What does overseas mission aim to do? It is to make a difference in lives by reaching out to people outside our own country (and comfort zone).
One person we support is Anne, who is seconded to a Christian agency and is working in North Africa. Having learnt some Arabic, she is involved in a club exploring all kinds of craft work. She gives thanks to God "for the club and opportunities it gives me to use my skills and share my faith." She asks prayer "for wisdom for Sally (her co-worker) and myself as we think how to share God's character and heart through the craft club".
As a church we also support a number of other charities, donating one-tenth of church income to this purpose.
Sheena grew up in the village and married John at Bar Hill Church in 1994. Shortly after this, they got their first taste of mission with six months in India.
Back in the UK, they settled in Stockton-on-Tees and did community work to build links between their church and the predominantly Asian community.
In 1998, they left for ten years of tent-making, teaching English in Japan and Korea. This included building links between churches and non-Christian students, hosting Alpha Courses and helping disciple new and struggling Christians.
In 2008, they returned to the UK to join Wycliffe Bible Translators with the support of Bar Hill Church.
From August 2010, they will be working in Papua New Guinea where John will be doing language survey work
Find out more about where they are, what they are doing and how to support them on their Mission website.
Download the latest edition of their newsletter from here.
Orphaids UK is a christian charity working with AIDS orphans in Ecuador, Colombia and Malawi. They have their own project near Santo Domingo de los Colorados in Ecuador supporting AIDS orphans. This has been so successful that the staff are using their experience to setup and support a new project in Colombia. Orphaids supports other agencies in Malawi, Africa, who work to provide for the needs of AIDS orphans. The Ecuador project is a purpose-built complex which provides a home and a caring family for up to 54 orphaned children. Working on their own merits and with local government, they take in children who have been deemed highest at risk. At risk from HIV/AIDS themselves, abuse and neglect, Orphaids provides for their emotional, spiritual, medical and educational needs.
Tools With A Mission (TWAM) is a Christian charity that collects surplus tools from the UK and redistributes them to disadvantaged people in the developing world. Tools can enable people to learn a trade and earn a living. Many tools are supplied to vocational training institutions and they are all sent in response to specific requests from approved agencies already working 'on the ground' in developing countries. The majority of the requests come from Africa - from countries such as Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Benin, Kenya and Tanzania.
Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council is linked with the Diocese of Vellore (Church of South India). This means that all the churches in Cambridgeshire are part of the link, and makes it an ideal area of the World Church for local schools to look at.
You can view photographs showing life in Vellore at the Diocese of Ely website.
Bar Hill Church is in the process of developing a new link with a Church in the Diocese of Vellore.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
- Matthew 28 v19-20
©2009 Bar Hill Church updated July 4th 2009 Based on a design by : styleshout
