USPG Transmission Summer 2016

TRANSMISSION The magazine of USPG. Founded 1701

Church supports drought-hit Malawi Page 4

UNITED SOCIETY PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL

Summer 2016

Cover: Elizabeth James, widow and carer for about 15 orphan grand and great grandchildren, working in a dry field near Malosa, Malawi.

(USPG/Leah Gordon) We are USPG. We are an Anglican mission agency working in partnership with churches around the world. Together, we work alongside local communities to improve health, put children in school, tackle discrimination, nurture leaders, give a voice to women, and much more.

Founded 1701.

USPG, Harling House, 47-51 Great Suffolk St, London SE1 0BS 020 7921 2200 info@uspg.org.uk www.uspg.org.uk Registered charity number 234518 Transmission is the magazine for supporters of USPG. The views expressed here may not always represent the official position of USPG. ISSN 0967-926X Edited by Mike Brooks Designed by ABA Design Printed by Fretwell Print

Partners in the gospel We are at a milestone in our history.

We have taken the decision to change back to our name USPG, albeit with the updated meaning of ‘United Society Partners in the Gospel’.

Over the last year, we have been reviewing the impact of adopting the name ‘Us’, and you said clearly that the name USPG was still very important to you, particularly because it emphasised clearly our commitment to the gospel.

But the experiment of ‘Us’ was not a failure. Aside from the name, we gave ourselves a fresher brighter look that gets noticed. And, more importantly, we put renewed emphasis on sharing the lived experience of our partners.

So, as we prepare to adjust our name once more, please be assured that we will be retaining our focus: the gospel, our partners, and our shared vision to see God’s love shared in practical and life-changing ways.

Janette O’Neill Chief Executive, USPG The Rt Reverend Adam Taaso, Bishop of Lesotho, standing outside the Cathedral of St Mary and St James in Maseru, the nation’s capital.

Transmission is sent free of charge, although donations to cover the cost of publication are appreciated.

If you’d like to receive Transmission on a regular basis, please email eunicek@uspg.org.uk 2

In Lesotho, we are working with the Anglican-run St James’ Hospital, which we have been involved with since its founding. Despite facing many challenges, the church-run hospital is a primary source of support and healthcare for local mums, with a maternity care programme that is much appreciated by local communities.

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Church reaches out as severe drought hits Malawi

Christians and Muslims in Pakistan condemn terror attack

We are supporting the Anglican Church in Malawi as it reaches out to communities affected by the country’s worst drought in recent history.

Harvests have been failing due to climate change giving rise to extended dry spells and erratic rains around the country.

A grant from our Rapid Response Fund was sent to support relief work and to help develop a strategy for future disasters.

In Chapananga, crops failed completely, so the church has been providing families with food aid.

Mother-of-two Ester James recalled the day she and her family had nothing to eat but a single piece of sugar cane. She was extremely thankful to receive a food package from the church to enable her to feed her family for at least a month.

To try and establish food security, the church has been organising households into farming collectives so they can market their produce as a group and get a better price.

The church is also offering training to households in farming methods and providing improved maize seeds and fertilizer.

One farming collective, in Chintheche Parish, was able to achieve a good harvest despite the drought.

The Church of Pakistan is working closely with USPG, the Anglican Alliance and other agencies to develop a response to ongoing threats and attacks against Christians in Pakistan.

The need for the church to protect itself intensified after a suicide bomb attack in a park in Lahore in March claimed 75 lives and injured 340. One family is thought to have lost seven members in the blast, with only a 10-year-old boy surviving.

An extremist faction claimed responsibility for the attack, stating the intended target was the Christian community – although the victims were both Christian and Muslim.

Pakistan’s president condemned the blast, and the regional government in Lahore announced three days of mourning.

Religious leaders from Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities in Pakistan responded by joining together for prayers and peace rallies.

Bishop Sammy Azariah, Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, said attacks on the church damage efforts to strengthen peace between Christians and Muslims.

Nancy Tchongwe, a widow with four children, was given seeds and fertilizer, and four months later she had a healthy harvest and even had surplus to sell.

To support communities in crisis, please donate to our Rapid Response Fund at www.uspg.org.uk/donate

Elizabeth James, widow and carer for about 15 orphan grand and great grandchildren, working in a dry field near Malosa, Malawi. (USPG/Leah Gordon)

The Diocese of Lahore stated: ‘It is unfortunate these terrorists identify themselves as Muslims, and by performing such barbaric acts damage the image of their faith and fellow Muslims… We as a nation have reached a breaking point… How many more soft targets have to be sacrificed before we act?’

Raheel Sharoon, Development Officer for the Diocese of Raiwind, told USPG: ‘Christians need to learn to help ourselves because no political party is interested in our plight.

‘To this end, we make the most of limited options. We run community programmes and events that help people of different faiths to realise that working together is the way forward. We work primarily with religious leaders, women and young people. We organise inter-faith sports, music, arts events, and more besides.’

He added: ‘Peacebuilding is a dangerous activity and, indeed, we have received death threats. But we do not stop.’

Read more from Raheel Sharoon in our prayer diary.

Come to our USPG Regional Days This autumn we are hosting a series of USPG Regional Days. You will hear stories about world mission, meet other supporters, receive copies of our new resources, and get a free lunch! The days are suitable for both seasoned USPG volunteers and newcomers to world mission, and we’d love to see you there. Events are taking place in Cardiff, London, Manchester, Oxford, York, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bath, St Edmundsbury and St Alban’s.

Full details at www.uspg.org.uk/events

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Christians, Muslims and Hindus light candles of remembrance following March’s terrorist attack on Christians in Gulshane-Iqbal Park, Lahore.

(Diocese of Raiwind) 5

Healthcare in Bangladesh: ‘Our reward is a smile of thanks.’

Report by Sr Gillian Rose (pictured opposite), manager of the USPG-supported Bollobhpur Hospital and Nurse Training Institute.

W

ith your prayers and support we continue to provide a service for the people in this highly populated area of Bangladesh, close to the India border.

Bollobhpur Hospital has admitted and cared for hundreds of patients.

Hundreds of babies have been born here and tiny babies cared for in our two incubators – both have long stopped functioning as intended, but we replaced the components of each with two 100-watt light bulbs. Indeed, as I write this one of the incubators is housing tiny triplets who arrived by ambulance at one o’clock in the morning.

We are well known for our maternity care.

Recently one morning, I was on my way to chapel when a very sick patient arrived on an open trailer. She had delivered her third baby easily at home in the small hours, but the afterbirth had not separated and she had lost 6

a lot of blood. She had come from a remote village where there were no health services.

So my morning’s worship was spent in the labour ward where we resuscitated our patient, treated her, changed her into clean clothes, then settled her in a warm comfortable bed.

Our reward was her smile of thanks. This is a service we are happy to give.

Our health outreach in the surrounding villages is also very important. We provide weight monitoring and nutritional support for small children and babies; we care for the elderly in their homes; and we provide pregnancy care for women in their villages.

In addition, our senior laboratory students carry out basic blood and other tests.

All of this means villagers can be treated near their own homes rather than having to make expensive and time-consuming trips to the nearest town.

Nurse training Our latest group of 16 girls recently completed the three-month preliminary nursing training.

They sat their final examinations and all passed very well. They will now join the three-year training programme.

In keeping with our tradition, we held a service for them in the hospital chapel. The girls filed up to kneel at the altar rail, where our parish priest blessed their new caps and placed them on their heads. Then the girls rose to their feet and, with lighted candles in their hands, they repeated the Nightingale Pledge, promising to lead upright lives and to uphold professional standards.

Meanwhile, our laboratory students – all boys – also completed their three-month preliminary training, and also passed with good results.

They now commence their training proper.

Please keep all our students in your prayers.

Sadly, we also have concerns. Foreigners and the Christian church are being targeted – it is thought by Islamic extremists – with priests and pastors receiving death threats on their mobile phones. No-one feels safe, and we have all been warned to be careful – though how careful can one be?

We pray for peace and stability in this beautiful land, and pray that the perpetrators of terrorism may come to their senses.

New building Bollobhpur Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Bangladesh. It is run by the Church of Bangladesh with support from USPG and other agencies.

Connected to the hospital is a Nursing Training Institute that accommodates around 100 students. Until recently, all the students were living in cramped conditions in a small building, with less than ideal hygienic conditions.

The church sent a request to USPG for funding to help solve the problem, and USPG responded with a grant to fund a two-storey extension to the nurses’ living quarters.

The ground floor of the new building will provide a new classroom, a practical room and an office. The upper floor will provide accommodation for 32 senior trainee nurses, which will free up space in existing buildings so the trainees are no longer cramped.

Money from USPG has also been used to fund a much-needed rebuild of our male ward.

The new building was officially opened on 15 January, and dedicated to the glory of God. We are extremely grateful to USPG and the Church of Bangladesh for this great work.

Opposite: A baby admitted to Bollobhpur Hospital, Bangladesh.

(USPG/Leah Gordon)

Sister Gillian Rose with nurse and local children on ward at Bollobhpur hospital, Bangladesh.

(USPG/Leah Gordon)

Factfile: During 2015 • Bollobhpur Hospital treated 1,543 inpatients.

• Community outreach workers made 15,464 home visits in 6 villages.

• Elderly care workers made 7,778 home visits to care for 2,245 patients.

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‘The police found my bible.

They took me and beat me.’

Fearing for his life, Christof fled Iran with his wife Sofia and one-year-old son.

They are now in Greece where they are seeking asylum and being supported by the Anglican Chaplaincy. Christof was interviewed by USPG Refugee Response Facilitator Rebecca Boardman, in Athens.

I

came to Greece with my wife and son last winter. I was fleeing persecution in Iran.

I am a Christian; my wife comes from a Muslim family. My wife’s family was not aware of my faith until my wife Sofia became pregnant. They were horrified; they called me a ‘dirty Christian’. They pushed us to divorce and beat Sofia in the hope she might lose our child.

After my wife gave birth, I took my family secretly to another city in Iran, but we were found by my wife’s family and the police. The police found a bible in my possession, so they took me into custody and beat me.

I felt I had no option but to leave Iran and seek refuge in Europe. I knew the journey 8

days with nothing to eat but a little bread; the room was very cold but we couldn’t light a fire because it might alert the police.

Finally, we were taken back to the boat. The journey from Turkey to the island of Samos is one mile. The sea was smooth at first, but then the waves picked up. Water started coming into our crowded boat. People were crying out and praying. I told my wife not to be afraid but to trust that Jesus would provide safe passage.

As we got closer to Samos, the sea became very rough. Our options were to stay where we were and sink, or sail towards the rocky coastline. Very few of us on the boat could swim, so we steered towards the rocks.

Our boat hit the rocks and was torn open.

Water poured in. Some of us jumped in and tried pushing the boat nearer to the shore. My body was thrown about; I still have scratches on my hands and a scar on my chin. Then, in

Opposite: Sofia, Christos and their son Alexander in Athens.

(USPG/Leah Gordon)

fear and panic, I took my son and swam to the shore.

A charity organisation tended to us, and we rested.

Later, we made our way north to the Greek border with Macedonia. We found the border had been closed to Iranians, and there were more than 5,000 people camped there. It was pure chaos. Exhausted and stressed, we took the decision to stay in Greece.

We live day to day. I have received advice regarding my asylum application and legal aid, and we are attending Greek language lessons.

I am hopeful about the future.

Find out more about the work of USPG in Greece at www.uspg.org.uk/europe

Ahmad Arash, USPGsupported Iranian translator and language teacher, gives lessons in Greek and English at the Salvation Army centre in Athens, Greece. (USPG/ Leah Gordon)

would be dangerous, but I felt it was worth the risk.

We sold everything to raise money to pay smugglers. When we left, my son was barely a year old.

My passport had been taken by the police, so we had to travel by foot. For two days we walked through forests and over mountains to enter Turkey, where we were transferred to the Aegean coast by car.

The call to leave for Greece came at 4am.

We were taken to the coastline, where there was an inflatable boat. We waited in the cold, but there were high winds so we were taken back to a room to wait. We waited for two 9

‘When things get tough, we can assist one another.’

Report on the USPG-supported Hands on Health programme, which is run by the Diocese of Lesotho.

T

he Hands on Health programme in Lesotho is enabling local churches, communities and health professionals to work together to improve living conditions using skills and resources available locally.

Launched in 2012, the programme is supporting the communities that surround St James’ Hospital, in the region of Mantsonyane, high in the mountains. The following reports are from residents in Ha Leronti village.

Mampho’s story: My husband passed away ten years ago. I am the mother of one child, a boy with a severe learning disability.

I used to get by doing domestic jobs and subsistence farming to meet our needs. But life improved greatly after our village was visited 10

by the Hands on Health team.

At first, I thought Hands on Health was all about handing out donations, which was why I was interested! But then I realised Hands on Health is a learning process that encourages people in the community to look at our strengths and use them to tackle those things that challenge us.

There is now a Hands on Health group in my village. We are mostly young and middleaged women, though I think more men will start to join.

Before Hands on Health, I thought I knew my community well. I knew my neighbours by their names and appearances, but I did not know about their strengths or about the challenges they face. Indeed, I realised I did not even know myself and the potential I have!

All of this I have learned since joining the group.

These days, I am able to face any challenge that comes my way, which means I have less stress. And sharing with other people means that, when things get tough, we can assist one another to come up with a solution.

For example, the issue of food scarcity is a challenge for many of us. Our community lives below the poverty line, and some of us depend on hand-outs from the World Food Programme, which are not reliable. Through Hands on Health people started to find solutions, such as planting kitchen gardens and using natural manure, while others have started small-scale poultry farms to generate an income and improve household nutrition.

Through Hands on Health, I have learned that having conversations and being organised means people can understand, support and connect with each other.

Seabata’s story: I’m 40 years old. I live with my wife and 16-yearold daughter, who is at high school. We share

our house with four other family members.

Many things are needed in my village.

We lack electricity. At night, we live in total darkness. Access to drinking water is inadequate. Sanitation facilities are poor.

There is healthcare for mothers and children at St James’ Hospital, but it is a long way from our village so many mothers and children do not make use of the services.

In 2014, our village received a visit from the hospital’s Hands on Health team, and I was interested enough to find out more.

During 2015, the team visited me three times. I found our conversations soothing. I started to understand that the people of God need each other. I came to realise that I had strengths I had not seen before. So I changed a lot.

There are many different denominations in my community, but we are all Christians, and Hands on Health has helped to bring us together and create a sense of fellowship and oneness. Members of the Hands on Health team are from different denominations, but they all work hand in hand.

Opposite: Matjotji Makara preparing a meal inside her home in Mantsonyane, Lesotho. (USPG/Leah Gordon)

Matjotji Makara outside her home in Mantsonyane, Lesotho (USPG/Leah Gordon) 11

work and I pay him in chickens.

‘So I think CCMP transformed my mind; it showed me that I can do something.

And the CCMP facilitator is still there if I have any questions.’

‘We are working together and our faith has grown strong.’

Food garden In Mahashini Parish, there was 95 per cent unemployment and acute poverty. Most of the people relied on hand-outs to survive.

Then, as part of the CCMP programme, the Diocese of Zululand donated 12 hectares of land to the people, out of which seven hectares were ear-marked for a food garden. Supported

by USPG, the Anglican development organisation Hope Africa provided a CCMP facilitator to work with the community.

A fence was put up around the land, a borehole was dug and beans were planted.

Though it is an Anglican initiative, people from different denominations work side by

side on the land. At present, 30 people are using the garden, including 25 women, most of whom are widows who lost their husbands through drugs and violence.

One of the women, Sbongile Ndwandwe, told USPG: ‘We are poor in our village. But then the diocese came in and mobilised us through the food garden. We are now happy and moving forward as a community.

‘Before, we were not united, but now we are united and one and there are fewer conflicts in the community. I was weak and lonely, but now we are working together and our faith has grown strong.’

‘We have planted the seeds, now we are waiting for the rains. We are still poor and often hungry, yet we feel full even before we get our harvest because of this CCMP programme. It has taught us to work hard and live with dignity.’

With support from USPG, a new approach to development is transforming lives in Zululand, South Africa.

T

he Diocese of Zululand, in South Africa, is encouraging communities to adopt an asset-based approach to development that helps people to make maximum use of the skills and resources within their communities, rather than depending on external funding and expertise.

This new approach goes by the name of the Church and Community Mobilisation Process (CCMP). Facilitators, trained with funding from USPG, organise meetings in local churches and the community is inspired to take development into their own hands.

Chicken farm Sliso Nzimande, in St Margaret’s Parish, Zululand, described how CCMP changed his outlook.

‘I had a degree but was still unable to find a job. Then the CCMP facilitator encouraged me

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to think about what I could do, rather than just sit and fold my arms.

‘I started to think about starting a chicken farm. I was no chicken farmer, but CCMP taught me to make use of the resources I have.

‘So every morning, I got up and went into town to find a job. Eventually I approached a construction site where they were building a church, and I asked them to give me a onemonth contract, and they took me on.

‘At the end of the month, I collected my salary and went straight to the agriculture board to find out how to start a chicken farm.

They gave me information, and from there I went to buy 50 chickens.

‘I used the money I earned from the chicken farm to extend my business and register my company. I built a big shelter for the chickens so there is no danger of any other animals getting them. My neighbour helps me in the

Opposite & below: Women working on food gardens, Zululand. (Hope Africa/ Mari Lovotnen)

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but also to look at themselves and their own capacity. This approach yielded results.

Building work recommenced with the whole congregation – men, women and children – doing their part so that, despite a lack of money, we were able to build the church ourselves. The congregation offered their labour wholeheartedly and free of charge.

Our beautiful new church building was dedicated on 20 January 2016 by Bishop Rueben Mark, of Karimnagar Diocese.

We had all experienced the joy of working together for God’s mission.

Equipping clergy for modern ministry in India

The Revd Jared Arul Jebareuben, Vellore Diocese, writes: Although I have been serving both urban and rural congregations for 20 years, the IPM training programme still provided me with new insights thanks to the wide range of subjects covered and the opportunity to learn from the other trainees.

Opposite: Early morning prayer and bible study by trainees at the Women Workers Training Centre, Nagalaparum, South India.

(USPG/Leah Gordon)

With support from USPG, the Church of South India is equipping clergy for today’s complex and constantly-changing world.

T

he Church of South India (CSI) is huge – with 15,000 congregations, 3,500 ordained pastors, and more than four million members.

It also faces many challenges in a society that is undergoing constant change, with traditions being challenged and an increasing poverty gap.

Within this context, CSI has launched the Institute of Pastoral Management (IPM) to train clergy in important aspects of church management, administration and public relations – vital skills that clergy need in the modern world.

The Revd Dr P Bethel Krupa Victor, Karimnagar Diocese, writes: This training programme has been extremely useful for my ministry among four village 14

congregations. I benefited in particular from studying human resource management, which emphasised that local congregations have energies, talents and capacities. The training showed me how to make the most of these human talents.

I am based, with my husband the Revd P Victor Paul, in Nagaram, a remote village in Karimnagar Diocese. The congregation consists of 40 families.

Their ambition was to build a church.

Construction work began but stopped for about eight months due to a lack of money.

It was at this point that I attended the IPM training.

Afterwards, I shared my learning. I tried to inspire an inquisitive attitude and motivate the congregation not only to look for outside help,

The sessions on administration, management and leadership were thoughtprovoking and helpful in terms of showing me how to comply with various legislation.

The training was also challenging. It helped me to realise how I can fall into the trap of making assumptions or failing to communicate clearly. Also, it showed me how today’s changing global scenario is affecting the life and ministry of the local church.

As the convener of my diocese’s Ministerial and Personnel Committee, which helps to recruit and train new clergy, the training has helped by providing me with a clear perspective for the future of the church.

Training for clergy at the Institute for Pastoral Management, run by the Church of South India. (USPG/Davidson Solanki)

Factfile: • Clergy in India face the challenge of learning to deal with new workplace legislation as well as an increasing poverty gap, changes to traditional cultural norms, and issues such as global warming.

• CSI’s Institute of Pastoral Management has initially selected for its training programme 300 priests who come from across all 23 CSI dioceses.

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Out and about Lent collection Thank you to Pinner Parish Church where a Lent collection raised over £8,000 for our work with the Diocese in Europe to support refugees in Greece.

Doug Yates, a church member and former chair of USPG Trustees, said: ‘We hope you are as pleased with the collection as we are. We hope this gift will encourage other churches to donate to the important work of USPG.’ Walking for Us Many thanks to Richard Reade, Ron Pugh and Geoff Crapper in the Diocese of Derby who undertook a 20-mile sponsored walk in April and raised £2,150 for USPG. This is the third pilgrimage that Richard has organised for USPG. He said: ‘When you consider how many miles many people in the world have to walk to get basic healthcare or water, it makes you realise how privileged and blessed we are in the UK. So it seems a small thing to walk 20 miles through beautiful countryside as a means to raise money to help communities less fortunate than ourselves, and refugees who’ve braved long dangerous journeys in search of peace.’

Baking for the Amazon Zion Baptist Church Hall, in Trowbridge, held a Bake & Brew to raise money for our work to support vulnerable children in the Diocese of the Amazon.

Co-organiser Heather Skull said: ‘Zion has had a commitment to working with young people since the 1820s, caring for their practical and spiritual welfare.’

She added: ‘We’re aware how vulnerable young people can be, and this project to help prevent Brazilian children from being trafficked really touched us.’

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Thanksgiving gift Yvonne Craig, aged 91, made a donation to our work in Gaza in thanksgiving for the care she receives at USPG-supporting church All Saints, Margaret Street, London.

She said: ‘When I have a fall, the vicar offers laying on of hands, and this donation is my way of saying thank you.’

Lord of the Rings inspired model exhibition Models depicting scenes from JRR Tolkien’s popular novels Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were displayed in the village hall at St Mary the Virgin, in Buckland, Surrey, to help raise funds for USPG. The models were made by church members David Coslett and Keith Field, who have been modelling for years and were on hand to give visitors advice on their craft.

Over 80 people visited the exhibition in April and made donations to support the work of

USPG with refugees in Europe.

St Mary’s Rector the Revd Carol Coslett said: ‘The stories of Tolkien capture our inner desire and quest for understanding something greater than ourselves, and are not too far removed from the Christian quest and journey.’

She added: ‘St Mary is pleased to support the Diocese of Europe and USPG in getting the necessary resources and supplies to those without homes.’

Bun Sunday All Saints’ Church, Stamford, has held a Bun Sunday every month for nearly 20 years.

The congregation bakes delicious homemade brownies, sponges, scones and biscuits to sell after Parish Communion, with all proceeds going to USPG. The event was introduced by church member Margarete Mitchell.

Parish administrator Kathy Longbone said: ‘While doing something as quintessentially English as taking afternoon tea, we remember our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world. While giving thanks for all the blessings we enjoy, we remember those less fortunate and our responsibility towards them.’

Compassionate Jenny Nine-year-old Jenny John was moved to help when she saw photographs and stories in the news describing the plight of Syrian refugees.

To raise funds for the refugees, she performed a piano recital and organised a cake sale at her church, St Hilda’s in Warley, Birmingham. She even donated six months’ of pocket money, and raised a total of £217 for the work of USPG among refugees in Greece.

Jenny’s mum Manju said: ‘Jenny is a compassionate child who is moved by the plight of those who are less fortunate.’

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‘To be catholic is to be mindful of local and global issues.’

New and forthcoming resources from USPG

Canon Steven Saxby, of St Barnabas Church, Walthamstow, reports on a placement in the Philippines with our Expanding Horizons programme.

I

recently travelled to the Philippines for the third time; it was an act of solidarity with the many migrant Filipinos who make up a significant part of my congregation in Walthamstow.

The Filipinos in my church mostly came to the UK out of desperation, leaving behind a beautiful landscape and rich cultural life. In the UK, most Filipino migrants find life hard, working long hours for low wages, struggling to access healthcare, and living in poor accommodation.

Increasingly, I notice migrants are facing the full force of the government’s strategy of making the UK a ‘hostile environment’, particularly those undocumented migrants who nevertheless make a huge contribution to the UK economy.

As a congregation, we greatly value our links with the Episcopal Church of the Philippines and the Philippine Independent Church (both part of the Anglican Communion). These links provide our churches with opportunities to grow in relationship and support those who are most in need.

My time in the Philippines, I read an excellent book about Alberto Ramento, a Filipino bishop who was killed after speaking out on behalf of marginalised workers and peasants. The book, entitled Catholicity in Times of Globalisation, strengthened my understanding of the church as being essentially local and global.

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Christianity grew amid the globalisation of the Roman Empire, but with values that challenged the empire’s oppressive ways.

We came to refer to the church as catholic. To be a catholic (a quality which belongs not just to Roman Catholics) is to be mindful of both local and global issues, making a priority of solidarity with the marginalised and oppressed. Catholicity is the church’s practice of solidarity.

Solidarity was all I had to offer, but it was hugely welcome.

In the Philippines, I was moved to see how much the oppressed communities I visited valued solidarity. Solidarity was all I had to offer them, but it was hugely welcomed. In rural and urban communities, solidarity was understood and taken as a sign of hope.

Many problems in the Philippines are a consequence of global interests – and can only be addressed by international action on behalf of those affected by the greed and injustice of others.

I returned from my sabbatical more committed than ever to supporting my congregation and the campaign for human rights in the Philippines, as well as the excellent partnership work of USPG.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence This international campaign runs each year from 25 November (International Day Against Violence Against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day). Our next prayer diary will feature prayers for each day of the campaign. We will also be using social media to raise awareness of the church’s response to violence against women. www.uspg.org.uk/16days World AIDS Day resources We will be updating our suite of worship resources for World AIDS Day, with more statistics and stories, ideas for liturgy, talks and prayer, plus films and photographs. www.uspg.org.uk/hiv

Christmas Nativity drama We have written a special Christmas drama for use in an all-age service. It’s fun and thought-provoking and free to use. www.uspg.org.uk/advent

Us Lent 2017 study course Our Lent study course for 2017 will focus on discipleship. Your next edition of Transmission will include a free copy of the study booklet. www.uspg.org.uk/lent

Advent prayer card: Lighting the Advent candles We are inviting churches to pray for mothers and children around the world as they light their Advent candles. Please pre-order our Advent prayer cards for your congregation today. www.uspg.org.uk/advent

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USPG Harvest 2016: Appeal and resources Feeding bodies and minds in Sri Lanka

Harvest resources include:

This Harvest, we are focusing on the work of the Church of Ceylon among marginalised tea plantation communities in Sri Lanka. Your Harvest donations will help to support a church programme that is providing children on the plantations with an education and a healthy diet, giving them an ideal start in life.

• All-age worship materials • Children’s activity sheet • Liturgical resources • Films • PowerPoints and talks

Download these resources and make a donation at www.uspg.org.uk/harvest

UNITED SOCIETY PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL