Mission is local, national and international

All through the Bible, God's people have a ‘mission': to bring the good news of his love and forgiveness to all people - locally, nationally and internationally. This is the continuing task of the worldwide church today. St Margaret’s Parish Church and SMCC are committed to local outreach in Angmering, and to support for other mission work beyond the parish. This area of the site is about our national and international links.

Mission is always in word and deed

Mission means bringing the gospel message about our Lord Jesus Christ in word and deed. Jesus sent his followers out, to 'make disciples' from people of all nations, baptising them and teaching them all that he had told them. So in our support for mission work we always ask questions like, “…and how do you tell them about Jesus? Do you pray with people and give them Bibles? Do you work with local Christians?”

Mission involves a wide range of work-types

Through our prayers and giving we support a range of different work-types, including medical work, poverty relief, evangelism, children & youth work, theological training, mission workers from overseas coming to the UK (not just ‘the West to the rest’) and so on.

Mission is personal: personal links are essential

We support a range of mission agencies active around the world. Wherever possible, we have a personal link sending us regular updates on their work, and for whom we can pray. We also encourage people from our own church to consider if God is calling them to serve him in mission. Young or old, short or long-term, we hope that people from St Margaret’s will catch the vision.

Organising our mission support

We’ve decided as a church to give 10% of our churches’ annual income to support mission beyond the parish. Our Mission Group meets regularly to plan and pray about allocating these resources. We want this to be wisely used to help God’s kingdom grow around the world and bring him glory.

Mission Aviation Fellowship Flies light aircraft in developing countries to bring spiritual hope and physical comfort to people in remote areas so that they receive the help that they need. Our new partners are Laurie and Emma Nason and family based in Kampala Uganda.
www.maf-uk.org
nason-news.blogspot.com

Tearfund Is a Christian relief and development agency. Its purpose is to serve Jesus Christ and bring ‘good news’ to the poor. It is actively involved in many countries, and in the MakePovertyHistory campaign for international trade justice and debt relief.
www.tearfund.org

The Church Mission Society works in many countries, helping refugees and migrants, training leaders, running community development and healthcare projects.  Mid-Africa Dept of CMS has a special focus on Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and part of Congo, and from our church Pat & Pam Brooks have also served many years in Burundi.
www.cms-uk.org

The Chichester Diocesan Association for Family Support Work (CDAFSW)
Disadvantaged families are helped to overcome their difficulties through the offering of information on benefits, housing, health, advocacy and parenting. Also home visits, support groups and signposting to other agencies for legal and financial issues.  Families can also have short breaks at the Children’s holiday centre at Knowles Tooth, near Hurstpierpoint.

For more details see www.familysupportwork.org.uk or call the team at Church House, Hove on 01273 425790.

Interserve is the Christian organisation which helps them with all the practicalities of becoming Mission Partners moving, medical insurance, general well being and sorting out a whole range of difficulties. Interserve is an evangelical mission with over 700 partners in a wide range of ministries in more than 30 countries.
www.interserve.org

 

Personal Links

Alison Gill who is working in Burundi, East Africa. (Alison grew up in Rustington, was a member of St Margaret’s before going to University and then moving to London, and worships with us when visiting her parents.)

Burundi has suffered decades of mass ethnic based violence and Alison was invited to help train pastors in trauma healing to help equip churches to be able to bring God’s healing to their congregations and communities. The training includes teaching on the father heart of God, trauma, taking pain to the Cross, receiving and giving forgiveness, listening skills and reconciliation.

Alison is sent by iNet mission which is a cooperative international missions effort owned and operated by a group of local churches in London – www.inet-trust.org. In Burundi she works with an interdenominational Burundian Christian organisation called Harvest for Christ, in the Church equipping department.  She is involved in training her Burundian colleague to train others so that eventually the trauma healing work can be continued without her. They also partner with Christian organisations coming to Burundi to do training in inner healing and hope to put together a module in trauma healing to be used in Bible Colleges.

She writes monthly prayer letters which you can find uploaded here.

Click here to read Alison’s latest newsletter.

Bishop Jacob Adjetunmobi has long standing links with St Margaret's and now serves as Bishop of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Neil, Penny (Miriam & Joel) Small with Interserve in North Africa
Neil is working as Finance Manager for a Development Agency encouraging and supporting nationals. Penny is homemaker and caring for the children. Miriam is at a local French speaking school and Joel at a French speaking creche. They are learning Arabic for the next 6 months and continuing to improve their French.

And what about you? We hope and pray that more people (young and old) from St Margaret's will be called by God to serve overseas, and are ready to support them in this. If you believe God may be calling you, then do speak to Mark Standen, who will be happy to help you think and pray about it. Just read the story below!

 

THE BARBER FAMILY AND THEIR WORK WITH SCRIPTURE UNION

Martin and Mary: 26 years ago, Mary and Martin were first called to work in Madagascar. They worked with Bible Society and AIM for 2 years. Ben was born there during that time. 16 years ago they returned to work with different missions around the island using their skills of building and teaching, and have been going each year since. Projects have ranged between 2 and 15 months, building and maintaining training centres and campsites, helping run camps for Street Children and youth groups, teaching crafts, health and Bible Study, and training new leaders. Most of their work in the last 16 years has been with the Malagasy Scripture Union at three of their sites around the island, particularly at Lake Mantasoa campsite, 60 kms from the capital.

Their latest work includes training children's workers around Madagascar with the national SU team, and developing a Community Centre with groups for all ages.

While in U.K. they worship at St. Margaret’s Community Church.

Becky: Currently studying at Plymouth University.

Ben: Flying based in Edinburgh.

Email: barber@moov.mg or MaryBarber@btinternet.com

Post: BP 4085, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar Indian Ocean.

Support donations or funds to sponsor camps, courses and evangelists:

BARBER CHARITABLE TRUST c/o Greenacre, Windmill Lane, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight, PO39 0HH

Click here to read Martin & Mary’s latest newsletter.