share magazine 2008 - issue 1 winter

1SHARE issue 1, winter 2008

Also in this issue Land rights after all these years

Spanish steps forward • Walk into the darkness

The magazine of the South American Mission Society. Issue 1, Winter 2008

ForestForestto protect, to protect, peoplepeopleto saveto save

Registered Offi ce: South American Mission Society, Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3QU. Tel: 01892 538647 Fax: 01892 525797 e: fi [email protected] www.samsgb.org

SAMS is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, No. 65048. Registered Charity No. 221328. SHARE is published four times a year. Issue No. 1, 2008 ISSN 1367 6741.

Editor: Robert Lunt. Design & Print: CPO

Beginning in autumn 2006 a

Strategic Review of SAMS GB

was carried out at the request of

the Society’s Trustees. The aim was to consider the right way forward for

SAMS in the light of developments in both the overseas and the UK church, in mission thinking and practice, and in the world itself.

As a result two paths are being investigated. One is the possibility of a merger or closer collaboration with the Church Mission Society (CMS Britain). The second is for SAMS to continue as an

independent agency but with signifi cant changes to help it adapt to the world in which it operates.

Any decision to merge would require consultation with our partners and supporters, so is unlikely to happen in the near future. Currently the focus is therefore on renewing SAMS as an independent agency.

To provide leadership in the short term SAMS has established a new post of Executive Director. Dr Bill Lattimer (see page 6) who conducted the Review, has been appointed for up to 12 months with Canon John Sutton as International Relations Director, focussing particularly on relationships with partner dioceses and churches in Great Britain, South America and Iberia and on providing support to mission partners in the fi eld.

Catch siteof these …www.everyclick.com is a search engine which you can use to benefi t SAMS. If you sign up to it and specify SAMS as your chosen charity, then we get 1p for every click!

Websites for FEISA (the Early Years Teacher Training College in Asunción) and for Mission Paraguay, whose teams of volunteers serve that country, are expected early in 2008.

http://www.olindamission.no-ip.co.uk is a new site that keeps you up to date with Ian & Siméa Meldrum’s ministry in northeast Brazil (see page 12).

Patrick Coghlan, Chair of SAMS Trustees


Land rights after all these years“Though the promise linger, waitfor it; it will certainly come”(Habakkuk 2:3).

There was cause for rejoicing in Northern Argentina and many a SAMS supporter’s heart in October. The reason came in a letter from Chris Wallis, Director of ASOCIANA, the Anglican Church’s social action programme in that diocese. An important act had been signed by representatives of the indigenous communities of two sizeable areas of land in the northeast of the Province of Salta; the settlers living in those areas; the Government of Salta; and three organisations, including ASOCIANA. The agreement paves the way for the handover of nearly 1,550 square miles of land to the indigenous groups and around 940 square miles to the settler families.

Bishop Patrick Harris, former bishop of Northern Argentina and current President of SAMS GB, reminds us that it was over 44 years ago that SAMS Australia missionary Kevin Bewley and a group of Indians fi rst raised the issue of their land rights with the provincial government. Down the years prayers had been offered, especially in recent years for the area mentioned here, and temptation to give up was strong; but now those prayers had been answered.

Chris Wallis adds: “Pray for us all that we may be thankful to God and reverently humble before him; and that the Indians, settlers and members

of Asociana … be obedient to the signs and to the teaching of the Lord. We know there is still a long journey in front of us in order to convert the written words of the agreement into concrete acts. We ask for your prayers so that we might trust the Lord and be fi rm in the way ahead.”

As one struggle reaches a signifi cant point, another rears its threatening head, as the following pages make clear.

Francisco Pérez signs on behalf of indigenous body Lhaka Honhat

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4 SHARE issue 1, winter 2008

Where has all the forest gAndrew Leake (pictured onfront cover) explains

Bautista Frías sits in the shade of a small tree, squinting as sand is blown into his face by the hot north wind. Speaking in Wichi, and in a very low voice, he tells me that deforestation will not stop. “These forests”, he says, “will all disappear, and we will go with them. Then we will no longer be a problem for the government, and I think that’s what they want.”

‘Globalisation’ has taken on real meaning for Bautista. It means destruction of all he knows, because it’s leading to the clearing of the dry tropical forests of the Chaco where he and the Wichi tribes of northern Argentina have lived for centuries. Drought-resistant varieties of soy, coupled with rising Chinese and European demand for the crop, have fuelled an unprecedented conversion of forested lands into oceans of beans.

It takes Bautista an hour to cut down a tree to make a single post for building his mud-walled hut. In the same time, two giant bulldozers, linked by several hundred yards

Evolution of deforestation from 1986 (left) to 2006 (dots are Indian communities)

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of ship anchor chain, can level several acres of forest. As they do so, wild animals fl ee as giant trees are literally uprooted and crash to the ground in clouds of thick dust. It’s an awesome sight as forests that have taken centuries to grow and adapt to the semi-arid climate are destroyed in the blink of an eye.

As the biologically diverse forests disappear from ever larger areas of the Chaco, Bautista’s way of life and that of thousands of the local indigenous people is changing for the worse. Research conducted by ASOCIANA, the social action wing of the Anglican Church in Northern Argentina, has revealed that household subsistence strategies of already poor families are being irretrievably weakened as people lose access to the plant and animal species that have been the mainstay of their existence for centuries. As this happens they become increasingly vulnerable to ill health and poor diet, as well as more prone to political manipulation as they are forced to rely more and more on government handouts.

In the meantime, a select few landowners are cashing in on their soy crops. As they do, Argentina also benefi ts as it levies taxes

on exports, topping up its national coffers. This is the primary ju s t i f i ca t ion given for its free rein policy on agricultural development. The true costs of this soy boom are not talked about; on the contrary, they are kept quiet, for it’s the

poor, whose voice is not heard, who pay the price.

ASOCIANA has taken a lead in monitoring deforestation as part of its broader efforts to empower people like Bautista in their struggle to protect their ancestral lands. That information is gradually making waves as more people become aware of the ecological crisis that deforestation is bringing to the Chaco. There are areas of forest still standing (though not yet protected) as a result of ASOCIANA’s work.

Bautista, his community and many like them have a long struggle ahead. If they are to have a hope of protecting at least some of their lands, they who are amongst Argentina’s poorest will have to stand up to some of the country’s most powerful economic interest groups. Their struggle is one of the key areas of need on which ASOCIANA is now focused. It’s not an easy job. It involves the provision of legal and technical advice, and some quick footwork in dealing with often less than transparent government offi cials.

Deforestation is a subject we don’t often associate with Christian mission. Yet here in Argentina it’s an issue that can no longer be ignored by the Church. What relevance does Christ’s gospel have for Bautista if it doesn’t address his most pressing needs and those of his people?

A forest lost

Bautista Frías

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The Annexe School in Asunción, Paraguay, celebrated its 35th Anniversary on Friday 26 October, write Mags Southern and Gwen Carlisle. The school began in a small house near the Chacarita and later moved to its present site. It has always been a school for children from the shanty area with the aim

of giving them a Christian education.

It was a very hot evening with temperatures in the 40’s. Many people were invited who had taken part in the

early years of the school’s life. It was good to see Felicita (pictured with her husband) who had been its Head for many years. Her ex-pupils who are now parents were

thrilled to see her. Representatives from the Ministry of Education also came along; the school has an excellent reputation for its high standards. The choir sang to start the celebration and Bishop John Ellison spoke for the last time before he retires. The Head, Víctor Santa Cruz, showed photographs of the school’s history and then with Gwen unveiled a plaque commemorating the 35 years.

It was a happy evening celebrating all God has done in the school for so many families.

Annexe is 35

The new manIn September 2007, the Trustees of SAMS GB appointed Dr Bill Lattimer as interim Executive Director. Bill, who had earlier conducted a Strategic Review of the Society, took up his post on 16 October - Hugh Latimer day in the Anglican Calendar. He tells us a bit about himself:Bill, what have you worked at before?My background is in consultancy, but I’ve had several signifi cant management roles as well, including working as an interim manager which gave me useful experience for this role.Home and family?I live near Sevenoaks in Kent and am married with four children who are (kind of) grown up. My second son, Nick, was recently in Argentina on a Latin Link Stride placement during a year out from his university studies in Spanish and French.

Church involvement?I’m a Reader in my

local Anglican church; but I’m quite a new Christian, having been

converted by the grace of God through an Alpha Course in 1999.

So what’s the future?I’ve been

appointed to lead SAMS for up to a year. During this period the Society will look at the possibility of whether to merge with CMS or to continue as an independent agency, and also start to consult on and implement other changes arising out of the Strategic Review.

Annexe pupils at the celebration


After what seemed a long period of preparation, including a year at Redcliffe College in Gloucester, Paul and Sarah Tester came to their commissioning service on 9 September at Holy Trinity, Aylesbury.

Supported by family and friends, representatives from some link churches and by John Sutton & Tim Greenhalgh of SAMS, the Testers were formally set apart for ministry in Lima, Peru, in a lively time of prayer and worship led by Revd Andrew Blyth, with the occasion rounded off by a splendid shared lunch.

Paul & Sarah left the UK for their fi rst

three-year term of service on 13 September. After orientation and getting their Spanish up to scratch, Sarah expects to be teaching English at San

Mateo school in Lima, while Paul will be using his engineering skills to develop the ambitious church building plans of the Diocese of Peru and possibly also to help those who lost homes in August’s

earthquake.Sarah is taking on the exciting Playbus scheme, the mobile toy library developed by former mission partner Mavis Crispin as a creative educational tool for the Lima parishes.

Tested and commissioned!

Paul and Sarah commissioned …and (top) in Lima!


We have to ask the question: Isn’t this all rather outmoded and embarrassing? Is there a place for Christian mission now or is it time to close down organisations like SAMS and let everyone fi nd their own truth and way? We’ve come a long way and one thing we’ve learned is tolerance. Far from ‘imposing our views on others’, shouldn’t we seek to learn more and to ‘broaden our horizons’?

Matthew 4:12-17 marks the start of Jesus’ mission. Note the expression, ‘The people who live in the shadow of death’. I travel a lot and this sums up much that I see. We live in the shadow of death - in a place where death has cast its shadow.

There are obvious examples: 9/11 or 7/7. Airport security reminds us of international terrorism. In Rwanda I stood in prayer with fellow Primates at one of the mass graves of the nearly one million victims of genocide. Here we’ve remembered the death of Diana, the disappearance of Madeleine, the

shooting of Rhys. We live in the shadow of death and we are all affected.

The 20th century began with optimism. We were going to create utopia through education and knowledge. We’ve achieved wonderful advances in science and technology, health and medicine, communication and travel. Yet we still face war, terrorism, corruption, crime, violence, and concerns about ecology and health.

We live in the shadow of death. We are fulfi lling Jesus’ words concerning the days of Noah and the last days: “Eat, drink, for tomorrow we die.” And it’s not just physical death. It’s the fragmentation of society within and between races, nations and families. It’s relational death! We build a relationship ‘as long as it lasts or works’. And the most obvious problem isn’t our relationship with others but with our self: the inner confl ict. Even in our own identity we live in the shadow of death.

Jesus began his mission acknowledging the same thing. He went to Capernaum to

Walk into the darkness proclaiming God’s loveArchbishop Greg Venables of the Southern Cone gave the closing address at ‘Broadening Horizons’, the SAMS Roadshow at Paddock Wood in September. This is an edited version:

Greg and Sylvia Venables


fulfi l and proclaim Isaiah’s words (v.15-16). We live in darkness, in the shadow of death. And we know we have no answer, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 2. Without God we are without hope, preferring darkness.

Yet there is hope, and it is the force behind Jesus’ mission. The fi rst point is that there is darkness and death and the second is that there is light. The light is God himself and his mission.

What does God think about mission? He sent his Son, the light of the world. But Jesus uses one key word: Repent. He goes to the root of the problem - sin. This is the cause of darkness and death. Sin is our disobedience of God’s will, the denial of God and his authority, and it can destroy us. We are made in the image of God, so the

explanation of our dysfunctional world is that we are denying the very reason

we exist.

Yet Jesus brings hope. Two of the most helpful words

in Scripture are ‘But God’. With God there is always hope. And the most wonderful thing is the motive behind God’s mission – God’s love (John 3:16). God is love. If death is a tragic reality and sin is the cause, then God’s love and forgiveness are just as real.

So mission is not only still relevant. It is the very

reason why God put the church in

the world. To walk into the darkness

proclaiming God’s love. To walk in the shadow

of death proclaiming love. And there is no plan B.

GLOBECROSSERSJohn & Linda Cobb arrive at the end of January for a brief fi nal period of UK leave before retirement (see News Share), returning to their Chilean home in April.

Another long-server, Tim Curtis, is also here from January to April; Tim has years of work ahead in Paraguay as he and Enxet colleagues Juan, Martín and Asunción continue translating the Old Testament for the day when they have a complete Bible in the language. What a difference to life and work now they’re linked up to the country’s electricity network! Praise God for this.

Terry & Pancha Barratt are in the UK this quarter looking after Terry’s parents, former SAMS missionaries Tony & Peggy, and taking the opportunity to visit link churches.

Returning to Paraguay are Tony & Chris Somervell, Linn Tedman and Caroline Gilmour-White (February), while David & Jean Hucker (February) and Alf & Hilary Cooper (March) go back to Chile.

For volunteers, both Anglo and Latin, see STYLE.

Barratts (left) and Coopers

In Spain we are facing opportunities never before experienced. After the death of the dictator Franco, the arrival of democracy and the country’s entry into the European Union, Spain has become very attractive to immigrants, especially from Latin America, and has the highest number of immigrants of any EU country. At the moment there are more than 6 million Latin Americans living in this country of 45 million inhabitants. Other minorities are Romanians (over 1½ million) and Africans, mainly from North Africa.

In 1996 the IERE began a programme to preach the gospel and help the immigrants. Called the Latin American Mission, it has been implanted in more than 50% of parishes and brought into being three new parishes.

In Madrid, the Cathedral parish informed Synod that in 2006 more than 35,000 people passed through the social programme, which now goes by the name of ‘Misión Anglicana Solidaridad’. As a result, a congregation of immigrants has been formed which meets on Saturday afternoons with an average attendance of more than 400, the majority Latin Americans. This congregation alone is

larger than most Anglican congregations in Latin America.

In Valladolid, a church on the point of closing four years ago has formed a congregation which doesn’t fi t into its buildings. The person responsible for this parish is a young lady lay missionary from Ecuador who is being totally supported by the national church. In the cities of Oviedo, Reus, and more recently Torrejón de Ardoz, new communities of believers based on the work with immigrants have been formed.

In recent years the IERE has had more opportunities for evangelism than ever in its history, thanks to its response to the needs of society. It is at this time that the Church needs more help to continue responding to the will of God who opens new doors for ministry. We cherish the hope that the circumstances given to us in Spain will in the near future arise also in Portugal.

Spanish steps forwardBishop Carlos López describes a major opening for the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church (IERE)


The Gospel in Spain14 – 17 April 2008

SAMS are again offering you this special opportunity toexperience the work of SEUT (United EvangelicalTheological Seminary) in El Escorial, Madrid.

For more information please contactThe South American Mission SocietyTim Greenhalgh4 Millers CloseRuardean HillDrybrookGlos GL17 9AU

Tel: 01594 542314Email: [email protected]

The Gospel in Spain will explore the interesting and contentious history ofChristianity in Spain as the background to present challenges facing theChurch. You will tour the seminary and learn of its vision for the future. Inaddition there will be a chance to visit some of the tourist sights includingthe Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and sample a little of Spanishculture .

The Gospel in Spain has beenorganised by SAMS’s Mission Partnerand Head of the Department of Mission& Ministry at SEUT, Jonathan Rowe,and the South American Mission Society. Together we want toexcite, and encourage you to share with others the real differencethe Seminary is making for the Gospel.

In April 2007 SAMS and mission partner Jonathan Rowe organised a conference at El Escorial near Madrid to highlight the ministry of the SEUT seminary (www.centroseut.org). So enriching and stimulating was the event that we are repeating it in 2008 from 14-17 April.

As Jonathan says, “Spain is a country many visit on holiday, but perhaps because of this, few appreciate the rich and complex religious situation and the challenges facing the evangelical church. Inevitably this makes ministry here more diffi cult to explain. The Gospel in Spain is one way of helping people understand the context of SEUT’s ministry and develop the link between SAMS and supporting churches.”

The Gospel in Spain explores the contentious history of Christianity there and relates it to the hard realities of the Gospel in Spain today. Participants tour the seminary and learn of its vision, and have the chance to visit the magnifi cent monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the Valley of the Fallen and some of the sights of Madrid.

For a full programme see http://www.samsgb.org/eventsandresources/events.html.

The conference is free, although it’s necessary to cover the cost of accommodation and meals. More details are available from Tim Greenhalgh(01594 542314) [email protected].

Mary CrawshawMary Crawshaw died in September after a lifetime of service to the Lord.

She and husband Gordon were strong SAMS supporters who moved in 1968 from the Wirral to be Assistant Wardens at the new missionary training centre at Allen Gardiner House in Tunbridge Wells. 13 generations of missionary recruits came under their care.

When they retired in 1981, those missionaries clubbed together and bought tickets for Mary and Gordon to visit the work in South America. So popular were they that the three-month trip extended to three years!

We praise God for Mary and all she did for the gospel in South America. Please remember Gordon in your prayers.


The Gospel in Spain 2008

Two carloads of Brazilians were among those going to this long-awaited event. Organised by former SAMS volunteer Andy Roberts, it brought together old friends to learn more about the work in Olinda. Accompanied by friends from Living Waters Church and sons John and Hudson, Ian and Siméa took this unique opportunity to inform supporters of their ministry in a context of worship.

The teaching was presented by Richard Crofts of SAMS on worship, discipleship, serving, evangelism and communion. This was complemented by sessions on the church and the ministry of My Father’s House with its safe house for street boys, farm (now Living Waters Institute) and the Christian Family Support Centre. Worship was calm compared to Brazil! On Saturday night we had ‘Brazilian’ worship to please the Brazilians who are not used to standing still while singing in church!

The weekend was a balance of two cultures, with folk from supporting churches across the country. Ages ranged from 18 to 60+, with various experiences of Brazil or none at all. Some spoke English, some Portuguese, some were bilingual. But for the rain, it would have felt like being back in Brazil with old friends.

It was amazing to see how the Meldrums’ work had grown and how God is blessing their efforts. The church outreach has expanded massively and there seems to be something happening in the church every day of the week, whether for the children,

parents or at the halfway house for the boys. Their work is a true example of God’s grace and has taught me a lot about really serving God. It’s an example we in England should set out to follow. And we could see how our offerings are being used to bless a community that once had little hope.

Testimonies showed how God had used experience in Brazil to change folks’ lives and to give them a taste of God’s work. Not only did it make many of us want to return; it made those who’ve never been to Olinda want to go and fi nd out about this work fi rst hand.

For news of the work seewww.olindamission.no-ip.co.uk

When Bawtry became BrazilBeth Stevenson was one of several ex-volunteers in Olinda who joined other supporters of Ian & Siméa Meldrum’s work there at a weekend at Bawtry Hall. She tells us more:


Ian and Siméa with sons John, Hudson and their girlfriends

Your support is important to SAMS. Here is how you can help:

Title....... .... Forename ..........................................................................................................Surname .............................................................................................................................Address .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Postcode .......................... ..................................................................................................

Please complete and send this form to: South American Mission Society, Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3QU, England

Thank you for your support!

By prayer – Please send me:❑ SHARE with Prayer Diary❑ A quarterly Prayer CD or Tape

By serving – Please send me:❑ Information about serving overseas with SAMS

By giving – ❑ I enclose a gift to SAMS of £ ........... ❑ I have completed a Gift Aid

declaration in favour of SAMS❑ Please send me details of ways of giving to SAMS❑ I am a UK taxpayer. Please treat this gift as a Gift

Aid donation❑ Please tell me more about SAMS

YOU CAN HELP


Writing a quarterly update for SHARE is a challenge, but as I prayed for inspiration I was drawn to ‘fundamentals’.

One fundamental for any charity is that it needs funds. With respect to SAMS, we praise God that he has provided funds to enable the Society to reach its 164th year. It’s good to testify to God’s provision and it was amazing to see how he responded to the particular needs I mentioned in the last magazine. August, normally a quieter month, turned out to be the highest income month of 2007 (so far!), as I write in late October. Thank you to all who prayed and/or gave to SAMS since that last SHARE. At the end of September we were only 3% down on income compared to 21% for the fi rst six months of the year! Praise the Lord indeed!

Although income and expenditure (or strictly speaking for charities, ‘incoming resources’ and ‘resources used’) is fundamental,

a more important fundamental is that everything is God’s. Psalm 50 helps us keep the right perspective on ‘our’ fi nances. Everything in this world belongs to God, yet he gives to us because he loves us. How then can we honour him? The psalm indicates that God desires a thankful heart and true gratitude is expressed by an obedient will.

As together we seek to discover the future for SAMS, may we continue to pray that our needs will be met – but let’s pray with thanksgiving and serve our Lord Jesus Christ joyfully with all he’s entrusted to us and in obedience to his call to go and make disciples of all nations.

Thank you very much for your support. To God be the glory.

Philip Tadman

Keeping CountFundamentals – Everything is God’s


Long service reward

John & Linda Cobb retire on 5 March after 34 years in Chile, where they will continue to live. As we thank them for their magnifi cent service and wish them a healthy and fulfi lling retirement, we praise God for the fruits of their ministries.

New Latin role for Suzanne

Youth and Short Term Volunteer Coordinator Suzanne Potter left SAMS on 30 November to complete preparations for service as Latin Link’s Short Term Coordinator for Central America, based in Guatemala. We thank her for an energetic and challenging ministry and wish her God’s blessing in her future role. Did she swim the Channel as planned? Read STYLE to fi nd out. Ouch!

Need for teachers in Paraguay

Linn Tedman writes on behalf of St Andrew’s School: “Please pray for the Lord to be touching the hearts of teachers in the UK to call them to come and work for him in St. Andrew´s next year. We are in great need of more

committed Christian teachers to work in all our departments, pre-school, primary and secondary, teaching in English. Spanish is not a necessary requirement. We can promise an experience to equal no other.”

Anto church dedicated

The Anglican church building at Antofagasta in northern Chile was dedicated on 21 October by Bishop Tito Zavala. About 170 people attended the service. The bishop pointed to God’s grace and his call to the church to get on with the job of preaching and teaching from his word.

Praying within, braying without

September was a record month for ordinations in the Paraguayan Chaco. Mario Caballero was ordained presbyter on the 9th in Dos Palmas, his home village in El Estribo. He had been made a deacon earlier in the year. On the 23rd Juan Sosa and Ed Brice were ordained presbyters in Makxawáya and Romualdo Rojas (brother of translator Martín) was made deacon. Then on the 30th Robert Fernández was ordained presbyter in La Patria. Tim Curtis noted ‘so many donkeys “parked” outside the church the evening before the service that I decided to put up my tent for the night some considerable distance away!’

News Share

Bishop Tito and Pastor Bruce at the dedication


There’s much prayer and planning to produce an informative, challenging and enjoyable day such as we had at Dalston on 6 October. Richard Crofts had the vision and inspiration, then he and Bob Lunt helped us here to plan the day.

After worship with Spanish songs and Wichi Bible study, we broke into workshops. Amy Haigh’s talk on ‘What it’s like to minister in the Atacama Desert’ in Chile with 20 inches of rainfall a year put a different light on the amount of rain we’ve had this year! Carlisle Diocese is linked with Northern Argentina and we heard from Hugo Vergara about the problems and challenges of his diverse diocese. Andy Lenton’s talk on urban ministry in the ‘Big Apple’ of Argentina – Buenos Aires – revealed another aspect of life in South America.

After lunch we had fun learning South American dances taught by Richard, who then interviewed David Holt of Cockermouth about his trip to Northern Argentina. Phil Tadman kept our feet on the ground but our spirits God-ward when he spoke about his job as SAMS Financial Secretary;

fi nally, the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Revd James Newcome, who had been with David to Northern Argentina, emphasised the importance of partnership with our link dioceses. During Northern Argentina’s recent diffi culties, the friendship and prayer support they received was important and sustaining. We need each other!

South America came alive to those of us from wider Cumbria who met that day. Our horizons were stretched and our links genuinely strengthened. We felt it was SAMS who had done so much hard work and made the day go so well. We wouldn’t have had the vision or the knowledge to put on a Roadshow and felt we were too far north even to try. Thank you for enlightening and enabling us to host the day.

A roadshow is planned for St Nicholas, Durham, on 22nd February, featuringTim Curtis and Terry & Pancha Barratt amongst others. Details from Richard Crofts (01892 838301).

SAMS Roadshows don’t just happen…writes Libby Smith, local secretary atWreay in Cumbria

Richard Crofts

Andy Lenton, Hugo Vergara, Rosemary Tadman, Techi Vergara

David Holt

the back page

Bring together a group of 26 mountaineers and 4 dogs, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, a warm dry day, and an excellent spirit of purpose, challenge and fellowship, and you have the ingredients for a brilliant day out, writes Tim Greenhalgh.

So it was on Saturday 8

September. The Hike of Hope had all this and more as the intrepid group made the 2900 ft. ascent up Pen y Fan. Organised by the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon and SAMS, the ascent raised £1277 for the House of Hope project in Recife, Brazil. Whilst the road was indeed rough and steep, everyone in the group reached the summit, where a short act of worship was held with prayers for the House of Hope and a hearty and fi tting rendition of ‘O Lord My God, When I in Awesome Wonder’.

The House of Hope (Casa da Esperança) is an ambitious social project founded by

the Anglican Church in Recife. Situated on the edge of the favela called the Carolinas Community, it offers many amenities including job training courses, health, social and pastoral support, practical solutions to community health issues, crèche facilities for working mothers and a thriving church service each Sunday. The needs continue to escalate and therefore greater funding is required to help extend their outreach and to share the hope that can be found in Christ.

www.sosesperanca.org.br

OpportunitySAMS is recruiting a replacement for its Youth Coordinator, Suzanne Potter. Do you know someone suitable who might like to join us? Check out our website www.samsgb.org/youth.

Hike of Hopefor the

House of Hope

share magazine 2008 - issue 1 winter

Documents

renewing sams

mission partners

sams supporters heart

issue land rights

short term sams

benefi t sams

south american mission

mission paraguay