|
Mission |
St Andrew's, Histon supports 5 missionary societies on a regular and planned basis. The criteria for selection of the missionary societies to be supported are: that the society is on the list of Anglican Partners in World Mission; that there is a degree of existing support; that the choices give a spread of geographical interest.
As the patron of St Andrew's, CPAS supplies material for children's and youth work, and the women's meeting. Training events and missions in the parish are also staged with the help of resources and personnel from CPAS. CPAS has always been involved in training. Many Histon clergy have previously benefited from grants towards their college fees, as have church members who have entered the ministry. Today many of our lay leaders have also benefitted by attending courses as well as members of the clergy team who have received in-service training. Playgroup leaders have attended CYPECS courses.
Tearfund (The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund) benefits from several activities at St Andrews in support of its work. In recent years a frugal lunch, a sponsored bicycle ride, sale of Christmas gifts and cards have been regularly held. Members of the congregation are active in the Jubilee 2000 campaign calling on the governments of the developed world to mark the start of the Millennium by cancelling the debts of the world's poorest countries.
St Andrew's will bring the work of Tearfund to the fore over the weekend of 16-18 November. Following the successful sponsored cycle ride in June, the weekend of activities, including the sale of Tearcraft goods and Christmas cards, will raise funds for the integrated water programme in Ethiopia.
Eighty-five percent of the population of Ethiopia live in rural areas in very poor conditions, and only 20% of these people have access to adequate, safe water supplies. The remainder are exposed to disease caused by inadequate water supply, unsafe sanitiation and poor hygiene. Drought and military spending on its war with Eritrea have brought the country to the brink of another massive famine.
Tearfund, in partnership with the Kale Heywet (Word for Life) Church of Ethiopia (3.2 million members in 3900 congregations), has a five-year programme for
The Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) provides help to English speaking churches abroad to support the ministry of Anglican churches outside the UK. ICS assists around 55 chaplains ministering to 70 congregations in mainland Europe, South America, the Falkland Islands, North Africa and the Gulf. The congregations are formed from among the many people who work away from their own country, or travel abroad for long periods, those who retire abroad in search of a different climate or a more relaxed way of life, and those forced away from home through economic difficulties or even persecution.
ICS supports the work of Anglican churches who minister to English-speaking people, regardless of nationality, background, denomination or tradition. ICS specialises in recruiting ministers (chaplains), providing funding to start new churches and/or supporting existing ones until they are self-sufficient. ICS's long experience of working amongst English speakers and commitment to Biblical Christianity provides a resource of continuity and experience for congregations. In Europe, since 1994, ICS has funded new congregations in Leipzig (Germany) and Kiev (Ukraine), as well as providing new staff and support to existing congregations in France and Poland. These churches provide help and welcome many - whether students, business people, refugees or diplomats - away form home and frequently receptive to the claims of Christ.
As well as financial and prayer support, St Andrew's provides tangible, practical help. Some of the retired clergy in the parish have served in Europe with ICS and a member of the congregation serves on the National Council, as well as undertaking responsibility for editing the ICS directory of churches. The Directory of English-speaking Churches Abroad costs £3.75 including p&p (UK). Please contact the society to obtain a copy.
A visit by approximately 50 members of the Histon congregation to an ICS church in Paris gave an opportunity to see at first-hand the work done by ICS staff. Members of St Michael's, Paris, the ICS church in Paris, held their reunion at St. Andrew's, Histon in May 1998. Further visits to ICS churches, in Amsterdam, a return visit to Versailles and Freiburg, Germany have since taken place.
A second aspect of the ICS ministry is in holiday resorts. ICS sends over 100 ministers annually to European and Mediterranean holiday resorts. In mountain resorts and campsites chaplains invite holidaymakers to English language services held in local churches, and organise evangelistic events. On Thomson Young At Heart holidays chaplains accompany senior citizen holidaymakers, arranging services and providing pastoral care. Seasonal ministry reaches out to some of the millions who holiday in Europe from all over the world. Time away from the pressures on life gives space to think about God. People who rarely attend church at home will do so on holiday.
If you would like further information about the work of ICS the society can be contacted by email.
 |
Crosslinks has always been committed to cross-cultural mission. This means that alongside the tradition of people from this country going overseas, new streams of activity have grown up. Crosslinks sponsors mission workers from the developing world and funds bursaries and training courses in many countries so that local church workers can be trained cost effectively in their own cultural environment.
Crosslinks has a seven-strong 'home' team which seeks to generate passion for mission in British and Irish churches and to encourage Christians in praying, giving and even going! The SMILE programme (Short-term Mission Involvement, Learning and Experience) was initially designed with gap year students in mind, but has attracted significant interest from mature people, especially the early retired. Crosslinks is currently seeking to recruit native English speakers to teach English in Chinese schools and universities. No formal qualifications are required, just a willingness to serve. For more information about volunteering or supporting Crosslinks contact the General Secretary.
The Church's Ministry among Jewish People (CMJ), an Anglican society founded in 1809, shares the confidence of St Paul (himself a Jew): 'I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.' (Romans 1:16) CMJ seeks to be sensitive to the broad spectrum of political views, religious practice and the extent to which Messianic Jews have been assimilated into the society in which Jewish people live.
Ironically, since St Paul's day it has generally become more difficult for Jewish people to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. When a Jewish person becomes a believer, he or she may face rejection from both family and synagogue, to the extent of being considered a Gentile and so outcast from the Jewish community. In seeking Christian fellowship, such a person may be met with suspicion from churches or may feel under pressure to leave everything Jewish behind. Messianic Jewish congregations offer the new believer the necessary fellowship and support, worshipping Jesus as the Messiah who fulfils all their longings as Jews.
The five aims of CMJ are:
This is carried out according to a strict code of practice, by staff members such as the London Ministry Team, through the use of literature, personal contact and discussion. However the Society is called to commend the love of God shown in Messiah not only by the spoken or written word but also by the quality of our lives. In all this a respect for Jewish people and the riches of Judaism is an important factor.
The Society believes that Jewish and Gentile believers are "one new man" in Messiah, but also recognises the importance of Jewish people expressing their faith in a way which is culturally relevant to them. Christianity is a fulfilment of Biblical Judaism so it is important that Messianic Believers are free to express their Jewishness in a way that is not always possible in mainstream churches. The Society seeks to maintain strong relationships with Messianic Believers - consulting them and serving them in various ways.
The Society fulfils this aim through its literature, through the travelling Bible Come to Life Exhibition, through the Bible Exploration Centre in St. Albans and through its authorised speakers leading conferences and meetings around the country.
The Society is not committed to any particular scheme of eschatology (study of the end times) but it does stress that the church has not replaced the Jewish people in God's purposes. Rather the church has been "grafted into the Jewish olive tree" which still includes many Jewish "branches". CMJ looks forward to and works toward the time when "all Israel will be saved". (Ro. 11:26)
We employ Palestinian people in Jerusalem and educate Palestinian children in our school (providing bursaries for some). We support Christians working in Gaza who are obtaining medical help in Israeli hospitals for seriously ill Palestinian children. We have a Palestinian theologian on our school board. We are continuing in dialogue with the Bishop in Jerusalem (himself Palestinian) and other Palestinian Christians. We seek to have a Palestinian speaker address each of our Shoresh tours of Israel.
Our vision for Christ Church, Jerusalem is that it should model Paul's olive tree picture of the church: Jewish roots with international as well as Jewish believing branches. Palestinian representation will be important in this.
Both in the UK and Israel, CMJ encourages Jewish believers with Hebrew language ministry and in communities of Messianic Jews as well as helping churches to understand their rich heritage. You can contact CMJ by email for further information.
Involvement in Other Agencies
Members of St Andrew's are also actively involved with Emmaus, Samaritan's Purse International, Christchurch, Amsterdam and a Christian hostel in that city, a local bus project to meet the needs of young people, as well as Christian Blind Mission.
Contact the Church Office for further details.