share: mission news from latin america and iberia

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Living in BoliviaNew adventures: Central America People in mission pull together in Peru

Inside:

02 SHARE SPRING 2016

SHARE is produced by the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ. Tel: 01865 787400. Registered Charity Number 1131655. If you have any questions regarding the content, please call us or email:[email protected] Cover photo of Potosi – old silver mining city by Rachel Burton.

This is the last edition of the magazine Share which was started by the South American Mission Society (SAMS) soon after the death of Captain Allen Gardiner in 1851. The magazine has gone through several incarnations (it was called Sent from 1963 and Share from 1974) and adapted to the times. The new CMS quarterly newspaper that we are about to launch will include articles and information about Latin America and the rest of the world. It will have a vastly larger readership than Share has ever enjoyed. So this is a bittersweet occasion.

I started my role with CMS in January 2009. Since then many things have happened: we worked hard at the details of the integration; we faced up to some painful decisions, particularly about redundancies of several very faithful staff and volunteers; those of us in the office learned an enormous amount about mission in other parts of the world; we have been encouraged by a continuous stream of high quality mission partners and short termers; we have had the privilege of deepening the relationship of CMS with the church in Latin America. And CMS has been immeasurably enriched by having close contact with SAMS and the wider SAMS family.

For my part it has been a privilege to work with the senior management team of CMS and to share in the oversight of a

community which is on the cutting edge of mission in the 21st century. It is hard work, but also a lot of fun.

We have an encouraging future. We have 14 selected mission partners and short termers who are at varying stages of preparing for service in Latin America. Three of them are now on our 10-week mission partner training programme, based in the office and the CMS community house, and the others are short termers or will do the training in the future. God does seem to be sending us people whom he is calling and they are very gifted and passionate.

We have started a new category of enhanced short term (EST) mission partners. These are people who are committing initially for two years, but with the possibility of continuing after that as long-term mission partners, if selected. Though they aren’t initially employees of CMS we are happy to be helping them with raising support. On this EST track are Alex and Jane Cacouris who are headed for Rio de Janeiro in this Olympic year to work at Christ Church alongside CMS mission partners Mark and Jess. This is an exciting joint venture with Christ Church; they get two chaplains and a new mission vision for both English and Portuguese language work, and CMS gets to place two mission partner families in a key mission context.

Do watch out for the stories of our mission partners, short termers, enhanced short termers and local partners (Latin partners) in the CMS paper to be launched in June. In the meantime, enjoy this final edition of Share. A big thank you to all our contributors over the years; the mission of God goes ahead and we are privileged to be a small part of it.

Hasta luego!

” Hasta luego”, no ”adios”

Bishop Henry Scriven mission director for Latin America

SHARE SPRING 2016 03

How have we been doing this? We’ve been consulting with various members of the CMS family and working with an external branding agency.

Why have we been doing this? We want to uncover a truthful and compelling way of looking, speaking and being that will help CMS stand out and connect with a new generation.

When will changes take place? The plan is for the new look and feel – including a new logo – to be unveiled in June 2016. Those who have been part of the CMS family for a long time will be relieved to know that we aren’t changing our name or altering our values.

What does this mean for you? Part of the process has involved taking a look at how we can make the most of our publications. As a result of that review, we will be combining some CMS publications, including Mission Update, Connect and our regional magazines Share and Africa News, into one new publication – a quarterly newspaper.

So, sadly, this means this is the last issue of Share, but as Bishop Henry said in his editorial, you can look forward to receiving plenty of good news from Latin America in our new newspaper. The first issue is out in June, so not long to wait!

Please continue to send stories to: [email protected]

Anna Sims (Lima, Peru) is on UK leave from April 2016 for five months.

Sharon Wilcox (Santo Domingo, Ecuador) is on UK leave from April for six months.

A new look and new publication for CMSThanks to a generous donation from a supporter, CMS had the opportunity to carry out a review of our “brand” – that is, our identity, our trademark, how other people perceive us and how we perceive ourselves.

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Even the police hesitate

to enter a particular

neighbourhood in

Tartagal, Argentina.

But that didn’t stop CMS

mission partners Ed and

Marie Brice from sharing the

light and love of Jesus there.

Barrio 9 de Julio is

notoriously violent. At the

end of July, 100 young

people took control of the

district after a youth was killed

by a local gang. Residents

were held hostage and not

even police dared to go

in and make arrests until

September.

An area journalist reported,

“The area is plagued by drug

outlets and even though

neighbours protest to the

police, nobody does anything.”

Prayers for peace

brought to danger zone

One Monday evening

Ed, Marie and other local

Christian leaders decided to

hold a public prayer meeting

within this community. They

requested a police escort.

“The police said they couldn’t

come and recommended we

didn’t go either!” said Ed.

Despite the warning, a group

of eight walked through unlit dirt

roads to a central football field.

Suddenly out of the darkness

appeared several figures.

“It turned out they were local

Christians who’d been told we

were coming,” Ed said.

Close to 60 Christians stood

in the football pitch and prayed

and sang together for an hour for

Barrio 9 de Julio. “We returned

“The area is plagued by drug outlets

and even though neighbours protest

to the police, nobody does anything”

Syrian refugee family baptised in Egypt

After a missile struck and

destroyed most of their

street, a Syrian family of five fled

their home to Egypt. There they

found new life and have been

baptised at an Egyptian church

led by CMS mission partners.

“The family showed up at

our church early in the year with

nothing but a few bags,” said

mission partner Adel. “They were

welcomed into our congregation

and were helped to find a flat and

schools for the three children,

two young boys and a 12-year-

old girl.”

A few months later, the whole

family asked to be baptised, so

Adel baptised them during the

church’s Easter service.

Adel said: “What makes us

excited is their love for God and

their passion for other Syrian

refugees. We would like to enable

them to minister to refugees in

whatever way God leads.”

home rejoicing but with little

idea of what might happen.

One positive outcome was that

the demoralised Christians in

the community began meeting

nightly to pray and prepare for a

special showing of a film about

forgiveness. They also plan to

hold an evangelistic event.”

Above: Tartagal at night

Mission partners Ed and Marie

Brice train church leaders in

northern Argentina

Finding shelter in Christ: family of five refugees being baptised at Easter

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A church’s love for people

with leprosy and blindness is

drawing a community to Jesus in

Tanzania.It all started when the pastor,

Stephen Mbithi, attended a Vision Conference organised

by CMS Africa. There he was

challenged to take action to help

his vulnerable neighbours.“Disabled people in this

society aren’t welcomed,” explained CMS Africa director

Dennis Tongoi. “They are left to

fend for themselves. The Arusha

community has many people

suffering from leprosy and sight

difficulties and they are seriously

disdained – people doubt they

are fully human.”Since the Vision Conference,

Church’s love for lepers points

community towards Christ Mum and daughter baptised in prisonA young woman imprisoned

for drug trafficking and her

two-year-old daughter found

freedom in Jesus behind bars in

a Uruguay prison last year. They

have recently been released and

are living and attending church

north of Fray Bentos.This is thanks to the work

of Latin mission partners the

Rev Gonzalo and Leticia Soria

and their team at La Trinidad

Church, who do weekly visits to

the local prison. “Baptism in a

prison was a unique experience,”

Gonzalo said. “A dozen inmates

accompanied Johana and her

daughter and applauded as they

were baptised.”Gonzalo continued: “Now

released, Johana and her daughter remain in faith. For our

part, we keep visiting, providing

space for listening and prayer and

allowing lives to be transformed

by encounters with Jesus.” Gonzalo recently celebrated

10 years of ordained ministry in

Fray Bentos.

Pastor Stephen has encouraged

his church members to start seed projects – helping blind and

leprous people with household

chores, growing food and other tasks.

The community has taken

notice. Dennis shares a story of a

local child who got sick and died.

Local people were astounded

when Pastor Stephen’s church

offered to cover the medical and

burial expenses. “This gesture had

a huge impact. Many asked how

they could give their lives to Christ.”

It is hoped that as the church

continues to support vulnerable

people, the community mindset

will change and they will no longer be excluded. Vision Conferences are

part of CMS Africa’s Samaritan

Strategy, which aims to equip and

mobilise African churches to bring

about transformation in their

communities using resources

they already have.CMS partners with CMS Africa

prayerfully and financially.

“Many asked how they could give their

lives to Christ”

Proposed design

The Sorias in Uruguay: their

weekly prison visits help people

find Jesus in a dark place

Having just received Jesus during

a church service in Tanzania, two

people (centre) pray with CMS

Africa director Dennis Tongoi (left)

and their pastor

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www.cms-uk.org

• Struggle for land among marginalised groups

• EnxetBibletranslationupdate

• BrummieshitBolivia

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:• Mission on the touch line in Brazil

• Faith, family and forest in Northern Argentina

• Meet our four new Latin partners

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www.cms-uk.org

www.cms-uk.org

PRAYING FOR BIG DREAMS IN LATIN AMERICA AND SPAIN

Inside: Stories of dynamic discipleship from Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Spain, Argentina and Paraguay

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12/07/2013 10:13

Emil and Mano (far right), with daughter Abi and a church leader

Loving your Asian neighbour in Nairobi

Their vision is now a reality. Emil and Mano played a key role in planting two Asian outreach churches in Nairobi. This includes their home church, Nav Jeevan (New Life) Assembly, which was set up in South C district in July 2011, and where they are currently pastors and CMS mission associates.The church began with 35 Asian Christians and has grown to a congregation of more than 70. The three pillars of Nav Jeevan are fellowship, outreach and growth.

“There is success in the growth of a number of Christians in their faith and Christian walk,” says Emil. “There is also growth through fellowship outside Sunday services, at home fellowships during all five days of the week in different areas of South C,” he adds.“There were four baptisms of new believers in the first year and four new believers are undergoing baptism classes this year. All of them are Asians, either Catholics or nominal Christians. A few Hindus and

Originally from South India, Emil and Mano Chandran arrived in

Kenya in 1985 as CMS mission partners. Their vision, along with a

few other Asian Christian leaders, was to unite Asian Christians in

Nairobi from different denominations and to reach out to Asian

Hindu and Sikh neighbours with the gospel.

Sikhs have made a commitment in faith,” says Emil.In 2008, Emil was also one of the main founders of the Fellowship of Asian Christians in Kenya (FOACK) whose purpose is to unite Asians in Christ; he served as chairman from 2009 to mid-2013. This is a trailblazing initiative that has strengthened Asian outreach ministry in Kenya, assisted Christian churches in Asian outreach, has established a network of Asian Christian believers in cities and towns in Kenya – and promoted the integration of Asians within Kenyan society. FOACK, as a part of its holistic approach, launched a community support programme in Nairobi and two other counties last December, which offers scholarships to Kenyan students in need in Form 1 (high school). Emil continues as a board member of FOACK.The Asian community in Kenya largely comprises Indian people, who came to Kenya during the 19th century to construct the Kenya-Uganda railway. “They live in close-knit societies and are often successful business people. Religion to them is tied to their cultural, continued on page 2

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Jess and Mark Simpson have started a new role at Christ Church, Rio de Janeiro, where Mark is the new chaplain. They are joined by Alex and Jane Cacouris and their three children, Mylo, Maia and Louis, who are going for two years; Alex will be associate chaplain.

Mark and Rosalie Balfour are the first ever CMS mission partners going to Guatemala, working with street children eventually, but at the moment doing intensive language study.

Lee Norfolk is going for two years to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where he is working with a YWAM project with street children.

Rachel Burton is also in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, for two years, working with a drug rehabilita-tion programme called Novõ (see page 9).

Ellie Thompson is working until the end of the year with a craft project in Arequipa, Peru, under the auspices of Craft Aid International.

Jess and Mark Simpson


Poverty, persistence and prayer: reflections on life in the ChacoBy Philip Mounstephen, CMS executive leader

During my trip to the Argentine Chaco in autumn 2015 I took a picture that is completely unremarkable. It’s a picture of Chaco vegetation: cactuses, bushes and small trees – typical Chaco scrubland. I took it to make the point that there’s nothing remarkable about the Chaco: it’s flat, and relatively featureless and what you see in my photo is repeated relentlessly for mile after mile after mile.

And yet the Chaco is a remarkable place, not least because of the remarkable people you find there. What follows are some reflections built around three key words that sum up for me mission and ministry in the Chaco of Northern Argentina.

Poverty

The Chaco is not a rich place. In small indigenous villages you feel a very long way

away from the tree-lined avenues of Buenos Aires. You’re often aware of the infrastructure of a modern state in the background (I had an excellent wi-fi signal in one village!) but that seems very largely to have passed people by. I was struck by the fact that the three assistant bishops elect, the very impressive Urbano, Mateo and Crisanto, will not be paid for their ministry. People were tremendously hospitable and generous to us, but at the same time I was aware of the poor diet most people subsisted on. Ask people where the Church will be in five years’ time and no-one really knows. There is indeed a fragility about the Church due to its relatively poor resources.

And yet this Church is rich! There is a strong sense of community and of people being genuinely committed to one another

Hitching a lift on a water tanker


– a much stronger sense of community than we are used to in the individualised West. People were evidently strong in faith too, and it was wonderful to see gifted people stepping forward into leadership. We were privileged to attend the ordination of Elena, the first woman ordained in the diocese, and the commissioning of Marcial Lopez as a zonal pastor.

Persistence

But the Chaco is a tough place to be. I was immensely impressed by the long term commitment of CMS mission partners such as Catherine Le Tissier and Bishop Nick Drayson and David and Shelley Stokes (see pages 6 and 7). Catherine and Nick could live in the comfort of the Bishop’s House in Salta, on the edge of the diocese. Instead they and the Stokes live in Juarez, at the heart of the diocese. If Shelley and David lived in Salta, Shelley would probably play her violin in a local orchestra; there are

certainly no orchestras in Juarez.I found their long term commitment to

incarnational mission in the Chaco very impressive, and very challenging.

Prayer

Whenever we visited a community we ended up praying together. It felt like such a natural thing to do and spoke of the wholeness and integrity of people’s discipleship; there was nothing that we could not lift to the Lord.

I was particularly struck by the strength of prayer when we visited a community led by a remarkable man called Gulacio. He and a number of others had established a settlement on ancestral lands that they believed were in danger of being taken away from them. So we discussed where a well should be dug; we studied maps – and we prayed.

Gulacio and those with him believe that our God is Lord of all. And the knowledge that he is fills me with hope for the Church in Chaco. For all of its fragility and poverty it is held safe and secure in the hands of the Lord who loves it.

Their long term commitment to incarnational mission is very impressive, and very challenging.

Toba women with Catherine Le Tissier


Walking with the Wichí

Q: What are some challenges of living in Ingeniero Juarez?

A: Ingeniero Juarez is a small, friendly town, where people greet strangers in the street. We buy our food in small local shops, where service is always friendly, though supplies are intermittent. In the summer, it is best to shop early as midday temperatures often reach the 40s and 50s. It is a huge relief that we now have improved internet, so we can do online work during the day – not just between 3am and 7am – and Skype our children. Another recent improvement is that the petrol station cafe now has an espresso machine. Despite the challenges, it is a privilege to accompany the Wichí and other churches at a time of such rapid and critical change.

Q: Can you say more about this change?

A: There is a general drift from rural areas towards the towns. In Juarez there are Wichí and Tobas who have bases here but also back in their original communities. So they have a pattern of coming here for children’s education, to collect their monthly benefits and other business, but often spend the summer months (January and February) back with their families. The men are often prepared to work for several months away from home – either for harvesting, or a building job.

The considerable numbers of social benefits have made a big difference to the amount of cash in the communities. It has been much harder for the government to create real jobs in the area – only a small minority have full-time employment. Impressive new buildings for schools and hospitals are often not matched by the provision of adequate personnel and equipment. What changes the new government will make to the status quo remains to be seen.

The original hunter-gatherer lifestyle now needs to be adapted to a totally different lifestyle with much closer contact with the criollo (settler) way of life and much greater availability of consumer goods. Management of money is a real challenge – getting a motorbike on credit for travel is widespread; so is the availability of cable TV. Underneath all this is the question of Wichí or Toba identity in the younger generation. Parenting in the new town context is a real challenge. There are widespread problems of alcoholism, use of drugs and early pregnancy.

Q: Where does the church stand in all of this?

A: There are small Anglican churches in many of the scattered indigenous communities – so the churches are always

Having previously served with SAMS, David and Shelley Stokes returned to the Diocese of Northern Argentina in November 2010, specifically to Ingeniero Juarez, in the far north of Argentina. They accompany the mainly Wichí-speaking congregations at a time of rapid change. David is involved in encouraging and training new and existing church leaders and working with three assistant bishops elect – Mateo Alto (Toba), Crisanto Rojas and Urbano Duarte (both Wichí). Shelley works mainly with women and families through an organisation called AMARE, affiliated with Mothers’ Union.


involved on the ground. Gatherings of church leaders can give a good idea of the situation on any particular issue – whether land rights, use and abuse of the environment at a local level, or access to adequate health care or education. This gives the diocese an important role in speaking out and trying to take appropriate steps as a body.

Q: How have things changed in David’s work with the new assistant bishops elect?

A: So far they have been travelling mainly with mission partner Bishop Nick Drayson to get to know the different diocesan zones. They will be consecrated in June, and by then it will be clearer how their work will be apportioned. I hope they will be with me during some of my visits to various zones. I hope they will also help with the leaders’ training course in May and that as time passes they will feel able to give more feedback and direction to the pattern of training of new leaders and my work generally. Our work here will only last if it can be passed on to local leaders. They are working ‘ad honorem’ but should receive some support for travel costs and for their families while they are away.

Q: Shelley, why do you think AMARE is proving so popular (over 850 members in 14 zones)?

A: The members are not only connected with other members in the diocese but with Mothers’ Union worldwide. It affirms women who often feel isolated or marginalised, and it is a way to encourage them to organise themselves and put their good intentions into action. The women have met to read the Bible, sing and pray for years, but easily fall into a routine that doesn’t connect with their real needs. In AMARE we try to encourage new ideas. At a recent meeting, the women put photos of young family members who are into drink and drugs on a chair, and we gathered around and prayed for them. I felt there was spiritual power there, and it was their idea.

Prayer Points

• For the developing ministries of the three assistant bishops elect.

• For the gospel to have an increasing impact on the younger generation of Wichí, Toba and Chorote and help them find their identity in Christ.

The Stokes trip to Rivadavia with bishops Mateo and Duarte (on far right)


By Reverend Geoff Lanham, vicar at Christ Church, Selly Park, Birmingham

“We are a small, emerging diocese, will you help us?” These words from the diocese of Bolivia to a church in Selly Park, Birmingham marked the start of a great relationship.

We began to consider developing an informal relationship with the Diocese of Bolivia after two visits from Bolivian clergy – former CMS local partner Walter Barrientos and Bishop Raphael Samuel.

With the help and support of Bishop Maurice and Gill Sinclair, long-term SAMS mission partners in South America and stalwarts of the CMS Latin Forum, a team of 12 people, including Maurice and Gill, went to Bolivia for three weeks in the summer of 2013. We hoped to experience something of church life and ministry in the diocese and to contribute to mission projects which four Bolivian churches had organised.

We soon realised that Bolivians often seemed to feel forgotten by much of the Christian world; the Bolivian Anglican Church feels itself to be a tiny shoot. From clergy and lay leaders alike came the words, “We are a small, emerging diocese, will you help us?”

After the impact this visit made on our church, we visited Bolivia again in July 2015. This trip had a strong training element; we gave seminars on lessons we had learned in leadership, working in teams and engaging with the community. We led and ministered at a healing service in Santa Cruz. Near the end of the trip, we met a woman who had

been healed of an eye condition that night. She had attended a Bible study group but had never been to church. On Sunday after the healing service, she was so full of joy.

Our team divided between La Paz and Tarija. The La Paz team taught about praying for healing on the streets and encouraged people to have a go. We prayed with a young woman who became a Christian. In Tarija we spent time encouraging a pastor who had become very worn out and dispirited. We were able to leave him, thank God, in much better heart.

In Cochabamba, we all attended a diocesan conference, where we found people hungry to learn. We were encouraged to see great enthusiasm for working out practically how to implement the teaching. Overall, it was amazing to be in a culture where there is still a dominant framework of Christian understanding. We were heartened to see the growth in unity of the diocese.

So, what’s next in our diocesan partnership? In September, we are planning to host a team of eight Bolivian friends in

Birmingham. It’s great that reciprocal sharing is at the heart of true

partnership.

Birmingham and Bolivia: a beautiful friendship


By Rachel Burton in Bolivia

Before coming to Bolivia, I worked for seven years at Yeldall Manor, a Christian drug and alcohol rehab centre in the UK. I had a pastoral role (leading therapy groups, inducting new residents) as well as an administrative role (rotas, updating documents, monitoring, checking meds and drug tests). I loved demonstrating God’s love and grace to addicts in the context of community. I also learned about the importance of discipline and boundaries within that environment.

Las year, I began to wonder what was next for me. Andy Partington, former Yeldall Manor director, asked if I’d considered joining him and his family as they moved to Bolivia to set up Novõ Community, built on Yeldall Manor’s approach. God had called him to return to Bolivia, where he’d pastored a church five years previously, to pursue this vision.

As we talked and I prayed, I had a sense of peace and excitement, and it seemed to be a good fit for me. My role at Yeldall Manor, as well as a couple of previous stints abroad (four months in Lesotho and six months in Senegal, as part of my French degree at Durham University) were hopefully good preparation for being able to adapt and serve wherever most needed in the pioneering work of Novõ.

At Yeldall Manor, I met CMS international director Paul Thaxter while he was visiting a colleague, and he suggested I apply to go to Bolivia with CMS. Again, it seemed to be a good fit, as I liked CMS’s values and principles, and coincidently, my parents were both overseas with CMS in Japan and Taiwan.

Short-term short stories

Addiction: a community approach

continued on page 10

I loved demonstrating God’s love and grace to addicts in the context of community. I also learned about the importance of discipline and boundaries within that environment.

Rachel Burton in Bolivia


Addiction is a growing problem in many developing countries, where individuals facing poverty, family breakdown, abuse and other social issues are increasingly turning to substances for a temporary, but enslaving, solution. In Bolivia, the third largest grower of the coca leaf, the raw ingredient for cocaine, this is largely addiction to a crude form of cocaine (most pure cocaine is exported), alcohol, marijuana and solvents.

Novõ is aiming to equip Christians to respond to this crisis by creating a rehab community model that, after establishing the first one in Santa Cruz (employing a local director and local volunteer staff), can be replicated elsewhere in Bolivia, and ultimately further afield. The programme will be founded on Christ, and characterised by love and discipline, grace and truth, to enable people to live fulfilled lives free from addiction. My role will initially be to help structure the programme and take a lead in developing therapy group resources.

My first three months will be focussed on learning Spanish at a Christian language school in Cochabamba. Then I’ll return to Santa Cruz, to help get the structure and resources up and running, with the aim of opening the centre in September 2016. I’m excited about being able to communicate more effectively with people and building relationships here. I’d appreciate prayers for a productive time at language school, and that I would quickly make meaningful friendships and feel at home in a church.

For more information, see: novocommunities.org and rachelburtonblog.org

Breaking new ground in GuatemalaMark and Rosalie Balfour are trailblazing a new path for CMS as they head to Guatemala – becoming the first CMS mission partners ever to work in Central America. In time, they hope and pray more people will join them to work in the region.

Their plan is to work with street children and young people at risk in the centre of Guatemala City in a place called La Terminal. The couple will work with a charity called Mi Arca, which is linked to the UK charity Street Kids Direct. Mi Arca provides mentoring for young people and helps to equip them with vital life skills.

Addiction: a community approachcontinued from page 9

It was such an extraordinary experience because of the great sacrificial love and commitment of the people who lead the project

Mark and Rosalie also want to start a new church community in La Terminal. Currently it is an area where there is little or no church presence. La Terminal is the largest market area in Central America and where all the buses come in – hence the name, La Terminal.

“All sorts of business is conducted there – legitimate buying and selling but also the kind of business you find in similar areas all over the world: drugs, gangs, trafficking, extortion, prostitution and protection rackets,” says Mark.

In addition, as this is the central bus station and because Guatemala has a reputation in Latin American terms of being a place of opportunity, people from all over Central America – including Nicaragua, Honduras and el Salvador – go there looking for work. Inevitably, some will end up on the streets, while others are trafficked into that area.


Breaking new ground in GuatemalaLife for the children and young people

that Mark and Rosalie will be working with is “incredibly hard” – some will be living on the streets, while others are living with their families but at risk. “Some very tiny kids will be left all day wandering the streets as their mothers are trying to find work,” adds Rosalie.

The Balfours’ background is in parish ministry. Mark was vicar for nine and a half years at St Peter with St Mark’s in Maidenhead – working hand in hand with Rosalie – and prior to that he was a curate in Gloucestershire.

So how did they end up wanting to work in Guatemala? “Our connection with Central America started in 2011 with Rosalie helping to lead a church youth mission trip to a home for rescued street children in Honduras,” they explain.

“It was such an extraordinary experience because of the great sacrificial love and commitment of the people who lead the project and the transformation you can see that is happening in the lives of the children and young people who are there.”

This led to Mark and Rosalie exploring church partnership with the home as well as another mission trip. In 2013 the Balfours had the chance to spend two months in both Honduras and Guatemala.

On that trip, as well as renewing and deepening their friendship with people and ministries in Honduras, they were also captivated by Guatemala and its people. In a country that has had such a violent past and continues to suffer great violence and hardship, they say they encountered many stories of hope, with people bringing the transforming love and power of Jesus into the darkest situations.

In 2014 they chose to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with

Prayer points for Mark and Rosalie: Pray for us as we prepare to go out to

Guatemala – but also for the whole family as we walk with Rosalie’s mum through the final stages of her terminal cancer.

Pray that we stay close to Jesus in all the life changes that are happening.

Pray for us to remain open to what Jesus wants to do in us as well as through us when we go to Guatemala – that we go with “empty hands” ready to receive what he has to give.

a return trip to Guatemala City to revisit the street children’s project.

“In the days and weeks following that visit, we sensed a call from Jesus to make Guatemala our next home – and in particular, to plant a church in La Terminal,” says Mark.


People in mission pulling together in Pamplona, PeruBy CMS Latin partner officer Mary Rollin

Rev Anderson Sánchez, CMS local Latin partner, is pastor of Christ the Redeemer church in Pamplona Baja. Anderson’s heart is for teaching and evangelism, and he is married to Isabel Montoya, the daughter of Norma and Julio, whose life and work you can read about on page 13. Isabel is head of Holy Trinity Anglican School, a lively place where local children receive a Christian education. This year Anderson and Isabel have held days out with some of the parents. Anderson says, “We help them to see that God created the family for pleasure and love in the relationships, not only hard work and responsibility.”

Together with CMS mission partners Paul and Sarah Tester, a team including Anderson and Norma Montoya travel up to the San Juan mission point in Pamplona Alta to help with youth and children’s work in this deprived neighbourhood. The young people have a snack and Bible teaching. They are encouraged by their friendships with the team and join with other young Christians in the activities in local churches.

Please pray for all CMS people in mission as they face “highs” and “lows” in Peru, both literally and in their work.

San Juan de Miraflores is a shanty town district in the dusty hills to the south of Lima – including Pamplona Alta (high) and Pamplona Baja (low). The higher part is hilly, mainly unpaved and with basic housing. At first people lived without electricity, water or plumbing, often building homes into the steep hills. Soon residents started to reinforce their shanty homes with plywood, bricks, or whatever else they could find. Pamplona Baja is lower down and has better amenities, schools and transport.

CMS mission partner Pat Blanchard set up and developed the Shalom centre for children with disabilities in Pamplona Alta. Started in 2008, the centre was recently completely remodelled to provide space for Pat to work with her team and physio Alberto to provide a range of therapies for over 80 children.

Pat is a deacon in the Anglican Diocese of Peru, and as well as the therapy work at Shalom, a small church meets on Sundays. Craft activities for children with Christian teaching are run on Fridays, and a teenagers’ group recently started.

Pat has said, “Shalom represents a great challenge as we love our neighbour as ourselves and accept our differences. We realise that we are all God’s beloved children; we need to love each other and continue this task valiantly so that all society learns this respect and acceptance.”

Rev Anderson Sánchez

Pat Blanchard in Pamplona Alta


A family on mission among “the poorest of the poor”

A portrait of Julio and Norma Montoya in Lima, Peru. Julio was one of the first Peruvians to be ordained and is now vicar general of the Diocese of Peru.

By Gervais Angel, former SAMS area secretary and theological consultant

They also taught new believers to pray, hear the Bible and read and study it with guidance from mature Christians. Julio and Norma sought to meet physical need with starter kits for making kitchen gardens and pens for rearing ducks, with the help of Norma’s professional qualifications as an agronomist.

The original Jesus el Nazareno church plant is now an independent parish in the Pamplona Alta shanty town, while Santísima Trinidad in Pamplona Baja is the new central church, active with services, school

assemblies and men’s and women’s mid-week meetings. Julio and Norma support their daughter Isabel – married

to CMS local partner Anderson Sanchez – and staff at the child day care centre and primary school, where 100-150 children attend.

In 1992 I was barred from the Montoya family home, as was the English Bishop of Peru. The Communist Party – more commonly known as Sendero Luminoso, the Shining Path, occupied the hills surrounding the city of Lima where Julio and Norma lived. They were not prepared to give the rebels a chance to kidnap us.

The hallmark of the Montoyas’ ministry is compassion, in particular for “the poorest of the poor” in the San Juan de Miraflores district of Lima.

They are evangelists by gifting and instinct. Ordained by Bishop David Evans over 30 years ago, Julio modelled his ministry on Church Army captain Ray Mills, and Norma was ordained deacon more recently. At that time mission society strategy was to reach the nation with the gospel by planting churches among disaffected Catholics in the cities. But active middle-class Christians saw swathes of poverty just around the corner, which they could not ignore. Julio and Norma caught this vision.

Their strategy was not to preach political sermons and write books, but to live among the poor and share the love of Jesus. They preached in the open air and one-to-one with needy people.

Their focus is on “what the Lord can do here for the poorest of the poor”

continued on page 14

Julio and Norma Montoyawith Bishop Henry


Alto Bio Bio, Chile

Please pray for the Pehuenche community in Alto Bio Bio in Chile, especially for the family (widow Cecilia, and son, Samuel) of Leandro Naupa, who died recently from pancreatic cancer. Leandro and Cecilia both recently graduated from the Rural Bible School in Temuco, which CMS supports. The small communities are in the mountains and are very isolated; please pray for ongoing support, teaching and ministry in these communities.

Fond farewells

Marcus and Tamara Throup, with Rebekah and Mateus, have ended their service with CMS. Marcus went to Brazil as a mission partner in 2002, where he and Tamara met and married. Marcus has been teaching at a seminary and pastoring a church while Tamara, a psychologist, has been involved with the street girls’ project ReVive.

Efraim and Ruth Vilella, with Max: Ruth was a mission partner in Brazil for eight years, where she and Efraim met and married.

SHARENEWS

More recently they have been based in Britain. Efraim has been working with an NGO working in Africa and Ruth completed an MA in mission with development. Ruth aims to work as a breastfeeding consultant and Efraim is involved in helping churches to manage building projects with a mission focus.

Thank you

A big thank you from CMS communications for everyone’s help producing Share. Thank you to Mary Rollin for her great reporting and writing and Bishop Henry for his insights, stories – and knowledge. Thanks to Jo Anthony (currently on materity leave) for all her contributions, input and experise over the years.

Julio is the school treasurer and Norma helps with food, wisdom and care. Their daughter Erika works for the diocesan social services supporting people who need practical advice. Technically Julio and Norma have retired and although they know the literal meaning of the word, they refuse to grasp its significance.

Julio and Norma have always cared generously for visitors. Norma once threw her body over my daughter to protect her

from a group of passing bandits. When we were out visiting a church in a shanty district, Julio anxiously waited for us on the road, having alerted the police. Later that evening my wife led the policeman to the Lord.

People who know the Montoyas and their work from the outside often think of them as celebrities. They are conscious of being admired, but their focus, like that of Isabel and Erika, is on “what the Lord can do here for the poorest of the poor”.

continued from page 14

A family on mission among “the poorest of the poor”

Marcus and Tamara Throup, with Rebekah and Mateus


It is often said that hindsight is the best sight of all. Indeed, as I look back on my own faith journey so far, I can recognise that God was there with me every step of the way. Although at the time confusion, anxiety, big dreams and expectation often blinded me to his presence, I can say: Ebenezer! God has helped me.

My parents were church leaders in Brazil and from an early age I experienced firsthand the power of the good news of Jesus to set people free from addiction and restore entire families, through their ministry in rehabilitation of women. At age 12 my father died in a car crash, and for the first time I experienced God’s provision and care in a very personal way. Through that painful time I realised that God was real, not only for others, but in my own life.

In 2002, aged 17, I moved to London to study and it was here that God began to wake my heart for mission. In 2007 my wife Debora and I started married life together and I started a new job as a youth minister at an Anglican church in High Wycombe. In 2010 I started training towards ordination at St Mellitus College in London. There I met some amazing people, and made some good friends including CMS mission partners Mark Simpson and Alex Cacouris (now serving in Rio de Janeiro). It was through them that I heard about CMS.

After my ordination I was looking for further training in mission. As a pioneer minister I was encouraged by my friend Andy Freeman (who works in the CMS mission education team and whom I knew from St Mellitus), to explore the pioneer

Going back to Brazil By Levi Santana

New mission partner in training Levi Santana shares some of his story

Through that painful time I realised that God was real, not only for others, but in my own life

mission leadership training course at CMS. I am now studying towards an MA degree at CMS and have found the course really helpful in equipping me to reflect deeply about God’s mission in different contexts. I felt really at home at CMS, and my wife and I began to pray about getting involved as mission partners. We were recently

selected as mission partners in training to serve in Brazil. This is a really exciting time for us, as we explore where the journey will take us.

Hindsight might be good and a lot can be learned by looking back. But the best sight of all is the vision which is given by God himself. This is what we are discerning now, seeking his direction, and learning to trust him more. We know God was faithful in the past, and we look forward to discovering how his faithfulness and love will be displayed in and through our lives in the future as we serve as mission partners with CMS.

20:20 vision: Levi with Debora and Nicolas

The

CMS

Lati

n Am

erica

Forum invites you to:

¡Adelante!

2016Saturday 21 May

10am to 4pm

www.cms-uk.org

churchmissionsociety

Th

10am to 4pm

JOIN USA day of learning, praying and sharing together about what God is doing in Latin America. Special guests will include CMS mission partners Anna Sims (Peru) and Sharon Wilcox (Ecuador)

WHERE?Christ Church, 953 Pershore RoadBirmingham B29 7PS

COST?£12 per person, including lunch and refreshments

For more information or any queries: Contact Mary Rollin, mobile: 07816 501565 or email: [email protected]

BOOKING FORMenclosed with your mailing

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