share december 2010

TOBAPARTY!New Bible translation ushers tribe into a new era

SHARE DECEMBER 2010 02

“Surely we all must change as we listen to God’s ever-

renewing Spirit across a lifetime, whether personal or

organisational. It will not do to become so encrusted in our past

ways that we fail to be part of Jesus’ work now. Yet for all its

necessity, change almost always feels like loss.”

These words were written in a recent prayer letter by a friend of

mine who has been a mission partner in the Philippines for a long

time and whom I had the privilege of ordaining.

“Change feels like loss”— because often it is. Maybe the secret is to acknowledge

the loss and, preferably together with others in community, seek to discern how

the Holy Spirit is working today and leading us forward.

Please don’t worry. I have no more dramatic changes to report. We are still

coming to terms with the big change set in motion some three years ago. There

continue to be milestones, such as the closing of Allen Gardiner Cottage. For me

the sadness of a final meal with the staff and some volunteers in Tunbridge Wells

was made so much easier by the Christian grace and charity they showed to me

and the fun of Christian fellowship and good food. My thanks to them and to God

for them.

The change for me leaving my two previous jobs was hard. I still find myself

praying for many different pastoral situations in Pittsburgh; my life was so deeply

intertwined with the lives and ministries of others. But today is a new day with

new challenges and connections. What I need all the time is a fresh anointing of

grace and the Holy Spirit. It’s vital, as my friend wrote, that we do not miss our

part in what Jesus is doing now.

And the key to that is discernment. I have recently made a visit to Argentina for

the presentation of the Toba New Testament and to Chile to visit the diocese

for the first time. In October and November I was in Rio, Paraguay and Buenos

Aires (for the Provincial Synod). There is so much to see and learn and it is a

fascinating and exhausting experience. In CMS we are at the same time going

through a strategic planning exercise. We all need discernment to see as God

sees, to find out what Jesus is doing and discover his priorities so that we can join

in. Not easy, but never dull! I so value all your prayers and support. Thank you.

PS. Please take a moment to read Adrian White’s article on page 15, to

understand our financial needs at this time.

SHARE is produced by the Church Mission

Society, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ. Tel:

01865 787 400. Registered Charity Number 1131655.

If you have any questions regarding the

content, please call us or email:

[email protected]

Bishop Henry Scriven, Mission Director for Latin

America


The Latin America Forum—for you!Does mission in Latin America cause your pulse to race?

Then the CMS Latin America Forum could be for you.

The forum has been set up following the integration of SAMS

with CMS. It will be a place within the CMS community where

anyone with a special interest in Latin America can be enthused,

encouraged and motivated.

Latin America is vibrant and youthful. Our desire is that the forum would combine that

vitality with an equal measure of prayerful energy. Not serving another structure or

organisation, but being part of God’s plans for Latin American people.

So, what will the Latin America Forum do? One of the key tasks has been to arrange a

conference at Swanwick from 25 – 27 March 2011 entitled ¡Adelante! Moving Forward!

Our prayer is that this event will be a catalyst that sets off a chain reaction, getting others

involved and moving forward together. There will still be involvement with traditional

ways of engaging in Latin American mission, such as encouraging local prayer groups,

holding special roadshow events and arranging for guest speakers. At the same time,

we also want to inspire and interact with another generation, which may well involve

organising youth weekends or discovery days and supporting groups who want to go on

an overseas visit. As the forum grows we believe it will gain a momentum of its own and

become a force that God will use in amazing ways.

So, if you have a heart for Latin America, don’t skip a beat – find out now how you

can be part of the new

Latin America Forum by

either booking in to the

conference next March

(see back page of Share)

or contact

Tim Greenhalgh: tel:

01594 542314 email:

[email protected]

¡Adelante! Moving forward Global mission with a Latin heartHayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, DerbyshireKeynote speaker: The Bishop of Chile, Rt Rev Tito Zavala Bible readings: Rev Canon Rogelio Prieto

A weekend packed with speakers and activities – with a truly Latin flavour. Swanwick is a family friendly venue with family bedrooms, on-site facilities including a sports hall and various local attractions. Young children will have their own tea and we will organise a babysitting rota if needed. There will be a crèche and separate youth and children’s programmes.

• Day visitor rates for Saturday 26 March will be available

Costs for weekend, full board: Adults from £145, ages 14–18 from £95 under 14 £50, under 6 free.Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Contact Tim Greenhalgh email: [email protected] Jo Hazelton 01865 787410 email: [email protected]

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www.cms-uk.org

Friday 25–Sunday 27 March 2011

YOU’RE INVITED!

Tim Greenhalgh


The Toba people of the Chaco region of Argentina are

celebrating a huge milestone with the eagerly anticipated launch of a

translation of the New Testament into the Toba language.

After years of painstaking work, the translation was officially launched

at a special service at the end of August in La Rinconada, a Toba village

based in the province of Formosa.

Initial translations of the gospels and Acts were undertaken during

the 1930s but the specific and coordinated translation of the entire

New Testament was down to mission partners Michael and Silvia Browne. They

worked with a team of Toba translators for over a decade, supported by generous

donations from SAMS supporters.

Michael said: “The presentation of the translation was a really joyous day, celebrating

the fact that God’s word can be read, loved and obeyed by the Toba people. This

significant achievement will bring the Toba churches into a new era.”

The formerly warlike Tobas requested a missionary presence in the 1920s after

seeing the effect of the gospel on their Wichi neighbours. Today the congregations

of the Chaco region (in the diocese of Northern Argentina) are composed largely of

Toba, Wichi and Chorote peoples – the indigenous Amerindians of the Chaco.

The peoples have suffered from deforestation of much of the land and there

is great poverty. But the Anglican churches maintain a faithful presence in the

communities and there is still great respect for the missionaries who over the

years sacrificed so much to bring the gospel, literacy and the Bible to the tribes.

The launch of the completed Toba (West) New Testament, held in the covered

part of an unfinished basketball pitch, was attended by many members of the

Toba tribe and neighbouring Wichi people, local mayors, teachers and provincial

government authorities.

General Secretary of the Argentine Bible Society, Ernesto Lersch, presented Archdeacon

Quichi’yas, one of the Toba pastors, with a pulpit-sized version of the translation, which

bore the inscription of ‘Na’ame Dios ‘Laqataqa’ (God’s words) in gold letters.

“The sight of the finished book has brought tears to my eyes, but I have restrained

myself as the English don’t cry,” Michael joked with the audience.

Bishop Henry Scriven, CMS mission director for Latin America, also attended the

launch - along with representatives of the Finnish Bible Society, who helped cover

the cost of publication, and staff from the Argentine Bible Society, who provided

support throughout the project.

Translation Celebration

Mission partner Nick Drayson, suffragan bishop of Northern Argentina, said the

new translation represents a human victory by the translators, typesetters and

publishers and a cultural victory for the Toba people – affirming their language,

culture and identity.

Bishop David Leake, former Anglican bishop of Northern Argentina, also played

an important role in the translation. David is the son of pioneer missionary Alfred

Leake, who went to Argentina in 1926 from East Runton, near Norwich. Alfred

joined the Toba tribe and learnt their language – word by word, by pointing at

objects with a stick and writing each name down. As soon as Alfred could write

the language he began translating the Bible. His childhood sweetheart travelled

out to join him and the couple had a son, David – who was born very near

the village of La Rinconada among Toba Indians in a brushwood hut, and their

language was his first language. Bishop David carried on his father’s translation

work, which has now been completed.

Earlier this year David returned with his wife Rachel to Argentina for three months

to assist in the final checking of the Toba New Testament translation.

At the launch, Bishop David preached a sermon in the Toba language from Revelation

7, which includes the words “After that I looked and there before me was a great

multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language.”

Speaking after the event, David said: “This was a wonderful and most significant

day in the life of the Toba Indian church. It finished with an exceptionally strong

tornado type south wind…. Maybe an omen of the Holy Spirit’s presence, to

renew, refresh and replenish the Toba people. May this be so as they now read

God’s liberating gospel in their own language.”

Bishop Henry, who lived in Argentina for 22 months before the Malvinas crisis, said:

“Much of our time there was very hard and we left with many questions and doubts

about the purpose of what we had done and, indeed, about the value of cross

cultural mission. But coming back is part of God’s grace…. It was enlightening to see

the publication of the New Testament

and see the Church of Argentina and

Toba people enter a new era.”

Next steps include preparing materials

to help Toba people as they read the

New Testament. Plans are under way

to create an audio version.


A victorious moment


“Not just about the projects”Coordinator David Orritt on Mission Paraguay 2010

Each year Mission Paraguay requires faith. Firstly, that sufficient funds are

available to undertake the programme of work agreed with the Anglican Diocese

in Paraguay and secondly, that people with the right gifts and skills are called to

volunteer to assist with the projects for a three week period during July and August.

Once again, we have been blessed through much answered prayer. But with a

gracious God, why should we be surprised? By early August generous supporters

had donated almost £28,000 to carry out all the planned work and we had an

ideal workforce of eight committed volunteers from churches across England and

Northern Ireland. Many of us had visited Paraguay previously through Mission

Paraguay and it was so encouraging to receive the wonderful welcome with plenty

of South American hugs from those who we had worked and worshipped with in

the past.

The building of relationships which transcend language and cultural differences

is such an important element of a short term mission trip of this nature.

Mission Paraguay is not just about the projects which we fund, it is also about

strengthening our faith through the experience of living, working, worshipping and

praying together on a daily basis.

The drought situation in the Chaco is becoming progressively more serious at

certain times of the year. During August we funded another underground storage

tank for the collection of rainwater during the rainy season. Owing to the presence

of underground salty water, it is generally not possible to provide bore holes for a

fresh water supply; however, in certain areas quantities of wholesome water are

available at an accessible depth for wells. This year we were able to sink two wells,

which will now provide a constant supply of fresh water for families in the area.

Increasingly over recent years the emphasis of our work has moved to

encouraging people to become more self sufficient. The sewing projects which

began three years ago are continuing and this year the volunteers, working with

resident missionaries, provided

specialist instruction in more

complicated sewing techniques

for clothes and in bag making.

Already, some of the women

are finding a market for their

handcrafted shoulder bags.

Mission Paraguay volunteers


Last year a number of simple homes

made of adobe bricks with sheet metal

roofs and concrete floors were funded

to replace overcrowded homes built of

logs, plastic sheets and other discarded

materials. Following some generous

donations and specific fundraising

by a youth group, we were able to

provide more adobe homes this year.

We anticipate that at least ten homes

will be built using bricks manufactured

in the local communities. Much of

the labour is provided by the families

themselves following initial training by

a local Indian builder with whom we’ve

worked for a number of years.

Following on from our initial work, we

understand that another charitable

organisation based in Paraguay is to

provide funds for similar buildings in

another village. This is a very exciting

development.

You can see a list of projects funded in

the sidebar to the right.

A huge thank you to everyone who has

supported us in so many ways during

2010.

Projects funded by Mission Paraguay during 2010

In Asunción:• construction of an additional floor on the multi purpose building erected in 2006 behind the church at Zeballos Cue • further construction work on the site at San Lorenzo where a children’s club has been operating for over 20 years• refurbishment and redecoration work at the diocesan offices• construction of a ramp and other improvements at the home of a disabled person• supplying a new refrigerator for the church at Remansito where up to 85 children are provided with a wholesome meal each Saturday In Concepción:• providing funds to assist the operation of the Saturday meal for up to 80 children from poor families• completion of the new church at Yvopovo built by Mission Paraguay over the last two years, plus supplying chairs.In the Chaco:• the construction of a 21,000 litre underground storage cistern to collect rainwater during the rainy season for use during drought• sinking two wells to provide families with a constant supply of good water• construction of two adobe brick homes, initial work on ten more • supplying roofing materials to families • building two long drop toilets• the alteration of existing diocesan buildings at Rio Verde to provide separate living accommodation for visiting missionaries• the construction of a room to house patients, particularly those with TB, from Chaco villages who are en route to hospital• two cataract operations for elderly people.

General items:• providing financial support for the sewing workshops which have operated for the last three years in Asunción, Concepción and Rio Verde in the Chaco to encourage self sufficiency• distribution of over 450 pairs of spectacles to communities in Asunción and Concepción and supplying nurse Beryl Baker in the Chaco with a similar number for distribution• supplying clothes, toys and other items for distribution to people in need

“It is well”

Michael Belton, Lima, Peru:I’ve been working in San Mateo primary school for five months now helping to teach English and art classes. The school is in the outskirts of Lima in the most populated district of the city, San Juan de Lurigancho. The school is quite different from any UK school, of course, but I have found that you don’t have to impose your ideas about how you think things ought to be done in order to have a positive effect on the children’s learning. Sometimes just bringing a fresh perspective, including a broader definition of success expressed through bucket loads of encouragement, can be all you need to boost a student’s self

confidence. Everything else, I believe, follows from that.In class we have made some real progress and we have a great time, too. But the most important thing for me has been the friendships I have formed. I have gained so much from this experience. It can be hard to build friendships in a cross cultural situation, with adults at least, but children are much more open and accepting. I’m not looking forward to having to say goodbye. Some of the children don’t even want to let me leave at the end of the day. How do I explain that I might never get the opportunity to go back to Peru? I really hope and pray I do.

ShORT-TERM ShORT STORiES


A missionary bishop: the way forwardThe Diocese of Peru is celebrating the consecration of its new missionary

bishop, Mike Chapman. The momentous occasion marks the start of Mike and his

wife Linda’s work in Peru as SAMS USA missionaries.

In a stirring address during the consecration on 18 September, Peru’s diocesan

Bishop Bill Godfrey spoke of how apostolic it was to send out a missionary bishop.

This was the way of the apostles and it is the way of the missionary church, he said.

Monseñor Miguel, as he will be known, will serve as suffragan bishop and is sent

with a strong team of priest, deacon and lay ministers to continue to develop and

to open up for Christ the Ayacucho/Ica/Huancavelica area of south central Peru.

Ministry there began in 2007 following the devastating Ica earthquake when

the Anglican Church brought in relief workers, food and God’s love. From this

beginning new congregations have been founded.

Mike spent much of his youth in Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. During

short-term ministry trips to Peru Mike and Linda experienced a call from the Lord

to missionary service. They hope to use their extensive background in intercessory

prayer and evangelism in the Ica-Ayacucho area of Peru. Previously the Chapmans

have worked for several years in an outreach ministry to vulnerable young people

and people struggling with addiction in rural North Carolina.

Phil TadmanIn June, a tribute lunch was held for Phil, at which speeches in honour of Phil and his wife Rosemary were given by Howard Gracey a former Hon Chair and Hon Treasurer of SAMS and by Peter Hyatt, also a former SAMS Hon Treasurer and now a CMS trustee. This is a brief summary of what they jointly said.

Phil qualified as a chartered accountant and gained nearly ten years of valuable professional and commercial experience before joining SAMS in 1985. In doing so, he gave up a potentially

far more lucrative career in the industrial world of finance but Phil never counted the cost of that, but delighted in helping to build the kingdom of heaven in South America and Iberia. Phil was at the heart of SAMS finances and its administration for 25 years. So a whole generation of trustees rested in the assurance that the accounts and records were all in immaculate order and that, due to Phil’s diligence, the society was always fully compliant with any changes in legislation. On more than one occasion outside observers commented on the excellence of SAMS’ records. Overseas partners, too, have written about the reliability of the monthly cheque and the loving care with which it was sent on time. Phil’s wife Rosemary also went well beyond the call of duty, embodying a caring attitude and helping in so many different areas. Truly the society and the church in South America have been blessed by having Phil and Rosemary at the helm for so long. We thank them and

wish them every blessing in the years ahead.

Tim Greenhalgh By Canon Penny Avann Tim worked for SAMS before transferring to the new CMS. In his 12 years of service, he has brought his own special brand of enthusiasm to each role he has undertaken.His experience in marketing and event organisation, combined with his love of Jesus and his passion for South America, made him a dedicated South West Area Secretary for SAMS. Tim was excited by the possibilities of the merged societies and has brought his vast knowledge to the CMS church relations team. Both his faith and his love of South America were first nurtured at St Peter’s Halliwell, Bolton. In more recent years he spread his fervour to the many churches with whom he has had contact and to his home area of the Forest of Dean. Whether he is leading worship, organising the technicalities around a new database or hosting mission partners, Tim can be trusted to do it well. He has recently helped to facilitate the newly created Latin America Forum and we are grateful for his expertise. Thank you, Tim, for all you have given and for the love and dedication you have shown. We wish him God’s richest blessing as he seeks a new area of service.


TRibuTeS To

Som

e FAiTHFu

L SeRVANTS


“We cannot fix their whole life, but we can give them a happy childhood”We caught up with mission partner Jill Ball, no easy feat with a woman

who does so much. Jill has been working in Ecuador since 2002. She started

by helping at an orphanage begun by an English couple and then, in 2004,

she began working with the disabled. Today, she works in Santo Domingo de

los Tsachilas, a three-hour drive from Quito. She runs Life in Abundance Trust

(LIAT) with the help of friends in the UK. In 2006, Jill started a groundbreaking

class for disabled children. What began with two children has expanded to two

classes, two teachers, two teachers’ assistants and 24 children. Alongside this is a

physiotherapy service.

What is the main aim of the school for the disabled?

Our aim is to show the children God’s love. We cannot fix their whole life but we

can give them a happy childhood and we feel that is intrinsically worthwhile.

What prompted you to move from being a special needs teacher in the

UK to help disabled people in Ecuador?

When I was living in Essex I was prayed for and I had a very, very strong

experience of the Holy Spirit where it was very obvious that I was to go to Ecuador

and take God’s love and compassion to that country. It took eight years for the

Lord to get my life organised in such a way to enable me to go.

Can you explain a typical day at your school?

In the morning, we have assembly, hear the national anthem, look at the flag, say

prayers for the coming week and then learn basic core subjects - like language and

maths. For some it means learning words, for others it’s reading.

At 10am the children go out to play. We then do activities like PE, music and

games. The second half of the day is about learning to be with other children in a

group setting. Many of the children will previously have been at home spending

their days alone. We also take them out and about and to events.

We also now have hípico-terapia, horse-riding therapy. Once a week our children

are taken to a therapy centre, where each child has a turn on the horse and a

session with a psychologist. The smiles on the children’s faces tell the tale. We are

able to give this therapy through a donation from a Catholic church in Scotland.

Tell us about one of the children.

My first student was a little boy called Alex. He used to come with his parents to

where I lived and sit on a vegetable van that his parents had as their business.


He could not walk. I started teaching him on a weekly basis. I took his mother to

get him a complete neurological assessment and then I took them to get some

exercises/therapy. She was shown what to do with his legs every day. We were

so pleased that this little boy who could not walk, ended up being able to walk.

He came to our school for quite a few years. He was just so happy to do all the

activities and join in with the other children. His parents were delighted.

How is disability viewed in Ecuador?

There is still quite a lot of social stigma around disability. A lot of the parents

work and leave their [disabled] child at home with an elderly relative or a maid,

if they can afford it - and the child would simply be at home. It’s not that easy

to get provision for your child. There are places where you can go for speech or

physical therapy, but it’s not the same as education. We like to think we provide a

complete experience. The dream is to one

day see disabled children and able-bodied

children being educated together.

Do you think that attitudes about

disabilities are changing – with

the vice-president of Ecuador,

Lenín Voltaire Moreno Garcés, in a

wheelchair (after being shot during a

1998 robbery attempt)?

Yes. There’s nothing to be ashamed of if

the vice-president is in a wheelchair. It has

brought the needs of people with disabilities

to the forefront. A law has been enforced which says any company with more

than a certain number of employees, has to employ some disabled staff. This

law tends to favour deaf people as they don’t have any intellectual disability. It

isn’t always quite so good for people with learning disabilities, which are widely

misunderstood, and we really need to do a lot more.

More mission amongst the marginalised: Jill has also worked in a very poor

neighbourhood, Laura Flores, built on a rubbish dump. There she started giving Bible

studies and classes on hygiene and nutrition to women. This work has now expanded

and is run by the local Baptist church, which also manages a pre-school set up last year

by a volunteer from England working with Jill. Please pray for Jill as she is expanding

her work to include helping abused and vulnerable women in Ecuador. The project

involves building a women’s refuge, and working with professionals to bring wholeness

to abused women and their children.

Horse-riding therapy


Chilean miners declare Jesus ‘the 34th man’ The Chilean miners who were trapped for 69 days nearly half a mile

underground emerged from their ordeal testifying to the presence of Jesus with

them, according to CMS mission partner Rev Alfredo Cooper - who is chaplain to

Chilean President, Sebastian Pinera.

Alf played an integral role during the miners’ ordeal, leading

the country’s prayers for them as their search and rescue was

played out in real time across the world’s media. During the

dramatic rescue operation, Alf was on the scene at Camp Hope

in the Atacama Desert, to support the miners and their families

and deliver a personal invitation to the palace chapel.

In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live, Alf said the miners had

a sense of Jesus being “the 34th man” in the collapsed mine.

“Many of the miners went down as atheists, unbelievers or semi-believers and they

have come up to a man testifying that they were not 33 but that there were 34

down there - that Jesus was there with them and that they had a constant sense of

his presence and guidance,” he told Five Live’s Peter Allen.

Challenged by Allen that if divine intervention had saved the miners, divine

intervention must have put them down there in the first place, Alf said: “Man is

subject to accidents and all sorts of problems thanks often to his wilful negligence

as was the case in this mine.

“There are consequences when you don’t care enough for people. And of course

in those situations people tend to cry out to God... And the interesting thing is God

has answered.”

When the 33 miners first became trapped in early August, Alf convened an

emergency prayer meeting at the presidential palace. And when it was discovered

the miners were still alive he was asked by the president to lead a service of

thanksgiving - along with the president’s Catholic chaplain, Fr Luis Ramirezti.

Alf also paid tribute to the work of all the scientists, engineers, politicians and press,

who had contributed to a meticulously planned rescue operation, adding:

“We would suggest that all this works together for good, that certainly as we prayed

God has guided in remarkable ways – even the scientists. I was with the NASA

people who came the other day. And to my surprise – they all said ‘This is a miracle.

There is no other word for what happened here’.”

Alf with two of the rescued miners


People in Print People in the CMS community whose books have been recently published:

Former SAMS mission partner and retired bishop Maurice Sinclair has penned Pathways of Wisdom (iVP), which deals with “human philosophies and the purpose of God”.

Alan hargrave, now Canon Missioner of Ely Cathedral and former SAMS mission partner in Northern Argentina and Bolivia has written Living Well (SPCK), which is about “finding a rule of life to revitalise and sustain us”.

CMS small missional communities developer ian Adams has penned Cave Refectory Road: Monastic Rhythms for contemporary living (Canterbury Press Norwich). Ian’s book explores how traditional monastic life is helping to shape a new flowering of Christian community today.

CMS pioneer mission leadership team leader Jonny Baker has authored Curating Worship (SPCK), which looks at how “curating”, usually associated with the art world, is being adopted in worship.

God Doesn’t Do Waste (iVP) by CmS mission partner Dave Bookless chronicles how ‘the Bookless bunch” went green after God challenged them about their attitude to the environment. Dave works at Christian environmental charity A Rocha UK.

Recent monographs from the Crowther Centre for Mission Education at CMS: The Effects of the Soviet Ideology on Mission Co-operation in a Post-Communist Context is an essay by Vija herefoss, who is from Latvia, and currently lives in Oslo where she works as a research fellow at the MF Norwegians School of Theology; Constancy or Fidelity? Contexual Theology and Christian Tradition is by Stephen Bevans. Stephen bevans is the Louis J Luzbetak SVD Professor of Mission and Culture at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA.

If you know of more CMS people published recently, please let us know

Don’t cry for us in ArgentinaTravelling vast distances to remote indian communities

on forest roads, adjusting to extreme heat and cold and trying

to master a new, complex language (Wichi) are just some of

the challenges that Nick and Catherine Drayson have faced

since relocating to Northern Argentina.

The Draysons, who served as mission partners in Argentina

from 1994 to 2000, returned to South America last August, as

Nick had been invited to become suffragan Bishop of Northern

Argentina. He was consecrated in October.

The couple then embarked on work with tribal Indians largely

based in the Chaco forest. The Chaco people are seriously

threatened by deforestation as a result of international greed,

and the government is slow to enact laws to protect them,

according to Nick.

The couple have managed to visit almost all the different

communities for which Nick is responsible – including many rural

congregations, all led by indigenous leaders.

“It has been great to be welcomed by Indian leaders and their flocks

- many of whom have not seen a bishop for years,” said Nick.

Unsurprisingly, there have been problems to resolve. A big

part of Nick’s role is listening carefully to people’s needs. “The

bishop is often the first port of call for help with building repairs,

transport, Sunday school, training courses, tape recorders,

glasses, relationships and so on,” Nick said.

“The same problems seem to crop up,” said Nick. This includes

conflict between the older and younger generations’ styles of

working, relationships with other denominations and invasion

of Indian lands by multinational companies. There is also a

need for appropriate training for present and future leaders.

Nick summed up: “There is still much confusion over the

way pastoral work is done…. There is need for wisdom and

hopefully the opportunity for change as we look back on

almost 100 years of missionary work here, and build on it for

a future in which the Indian church will become in some way

autonomous.”

“Multiplying what we can do” through leadership trainingWe caught up with Reverend Marcus Throup, who has been

working with his Brazilian wife Tamara as mission partners with the

Brazilian Anglican Church since 2000. Tamara, Marcus and their baby

daughter Rebekah live in Joao Pessoa, north east Brazil. Marcus is on the

leadership team at the city’s Pro-Cathedral of the Resurrection where

he enjoys a preaching/ teaching ministry and heads up the Anglican

Diocesan Seminary. His next goal is to set up the Brazilian Centre for

Christian Studies, a theological college providing training for tomorrow’s

pastors and mission workers in north east Brazil.

In the Diocese of Recife, church planting and social outreach go hand in hand.

Can you explain your own practical experience of taking the gospel into the

community?

Some years ago I was involved with the Living Waters Church in Olinda [set up

by CMS link partners Ian and Simea Meldrum], working alongside people living in

desperate poverty, who were scavenging on a rubbish dump for recycled materials

to sell on and at times looking for food waste to take home to eat. The church had

a prophetic role in challenging authorities to do something about this terrible state

of affairs. The pressure the church brought came good and we’ve seen the whole

disorganised mess turn into an organised sanitation plant. Some of the people living

there are now involved in this official recycling site and have a much better way of life.

You are now ordained in the Church of Brazil, working with the diocese in

theological education. What excites you about your work?

It’s the possibility of raising up leaders to take on church and kingdom work in

Brazil and to see people move on in their faith and discipleship. This is something

I feel deeply called to: to help several people move on to leadership roles and

therefore multiplying what we can do.

Tell us about a student who has become a leader?

Gustavo, a lawyer by trade, was a student of mine five or six years ago. I could really

see in him kingdom focus and commitment to scripture and mission. Nurturing

him, we were able to get him successfully through his bachelor’s and ordination

with us and then an opportunity arose for him to study in the US. Gustavo is now

back working alongside me as a theological educator and leader. It’s great to see

someone raised through the ranks – going from a student to a colleague.


hugo and Techi Vergara have spent five months in the UK over the summer on a well-earned sabbatical and are now back in Northern Argentina.Paul and Sarah Tester have just returned to Lima, Peru after five months in the UK visiting family, friends and link churches.Jill Ball was in the UK from the end of June until mid-October, when she returned to Santo Domingo, Ecuador.René and Marina Pereira visited the UK for three weeks in October from Northern Argentina and visited most of their supporting churches around the country.David and Shelley Stokes started work with some of the Wichí congregations in Northern Argentina in November. Over the summer short termer Lara Clare Bourdeaux returned to the UK from five months at St Andrew’s School, Asunción; Jessie helyar has returned from working with Shalom in Lima, Peru and Zewe Chamunda has come back from Hogar el Alba orphanage in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Short termer

Mike Belton returned from San Mateo School in Lima, Peru at the beginning of November.Due back in the UK over the winter months are Michael and Silvia Browne coming from Northern Argentina; Ruth and Efraim Vilella from Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Caroline Gilmour White, Gwen Carlisle, Tim Curtis, Babs Owen and Mags Southern from Paraguay. (Alf and hilary Cooper are due back in the UK in January 2011).Finally, please pray for mission partner Sue Woodcock in Spain. She underwent some tests at Sabadell hospital after feeling quite unwell for months. These tests have shown that Sue has cancer of the pancreas, which was unexpected and has come as quite a shock. Please pray for Sue as she undergoes treatment.You can find out more about where and when these Globe+crossers might be in your area on the CMS website at www.cms-uk.org Click on the map of Latin America, which will take you to the Latin America pages.

Globe+crossersSHARE DECEMBER 2010 15

Please keep supporting mission Adrian White, Finance Directorit has been a great pleasure this year to have

our horizons expanded through the inclusion of

the SAMS work with CMS. Seeing how God is

working in Latin America through the church,

our mission partners and Latin partners has

been a wonderful testament of God’s mission

throughout the whole world. We are profoundly

grateful to SAMS for joining with us and for the

perspective on mission that this merger between

our two societies has brought about.

As I look at the merger from a financial standpoint,

I am grateful for the very strong supporter base

that has been entrusted to us. The year 2010

has not been an easy one for anyone from a

financial perspective and mission societies are

no exception. Despite that, we have continued

to sustain the work in Latin America, supporting

24 mission partner placements (38 adults), 17

Latin partners placements and at least 15

associate mission partner placements. I hope

you will have enjoyed reading about this in this

issue of Share.

Now for the numbers. At the beginning of this

year, we set a budget for the work in Latin

America, which totalled £1 million. As we

went to print, we had received £450,000.

Please join us in prayer that the balance of the

funds required for this year will come in and

that we can then have confidence in planning

for 2011. We know that many of you normally

give towards the year end and we would ask

you to consider prayerfully your stewardship

and support of Latin American mission as you

consider your giving.

I was challenged recently by a reading about

Jesus from Luke 24 v 19: “He was a prophet,

powerful in word and deed before God and all

the people.” What a great verse to remember as

we seek to follow him, live out our own mission

lives and support his work in Latin America.

Costs for weekend, full board: Adults from £145,ages 14–18 from £95 under 14 £50, under 6 free.Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.Contact Tim Greenhalgh email: [email protected] Jo Hazelton 01865 787410 email: [email protected]

Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, DerbyshireKeynote speaker: The Bishop of Chile, Rt Rev Tito ZavalaBible readings: Rev Canon Rogelio Prieto

A weekend packed with speakers and activities – with a truly Latinflavour. Swanwick is a family friendly venue with family bedrooms,on-site facilities including a sports hall and various local attractions.Young children will have their own tea and we will organise ababysitting rota if needed. There will be a crèche and separate youthand children’s programmes.

• Day visitor rates for Saturday 26 March will be available

Friday 25–Sunday 27 March 2011¡Adelante! Moving forward

Global mission with a Latin heart

www.cms-uk.org

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share december 2010

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