Mission Partners
We are committed to partnering with ten mission organisations to whom we make available a minimum of 10% of our general income in any one year[2008 £39,000]. Also we partner in other more personal ways and during 2008 AND 2009 a number of people in the congregation have visited some of our mission partners in various parts of the world. We believe this type of engagement will grow significantly in the next two years.
The missions we are supporting are as follows:
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
John Kirkby founded CAP in 1996 in response to the tremendous poverty he saw in his home city of Bradford. As a Christian, he believed God was calling him to use the skills gained through 17 years experience in the consumer finance industry to reach out to people suffering under the burden of debt.
CAP aims to show God’s love in action by providing sustainable poverty relief through debt counselling, advice and practical help. CAP’s unique ‘hands on’ approach empowers people to help themselves out of poverty and be released from the fear, oppression and worry generated by overwhelming debts. Vital financial and budgeting life skills are developed through our services, thus ensuring poverty relief is sustainable. The charity operates through a growing network of centres [including our centre opened in 2008 in Staple Hill] opened in partnership with a local church. Over the last ten years, the charity has grown from one man working from his home with a donation of £10, to a national charity with 58 centres across the country.
CAP’s vision is to answer the national problem of debt in the UK by opening a further 60 Centres during 2009.
Website: www.capuk.org
Champion: Sally Bartram
Children of Clarens School
Clarens is a small town in South Africa, on the northern border with Lesotho. Although a prosperous tourist area, the great majority of people live in townships on the edge of town in a variety of poor housing, ranging from mud, sticks and corrugated iron to the more ‘affluent’ brick and stone structures. Many children are orphaned as a direct result of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Local churches provide a daily meal for the children and Dihlabeng Christian Church is providing social, emotional, physical and spiritual support for about 50 of the 120 orphaned children in the area.
Dihlabeng Christian school is next to the church and has seen its numbers rise from 9 (in the Headteacher’s garage) in the year 2000 to 115 in 2009. This has only been possible with the help of churches and schools in this country. Christ Church is becoming much stronger in its links with Clarens, both physically and spiritually.
There are people in the townships who are desperate and in despair. They are helped by The People of Hope who work both voluntarily and some with small wages. The POH provide prayer, care, medication and much needed food when it is made available by contributions from congregations such as ours. Other members of Christ Church as well as the current Mission Champions have visited Clarens (all at their own expense) over the last five years and the queue for future visits keeps growing!
Website www.childrenofclarens.org
Champions Sheila and Bill Robbins t: 9573357
Eurovangelism
Since 1965, Eurovangelism has worked with churches, organisations and individuals in Europe as they seek to make Christ known through their words and actions. They are involved in social care projects through their Compassion Ministry – caring for those most neglected; CASA – helping families in difficulty, orphans and single mums. They are also involved in church planting in area such as Bosnia, Serbia and Bulgaria. Evangelism is supported through Alpha Courses right across Europe and Summer Camps for young people. Lorraine Cooper has worked for Eurovangelism for many years.
Website: www.eurovangelism.org.uk
Champion: Myra Brown, t: 956 2616
Haven House
Based on the High Street in Staple Hill, Haven House is a place where people can meet the God who cares.
The ministry in the building is still at the development stage. Currently the building is used three days per week [Mondays Thursdays and Fridays] as the base for the Bristol North East branch of Christians Against Poverty.Also since May 2009 the newly appointed pastoral care worker [Helen Johnson] for Christ Church will be based in the building. Amonst plans for the development of the building are the following initiatives:
CAP Money management courses starting in Ju;ly 2009; community Summer events in the house and garden;Community Artworkshop.
Website: www.havenhouse.co.uk
Champion: Martin Brown t: 956 2616
Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships is a worldwide Christian charity which has been running for some 30 years. They take hope and healing to the world’s poorest countries, showing the love of Jesus is practical ways. The ship is primarily a hospital ship, performing operations for cleft lips and palates, tumour removals, burns, cataracts, fistulas and orthopaedic surgery. Eye and dental clinics operate ashore, a construction team builds schools, clinics, churches, water wells and drainage, education is given in health, agriculture and engineering and a church empowerment team assists local churches. All services are provided free of charge to both individuals and to the country visited. All on board are volunteers, not only unpaid but providing their own travel and living expenses, usually supported by their home churches.
Website:www.mercyships.org
Champion: Roger Lancaster t: 940 2449
St James Priory Project
The St James Priory Project is based in Bristol City Centre and offers comprehensive support to people with a history of homelessness who have a substance dependency. The service is specifically targeted at Bristol people but can accept individuals from throughout the UK. The project offers “First” and “Third” Stage residential treatment using the 12 step abstinence model in two special houses as well as separate addictions counselling. Walsingham House is a First Stage residential treatment hostel for alcohol and drug addicted men and women aged 18 plus who have a history of homelessness. St James House offers Third Stage support and treatment for people who have experienced First and Second Stage treatment for addiction and who are maintaining abstinence. Penny Long and others from Christ Church have been actively involved in working at the project for a number of years.
Website: www.sjpriory.org.uk
Champion: tba
Barnabas Ministries
Barnabas is BRF’s children’s ministry. It provides a range of resources for church based leaders and primary school teachers who work with children up to the age of 11. Alongside the resources the organisation provides a ministry team who help in practical ways to help share the good news with children. In addition they provide positive help and training for the church leaders. This charity was the nomination of the church youth.
Website: www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk
Champion: Shahne Vickery t: 908 9868
Church Mission Society (CMS)
CMS is a voluntary association of people rooted in the Anglican Communion who are united in obedience to Christ’s command to fulfil his Great Commission. They strive to share the love of God with people of all races and to gather them into the fellowship of Christ’s Church. Today there are about 150 Mission Partners in 26 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.Since 2008 Christ Church has been supporting Roichard and Sue Kellow, who with their daughter Emily are based in Rwanda. Richard teaches theology at Kigali Theological College. Sue has been working with the Mothers' Union on income generating projects to help finance parenting training and other support of widows and orphans.
Website: www.cms-uk.org
Champion: Norman Low t: 956 8184
Open Doors
Open doors was founded by “Brother Andrew”, it supports in prayer, encouragement and finance, Christians who are suffering for their faith. Many Pastors are murdered or imprisoned without warning, leaving their without support. Open Doors steps in to help. Christians have their houses burnt down, their Churches burnt. Open Doors helps. Sometimes Christians are refused employment or have to take basic humiliating work to earn a pittance because of their faith. Or their children are not allowed to go to school; the women may not use water from village wells and have to walk many miles to collect elsewhere. In some cases families are so terrorised that they move away, sometimes to another country and Open Doors helps where it can.
By their courage and faithful witness they are keeping our faith alive in the places where they live, but often at great cost. The aim of Islam and Communism is to eliminate Christianity.
Website: www.opendoorsuk.org
Champion: Mary Massey t: 957 2447
U.S.P.G
Project 215 – St James’ Hospital Mantsonyane, Lesotho Remember Dr Elizabeth Hills, lately working at Muheza Hospital, Tanzania? Now in her early 70’s, she has returned to Mission Field at St James’ Hospital Lesotho. In a recent letter she tells us it is a sixty-six bed hospital in the mountains with no telephone. Most patients have HIV and/or TB. Dr Hills says "I’d love to have a telephone system installed so that we don’t have to walk everywhere to give and find out information. Also we are working with huge oxygen cylinders which have to be wheeled from one ward to another. It is hugely difficult as the cylinders are bigger than I am. We shall need to buy piping and flow meters at a cost of £70-80 each."
Website: www.uspg.org.uk
Champions: Robert and Sue Lake t: 956 4044
Martin Brown | Mission
Download our booklet on "Mission Partners - Who we support as a church and why" [pdf document file size: 152KB]
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Mission Partners for 2009: