3 apr (m) ecuador...adolescents. please pray for our colleague, cms local partner alexandre teixeira...

PRAYER DIARY - APRIL – MAY 2017

Jimmy Rocks preaching in Brazil

Sharon Wilcox

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3 APR (M) ECUADOR

Based in Santo Domingo, Sharon Wilcox teaches life skills to people with learning disabilities, to help them live as independently as possible. Please pray for Sharon and her colleague Petita as they show God’s love in action to the students and their families.

4 APR (T) BRAZIL

Jimmy and Katia Rocks are planting a church in Florianopolis. They write: “Pastorally we face challenges, with people dealing with complex issues like mental health struggles, families finding it hard to make ends meet

and broken relationships. In contrast to a lot of prosperity gospel teaching that’s around, which encourages the belief that ‘every area of your life should be victorious or there’s something wrong with your faith’, we try to hold onto a theology of suffering as well as a theology of healing and blessing. It’s an acknowledgement that there is a real tension in this life as we do our part to extend God’s kingdom in a broken world.” Please pray for growth in both numbers and maturity within the church plant.

5 APR (W) BRAZIL

Mark Simpson is chaplain of Christ Church, Rio de Janeiro, an international English-speaking church in the city centre. Jess Simpson is involved in the social outreach, children’s work and environmental activities of the church. They write concerning a Saturday morning children’s club that they help lead in a local under-served community

P R AYER DIARY - APRI L – MAY 2017THE CALL IN ACTION

Girls in the Mage community

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in Mage: “The Canal community has had a precarious time, with the constant threat of drug trafficking looking for teenagers to devour....Our hope is to establish a new activity for adolescents. Please pray for our colleague, CMS local partner Alexandre Teixeira to find an open door to work with the teenagers in Mage.”

6 APR (TH) BRAZIL

Jess and Mark Simpson add: “Thank God for all the new people who have joined us at Christ Church in the last year, and pray that they would get involved in the life of the church. We look forward with hope to seeing more international families joining us; people who may not even think about going to church back home seem open to trying it out when they find themselves in a strange place.”

7 APR (F) GUATEMALA

Mark and Rosalie Balfour have arrived in Guatemala where they are working with children and young people at risk. They write: “The day we arrived, a teenager called Gerson had sadly made the decision to return to life on the streets; he’d been living in a children’s home that had been found for him. We had met Gerson on previous trips to Guatemala. It is incredible that he’s still alive as he has had so many accidents and illnesses as well as his drug addiction. When we saw him it was clear that his brain was damaged from the drugs but he was alert and could communicate well. However, a few days later, when we went to visit the area where he lives, he was not in a good way from sniffing solvents. All the young men there constantly hold a rag to their face which is soaked in a clear solvent.” Please pray for hope to break into Gerson’s life and for the Balfours as they settle into life in Guatemala.

WEEKENDFOCUS

Saturday-Sunday 8-9 April

BY IAN ADAMS, MISSION SPIRITUALITY ADVISER

In this exercise and in the one following we are working with the theme “thy kingdom come”. In this short line from the Lord's Prayer we pray for the healing of the world and the reconciliation of all in God. To pray this prayer is to first seek that healing and reconciliation within ourselves. “Thy kingdom come” begins here, with you and with me.

As you pray today, slowly place your hand on your forehead, then to your heart, then to your stomach. Repeat this simple physical process a few times, at each point praying the prayer:

Thy kingdom comeThy kingdom comeThy kingdom come

Prayer exerciseThy Kingdom Come: begins here

Email: ian.adams@ churchmissionsociety.orgfacebook.com/spiritofmissiontwitter: @spiritofmission


David and Heather Sharland

Miriam (right) with her colleague Chipe

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10 APR (M) TANZANIA

Miriam Knowles is an occupational therapist, working at Neema Crafts Centre in Iringa. Most of her time is spent working with children who have disabilities and their families and communities; she also does therapy with the staff at Neema, who are all living with disabilities. She writes: “We are hoping to do more work in the villages this year, which is exciting. In the more rural communities, there is very little work with disabled people and little education about disabilities; this is an area that I feel strongly pulled to.”

11 APR (T) UGANDA

Dr Corrie Verduyn writes from Kiwoko Hospital, where she is lead doctor in maternity and women’s health: “Please pray for the provision of senior staff for Kiwoko Hospital as some vacancies are anticipated.”

12 APR (W) UGANDA

David and Heather Sharland are now back in Arua after a time of UK ministry. David uses his agriculture skills to serve struggling and marginalised farmers; Heather is community health coordinator. They report: “In a few days we moved from long, warm showers in UK to washing with a cup of dusty

water, from 8C to over 30C, and from floods and heavy rain in Devon to serious drought in West Nile. What shocks for our bodies! But it is so good to be back home!” Please pray for relief from drought.

13 APR (TH) MAUNDY THURSDAY SOUTH SUDAN

Lynn Treneary writes from Maridi, where she teaches English at the Chaima Christian Institute: “Pray for the South Sudanese church, government and people. Pray for an end to war and for an improvement in education, social services, health services and agriculture. Pray for people who are starving and where malnutrition leaves them unable to fight local sicknesses like malaria and typhoid.”

14 APR (15) GOOD FRIDAY UGANDA

From Kisiizi Hospital, where she works as a nurse in the special care baby unit and teaches in the school of nursing, Ann Moore writes: “In May we will have the official opening of our new mental health unit Ahumuza Centre. The building of this has been made possible because of a charity set up in memory of a little boy who died almost six years ago. We are grateful that God has brought good out of such a tragic situation. As the mental health clients move into the new centre there will be space for another ward. As there is still much congestion on the maternity ward and special care, we are considering this space for a new maternity/special care baby unit. Do pray that God will guide our thoughts and plans.”

Kisiizi nursing students doing class presentations


Awais (right) with her husband Dominic and Sharon Wilcox, serving with CMS in Ecuador

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“Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonise earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.”

NT Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

FROM EVERYONE AT CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY – HAPPY EASTER. HE IS RISEN INDEED.

Happy Easter!

17 APR (M) UK

From Awais Mughal in Leeds: “I would like to share some good news. Thanks to your kind prayers, I have been able to find new work. St Aidan’s Church, Harehills, Leeds, runs an English language project for asylum seekers and those who want to improve their language skills. It is a good mix of different nationalities although the majority of them are from Eritrea. Initially I helped with registration/assessment of new students but the project manager was interested to start a reading/writing group from January. I have helped lead this. Please keep us in your prayers, that we can help to make a difference in people’s lives through this course, enabling them for example to attend their hospital appointments on time and discuss health problems with their GP. Language skills also help to bridge the gap, and are a way forward for community cohesion.”

18 APR (T) UK

More from Awais: “It was heart-breaking to learn that around 280,000 people became homeless in the UK last year and experts describe it as an ever-increasing problem. Researchers have identified various factors that have escalated homelessness in the UK, including family breakdown, unemployment, mental health problems, violent relationships and drug dependency. Please keep all homeless people in your prayers and pray that the Lord may help them to find peace, happiness, tranquility and discipline in their lives.”

19 APR (W) UK

From Glasgow, Andrew Parfitt writes: “It was upsetting but not surprising to see in the news recently that a large people-trafficking ring that sold women and teenagers into prostitution and sham 'marriages', was busted by police in Govanhill, the area where Faye

WEEKENDFOCUS


1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

P R AYER DIARY - APRI L – MAY 2017THE CALL IN ACTION 111 0

and I lived for four years. The police bust seems to have broken a large network and liberated several women, who will receive help and support, so there is light and hope in an otherwise dark story. It is my hope and prayer that the church in the UK responds more and more to the reality of situations like this.”

20 APR (TH) UK

Jenny Green works as community chaplain in Faxfleet Estate, Bradford. She asks for prayer for “the Eastern European folk who find themselves culturally isolated in Faxfleet, living in houses that everyone else refuses to live in, racially abused (especially since the Brexit vote), misunderstood, too poor to heat themselves, unable to find the food they are familiar with.”

21 APR (F) UK

Dave Bookless is director of theology for the Christian environmental organisation A Rocha International, based in Southall. He writes: “Here in Southall we see the heartache and hardship of migration daily. A group of young Iranian men, recent converts to Christ, have been attending a local church and one has had his asylum case refused. He’s appealing and about to be baptised – do pray for him. Another church member has nearly been deported several times and only intervention by our vicar along with emergency prayer and legal work, have stopped it so far. His wife and children are British, and the stress has caused huge pressure. My wife Anne is coordinating language classes for mainly Muslim women from Syria, Somalia, and Afghanistan. There and in the toddler group our church runs, many are in heartbreaking situations: terrified of deportation and families being split up.”

BY JENNY GREEN, A COMMUNITY CHAPLAIN IN FAXFLEET

You may wonder why my pictures on the next page are so miserable – they speak about life, raw life, and potential for change. After all, if it was all perfect what would be the point of working here? Even among the beautiful corners of our lives there is probably a bit of trash that needs sorting. And amid mess and brokenness beauty still springs up.

This is Faxfleet Estate – our home. The pictures speak of poverty, substance abuse, crime and a general air of depression that is pervasive here as benefits are cut. Two of my son’s friends walk miles to school because they don’t have the right documents to get a bus pass and there is no money for bus fares. Until recently they did not have proper coats either. It is quite common to see folk wandering around here in their night clothes – what does that say to you? It could be these are their warmest clothes and they can’t face changing into something smarter.

When I first went to Kisoro, Uganda, 23 years ago, I remember how lonely I felt; very few people spoke my language, nobody ate the kind

Thy Kingdom Come: in Bradford

WEEKENDFOCUS


Southall


Hugh and Debbie Skeil

Seeing beyond the surface in Faxfleet: there is beauty even in mess and brokenness

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of food I liked best, no one knew the home or family I had left behind. There were no phones, no electricity, no running water and no ‘proper’ toilets. I really thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. And there was no going back because I did not have a return ticket. I try to remember that when I visit the Eastern European folk who find themselves isolated in Faxfleet, living in houses that everyone else refuses to live in, verbally abused (especially since the Brexit vote), too poor to heat themselves, unable to find the food they are familiar with. They really did think they were coming to streets paved with gold and that high paying jobs were waiting for them. If you arrived with those expectations and landed in the reality of Faxfleet, imagine the shock, the panic, the feelings of being trapped and helpless.

There is good news. We are seeing more and more folk come in to Thursday Family Church and many in our congregation are rolling up their sleeves and doing what they can to help. Sharing the good news of Jesus is great, but ears are most receptive when stomachs are full and kids have clothes. There are lovely folk here who regularly give me bags of food and clothes to hand out to the hungriest and coldest. There will always be mountains we cannot climb, but so long as we tackle the hills we can, little candles of hope will still burn.

PRAYGod, may your kingdom come in Bradford; may more people roll up their sleeves to help the marginalised.

24 APR (M) PAKISTAN

F has worked in Pakistan for decades; as a theological consultant she is helping to equip Pakistani Christians to become effective witnesses to Christ. She asks, “Please continue to pray for the nation of Pakistan, for peace and harmony between different religious communities, for security and safety for all and for good governance and integrity.” Please also pray for F as she helps train a new generation of course writers for church-based training and Theological Education by Extension in Asia.

25 APR (T) INDIA

Debbie and Hugh Skeil write from Christian Medical College hospital in Vellore: “The permissions needed to start building the new hospital campus at Kannigapuram, on the outskirts of Vellore, came through and construction is now going on apace. Kannigapuram will have a trauma centre along with departments that mainly address ‘lifestyle diseases’ like heart disease and cancer. Phase one should be ready in two-three years. But it will require a lot of resources (people, time and money); pray that God will supply all that is needed at the right time and for Hugh’s part in this as head of the CMC development office.”

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P R AYER DIARY - APRI L – MAY 2017THE CALL IN ACTION1 4

26 APR (W) INDIA

More from the Skeils: “Helping those who can’t speak has been a key concern of Debbie’s for several years. [Debbie is a rehabilitation physician.] Thanks to a generous gift and the hospitality of friends, we were able to bring three members of the rehabilitation team to the UK to expose them to a whole new world of assistive communication devices (everything from manual alphabet boards to sophisticated eye gaze systems). Please pray that this will result in new initiatives and transform the lives of people here in India who can’t express what they feel or need.”

27 APR (TH) INDIA

E and R are working in Bangalore; E is involved in theological education and R is helping to lead a new church plant. They ask: “Please pray for God to use the church plant, its Bible study groups and children’s activities, to build and transform people’s lives.”

28 APR (F) INDIA

More from E and R: “India has been gradually recovering from the impact of November’s ‘demonetisation’ – 1,000 and 500 Rupee notes were suddenly scrapped, leaving Rs 100 (just over £1) as the largest valid note. Only one seventh of all the cash in India was still useable! The new Rs 2,000 notes took time to come, cash machines needed adjusting and, even if you got one, you had to spend it all at once because nobody had enough change. For a couple of months, there were huge queues outside banks. Factories closed because they could not pay their workers – barely half of Indians have a bank account. Things are finally getting back to normal now.” Please pray for people who may still be feeling the effects of this economic incident.

AUTHOR’S NAME WITHHELD

As I looked out the window of an apartment building in Cairo, Egypt, I saw a mixture of stunning architecture in the midst of abject poverty. Standing next to me were two Egyptian Christian friends. As we admired the view, one could see the towers of a beautiful Orthodox church building close by.

Three days later, as I sat in another neighbourhood of Cairo, I listened in horror to the news of a bomb blast at that very same church. At least 27 people had been killed (at the time of writing) and more than 40 were injured. Many of those killed were women and children. As I met with another Egyptian Christian friend that day, we struggled to come to terms with the reality of what had just happened. My friend was receiving photos on his phone from his friends at the site of the explosion. I don’t think I could ever forget the images.

Thy Kingdom Come: in Egypt

WEEKENDFOCUS


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THE CALL IN ACTION1 6 P RAY E R D IARY - A PRIL – MAY 2017

In another province of Egypt, criminal charges against a mob have just been dropped in the case of an elderly Christian woman who was stripped of her clothes and paraded through her village in revenge for her son allegedly starting a relationship with a Muslim woman. I hasten to add that the elderly woman was eventually saved by a kind Muslim man who took off his robe and covered her. As the mob anger escalated, seven Christian homes/businesses were burned down. This incident in 2016 shocked the nation to such an extent that even the president denounced it and stated that the perpetrators would not escape justice. Alas, in spite of testimonies from witnesses, including police officers, justice has been eluded.

Friends, I know that this is not easy reading. But I write this to raise awareness of the persecution faced by some of our Arab Christian brothers and sisters in this part of the world and to encourage you to remember them in prayer. I pray that over this coming year, we will not take our faith for granted but instead draw closer to God and actively seek to bring the light of Christ to those around us.

PRAY God, may your kingdom come in Egypt; may hope replace fear.

Church Mission Society will be participating in Thy Kingdom Come, a global wave of prayer for more people to come to know Jesus, which was initiated by Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop John Sentamu. From 25 May until 4 June (Ascension to Pentecost) we encourage everyone in the CMS family to join together with Christians around the world and ‘#pledge2pray’. You can read more at www.thykingdomcome.global

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We asked Archbishop Justin, CMS patron, about the purpose of this prayer campaign...

THY KINGDOM

COMEAn interview with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

Cairo, Egypt

P R AYER DIARY - APRI L – MAY 2017THE CALL IN ACTION18 19

WHAT’S THE VISION FOR THY KINGDOM COME?

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples went to Jerusalem and prayed for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The vision behind Thy Kingdom Come is to do just what these first Christians did – to pray, in faith, that the Holy Spirit would come and lead the way in witness and evangelism. We know the Spirit always comes when we ask. Our prayer, “Come, Holy Spirit” at Pentecost doesn’t just stop with ourselves. We pray this so that we can be empowered for witness. Martin Luther gave us a definition of sin as the heart curved in on itself. You can apply that to the church – it can curve in on itself. The Spirit comes to un-self us, to turn us inside out.

ON BECOMING ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, YOU ANNOUNCED THAT ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES WOULD BE EVANGELISM AND WITNESS. FOUR YEARS ON, HOW ARE WE DOING?

The priority of evangelism and witness isn’t measured by a tick list or the amount of committee meetings we’ve had, or the number of initiatives that have been launched. It is measured by the lives that have begun to be transformed by the love of Jesus Christ. It is about changing neighbourhoods, one life at a time.

A natural part of what we do as a church should be activities which introduce people to Jesus – to pray for them to hear his call for themselves and become his disciples. It’s not about initiatives and projects – proclaiming Jesus Christ is what we’re about. For me, some of the most wonderful moments of the last four years have been when I’ve been present to see people make commitments of faith. I think that above all the idea of evangelism is becoming accepted as a natural part of Christian living.

Many dioceses in the Church of England and overseas are becoming involved; we recognise that we cannot leave witness to professional evangelists, or clergy, or bishops, but that it is a calling for every Christian. And to get away from evangelism as survival strategy to evangelism and witness as the overflow of what we ourselves have received from God.

People will listen when they see functional, welcoming and honest communities encountering all the problems we all do, but encountering them in the strength of Jesus.

The challenge remains to find the confidence to witness. Hence, Thy Kingdom Come.

CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY SUPPORTS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE ANNOUNCING THE KINGDOM IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS AROUND THE WORLD. HOW HAS YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE OF CMS INFORMED YOUR LIFE AND MINISTRY?

I’m always thrilled whenever I come across the work of CMS – to see the sacrifice, creativity and faithfulness of lives which are lived in the service of Christ for others. A crucial moment in my own journey to faith was going on the Youth Service Abroad scheme to teach in Kenya in 1974; it was there that I first came across people who seemed to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and a whole lot followed as a result!

In these ways, the work of CMS as part of the economy of what God is doing around the world is something I want to take root and prosper.

WHAT IS MISSION TO YOU?

Mission is joy of proclaiming the wonderful work of God, by word and action, in a dark world, and doing so in response to the experience of God’s action in our own lives, of God having given us life and made us into the church, and in response to his call to be his witnesses.


1 MAY (M) EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST

C and V are based in Europe. V is always looking to share the gospel with local people. C runs an organisation that supports Arab Christian families across the Middle East; he also builds relationships with local Muslim people. C and V both ask for prayer for a couple of local friends with whom they are sharing the gospel.

2 MAY (T) LEBANON

Amy and David are mission coordinators for a church in Beirut, working pastorally with those in need. They write: “We now have a new president and prime minister. People are happy about this; although this does not mean things will automatically run smoothly, it is progress. The country is still tense with the ongoing troubles in Syria; although there is a ceasefire of sorts, it’s shaky and it doesn’t include all factions; pray for peace after five years of devastation.”

3 MAY (W) LEBANON

Audrey and Colin are working in Beirut; they write: “Give thanks for our first year here in Lebanon, for our work opportunities and that we feel quite settled.” Audrey is helping children with special educational needs, including refugee children, to achieve their full potential; Colin is working to raise funds for various ministries by improving links with local and overseas partner organisations.

4 MAY (TH) EGYPT

Helen Botros (nee Fraser) is fundraiser and programme officer for the Alexandria School of Theology (AST), which has three campuses: Cairo, Alexandria and Menya. Last year AST held its eighth commencement ceremony. Helen reports: “The cathedral really ‘rocked’ and was packed as we celebrated for the first time students graduating from the Anglican Nuba Bible Institute, Cairo, and the MA in early African Christianity studies programme, as well as the eighth

AT THIS TIME OF INTERNATIONAL TURMOIL, POLITICALLY, SOCIOLOGICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD WHERE THE CHURCH IS GROWING DESPITE THE CHALLENGES IT FACES?

Everything!

In particular we can learn that there are no ideal circumstances under which the gospel flourishes. We absolutely delude ourselves if we think the gospel can only be effective in certain environments. We also delude ourselves if we feel that the church can ever be perfect, or if we want to wait until it is perfect before we share the good news of Jesus.

The sacrifice of brothers and sisters who pay the highest price with their lives inspires me daily. The growth of church in those places encourages our hearts that God abandons no one, and works in brokenness and darkness to bring hope and restoration.

HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?

I am incredibly humbled and moved by the number of people who pray for me. I think I must be one of the most prayed for people on the planet!

Please pray I would daily know the love and grace of Jesus Christ transforming me. Pray that I would, alongside all God’s people, play my part in serving his purposes at this time, by knowing what to do wisely, being patient to do it at the right time and courageous to do it properly.

For full details about Thy Kingdom Come see the website: www.thykingdomcome.global where you can ‘#pledge2pray’. Twitter: @ThyKingdom_Come


St Saviou's rededication service

Alexandria School of Theology 2016 graduation

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cohort of BTh students at AST. The recession out of the cathedral took longer, as friends and family decorated our Nuba graduates with garlands of flowers…in true Sudanese style.” Give thanks for AST and for Helen’s recent marriage to Dr Maged Botros, a professor of political science and public administration at Helwan University in Cairo, and associate researcher at Manchester University.

5 MAY (F) JERUSALEM

David and Sara Longe live in Jerusalem, where David is chaplain to Archbishop Suheil Dawani. The Longes are giving thanks for the recent re-opening of a church, St Saviour’s in Acre, which has been closed since 1948. David writes: “This is the second church to be re-dedicated by Archbishop Suheil – in 2011, St Paul’s in Jerusalem, which was closed in 1948, was rededicated. It is hoped that St Peter’s in Jaffa, also closed in 1948, will be rededicated later this year.”

WEEKENDFOCUS

Saturday-Sunday 6-7 May

BY IAN ADAMS, MISSION SPIRITUALITY ADVISER

In this exercise we continue to work with the theme “thy kingdom come”. God is the source of all healing and reconciliation; you and I may be a means through which it comes into being. To pray this prayer is to yearn for that healing and reconciliation to ripple out into the world around us – perhaps even through us.

As you pray today, slowly place your hands to your lips, then open your hands in front of you, then reach out your arms wide open. Repeat this simple physical process a few times, at each point praying the prayer:

Thy kingdom comeThy kingdom comeThy kingdom come

Prayer exerciseThy Kingdom Come: ripples out

Email: ian.adams@ churchmissionsociety.orgfacebook.com/spiritofmissiontwitter: @spiritofmission


Ann-Marie Wilson

Garry with Bishop Emmanuel Murye

The Bennetts

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8 MAY (M) UK AND AFRICA

Anti-FGM (female genital mutilation) activist Ann-Marie Wilson reports: “I was privileged to be on a panel of FGM experts at Chatham House in January, where I spoke about The Global Challenge of Ending FGM. This prestigious event, chaired by Tulip Mazumdar from the BBC, brought together experts in the field of FGM and gave great exposure to the challenges that we face.” Give thanks for this opportunity and continue to pray for the traditional practice of FGM to end within a generation.

9 MAY (T) UK, UGANDA AND SOUTH SUDAN

Over the last couple of years, Derek and Jane Waller were greatly involved in re-starting Bishop Allison Theological College (BATC) in Yei, South Sudan. Due to recent violence and uncertainty in Yei, BATC had to close and the Wallers returned to the UK. They write: “After five months on home leave we spent three weeks in January in Arua, northern Uganda. We went seeking an opening to train South Sudanese Christians in the refugee camps and to begin BATC in Uganda. Though the need was evident we could not see a way in which we could meet this need. So we returned to the UK for discussions with CMS. After much agonising we wrote to Bishop Hilary tendering our resignation from BATC and Yei Diocese.” Please pray for the Wallers as they grieve this change in situation and look for alternative opportunities for service. And continue to pray for the people of Yei and all of South Sudan.

10 MAY (W) DR CONGO

As medical adviser in the Diocese of Aru, Francesca Elloway is involved in clinical work, teaching, advising colleagues and developing palliative care. She asks for prayer “for our palliative care team, as they support one another when challenging cases arise.” A recent challenging case

involved a patient called AB, who died from rectal cancer. Francesca asks for prayer for his young widow, “as she adjusts to life alone and comes to terms with not having had the chance to have any children with AB”.

11 MAY (TH) RWANDA

From Catriona and Steve Bennett, who are in the midst of mission training in Oxford: “We continue to look forward to moving to Rwanda later this year. We are planning to go to Gahini Hospital, where we aim to use our skills as doctors to share God’s love with the local community. Steve will work full-time as a surgeon, performing surgery and training local doctors. Catriona will work part-time alongside the nurse anaesthetists, providing complex anaesthetics and enabling professional development for existing staff. We will aim to establish a safe surgical service, which will require a lot of input into the facilities available, and hopefully a good amount of training of local healthcare staff.” Please pray for the Bennetts as they prepare for the joys and challenges ahead.

12 MAY (F) EAST AFRICA

Garry Ion is a building consultant, working on several projects throughout East Africa, including schools, churches and health centres. He writes: “This region of Africa, on both sides of the Uganda/South Sudan border have been troubled for a long time. Through harsh weather, civil wars, terrorism by way of the

Lord’s Resistance Army, disease in the form of Ebola and Nodding Syndrome to name but a few, each has left its mark. And yet the local church remains steadfast, strong and determined. As one elder put it, ‘We find our confidence and strength in Jesus.’ What an honour it is to serve alongside them, if at the moment all I can do is pray.” Let’s join Garry in prayer for brothers and sisters in East Africa.


2015: refugee tents at FATEB (Faculte de Theologie Evangelique de Bangui)

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BY BERDINE VAN DEN TOREN-LEKKERKERKER

In 2013 a coup d'etat took place in the Central African Republic, followed by several years of violence and hatred, which over time took on the character of religious violence: Muslim groups fighting a majority Christian population, which also organised violent militias.

Thousands were killed and many more were made homeless. Refugee camps sprung up. Soon the Bangui Evangelical School for Theology, based in the capital of the country, became a place of refuge, with thousands of people staying in classrooms and in tents on the campus.

Thy Kingdom Come: in the Central African Republic

WEEKENDFOCUS

Saturday-Sunday 13-14 MayIn February 2015 I spent a month at the school and saw that both

Christian and Muslim refugees were living on campus. This clearly Christian place had become a place of peace and refuge for all. When the Christians prayed, the Muslims were respectful. When it was time for the Muslims to pray, the Christians were there, observed and were respectful. And afterwards they ate together.

On a daily basis people prayed for peace and reconciliation. And in the process they were made instruments of peace and reconciliation themselves. Did God make and shape them into his answer to their prayer?

As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5.18-20: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

PRAYGod, may your kingdom come to the Central African Republic, which has experienced so much violence.


St. John’s Cathedral community English class, Catherine, frot and centre English class

Andrea Young in Nepal, recovering from a fractured foot

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15 MAY (M) NEPAL

D and M write from Kathmandu, where D is developing palliative care services across Nepal and P is head of student support and admissions at Kathmandu International Study Centre (KISC): “At KISC we celebrated our 30th birthday on 3 February. This was a wonderful time to remember the faithfulness of God through many ups and downs, five different sites, over a thousand students and hundreds of staff, and lots of political and spiritual challenges.” KISC serves international and local workers and volunteers, providing international-style education for children ages 4-18.

16 MAY (T) NEPAL

Please pray for Andrea and Andrew Young, who are providing support and care to United Mission to Nepal (UMN) workers in Kathmandu, Tansen and Okhaldunga. Andrea suffered a fracture in her foot earlier this year, which was an unfortunate setback. On the bright side the Youngs are thankful for “our better understanding of Nepali and increasing ability to speak with ease.”

17 MAY (W) TAIWAN

Catherine Lee is working with the Taiwan Episcopal Church, based at St John’s University, Taipei, where she supports the church, chaplaincy and student ministries. She asks for prayer “for opportunities to share the gospel, for people willing to take the good news out into our communities, and for open hearts and minds to receive Christ”. She adds: “God is gracious, and we have the privilege of seeing many students becoming Christians, baptised and growing in the faith, getting involved in churches and fellowship groups and doing outreach and mission themselves. Your ongoing prayers for them are always appreciated.”

18 MAY (TH) SOUTHEAST ASIA

Pray for C and T, who are involved in a variety of ministries including prison visiting. A local prison has grown from 200 to 700 inmates within the past couple of years, including many prisoners from other countries. “The visiting team are also from diverse countries and backgrounds in order to communicate in the prisoners’ different languages,” says T. “Pray for the prisoners as they struggle in difficult conditions.”

19 MAY (F) SOUTHEAST ASIA

A mission partner couple and their two young children have recently arrived in the country where they will be working. Please pray for them as they settle in and begin to serve in the church there. They write: “We don’t think we had fully understood what Paul meant by the ‘body of Christ’ until we started this mission journey. We very much feel like you are the roots that allow us to set off on this great adventure. We feel strong because you give us strength through your incessant intercessions.”


BY FELIPE AND SARAH YANEZ, WHO HELP RUN FOOD AND CLOTHING BANKS IN MALAGA

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast…it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. …It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, 13 (NIV)

Thy Kingdom Come: in Spain

WEEKEND FOCUSSaturday-Sunday 20-21 May

This greater love can only be understood when we move forward in faith and allow God to reveal his kingdom. Then we learn that love always wants the best for others. Even with our best intentions (giving all our money to the poor, or learning the Bible inside-out), if we don’t have love, we have nothing. Love changes us and changes the way we see the world.

Love is at the centre of God’s mission and should therefore be our aim. In Matthew 24:12, Jesus says: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold...” Let us be firm and overcome any tactics of the evil one that distract us and make us grow cold in love.

Sharing our Christian faith with those of other faith communities is not always easy. Many, particularly in the Muslim community, don’t agree with who Jesus is, especially when we refer to him as the son of God. This is further complicated by their idea that the Bible has been changed. However, instead of getting into heated discussions on these topics, we try to show God’s love through our attitudes and actions.

Many people visiting the food bank can be quite demanding, asking for unrealistic quantities of food or help. Many feel that Christians are against them. But in the context of relationship, God’s love gives

Left: the Yanez family

Right: Sarah Yanez, right, doing food distribution

THE CALL IN ACTION

Peter Bartlett, centre, during an ordination in La Patria, Paraguay

Felipe loading the food bank van

Anna Sims

P R AYER DIARY - APRI L – MAY 2017 333 2

22 MAY (M) PERU

Anna Sims has been part of a team looking at the issue of discipleship throughout the diocese of Peru. Over 18 months the team visited every Christian community within the diocese. In December, they presented their findings. Anna says: “Bishop Jorge reminded us that we were like medical technicians who had run the diagnostic tests on a patient and were to present our findings and some suggestions but weren’t expected to come up with solutions on how to ‘fix’ everything. This was helpful, as although we can play a key part in the discipleship strategy, much of it needs to come from the area deans, clergy and lay ministers.” Pray for continuing progress in this important process.

23 MAY (T) PARAGUAY

Peter Bartlett is diocesan bishop. Sally Bartlett serves the church through teaching and discipleship ministries. They write: “Developing leadership has been high on our list of priorities and it has been good to work alongside other leaders in the training of more leaders,

both potential clergy and lay leaders. Pray for wisdom, discernment and the ability to encourage others as they develop in leadership.” Sally is also on the board of the Esperanza Foster Home and reports that two of the youngest children, brothers, were adopted by a loving family in December.

us empathy towards this community who are badly affected by the ongoing lack of jobs and opportunity.

There is one North African lady with mental health issues who, from time to time can be both verbally and physically aggressive. Most of the time, the team’s response is gentle. It is not easy, but we believe the love of God can, and does, reach out to her through us.

One of our helpers is Muslim. Our accepting her as a volunteer has helped her to feel welcome and valued and we have had opportunities to share the gospel with her. Another example of God’s love breaking down barriers.

As we move forward into 2017, let us lean on God and rely on his love in all we do.

PRAYGod, may your kingdom come in Spain; let love break down barriers between individuals and communities.

THE CALL IN ACTION34

24 MAY (W) NORTHERN ARGENTINA

Ed and Marie Brice are based in Tartagal. Ed, a pastor, is involved in discipleship and leadership training and Marie has a heart for one-to-one evangelism. They ask for prayer for church members who have drifted away and then reappeared – that they will be steadfast in their faith – and for upcoming pastoral training courses in Ing Juarez and Mision La Paz, that the preparations will go well.

25 MAY (TH) EVERYWHERE

Church Mission Society is joining in with Thy Kingdom Come, which begins today. Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost (25 May – 4 June) for more people to come to know Jesus. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer. Please pray that many people will participate. For more information see www.thykingdomcome.global

26 MAY (F) EVERYWHERE

Summer festival season has begun. Please pray for CMS staff and volunteers who will be working at various festivals to encourage Christians to be more involved in God’s mission through prayer, giving, learning and direct participation.

Part of the 2016 summer festival team

3 apr (m) ecuador...adolescents. please pray for our colleague, cms local partner alexandre teixeira...

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