

History continues to affect the region. Visiting the Holocaust museum and witnessing the terrible ways Jewish people have been treated down the centuries provided insight into some of the problems of modern Israel and Palestine.

Our visit to Hebron was cancelled at short notice following the violent death of a teenage Palestinian girl who had allegedly threatened Israeli security forces with a knife.

THE HOLY LAND OF TODAY A unique part of the tour was the opportunity to meet with Palestinian Christians, Jewish people and Muslims to learn something about the troubles in the modern Holy Land and the impact

28

on families’ day to day lives, including the despair of a refugee camp that was opened in 1947 and is still home to thousands of people. This despair is being addressed by community organisations committed to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. We received hospitality from a Christian family forcibly divided by harsh policies which prevent family members from returning home after education in Lebanon, or prevent children from receiving proper medical care in their own country. We met a Jewish person working for reconciliation, who shared how her children came to understand and empathise with the Palestinians’ plight. It was a reminder of how our media have often presented the troubles in the region in simplistic terms. In this short tour we had a taste of the complexities of the present political and social problems.

THE HOLY LAND OF THE FUTURE? Despite the despair there is still hope. We visited a land divided by history, politics and fear.

We saw some of the impact on communities and individuals, with the erection of security walls and exclusion zones preventing free access to both Israelis and Palestinians. But we also met with organisations and people committed to reconciliation despite opposition. Our prayer is that the Prince of Peace will bring reconciliation so that the different people groups can live together in this beautiful country. And that the local Christians are strengthened to help bring this reconciliation.

For more information on possible future trips to Israel/Palestine, email Tanas Alqassis: tanas. alqassis@churchmissionsociety.org

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

Above: Irene and Malcolm take the trip of a lifetime.

Middle: Sign forbidding Israeli citizens from entering Palestinian territory Below: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Dear CMS members: Please help us listen and learn from your feedback by completing the community survey included with this edition of The Call or go online to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ cmscommunityfeedback

COMMUNITY NEWS

COMMUNITY EVENTS 3-5 MARCH.* Church Mission Society southern residential conference, High Leigh Conference Centre. Theme: Hope for refugees. Contact Jane Fulford: 01189 695039 or jane.fulford@ btinternet.com 13 MARCH. York & District CMS association prayer lunch, Spurriergate Centre, York. Prayers for the world church from 11am to noon, followed by fellowship over lunch. Contact Eileen Wishart: 01904 633705 14 MARCH AND 13 JUNE. Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Course Open Days at CMS in Oxford, 10.30am-2.30pm. Contact Helen Harwood: helen.harwood@churchmissionsociety. org

THE CALL IN ACTION your own lunch, drinks provided, 10.45am to 1.30pm, House of Prayer at St Edmund’s church Fishergate, Norwich NR3 1SE. Contact Louise Wright: 01508 536940 or louisewri@yahoo.co.uk

People in mission changes

5-7 MAY. Church Mission Society northern residential conference at Cliff College Derbyshire. Theme: God’s call to be... Contact Alan Nickless: 0114 236 4517 or alan@nicklessonline.co.uk

Jane Jerrard retires at the end of March after 20 years’ service in Pakistan. Working for the Church of Pakistan in Sindh, she founded and led the Primary Education Project, empowering local communities to open and run schools and in particular encouraging schooling for girls. She has recently been working in the CMS Oxford office, helping lead on impact assessment and on a project evaluating the CMS local partner programme.

13 MAY.* Just Walk sponsored challenge in the South Downs. Start and finish: Goodwood Racecourse, Chichester. Walk from 10km to 60km and raise vital support for mission. See advert on page 12.

18 MARCH.* Church Mission Society Community Vision Day, 10am-4pm at CMS in Oxford. Contact Linda Sammons: 01865 787482 or linda.sammons@churchmissionsociety.org

13 MAY. Africa Day Conference, Southampton, 1-4pm, St James’ parish church, Shirley, Southampton SO15 5LW. Bring lunch from noon, tea and coffee provided. Contact: charlotte. plieth@doctors.net.uk

18 MARCH.* Team Leaders’ Training Day at CMS in Oxford. Equipping people who are leading team visits overseas. Contact Helen Brook: 01865 787493 or helen.brook@churchmissionsociety. org

13 MAY. An evening of food and fellowship for all who have a heart for mission in Manchester from 6.30pm to 9.30pm, Bishop’s Lodge, Walkden Road, Worsley, M28 2WH. Contact Sally Ashcroft: 0161 4481976, or sally_ashcroft@yahoo.co.uk

18 MARCH. CMS community in Scotland annual conference at Holy Trinity Church, Albert Place, Stirling FK8 2RG. Theme: Reconciliation in a fractured world.10.30 am-3pm. Contact: cmscommunityscotland@outlook.com or 07900 646595

12 JUNE. York & District CMS Association summer meeting and AGM, 7pm, The Tithe Barn, Church Lane, Nether Poppleton, YO26 6LF. Speaker: Shelagh Wynne.

21-22 APRIL.* ¡ADELANTE! Latin America conference at CMS in Oxford. Speakers include: Bishop Nicholas Drayson and Catherine Le Tissier (Northern Argentina), Tim Curtis (Paraguay).

Contact Henry Scriven: 01865 787500 or henry. scriven@churchmissionsociety.org 24 APRIL. Sharing fellowship, prayer and news for members and supporters. Bring

END OF YEAR FINANCE UPDATE

BY CHARLIE WALKER, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES As I look back over the 2016–17 financial year it is wonderful to think of all the partnerships we are engaged in, like the one we have with CMS-Africa. It was great to meet Dennis Tongoi, international director of CMS-Africa, in 2016 and to be inspired by the reach of this organisation.

Thousands of people have been impacted by their holistic training workshops; they have an ambitious goal for the number of people and communities they want to reach and are trying to do this from a sustainable platform of support.

Our own financial year has come to an end and the finance team are busy. Do pray for them;

16-17 JUNE. Wales & The Borders residential conference, Llangasty Retreat House, Brecon.

Main speaker: Henry Scriven, CMS mission director for Latin America. Contact Chris Carey: 01291 425010 or crcandkili@tiscali.co.uk

* DENOTES EVENTS THAT CAN BE BOOKED ONLINE AT churchmissionsociety.org/events

they do a marvellous job. We are encouraged because we believe we will have to draw very little on our reserves, if anything. While we have not been able to make some of our ambitious church and individual income targets during the year, generous legacy income has offset this. We have also managed to keep our spending under budget. We are, as always, profoundly thankful to all our supporters and to God for the income that is provided for us.

For the upcoming year we are planning to do some necessary work both to CMS House in Oxford and to the CMS mission community house in Hull, which is doing amazing work in that community. We continue to ask for your prayers for suitable tenants to use part of the building at CMS House. Let me end by saying thank you to all of you for your time, prayer and financial support; it makes such a difference. And as always: prayer first, money second. Any questions? Email me: charlie.walker@churchmissionsociety.org

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

Moving on

New short-termers Terence Lee (Malaysia), Sarah Quinn (Brazil), Bev Richardson (Paraguay), Cathie and John Rutter (Uganda), Rose Sinclair (Brazil), Lydia and Mark Trezise (Peru), David Veldmeijer (Asia)

New mission associates (Independently funded but connecting to CMS for prayer and relational support): Michael Hunter (Burundi), Anne Plested (Palestine)

Church Mission Society staff changes since December 2016 WELCOME: Mary Caler, key relationships assistant (December), John Orchard, church relations officer (December), Grace Jamieson, supporter care assistant (January), Rachel Smith, PA to director of international mission and team administrator (January), Paul Bradbury, pioneer hub coordinator (January) FAREWELL: Dan Clarke, conference centre supervisor and senior receptionist (retired in February), Sarah Holmes, staff writer (January) UPDATES: Isaac Frisby, vocational recruitment officer (role made permanent), Faith Wilson, CMS House supervisor (formerly receptionist) CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY BELIEVES THAT ALL OF PEOPLE ARE CALLED GOD’S IN GOD’S MISSION: TO JOIN TO BRING CHALLENGE, CHA NGE, HOPE AND FREEDOM TO OUR WORLD. AS A COMMUNITY OF IN MISSION, WE WA PEOPLE NT TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE BE SET FREE TO PUT INTO ACTION – WH THIS CALL ETH MEANS GOING OVE ER THAT RSEAS OR OVER THE ROAD.

COMMUNITY HANDBOOK Church Mission Society, T: +44 (0)1865 787400 churchmissionsociety.o

rg

1

Community Handb

ook 2017

Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ E: info@churchmissionsoc iety.org

/churchmissionsociety

Church Mission Society @cmsmission is a mission community Wales, charity number acknowledged by 1131655, company the Church of England. number 6985330.

Registered in England and

The call in action

We are pleased to let you know that we have produced a new handbook for community members, which contains a list of local CMS groups, a guide to our rhythm of life and some community prayers and theological reflections. As we anticipate that there will be regular updates to the handbook, it has been developed as an online resource. You can find the new handbook at churchmissionsociety.org/handbook CHURCHM ISSIONSO

CIETY.ORG

Let us know what you think!

29

WOMEN IN MISSION

HER -STORY

LESSONS

BY HELEN BROOK, CHURCH MISSION ADVISER FOR CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY

F

rom Mary Magdalene's first witness of Jesus at the tomb, to Lydia and Tabitha’s crucial work in establishing the early church, women have been and continue to be a driving force in the spread of Christianity. International Women’s Day on 8 March is a celebration of how women have overcome political, economic and social barriers: gaining the right to vote, equal pay, attaining positions of influence within society. In this light, it is fitting that we also look back and celebrate some of the women who have pioneered and contributed to global mission in diverse and dynamic ways.

“TROUBLESOME, RESTLESS, DISOBEDIENT AND STUBBORN” Barbara MacHaffie, in her book Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition, states that the stories we tell about Christian mission have been traditionally “his stories” rather than “her stories”.

The limitations placed on women throughout the centuries have resulted in their stories being hidden and their voices being silenced. In the fourth century St Augustine stated, “I fail to see what use women can be to man, if one excludes the function of bearing children.” Many women proved him wrong on this, yet in order to do so they had to fight through and work their way around numerous obstacles within society and the church.

Teresa De Avila (1515–1582), a Carmelite nun, lamented, “Isn’t it enough, Lord, that the world keeps us silenced and incapable of doing anything

30

of value for You in public and we don’t dare speak of truths we bewail in secret?” (Susan E Smith, Women in Mission: From the New Testament to Today) Teresa did not see her sex as something to constrain her or other women; she campaigned for nuns to be educated to a high level, have access to the same religious books as men and have control of their convents. Her efforts branded her as a “troublesome, restless, disobedient and stubborn female”.

From early Christianity some women chose to remain single, despite the social and economic ramifications. Not having the commitments of family and society gave women more freedom to explore and pursue God’s calling. Two such women are Marie Guyart and Kateria Tekakwitha. Despite the ridicule of many priests and against the odds Marie Guyart (1599–1672), a nun of the Ursuline order, became a leading figure in the Catholic mission to Canada, working with the Jesuits to evangelise and teach Native American women and girls. Kateria Tekakwitha (1656–1680), daughter of a Mohawk chief, converted to Catholicism and wanted to set up her own religious order. She sadly died at the young age of 24, nevertheless she served as an inspiration for many in and outside Native American communities.

BEYOND WIVES AND MOTHERS With the intensification of European colonisation in Asia and Africa from the late 18th century and the birth of many Christian mission organisations such as Church Mission Society, there came greater opportunities for women to work cross-culturally.

Regrettably, for too many years, women were mainly seen by mission agences, including CMS it must be said, as only wives and mothers rather than missionaries in their own right.

In many societies it was taboo for male missionaries to meet with local women; this gave women missionaries a unique opportunity to share their faith and connect with groups of women, in particular with regards to education and health care. It has been through women working with other women and like-minded men, that women’s status and respect was raised. Dr Clara Swain is a great example of this; she was the “first fully accredited woman physician ever sent out by any missionary society into any part of the nonChristian world” (www.revolvy.com). She arrived in India in 1870 and not only worked tirelessly as a doctor but empowered local women through training and teaching medicine. She also founded the first women’s hospital in Asia. (For more

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

specifically on Asian women in mission history please see Lee Loun Ling’s article opposite.)

Women and children were regarded as being at the margins of many societies, yet this work at the margins transformed not only many women’s lives, but also many communities. Women missionaries were involved in social movements such as the banning of foot binding and female genital mutilation (FGM). Hulda Stumpf, an American missionary working in Kenya, took a stand against FGM in the 1920s; such campaigning is carried on today by many women, including Ann-Marie Wilson and her organisation 28 Too Many (see page 9).

Women missionaries were also involved in preaching and translation work, traditionally seen as roles for men. Ann Judson worked in India and Burma in the early 1800s and was the first Protestant to translate Scriptures into Thai. Dora Yu, a Chinese missionary in the late 1800s worked in both China and Korea. She had numerous roles as a doctor, translator and preacher. She founded an independent mission in China, became a prominent revivalist and ran a Bible school.

“SOME OF MY BEST MEN ARE WOMEN” Closer to home, women have been active in UK mission. Hannah More (1745–1833) was part of the campaign for the abolition of slavery along with William Wilberforce and other members of the Clapham Sect. She wrote about abolition and encouraged women to join the movement. William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army famously stated “some of my best men are women”, a quote of its time but one that nevertheless recognised the importance of women. The ‘Hallelujah Lassies’ of the Salvation Army preached and sang Christian songs in public. They suffered abusive language and obscene gestures along with criticism from church dignitaries, yet were seen as effective in sharing their faith.

As we look back at these extraordinary women we acknowledge their bravery in following God’s call upon their lives, which involved challenging their own societies’ norms of what a woman should and could do. That bravery is still needed today: where women’s dignity is reduced through sexist comments in public and private, where women are seen as sexual objects to be trafficked, where a girl is thought of as less important to educate than a boy or given fewer opportunities in the work place… the list could go on. This is a role not just for women and girls but men and boys too, for the church must uphold and campaign for the dignity, respect and equality of all.

GO If you’re a woman (or a man) who wants to be in mission check out churchmissionsociety.org/ opportunities

WOMEN IN MISSION

ASIAN WOMEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF MISSION:

PAST AND PRESENT

BY LEE LOUN LING, TRAINING LEADER AND COORDINATOR FOR ASIA-CMS

A

sian women in leadership is an issue close to Lee Loun-Ling’s heart. As training director for Asia-CMS, she is “delighted that we have great women on our co-mission partner programme who are inspiring Christian leaders, often challenging perceived female roles in their community”. She writes: Traditionally, the role of Asian women was mainly in the home. In church and Christian mission, this has been translated to generally confining Asian women to ministries with children and women, hospitality and community service. However, they may have been overlooked for their significant impact on the churches and societies in their contexts and of their times.

HISTORICAL ROLE MODELS An early example is Pandita Ramabai (1858–1922). One of India’s most revolutionary thinkers of her time, she was known as a pioneering social reformer, defying the caste system and overcoming barriers to rescue outcast children, widows, orphans and destitute women. In fact, a home was established which eventually became the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission. Through the many services provided at Mukti Mission (orphanages, schools for the illiterate, medical services for the poor, homes for the unwanted and a church), her vision continues in the lives of many women and young girls who have found hope and new life.

Ramabai expressed her conviction this way: “People must not only hear about the kingdom of God, but must see it in actual operation, on a small scale perhaps and in imperfect form, but a real demonstration nevertheless.”

The Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity recorded a

number of Chinese women who by faith promoted new ideas and pioneered new projects. Space allows me to mention only two.

Shi Meiyu (Mary Stone), who lived from1873–1954, was one of the first Asian women to graduate from the University of Michigan in medicine. She returned to work in Jiujiang, China, as a medical missionary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For 20 years as the hospital superintendent, Meiya cared for patients, trained nurses, translated training manuals and textbooks for Chinese nurses, and promoted public hygiene. The Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity says of her: “Grown up with unbound feet, she was enthusiastic in opposing foot binding.”

Eventually, she left the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society and established the Shanghai Bethel Mission, which later developed a hospital, schools and an orphanage. Bethel was wellknown for its training programme for nurses. Not only were they well-trained in nursing skills, they were also trained in evangelism.

As one of the female pioneers for women’s work for the Southern Methodist Mission in Korea from 1897 to 1903, Yu Lingzhi (Dora Yu) (1873–1931) was considered the first cross-cultural Chinese missionary in modern times. Her work was multifaceted and involved Bible teaching, medical work among female patients and schoolchildren, teaching Korean girls with learning disabilities from poor families and translating and compiling textbooks.

After her return to China, she established what might be called “the first Chinese faith mission, following the footsteps of Hudson Taylor”. She played a prominent role in the Chinese holiness movement, which has a “historical significance for the theology of Christian spiritual growth and women’s role in missions”.

Recognition should also be given to Korean women in the minjung movement. Writing on Asian women in mission, Sun Ai Lee Park recounts the growth of Christian women’s concerns in Korea for the human rights struggles of the minjung (masses of poor, exploited and marginalised people) in the 1970s.

Many women became preachers and workers in the day care centres of the churches to reach the minjung. As a result, the minjung movement “challenged both the church and society to deal with the problems of socioeconomic and political injustice.” This, in turn, “brought democracy to Korea in the late 1980s, and certainly played a ‘prophetic’ role in Korean history.” 21ST CENTURY INNOVATIVE MODELS Toward the latter part of the last century, and since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a rediscovery of mission as holistic in nature, centred on the mandate to love God and our neighbour (Matthew 22:34-40). Melba Maggay, founder and president of ISACC (Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture), argues with biblical undergirding that loving God and loving our neighbour (those who are needy, poor, and marginalised) is a single act. She believes that “ultimately, it is the love of God and neighbour that will make any work endure” in this century of massive global social needs. Following are two examples of women from Asia who have been engaging in such enduring work.

Lalita Edwards: medical doctor, founder/director of Santvana (Comforter) Children’s Home for HIV/ AIDS infected/affected children in Pune, India According an article in a June 2008 edition of Inspire magazine, “Dr Edwards is no stranger to the red light district of Pune, India. For years, she has regularly journeyed inside, where few dare go, to offer free medical help and advice to

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

1. Robert, Dana, ed.

2002. Gospel Bearers Gender Barriers: Missionary Women in the Twentieth Century.

Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 85, 90.

2. Ibid, 92.

3. Ibid.

4. Park, Sun Ai Lee. 1992. “Asian Women in Mission.” International Review of Mission 81(322):265-280.

5. Kim, Sebastian.

2008. Christian Theology in Asia.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 142.

6. Maggay, Melba.

2008. “To Respond to the Human Need

by Loving Service.” In Mission in the 21st Century. Eds. Andrew Walls and Cathy Ross, 52. London: Darton, Longman, and Todd.

31

WOMEN IN MISSION women who have been forced or coerced into the sex trade.”

Her heart goes out to the children of these women. In 2005, she started running Santvana Children’s Home, which took in HIV-positive children who were often abandoned and/or orphaned by AIDS, as well as malnourished street kids, commonly the victims of human trafficking and child labour.

Still, many of the children of commercial sex workers stay with their mothers. When Dr Edwards realised how vulnerable the children were between the hours of 5pm and 9.30pm, she set up a creche, offering to take care of them with the help of qualified staff.

This would protect them from their high-risk environment, even if just for a few hours.

Edwards believes that Bible-based values rooted in faith in Christ are key to HIV/AIDS prevention. She has played a vital role in challenging churches to address issues of sex and sexuality and AIDS awareness.

Romanna: dentist and forest conservationist in East Asia What has dentistry got to do with forest conservation?

Participants of the CWME (World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism) working group on mission and spirituality met in March 2010 and made this observation: “In our days, there is a quest for a holistic understanding of mission relevant to the contemporary ecological crisis. God calls us into mission in order to bring healing to creation.” It was this understanding and calling that

led Romanna to use her dental skills to help protect the much depleted rain forest of East Asia from logging.

In the NGO which Romanna co-founded, the objective is twofold: to promote health care of poor villagers and to preserve their natural resources – their precious forest. When patients come to her for dental treatment, they are educated on the importance of preserving their trees.

However, they need the incentive to act on this as they rely on income from logging to feed their families.

Romanna gives them dental treatment at a discounted price if they agree to stop logging.

They can also pay in kind with such things as manure, seedlings and rice husks for use in the reforestation project. Romanna likes new ideas and challenges. Her passion has been to engage with people in remote areas, especially those in the Muslim community.

She believes that effective engagement means addressing the needs of the whole being (physical, social, spiritual) in word and action. When approached to be involved in this new NGO, where she could provide quality dental care for those who cannot afford it while at the same time protecting God’s creation, she felt it was a great opportunity to make God’s presence felt and his love known among Muslims in East Asia.

FILIPINO WOMEN IMPACTING DIASPORA MISSION They may not be highly-qualified professionals, and their names may not appear in any mission biographies, but

their mission initiatives and impact will be recorded in history. They are the thousands of evangelical Christian women from the Philippines working as housekeepers, nannies and caregivers in royal courts and average homes around the world. A high percentage are in the Middle East and North Africa, where missionary visas are not granted. Together with their male counterparts, they belong to a movement – the Filipino International Network – and seize opportunities to reach the nations through being widely dispersed globally. They have become “a powerhouse for the cause of world mission”. PASSION, COMPASSION, GIFTS, FAITH These are the four things the women above had in common. Their passion for God and his creation, coupled with their compassion for the physically and spiritually needy (just as Jesus had for the harassed and helpless multitudes in Matthew 9:36) motivated them to use their gifts (skills, experience, creativity) to push boundaries and spawn fresh approaches to mission.

By their prophetic voices and catalytic actions, they challenged, as well as inspired the church and society. Their passion, compassion and gifts were integrated with faith – faith in the God who cares and is able to transform lives and communities for the better, both present and future.

7. Aguado, Maria.

2010. “Mission Spirituality and Care for Creation: An Introduction.”

International Review of Mission 99(390):175.

8. Wan, Enoch and Sadiri Joy Tira.

2009. “The Filipino Experience in Diaspora Missions: A Case Study of Mission Initiatives from the Majority World Churches.”

In Missions from the Majority World: Progress, Challenges, and Case Studies. Eds. Enoch Wan and Mike Pocock, 394.

Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library.

9. Ibid.

THIS ARTICLE IS REPRODUCED WITH KIND PERMISSION FROM ASIA-CMS: WWW.ASIACMS.NET

THE CMS LATIN AMERICA FORUM INVITES YOU TO:

¡Adelante!

2017

SPEAKERS:

WHERE:

Special speakers will include Catherine LeTissier and Bishop Nick Drayson, Northern Argentina and Tim Curtis, Paraguay

Church Mission Society Watlington Road Oxford OX4 6BZ

WHEN:

£30 for both days; please find your own local accommodation

Friday 21 April: 6pm – 9pm Saturday 22 April: 10am – 7.30pm

COST:

A TIME OF LEARNING, PRAYING AND SHARING TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN LATIN AMERICA

BOOK ONLINE AT: CHURCHMISSIONSOCIETY.ORG/ADELANTE 32

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

APPEAL FOLLOW-UP

“Pray for the people without any food…”

Name: Lynn Treneary Location: South Sudan

I

n June 2016, Church Mission Society supporters gave generously to an appeal featuring Lynn Treneary, who at the time was getting ready to depart for Maridi, South Sudan to put her call into action.

Following is an update from Lynn: Greetings from the diocese of Maridi; we had a great Christmas and New Year with 173 people confirmed in the cathedral on New Year’s Day. Chaima Christian Institute, where I work, also finished the year well with everybody managing to take their exams. All my students passed their exams and I hope they will return to proceed to the next level.

Maridi stayed calm over Christmas and New Year and that has brought with it great hope

My call: To encourage and strengthen the people in Maridi through faith and love that God will end the civil war. The economic downturn (inflation is at 800 per cent) is still very bad and the whole equatorial region is seeing starvation in the poorest places.

As I write this, I am in Juba, waiting for a flight back to Maridi after returning from the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, Sudan. I went to celebrate my friend’s wedding. It was an epic journey. I flew to Juba where I had to wait for four days to connect with a flight to Yida in Unity State in the North. The next day the wedding party loaded up into a land cruiser and drove for two days to the village where the wedding was held. I was amazed at how beautiful the country is, with far more mountains than I had envisaged. We were

Students at Chaima Christian Institute, where Lynn teaches English

welcomed with joy wherever we went, including by the local commissioner and governor. We had all the correct paperwork to be in South Kordofan and we were pretty much waved through at every checkpoint. The government there is in opposition to the Khartoum government. Due to frequent bombings in the area, people send their children down to South Sudan for their schooling if at all possible, which is ironic as people in South Sudan try to send their children to Uganda or Kenya. Fortunately there was a ceasefire while we were there and we heard no bombing. The faith in Jesus of the Nubian people is a real joy to behold and such an encouragement. Their faith in God allows for hope despite their truly tragic circumstances. We visited a hospital run by the local Catholic diocese which has one doctor for 200 beds which are constantly full.

It’s the only place in the area to get reliable medical treatment.

The wedding was a joyous occasion, attended by up to 2,500 people. The village was hugely friendly and welcoming and we started it all off by giving thanks to God in the church. Food and soft drinks were plentiful.

Unfortunately I got very sick after we arrived and had to return to that hospital we had visited and stay for a few days.

The weather was very hot during the day despite the continuous wind but really cold at night. Unfortunately the preceding rainy season never materialised, bringing drought. I don’t know how people are going to manage

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

My role: Teaching English at Chaima Christian Institute and serving the church in various ways

without the harvest.

I have been receiving requests for prayer needs. Please pray for South Sudan: her church, her government (national and local), her people. Pray for an end to war and forward movement in education, social services, health services and agriculture.

Pray for the people without any food, the ones who are silently starving. Malnutrition leaves many unable to fight sicknesses like malaria and typhoid. Pray for Bishop of Maridi Justin Badi Arama and the leadership team of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan as they serve. And pray for Chaima Christian Institute, for the ability to function well and for the planned development of the institute into a campus of the Episcopal University. Finally, pray for us all, that we will give glory to God for everything. I thank God daily for you all and ask him to bless you as you care and pray for others.

GIVE You can help people like Lynn put their call into action by giving online at churchmissionsociety.org/give

33

Classifieds

LAST WORD

How to... cope with disabled dreams The call: We want to show people made vulnerable by unjust systems or circumstances that they are valued by God.

1

AFRICA

Doctors needed in Kenya. Interchristian Fellowships' Evangelical Mission (IcFEM) is looking for doctors of various specialisations to assist the Dreamland Mission Hospital in Kenya, including physicians, family doctors, general surgeons, anaesthetists, trainers and teachers, managers and people to develop medical services. Other desirable knowledge/skills: emergency abdominal surgery, gynaecological/obstetric emergency surgery (including Caesarean sections), tropical disease, endoscopy, orthopaedics, IT and laboratory experience.

2

ASIA

3

MIDDLE EAST

4

Noh Bo Academy, Thailand, and Christ Church, Bangkok, are reaching out to Karen refugee children. Noh Bo Academy is a high school with boarding facilities situated outside the refugee camps. People are needed to teach English, the Bible, IT and art and to facilitate afterschool activities as well as assist in the food programme and other community projects.

A partner organisation in Lebanon is seeking a house mother to provide care for eight girls between the ages of three and 21. It is an intensive role that involves being up early in the morning to prepare the girls for school, providing meals and devotionals and overseeing chores and other house activities.

LATIN AMERICA

Scripture Union is looking for volunteers in Ecuador.

Various opportunities available, including teaching Christian values in schools, working as a counsellor or psychologist, organising training events for teaching staff and parents, prison ministry in a young women’s correctional facility. This is an ideal situation for those who have a heart for children and who will commit to learning Spanish.

To enquire about any of these roles, contact Isaac Frisby: 01865 787416 or isaac.frisby@churchmissionsociety.org

34

HOW TO...

CURRENT MISSION OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AT RISK

CHURCH MISSIO N SO CIETY

BY EMMA MAJOR, LAY PIONEER MINISTER AT ST NICOLAS EARLEY

A

t the Church Mission Society Conversations Day in November 2016, I gave a talk entitled Disabled Dreams: coping with change. This talk was the result of reflecting on my experience of dreaming with God, being disabled time and again, coping with this change and dreaming once more. As I shared my experiences and presented my model for coping with change, it became clear to me that the disablements themselves are all part of God’s calling on my life.

I’m a pioneer minister and feel most comfortable in the places less commonly inhabited by most ministers: walking alongside people as they dream of how their lives might be and introducing them to God as we journey. Over the last five years this has included crying with families whose babies have died, supporting women coping with post-natal depression, providing space for young mothers and their toddlers, creating new forms of church including Messy, cafe and forest churches and forming a missional community. Right now, I am developing an online prayer and discipling network for disabled people who, like me, have found themselves struggling to access society and church.

Each of these communities started as a dream, an idea planted by God in the situation where I found myself. They have evolved through experience and drawn on the gifts and skills God knew I had in my toolkit. But at the beginning they were all just an image in my mind at a time of disablement.

DREAM In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, “I have a dream.” I have many dreams, aims, ideas and plans; God is good at using my creativity and showing me what he would like me to do for him. Unfortunately, life has a habit of getting in the way of these dreams; life literally keeps disabling me. This disablement is frustrating, upsetting and often depressing. I don’t like change; it brings out my inner toddler and often results in a tantrum.

There have been a number of major change points in my life. I’m going through one right now as Multiple Sclerosis progresses through my body and causes mobility problems, pain and sight loss. It is this current disablement which has caused me to reflect on my dreams, what it means to be disabled, how we can cope with change as individuals, pioneers and communities and what light may shine through brokenness. Before this I endured a series

LAST WORD

Emma led a workshop at the CMS Pioneer Conversations Day in November 2016

of miscarriages which resulted in the dream of a support group for women in similar circumstances, the development of liturgy for a service of remembrance and the writing of books. Ten years before, intense depression left me on my knees and completely open to God; that was when I heard his call on my life. Through each disabled dream came a light of hope and a new dream. But first, we have to grieve…

GRIEVE Jean Vanier, founder of the 130 L’Arche communities around the world, has written about disability and theology. In Community and Growth he says, “Growth begins when we start to accept our own weakness.” Jesus healed people: the blind man, the woman who touched his cloak, the dead, children and even tax collectors. Jesus knew that this was necessary to bring them into community with others and with God. Most of us are not healed dramatically, but love, acceptance and companionship through grief can heal more than we appreciate in our fast-paced, success-driven society. We need time and care to mourn the changes in our lives and/or ministry, to acknowledge the pain, disappointment, loss or anger and come to a place of acceptance before we move on. But to do this we need to lean…

mutual dependence and the benefit of leaning on each other in times of trouble. And, of course, we can lean on God through prayer and Bible study, with communities and with spiritual directors or guides. Through this leaning we can move beyond our disappointment and pain and start to listen…

LISTEN In Japan, broken objects are often repaired with gold – the art is called Kintsugi. The flaw is seen as a unique piece of the object’s history and adds to its beauty. Jean Vanier wrote, “Sharing weakness and difficulties is more nourishing for others than sharing our successes.”

This is what God wants of us within communities. It is what pioneers are called to create, what I feel called to in my disabling – to allow the light to break through the brokenness of life to heal others. But more importantly I am learning to listen to the experiences of others

as they have journeyed through their disabled dreams and to learn from them. Through community, as well as individually, we can hear God’s still small voice as he shows us a new dream for our lives. And so we dream again.

DREAMING THROUGH CHANGE I have always seen the disabling times in my life as problems to be solved, as hurdles to be overcome, but experience, reflection and prayer are teaching me that problems and hurdles are everywhere.

It is in these times of weakness that I find God with me and see his call on my life. It is in these times that God shines light into the brokenness and seals gaps with his gold. God wants us to focus on the opportunities to serve him. Life is not about merely coping with change but about leaning, trusting and embracing God’s call to be disciples in communities together.

LEAN In Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John, Jean Vanier says, “The message of this gospel is simple. It is about being chosen to become a friend of Jesus. It is about mutual presence and learning from each other. To live as Jesus lived and to love as he loved.” This love rejoices in each and every one of us for who we are; a love which wants us to love ourselves and others despite our brokenness. We need to learn to lean, to reduce the value we place on standing strong and firm and instead embrace

A model for coping with change, by Emma Major

THE CALL - SPRING 2017

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“If these facts don’t bother you, there’s something wrong.”

Andy Roberts, Brazil

a million It is estimated that around half industry in children are involved in the sex ber suffering Brazil with an incalculable num in their ‘hidden’ systematic abuse with ’s own family homes. In some cases the child eir body. has encouraged them to sell th

A study among some girls forced into prostitution found that the average age of their first sexual encounter was just 10 years old.

Yes, if these facts don’t bother you, there’s something wrong.

You can help prevent the abuse and exploitation of children and young people. You can also be part of bringing healing and hope to those who have been badly treated. How? Church Mission Society supports dozens of people in mission who are caring and advocating for children and young people at risk. Like Andy Roberts and his wife Rose, who provide a safe house, therapy and skills training for girls who have been abused. Like Ann-Marie Wilson, who is working to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) across Africa and in the UK. Like Kate and Tim Lee, who helped start Jigsaw Ministries in the Philippines, which meets the physical and spiritual needs of more than 1,000 children who live on the streets of Manila.

By making a gift to Church Mission Society, you can demonstrate that yes, neglect, abuse and taking advantage of children and young people bothers you, and that you want to join in God’s mission to give little ones life to the fullest.

Above: Andy Roberts; girls on the streets of Olinda, Brazil; a dance class at the safe house Andy and his wife Rose run in order to restore abused girls’ lives

GIVE

Please help people like Andy, Ann-Marie and so many others put their call into action on behalf of children and young people at risk.

churchmissionsociety.org/give