As a church we commit to giving at least 10% of church giving to mission activities in the UK and overseas. A sub-committee of the PCC oversees this giving each year. Each person on that committee acts as a link with certain mission partners and will be able to provide you with more information about their work.
Our current mission partners for 2021 are below, do look at their websites for the most up to date information.
A Rocha UK
A Rocha engages with communities in nature conservation, to think about their use of the environment & develop practical ways to care for people & the planet. They respond to the global crisis of biodiversity loss by carrying out community-based conservation projects.
St Paul’s is part of the Eco Church inniciative run by A Rocha and has the Bronze Eco Church Award.
Website: arocha.org.uk
What to pray for:
– thanks that churches across the country are waking up to their environmental responsibility
– pray for A Rocha’s vision that all Christians be engaged in deliberate and ongoing action to protect nature and address climate change practically
– For the COP15 meeting on Biological Diversity, in China, in April – tasked with setting new goals to avoid mass extinction of species.
Links: Peter Watson & Lis Vernon
Christians Against Poverty (New Malden & Kingston)
CAP started in 1996 in Bradford. They are passionate about lifting people out of debt & poverty and do this through their debt help service, money management & life skills courses. The New Malden & Kingston Debt Centre helps those in our local area.
Website: sjnm.org/ christiansagainstpovertydebtcentre.htm or capuk.org
Link to an interview with local CAP debt coach on Radio Jackie
What to pray for:
– Thanks for a new centre administrator, Philip Uren, based at St John’s New Malden.
– Thanks that Kingston Foodbank has kindly agreed to subsidise fruit and vegetable boxes for clients through the Good food CoOp T
– That a CAP Life Skills course on Money, Personal Organisation, Health, Wellbeing and Relationships, can be held in the spring.
– That CAP can partner with more churches in the Wimbledon area and for another new Debt Coach to be appointed.
– For someone to manage practical help for clients on an ad hoc basis.
Link: Lis Vernon
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
CSW works in over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East & Latin America, defending everyone’s right to freedom of religion or belief. They are a Christian organisation working through advocacy & human rights, in the pursuit of justice.
Website: csw.org.uk
What to pray for:
– for people around the world who are persecuted because of their faith
– for the work of CSW in advocating for the vulnerable and challenging world leaders to fulfil their duty to protect religious freedom
– that many people will download their prayer diary and join in praying for their persecuted sisters and brothers around the world
Link: Jo Orrell
Hope Health Action
HHA bring the love of Christ and life-saving health and disability care to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, especially in north Haiti, but now also in South Sudan. They also seek to change attitudes to the disabled and the poor.
Website: hopehealthaction.org
What to pray for:
– Thanks that the Maison de Benediction, caring for disabled children, is now back open full time
– Thanks for the arrival of a large container full of medical equipment including an x-ray machine
– For political and economic stability in Haiti
– For those living in the Bidibidi refugee settlement in northern Uganda and for the 5 schools there which HHA is supporting
Link: Lesley Bell
Insight
Insight has been sharing the good news of Jesus in local primary and secondary schools since 1988. They have a small employed team and many volunteers, taking lessons, leading assemblies, and running Bible clubs like Lighthouse at St Paul’s School.
Website: insightinkingston.com
What to pray for:
– Thanks for the Christmas Journeys which were shown to 1800 children from more than 20 schools
– For children to keep and read the Insight Christmas Journey booklet that they were given
– For the team, Darryl, Dean and particularly new members Keren and Kirsten
– For the recruitment of a new member for Insight Richmond
– For CUs in Tolworth Girls, Tiffin Girls, Kingston Grammar, Surbiton High and Southborough schools
Link: Lesley Bell
Kingston Churches’ Action on Homelessness
KCAH support single people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They offer advice, emergency food, clothing, toiletries, & temporary accommodation; and provide lasting solutions to restore self-esteem & confidence, helping people out of homelessness.
Website: kcah.org.uk
What to pray for:
– Thanks for a happy Christmas at the Joel Centre, where for most residents it was their first Christmas “at home” for many years
– For staff as they help residents rebuild relationships with family and friends as part of the recovery journey
– For Aileen Almond, still relatively new in her role as KCAH CEO
– For the whole staff team during a time of transition and restructuring within the organisation
Link: Peter Watson
The Lunchbowl Network
Lunchbowl offers practical help to orphans & vulnerable children in Kibera, Nairobi—aiming to raise these children out of poverty through nutrition & education. They provide education, fund a dinner programme & food for a rugby academy, & run a child sponsorship programme.
Website: lunchbowl.org
What to pray for:
– for the children at the Good Samaritan Primary school and Angel Kindergarten, that they will develop emotionally, physically, spiritually and academically
– for the Saturday Kibera Dinner Programme providing weekly food for the under 10s in Lindi village
Link: Lesley Bell
Middle East Media
MEM uses creative media in strategic ways to reach Middle Eastern people with the Gospel. Over the years, their documentaries, dramas, animations and short videos have featured on virtually all the mainstream TV stations across the region. They also serve the vulnerable and train believers from a Muslim background in media, enabling them to bring Jesus’ love to their own communities.
Website: mem.org/memuk
What to pray for:
– For their Oasis project developing social media platforms for unreached women who can’t meet physically, to share the gospel and create community
– For Muslim converts to Christianity who are often ostracised by family and friends because of their faith
– For 6 new media teams that we are training to become self-sufficient
– For God’s wisdom and courage in their leadership
– For MEM Week in May to bring new connections
– For their ministry to be resourced and protected in 2022.
Link: Jo Orrell
Oxygen
Oxygen supports young people in and around Kingston who are struggling to discover identity, skills and purpose, seeking to show these young people that they are valued, loved and supported. They also oversee Kingston Street Pastors.
Website: oxygen-online.org
What to pray for:
– For their virtual youth group when young people can connect through Discord (chat and communication platform) and Minecraft (computer game)
– For their after school club at Coombe Boys’ School
– For more volunteers to help run the shop in New Malden
Link: Peter Watson
Paul & Helen Hutchinson & WEC
Paul & Helen lead WEC’s cross-cultural work in the UK, overseeing various teams who share the love of Jesus with people from non British backgrounds, including people who settled here decades ago & new immigrants, asylum seekers & refugees.
Website: wec-uk.org
What to pray for:
– Thanks for a smooth move to a new house for Paul and Helen
– Thanks that their Farsi meeting numbers are going up again, and prayer for all those in that group
– Prayer for a number of challenges that have arisen, and for Paul and Helen as they arrange a New Wine conference in Kidderminster in February
Link: Don Blevin
Sam & Abbie Baguma & Mission Aviation Fellowship
Sam is head of MAF’s operations in Uganda, where MAF planes fly aircraft to inaccessible areas to reach out to people in need, to support water and medical projects, mission outreach, Bible translation and development initiatives.
Website: maf-uganda.org
What to pray for:
– For security in Uganda where many have lost their livelihoods due to Covid and crime is on the rise
– For children who have missed out on 2 years of education due to schools closing – that they will be able to adjust to being back and will catch up quickly
– For more vaccines to be available in Uganda
– For Sam as he joins the leadership team in his church and Abby as she leads the children’s work there
– Thanks that MAF have been able to open 3 remote airstrips in northern Uganda so that medical supplies can reach those living in that area
Link: Jo Orrell
Tearfund
Tearfund is a Christian charity working to alleviate poverty and transform and empower communities around the world, in partnership with local churches. And they respond to disasters. Some of our church members, including Grace Gardner, Sarah Jarvis and Vicky Rolfe work for Tearfund.
Website: tearfund.org
What to pray for:
– for their teams around the world working to share God’s love and end extreme poverty through practical action
– for their Afghanistan Crisis Appeal
– for their Recover Together initiative, campaigning for Covid vaccines for those in the poorest countries.
Link: Jo Orrell