As a church we are committed to partnering with mission agencies across the world. Whilst we support a myriad of different initiatives and projects, we have agreed to specifically focus on eight for the period 2024-26. These represent many aspects of God’s work including the relief of poverty both locally and abroad; a church planting initiative in Moldova; helping to build classrooms for a school in Kumi, Uganda; a craft organisation providing employment for many with disabilities in Tanzania; an orphanage in India; evangelism amongst students, funding and prayer support for many who are suffering persecution for their faith in various parts of the world and debt advice for those suffering financial hardship.
We are thankful for the ‘mission champions’ in Christ Church who act as the link between the congregations and the individual missions. Each project is allocated one Sunday during the year where the mission champions bring the church latest news updates and prayer requests, and explain how our financial, prayerful and practical support is making a difference on the ground.
The following projects are being supported for the period 2024-26:
- An orphanage in India – We can’t mention the name of the organisation here, or the names of those who run it, but it is a Christian school and orphanage where so many children have been given a home and a hope and lifted out of the poverty cycle. K was given a vision by God that they should sell the family home, give up their jobs, set up a children’s orphanage and care for the needy, so they did! Just like George Muller, they are totally reliant on God through prayer, and, just like Muller, the fruit is amazing with so many souls saved! Our young people and their leaders have been able to visit the orphanage on several occasions and get involved in its day to day life.
- Christians Against Poverty CAP is a national debt counselling charity working through a network of 300 centres based in local churches across the UK. Many thousands of clients are helped every year through CAP’s unique, hands-on approach to resolving debt issues. Our Bristol North East CAP Centre offers a free debt counselling service to members of the local community in the privacy of their own homes. Christ Church members take on active roles in this ministry as debt coaches, through befriending, Food Bank, fundraising and prayer. Rosie Brydon is our Centre Manager, and we also enjoy the services of two volunteer debt coaches.
- Church Mission Society Ben and Katy Ray are CMS sponsored missionaries, working with SAFI Tanzania. Having recently moved on from the Neema Craft project in Iringa, they are now based in Arusha and partnering with the Lutheran-run Usa River Rehabilitation Centre, which gives vocational training to people with a range of disabilities. They help advise them on their product range and the administration of their services. Having overseen tremendous growth at Neema, they hope to establish a network of similar centres across East Africa.
- Church Partnership In Moldova Christ Church has had long term links with TEN previously known as Eurovangelism. In recent times we have specifically supported Misa Hiorescu, a pastor in Ursoia in the South of Moldova, the poorest country in Europe. Christ Church pays his salary and has funded the building of a church through the tithe of donations given to our own church building project. Visits to Moldova and a return visit from Pastor Misa have helped to further strengthen the sense of partnership.
- Mission Direct Kumi Uganda Richard and Jan Bacon are in-country staff for Mission Direct in Kumi, Uganda. The “mission” is to host teams of short term volunteers who participate in projects all of which are run with local partners. In recent years the main project has been to improve educational facilities by building classrooms at local primary schools. The ministries also extend to Kumi Prison, an orphanage, Street Boy project and Mothers Union among others. Christ Church members of all ages are encouraged to volunteer and have benefited greatly from doing so.
- Open Doors Open Doors is an international ministry serving persecuted Christians and churches worldwide. They supply Bibles, leadership training, literacy programmes, livelihood support and advocacy services. They also seek to mobilise the church in the UK & Ireland to serve Christians living under religious persecution. Christ Church has its own Open Doors prayer group which meets on a monthly basis.
- Iona Clark Circuit Riders is a global organisation under the larger umbrella of YWAM (Youth With A Mission). It is based in Huntington Beach, California, but sends teams all over the USA, Europe and East Africa. Circuit Riders began in 2011 with a focus on encouraging young adults and university students to
become evangelists and preach the gospel on their campuses and in their communities. Iona coordinates all of Circuit Riders’ projects in Europe. - Deanery Uganda Link initiatives
Christ Church also supports:
- Mercy Ships, through the faithful work of the craft group who make and sell greetings cards all year in aid of Mercy Ships.
- We support The Children’s Society through our annual Christingle Service.
- Members of the congregation volunteer with inHope and the Wild Goose Café.
- Christian Aid Week