St James and Emmanuel partners with individuals and organisations near and far to spread God’s Kingdom in words and actions.
The Mission Team develops our links with these people and projects, by identifying and raising the profile of our mission links, keeping up-to-date with their news, encouraging prayer and sending financial support on behalf of the church.
We encourage members of the Church Family to go on short-term overseas trips, especially with a view to encouraging links with those areas where we have Mission Partners.
We currently support the following individuals and organisations:
Boaz, Manchester
The Boaz Trust offers a support service for destitute asylum seekers and refugees in Greater Manchester. Boaz provides accommodation to those in greatest need through shared housing, a hosting scheme, and a winter night shelter. Clients living in Boaz accommodation can access a ‘Boaz Life’ programme of educational, recreational and practical activities that promote wellbeing and encourage integration and participation in the community.
Daniel Mari, Evangelising Asia for Christ
We share and proclaim the “good news” to those caught up in cults, untouchables and lost people across India. We reach out to people of all religions and across all age groups. We have an orphanage in Gurupura and a slum school in Agra Delhi where our sponsored children receive education, medical care, clothing, food and biblical teaching; we bring them hope and a future by sharing God’s love. Our Biblical literature ministry provides Bibles and tracts plus Christian books for pastors and Christian workers in India.
Bishop Cranmer, Muhuburu in Uganda
“The proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom is the centre of our mission. We reach out to the poor, the marginalised, children, women, people with special needs with the love of Christ. We uphold the orthodox Biblical teaching as handed down to us by our church fathers. We believe in the one worldwide church of Christ and the body of Christ.”
Howie and Sally Pickering, Manchester
“We work with Outlaw Motorcycle clubs (such as Hells Angels) and other associated subcultures (tattoo, body piercing, gothic, mixed martial artists). Many of the groups we engage with are involved in organised criminal activity. It is a scene that is characterised by excess in all its forms: money, power, sex, drugs and violence. It’s a culture that is very antagonistic towards Christianity. Women often have very little or no status and men are given to just about every form of ‘ism’ you can imagine – sexism, racism, homophobia etc. In essence it is quite a dark environment.”
Potters Village, Uganda – babies’ hospital and orphanage
PV’s mission is to save lives. It was founded by Rev. Canon Jenny Green in 2007. She saw many babies die after losing their mothers or being abandoned, because there was no appropriate care or knowledge about how to look after these vulnerable children. The project has always worked to find sustainable solutions to the problems it faces, in practical and effective ways. A link to the Potters Village website can be accessed HERE.
Ron Finlay, Protem – Manchester Christian counselling charity
“The work of Protem was set up to help remedy difficulties presented in the lives of ordinary folk, things like stress, anxiety, anger, broken relationships, self-worth and many others.
“We are moving into our own premises shortly.”
Prospects UK
“Over the part forty years in Prospects we have provided loving Christian homes for hundreds of adults with learning disabilities. Today our services are across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. With the support of our amazing army of local churches and volunteers trained by Prospects, we have been instrumental in enabling many thousands of people with learning disabilities to learn about the love of Jesus through accessible Bible teaching.
“We have established ministry groups in churches and have supported eight national Christian conferences (Spring Harvest, Keswick Convention etc) to run parallel streams of celebration, worship and Bible teaching by providing ministry teams.”
Samara
“Samara’s Aid Appeal provides humanitarian aid to refugees and internally displaced people in the Middle East. We work mainly in Iraq and Syria. Since 2014, 46 consignments of aid and 11 ambulances have been sent. This work, in response to God’s call, is as essential as it ever was and will continue.
Samara’s developing mission is to fund new hospitals in Syria. The World Health Organisation reported in April this year that nearly 60% of all Syrian hospitals have been destroyed or seriously damaged in the conflict. 11.5 million people require urgent health care but many lack hospital provision. The shortage of specialised medical staff, ambulances, equipment and medical supplies has increased the number of preventable deaths.”
St Thomas
“Kirkholt is an estate with high unemployment and considerable social challenges. Whilst the worst period of vandalism and crime seems to have passed now, the deprivation index still places Kirkholt within the most deprived 10% nationally. To exacerbate these issues, the estate (population 4,500) has lost the following amenities in the last 12 months: charity shop, youth zone, café, social club, post office and tenants’ & residents’ office. Some of these services will be restored following the redevelopment of the Strand, Kirkholt’s shopping street, but this redevelopment is already behind schedule, and is unlikely to be completed before the summer of 2018.
“Within this context, St Thomas’ Church (usual Sunday attendance 26) has been through a period of discernment, resulting in a vision for where we would like the church to be in 2020. We want to be a blessing to this estate, within our limited capacity, and consequently we have responded to the local challenges with new and ongoing projects that fit with our 2020 vision.”
For more information about any Mission Link, please email Helen Denham chair.
