share magazine 2010 - issue 1

“I’ve been thrilled to learn about all the new opportunities and networking arrangements to

work with different organisations that have been opened up to me. It’s really like stepping into

a new world.” Caroline Gilmour-White, mission partner in Paraguay

“I’m delighted that CMS and SAMS are integrating; the main reason for this is that it’s a brilliant opportunity to make practical for people around the world the vision of sharing the whole Christ with the whole world through the whole

church.” Tim Dakin, General Secretary

“As an Anglo - Chilean Trustee of SAMS I have felt in part like a representative of the laity from Latin America. To witness God’s ways in the, at times challenging, process to reach the goal of a merger between two great mission societies CMS and SAMS GB, has been so affirming. Even the London lawyers, charged with the complex task of joining the two societies, founded

back in 1799 and 1844, created a New Joint Entity which mirrors the prophetic piece of Scripture, John 12: 24-26, given to us some five years ago. Small

wonder that the enthusiasm I feel for the new CMS is almost overpowering.”

Nigel Strang

“It does feel sad to be saying goodbye to an organisation as treasured as SAMS but

I think in return we are saying hello to something really exciting. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for CMS and SAMS in Latin America and the Caribbean”

SAMS General Council Member, Lindsey Morgan

Integration quotations: What people are saying about SAMS and CMS joining together...

SHARE FEB-MAY 2010 02

“In Allen Gardiner’s last letter to his wife, a week before his death, he wrote, ‘I trust that South America

will not be abandoned.’ And it wasn’t. The merger of our two Societies does not mean the demise of SAMS, but its dynamic development as a part

of a global community of mission service. The new SAMS will be a part of the new CMS. All SAMS supporters have the opportunity to renew their commitment to South America by signing up and becoming members of

this new CMS. I too trust that South America will not be abandoned. Let us see to it that it isn’t.”

Bishop Patrick Harris, President of SAMS

“I’m really excited about integrating because having spent several months in Peru, I’m looking

forward to learning more about what God is doing in Latin America and I might get to use my Spanish

language skills as well!!”Ruth Biddulph, fundraising assastant, CMS

“The new experience of SAMS and CMS coming together will give us new opportunities to

meet with and to share experiences from around the world. I am very excited about learning from brothers and sisters

from Africa and Asia and sharing with them from Latin America.”

Bishop Tito Zavala, Chile

“Our longest standing mission partner at St. Andrew’s Church in Oxford is Tim Curtis, working with SAMS on Bible translation in Paraguay. Over the years we have also

been privileged to support several CMS projects and people. From our perspective, the joining together of CMS and SAMS makes

perfect sense. We will be very happy to work with this one unified organisation in the future, helping us to connect to and be an active

part of the world Church in all parts of the world.” Berdine van den Toren, St Andrew’s Church World Mission Group


The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance (Psalm 16:6)

This verse has spoken to me strongly in recent weeks because

it has to do with being in the centre of God’s plan. Some of our

mission partners are in difficult situations. But the lines are still in

pleasant places because they’re assured that they are where God

wants them.

We can also apply this verse to where SAMS is as a society. We

have been led to this exciting opportunity to expand interest in

South America by uniting with CMS. You should have received a letter in Autumn

regarding the integration with an invitation to join the CMS community. If you

didn’t get this letter, please contact us.

I’m grateful to know that our new colleagues in CMS support us fully. We can

more forward, knowing we have amazing people doing amazing work in the

power of the Spirit. In October I visited Quito, Salta, Juarez and Recife, and God

is clearly at work through our partners. The meeting with the Southern Cone

Provincial Executive in Salta was greatly encouraging. Thank you for your prayers.

We were generously received and the conversations about collaboration between

the Southern Cone and SAMS/CMS were honest and grace filled. The presence

of Bishop Pat Harris, our President, made a significant difference.

So as we embark together on a new phase, we greatly miss those who left us at

the end of the year, but by faith we believe that the future for all of us has its lines

in pleasant places. The challenge of being a mission community is something I

am looking forward to and hope that everyone will study seriously the materials

we are producing as we lead up to Day 50 and our Pentecost integration

celebrations. Please come with us and give us your full support as we seek to be

faithful to our faithful God.

SHARE is produced by

the Church Mission Society,

Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ. Tel: 01865 787 400. Registered Charity Number

1131655. If you have

any questions regarding the

content, please call us or email:

[email protected]

Bishop Henry Scriven, Mission Director for Latin

America

DO YOU RECEIVE SHARE DIRECT TO YOUR HOME?After the next edition, we will no longer be sending bulk copies of SHARE magazine. If you currently receive SHARE from another person, please take a moment to send your name and address to Attn: SHARE, CMS, Watlington Road OX4 6BZ and we will send you SHARE directly. Or simply call 01865 787400 or email [email protected] and we will add your name to the SHARE list.

Thank you for helping us be a good steward of our resources in this way!


Saturday night loveIt’s a cold Saturday night in La Paz. I’m with SAMS Latin

partner Ronnie Irene, pastor of the Anglican Church of Cristo el

Salvador, as well as two elders of the church, a Lutheran pastor,

a couple of trainee doctors and a handful of students. Together,

we’re carrying a huge barrel of chicken soup downtown.

Moments after we’ve stopped on a dark, steep street, they

begin appearing: about a dozen young people, who come and

crouch on the pavement or in the gutter as soup is ladled out for them.

One can barely walk; he’s been run over by a vehicle. I can see that he’s also been

knifed: there’s a gash across his bare back, which the doctors swab and dress.

Others are in a hazy state, due to sniffing too much glue.

Then we set off to the nearby police station. Here are yet more youngsters,

arrested by the police either for theft or just on suspicion. They’re not in the

cells; cowed, they sit in the crowded station hallway, alongside a handful of burly

policemen.

I speak with one prisoner, Felipe. He’s about 20, slight with a worn face, and is

clearly rather stoned, but we soon get on to football and Manchester United: it’s

his team.

Then, in the middle of the police station, the pastor begins speaking. He gives a

powerful, heart-warming call to faith: and his hearers respond. The team pray with

them whilst the police look on. I shake hands with Felipe and we leave the station

for the dark drizzle of the night outside and leave an even darker world behind. I

Photo: Clive Evans Street in La Paz

Clive Evans, a vicar in rural Northamptonshire, spent part of his sabbatical in South America last year, staying with SAMS mission partners. He recalls one particularly moving experience with the El Amor en Acción, Love in Action, team in Bolivia.


marvel that this is all a regular Saturday night for the Love in Action team.

Some days later, I’m walking in the crisp sunshine along a fashionable street and

barely notice a heap of rags in a doorway. Something makes me turn back and I

see it’s Felipe. Can he remember me? I remember him.

Please pray for all the young people in La Paz like Felipe, who seem to have no

hope. Pray for the SAMS mission partners and Love in Action team as they reach

out to them and pray for all of us, that we might show love in action to others.

Charting a new church for Chile2010 is a big year for Chile and for Latin partners

Alejandra and Cristóbal Cerón, who recently received news

that the Diocese of Chile has agreed to plant a church in

downtown Santiago and that Cristóbal is to be principal

planter.

“We have been dreaming of this possibility, particularly as

we consider the 230,000 students who enter different

universities in our city each year and who are not being

reached for the gospel,” said Cristóbal. “Pray God may send

revival in downtown Santiago.”

A journalist by background, Cristóbal has for the past three

years been assistant pastor at San Lucas Evangelista Church

in La Florida, Santiago, under Pastor Nelson Ojeda. As he

and Alejandra pioneer this new work downtown, they will

remain committed to the evening congregation at San Lucas.

In addition, 2010 presents some unique mission opportunities as Chile celebrates

200 years of independence from Spain. As coordinator of Uno en Cristo (One in

Christ), a gospel network which runs Urban Mission Outreach (MOU), Cristóbal has

begun promoting a National Mission Outreach to take place in the last week of 2010.

The network, which has grown from 35 young people to 1,000, will be encouraging

local congregations throughout the country to join together in evangelism for six

days at the end of this year whilst Chile celebrates the bicentenary.

“Praise God for his goodness!” says Cristóbal. “Pray we may never get cold, that our

hearts may keep burning for Jesus and his glory be made known to those who don’t

rejoice in him. We want to be faithful to the gospel and loving to the culture.”

Cerón family


Northern Argentina Consecration: 1,000 people, four languages, one hope“We approached the venue just after dusk, the service being held outside

on a netball court with two stands on either side for the congregation. The

front of the court had a stage for those leading the event where a backcloth

proclaimed, ‘Go into the world and make disciples of all nations’. After some

preliminary songs, the long procession of Wichi, Chorote and Toba leaders

emerged with their clerical ponchos to fill the front part of the space as all

sang the hymn ‘O Lord my God’ in Wichi.

“The service was led with great dignity by Bishop Abelino Apeleo from

Chile - well known to many of the 1,000 or so present. Nick was then formally

presented to the congregation, and the process that led to his election explained.

After prayers in each of the four languages represented, Bishop Pat Harris

preached. Basing his comments on the opening verses of Paul’s letter to Titus,

and speaking without notes in a mixture of Wichi and Spanish, he reminded us of

the task Nick faces as new bishop - especially that of choosing new leaders.

“There was a wonderful symmetry here: Pat had been the first bishop of the newly

formed Diocese of Northern Argentina in 1973. Soon after this, Mario Mariño had

been consecrated as the first Wichi suffragan bishop, and it was he who ordained

Nick deacon in 1979. Mario died in 2006 - leaving the North without a bishop. It felt

very much a case of one generation handing on the baton to the next.

“After this there was an unscheduled but moving testimony from Revd Isidro Vilte,

a Wichi Bible translator and archdeacon. He explained how God had prompted

both the Diocesan Council and Bishop Greg Venables to agree Nick should be

invited to be bishop. The service continued with the invocation of the Holy Spirit

to enable Nick in his ministry. The new bishop then reminded us that Christ is our

peace - the One who reconciles us to one another so that we can represent the

body of Christ - and so the whole congregation shared the peace. After a rousing

final hymn, we broke up to greet each other more informally.

“It is remarkable that this small diocese should be made up of four different

language groups - a reminder that walking together is possible only through the

power of the gospel. What an encouraging new start for the diocese after a period

of great sadness and anguish. Nick and his wife Catherine and the leaders in the

diocese need our prayers as they embark on this new season of such promise for

Northern Argentina.”

Trustee David Stokes was privileged to be among a group of visitors, including six bishops, who travelled from Salta to Juárez on 24 October for the consecration of Nick Drayson as Suffragan Bishop.


Seasons of purpose in a season-less country Patrick Butler reflects on 15 years in ParaguaySpring, summer, autumn and winter: each has its beauty and purpose. In subtropical Paraguay I missed the seasonal changes. Yet, our time in Paraguay was marked by different kinds of seasons through which God led us, and which resulted in fruit for his kingdom.The first four years were a season of preparing the ground. God needed to plough us up and get us ready for seeds he wanted to sow; it was a time of learning how things work in Paraguay and how to respond. One day I drove through a red light. “You’ve committed a serious offence”, said the policeman. “Pay $200 or I impound your car.”

‘Power’ to the powerlessTwo months into her placement, short-term volunteer nurse Wendy Power reflected on being in the Chaco region of Paraguay with long-

termer Beryl Baker

I am beginning to understand some cultural things on a deeper level, becoming more involved and engaged with local people. As a nurse I have been doing more consultations with patients, which is great. I work largely in Spanish, or Castilian as they say here, along with a few words of Guarani and lots of gesticulations with those who don’t speak Spanish.Most Indian villages have very powerful shamans or witchdoctors who are held in awe and given much prestige. Tragically, many people are guided by these shamans to refuse western medicine. Since I’ve been here I’ve learned of much harm done to individuals by shamans, including a young man of 28 who died of TB, leaving a widow and several orphaned children, because the shaman instructed him not to take his tablets.

We treated a man who complained of chest pain for ten days; he came to us only after the shaman was unsuccessful in curing him. It’s disturbing to see people prevented from accessing us or medical care because of the power of the shaman.We have made several trips into the more remote communities, which I have really loved. Just meeting people and being with them, bringing respect, care and the love of God is a wonderful privilege. As well as the usual treatments, we have given some eyeglasses to people: it’s a wonderful feeling to restore someone’s vision through something so simple.For a window into Wendy’s world, visit: www.wendypower.org.uk

Adios, London; Hola Argentina!Zewelanji Chamunda from the London area is beginning a five-month placement at Hogar el Alba children’s home in Buenos Aires, where she will work as a general assistant with the children, eating with them, playing with them and helping out wherever she can.

SHORT-TERM SHORT STORIES

Wendy is the first ”short-termer” jointly sent by CMS & SAMS


Then, looking at my ID: “Ah, you’re a missionary. I’d like to help you. Pay me five and we let it rest.” Weakness and confusion followed, and though I knew it was bribery, I paid him. I felt like the worst missionary ever in South America!A few months later, another traffic offence. But when offered the easy way out I said, “Look, I’ve broken the law and I’ll pay the fine.” The policeman broke into a huge smile and said, “How wonderful to meet someone so honest! Tell you what, let’s leave it there!”During this season of preparation, work was tough. Youth activities didn’t take off, projects nosedived, pastors didn’t understand us, we didn’t understand them, and after three and a half years I told Rosie we should “call it a day. We’re no use to anyone and we obviously misheard God’s call.”Then we got involved in St Andrew’s School. We hadn’t taken it seriously as an area of work; the students came from wealthy families - not what we came for. But Rosie began to fill in as an English teacher, I was invited to speak at camps and assemblies and we sensed the Lord opening a door. We were invited by the Anglican Church in Chile to find out about an evangelistic youth ministry called EJE (Youth Encounter) and suddenly we could see the Lord leading us into a new season of sowing and planting.From 1999 to 2004 everything flowed. The school bought into EJE 100%, we took students to Chile to do a weekend outreach, we began EJE in Asunción. More and more young people wanted to participate, and we saw many coming to Christ.Some were looking for a new spiritual home, so we began meetings on Sunday evenings, the nucleus of a new congregation. And as these grew it seemed the Lord was moving us into a third season, one of harvesting. From 2005 we began to identify those who could become leaders. For four years we worked closely with seven young people so they could take the church and EJE forward. On 10 May 2009, 27 people from this congregation were confirmed by Bishop Peter Bartlett, becoming an independent congregation.Now the Lord was leading us into a new season, preparing for future ministry. The call to ordination coincided with the need for another ordained minister in Asunción. So, alongside the evening congregation we took on the English-speaking chapel, ministering to ex-pats. This prepared the way for coming to Guildford as curate. In the last decade and half, we’ve learned to rejoice in the part God has given us. I used to feel guilty that in a poverty-stricken country, we were working with the wealthy, but I can see that in a church that works predominantly with the poor and marginalised there was a need for bringing in those with skills and resources - and I think the Lord used us to begin that process.Most importantly, we’ve learned that there are seasons: of waiting on God, seasons of preparation, seasons when God seems to be particularly active, and seasons that feel like a desert: all part of growing in faith and maturity. Just as we can’t rush winter into spring, or spring into summer, we need to let God use each season for its purpose in us and the church.

The Butler family

The Butlers’ congregation


Leading South American thinker Samuel Escobar looks to the past and to the futureCape Town 2010 means football’s World Cup – and also the church’s

World Mission. In October that city will host the Third Lausanne Conference on

World Evangelisation, born out of the seminal 1974 event in Switzerland. Major

developments in world mission thinking and practice will inform the Cape Town

conference as well as other significant gatherings this year, including Edinburgh 2010,

the centenary of an historic World Missionary Conference in the Scottish capital.

The 20th century saw two cycles of Protestant missionary activity. One had its

roots in the previous century and was prominent up to 1945, being marked by

the activity of European and North American mission agencies and by theological

debate about mission and the identity of the new churches springing up in Asia,

Africa and Latin America. Alongside denominational missions were the so-called

faith missions, notably the China Inland Mission founded in 1865 by Hudson

Taylor which targeted areas neglected by traditional missions. Today it has

become the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF), which has influenced other

independent missions.

Then after World War 2, organisations of global reach came into being, such as the

United Bible Societies and the World Evangelical Alliance. New specialist agencies

emerged for Bible translation, missionary transport to remote areas, radio and

TV ministry, health needs, all reflecting and disseminating the cultural values of

the sending countries. Another development was the impact of evangelist Billy

Graham in North America and Europe, reflecting the new status of these areas

as mission fields where millions had lost genuine contact with the established

churches. Graham was also aware of the importance of theology, and the launch

of Christianity Today magazine placed serious theological reflection alongside

missionary and evangelistic fervour. At the same time an awakening of evangelical

scholarship in the English-speaking world brought to the fore people like John

Stott, Jim Packer, Michael Green and Leon Morris.

An important precursor to Lausanne 1974 was the World Congress on Evangelism

held in Berlin eight years earlier. It was there that Stott opened to evangelicals a

key dimension of the biblical agenda: ‘Mission in Christ’s way’. In his expositions

on ‘The Great Commission’, Stott focused attention not on the classic Matthew 28


passage but on the ‘forgotten’ John 20.21: “As the Father has sent me, so I send

you”. Here we have not only a mandate for mission but also a model for mission,

in obedience to the Father’s love, moulded by the example of Jesus Christ and

driven (v. 22) by the Holy Spirit. Mission requires faithfulness to the message but

also to the model. Methods and tools for mission must be preceded by a style of

missionary presence appropriate to the moment and faithful to the way in which

Jesus went about the Great Commission.

Stott’s exposition led many evangelicals to the view that missionary activism ran

the risk of doing mission as a purely human undertaking, even as a religious form

of cultural imperialism. From the Catholic ‘Sword and Cross’ to the Protestant

‘Commerce and Christianity’, through to ‘Information, Technology and Gospel’,

Christianity’s forward march has depended on that of its secular allies. Essential,

therefore, to return to the biblical vision of mission as God’s initiative, springing

from his love for creation and his choice of human instruments for the salvation

and blessing of all humanity.

This approach is still being worked out. Evangelism and church planting in key areas such

as the Muslim world, Eastern Europe and Central Asia require a genuine international

mission enterprise based on a new mentality. But in many cases significant progress

has been evident since Lausanne as evangelicals have engaged, internationally and

multiculturally, in critical reflection on God’s mission.

Based on, and translated from, an article in ACPress, Protestante Digital, 6 October 2009.

Keeping countWe praise God for the way he has provided for SAMS during its 165-year season,

and thank him that the SAMS balance sheet and finances were in good shape

as we headed towards integration with CMS.

The unrestricted incoming resources received by SAMS so far in 2009 (to

November – the time of writing) totalled £846,000 compared to the revised

income target of £1,050,000, which is encouraging. We thank all of you who have

supported us so faithfully despite many and varied pressures. The changes faced

by SAMS have not been easy, but as Scripture says, we should rejoice in the Lord

always. May we trust in Jesus for all that lies ahead, for in him we have everything.

May we know the God of peace and not be anxious about anything (Phil 4).

As we give thanks, we pray that the church in South America and Iberia may

develop in step with the Spirit as it relates to other mission initiatives and operations

worldwide. The aim of the merger is to create a mission operation in South America

(phase 3). Please pray that this will be fulfilled and resourced as the Lord directs.

Philip Tadman, Finance Director for SAMS GB, shares some thoughts about rejoicing in the Lord always, a financial update and some items for prayer.

You can order Samuel Escobar’s A Time for Mission at cms-shop.org .uk


Richard CroftsSally Bartlett honours a man who was at the

hub of the SAMS family for twelve yearsWe’re so grateful for Richard’s ministry in the SAMS

family and the Southern Cone. He has truly made a

lasting contribution to mission in South America.

Richard’s life and work embrace Christ’s example:

whosoever will be great among you shall be your

minister (Mark 10:43). As Area Secretary and a member of GB Team Ministries,

Richard has done everything from lugging suitcases about for others, addressing

the cares and concerns of church leaders, corresponding through emails, letters

and phone calls, giving sermons seasoned with South American spark, preparing

PowerPoints, and overall, encouraging and drawing people together. He has a real

gift for dispensing wise words in challenging situations.

When Peter and I were part of the Parr Team in St Helens, a highlight was the

South American Barn Dance, facilitated by Richard, in support of mission partners

David and Jean Hucker. Richard enthused us for mission in South America as we,

along with about a hundred others, enjoyed his presentations, zany dances and a

meal, raising funds for ministry in Chile.

Richard, you are not simply a work colleague. You’re a trusted and treasured friend,

and on behalf of SAMS/CMS, SAMS supporters, the Anglican church in South

America and its mission partners, we pray you will always be a ‘tree of justice,

planted by the Lord to honour his name’ (Isaiah 61:3). And may God’s face shine

upon you in this next stage of life and service for the King.

Don Roberto FwalaläBishop David Leake writes of Bob Lunt, who has served

with SAMS for 33 yearsThe Wichi people of Northern Argentina are quick to observe people’s physical

features - the way one walks or sits, what one

wears - and then designate a name. So it was

his pullover, hair colour, or both, that led to Bob

being called Fwalalä (literally ‘creature of the sun’),

the Wichi name for the bright reddish vermilion

flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus).

After a degree in Spanish and a short time as a

librarian, Bob went to Argentina in 1977, marrying

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missionary doctor Margaret Scott two and a half years later. They returned to the

UK in 1991, but Bob continued frequent visits to Northern Argentina until 2002

when the Wichi Bible was published and presented.

Such a sketch leaves many gaps. Bob has a dry, astute sense of humour which he

puts to good use in illustrating his translation work, not least in his conversational

act of doubling up as himself and his great friend and collaborator Isidro Vilte, a

presentation which has amused and enlightened many audiences with regard to

the complexity of translating the Scriptures.

Fwalalä took over where pioneers Richard Hunt, Henry Grubb and Alberto

González had to leave off, working with translators and producing the Wichi

Bible, a grammar, literacy primer, and soon a dictionary - a worthy and admirable

heritage for any missionary. One also finds his name and contributions hidden

away in acknowledgements, bibliography and index sections of anthropological

books relating to Indian groups in Argentina.

Bob is the depository of a wealth of information, and if he does not immediately know

the answer to a question, his discipline and background will soon find it, be it the

names of missionaries in San Patricio in 1943, the identities of those who died with

Allen Gardiner, or decisions made at a staff meeting in Mision Chaqueña in 1928.

Bob’s expertise and experience overseas have made him an excellent Resources

Officer for SAMS and editor of SHARE. So this is an opportune moment and place to

pay tribute and express our deep thanks to Fwalalä for all he has done in Argentina

and the UK and wish him and Margaret well in their next stage of life and work.

Elizabeth LuntBishop Henry Scriven says a few words about

Elizabeth LuntElizabeth deserves special thanks. Her quiet exterior

masks a very efficient and gifted person who has made

a very significant contribution to the ministry of the SAMS

communications and resources office. Working with her

father, she has been able to complement his gifts with her

own knowledge of things technical and graphic. She has

also tirelessly done research and provided the team with articles of interest about

South America from wider publications such as the Economist. We are glad that

the Bishop of Sheffield has managed to find her another day’s work in his office to

add to the three she already does. We are grateful to God for Elizabeth and wish

her well in her future career and ministry. Thank you, Elizabeth.

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The Hucker family are in the UK until mid-March.

David and Jean are building a congregation—and

a church to house them—in the northern Chilean city of Arica, where “those who

grow…in their walk with God are the ones who come on Sundays and attend

midweek home groups for Bible study. People have been added and have

compensated for members that have moved to the South of Chile or the USA.”

As for church construction, “this is a frustrating thing in Arica. It seems to come in

waves of great activity and then ceases for a few months.” Please pray for Gerardo,

the church member in charge. One of the Huckers’ link churches, Holy Trinity

Formby, set aside two months to fundraise for the church building. ‘Change for

Chile’ involved giving change away, as in the parable of the talents, making chutney

/ chocolate / chili for Chile, holding coffee mornings, Sunday lunches, a race night,

wine-tasting, quizzes, painting, etc.

Huge financial challenges at FEISA, the Early Years Teacher Training College,

meant that Bishop Peter Bartlett of Paraguay had to implement

a restructuring to reduce dependence on external funding and

enable the teacher training college to be more locally sustainable.

“This gives more autonomy to the local leadership”, write Rupert

and Samantha Parsons, “by reducing expatriate influence. Though

painful, it has been a positive move for FEISA and has given it the

best chance of surviving.”

Head Estela de López has retired after serving FEISA for many years. As for the

Parsons, Rupert was hoping to train a local accountant to take over this year, while

Samantha’s role as coordinator of social programmes ended with the restructuring.

She is now working in a children’s home for abused and abandoned girls, “and

simply loving it!” The home is run by a Paraguayan couple and supported by a

Christian charity called Operation South America.

Ronnie and Nicky Irene and family (see Saturday Night Love story

p3) have now moved from Bolivia to serve in Paraguay.

Tim Greenhalgh is now Church Relations Officer at CMS in Oxford.

Lionhearted SAMS supporter Gordon Crawshaw died in October.

Described at his thanksgiving service as ‘a 100% Christian’, Gordon was

Assistant Warden of Allen Gardiner House from 1968-1981 when it was

a training centre for SAMS missionaries.

Gilberto Porcal, parish priest of St Luke’s, Salto, Uruguay, and

founder of the church of the Holy Spirit, is now Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of

Uruguay. St Luke’s is one of the oldest Anglican churches in Latin America.

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The Hucker family

Tim Greenhalgh


Day 50, the National Celebration on 22 May at the King’s Centre, Oxford, marking the union of SAMS and CMS in a new CMS Community, will be addressed by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu. Archdeacon Hugo Vergara, SAMS Latin Partner from the Diocese of Northern Argentina, will be present as a representative of the Southern Cone. You are warmly invited, please see www.cms-uk.org/day50

The Diocese of Chile’s Synod, held in Temuco in November, was considered by many to be the best ever. A document called Por la causa del reino (For the cause of the Kingdom), laying the road ahead until 2020, was accepted and signed amid much rejoicing. The idea is to move from a mentality of maintenance (depending on others to support the work of the local church) to one of mission, with an emphasis on church planting.

Faith2Share (www.faith2share.net) is an international network of Christian mission movements, including branches of CMS and SAMS. Its Leadership Consultation for 2010 will take place in Recife, northeast Brazil, from 12-18 April.

The SAMS website is being absorbed into the new CMS website www.cms-uk.org.

Illustrations in the SAMS magazine from its inception in 1867 are now listed and available to consult via the SAMS Library page of the website.

Microform Academic Publishers (MAP) hold a set of 17 reels of microfilm containing ‘Records from the archive of the South American Missionary Society’. This includes most of the material up to 1919, including the journals of pioneers Allen Gardiner, Edward Bernau and Adolfo Henriksen, General Committee Minutes from 1844 and the Society’s magazine. Thanks to MAP, all this material is also now online at www.britishonlinearchives.co.uk/collection.

The 150th anniversary of the massacre of the SAMS catechist and crew of the schooner Allen Gardiner was commemorated in a special service at the cathedral in Port Stanley in the Falklands on 6 November. An exhibition entitled ‘Saints and Sailors’ (pictured) was mounted to tell the story of the event and of SAMS’ early days in the South Atlantic.

NEWS

David & Jean Hucker, Wesley and Caleb arrived from Chile in mid-January and are here in the UK for two months.Linn Tedman returns to Paraguay on 26 January to resume her teacher-librarian duties at St Andrew’s School. Going back to South America in February are Andrew & Maria Leake (14th to Northern Argentina) and Juan Carlos & Penny Marcés (28th to Peru), while Caroline Gilmour-White completes a private visit and returns to Paraguay on 1 March.Elaine Black spent two and a half years as a volunteer teacher at St Andrew’s School in Asunción, Paraguay.

We thank Elaine very much for her contribution to God’s work in school and beyond.Hugo & Techi Vergara are in the UK between mid-April and mid-July.on a well-earned sabbatical from Northern Argentina. Alf Cooper comes to the UK from Chile for a month from mid-May. Both the Vergaras and Alf will attend Day 50, the national celebration in Oxford of the new joint CMS and SAMS on 22 May.Paul & Sarah Tester are on UK leave from Peru from mid-March to mid-August.

Globe+crossers

Saints and Sailors


It’s for all of usThis Pentecost let us Celebrate God’s mission in our world Recommit our lives

to his call Dedicate the CMS Community to his purpose

Saturday 22 May 2010 1.30pm–6pmThe King’s Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ESwith The Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York,The Rev Canon Alfredo Coope, Chile; Dennis Tongoi, CMS Africa, The Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry (CMS Community Episcopal Visitor) worship with Tribe of Judah Gospel Choir from Jesus House, London

For tickets visit www.cms-uk.org/day50 or call Anita: 01865 787496

www.cms-uk.org

share magazine 2010 - issue 1

Documents

new sams

new cms

new experience of sams

new world

sams gb

demise of sams

sams supporters

cms projects