Living Waters church in Olinda is a refuge, spiritual home and community centre. Pray God to raise up more leaders and to develop the ministries of care, evangelism and education for many needy people. Uphold Ian & Siméa Meldrum in oversight there, and in refurbishing the farm for future ministry.
Three auxiliary bishops have been authorised to support Bishop Bill Godfrey and to serve as missionary bishops in new and established areas. Pray for this step in the growth of the diocese and for Bill and Judith in pastoral oversight.
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Jill Ball in Santo Domingo asks prayer for the school for disabled children and its teachers in this new academic year, and for the building of a centre for abused women. Pray for the administrators of this centre, and ask God to continue to prosper the work of LIAT, the Life in Abundance (Ecuador) Trust.
Click here to view the Mission Paraguay 2009 Report.
St. Andrew’s School Asunción is looking for nursery, primary and secondary teachers. No Spanish is required as language training is provided. Take a moment and watch a brief overview of the school. Can there be a click at this point to connect with the dvd? Click here and read the pdf information brochure on the school.
For more details on teaching opportunities contact Geoff Hamilton at samsirelandhouse@btinternet.com in complete confidence.
The South American Mission Society Ireland (SAMS Ireland) ‘Friday Night Live’ event which took place on 5 February 2010 was so well attended that crowds were turned away. Visitors from as far afield as Dublin were left outside when the Craigavon Civic Centre reached its maximum 500 seating capacity. The Church of Ireland mission society specialising in the areas of Latin America, Spain and Portugal has seen interest grow in recent years.
The audience included many young people, clergy and lay people, in addition to five serving bishops. Denis Johnston, the SAMS Ireland General Secretary stated, “It’s wonderful to see so many people taking an interest in the work in South America and the impact the vibrant church there is having on the Church in Ireland. We will have to evaluate the situation for next year.”
Bishop Ken ‘Fanta’ Clarke, who hosted the evening with his usual flair stated, “Every year I wonder how Friday Night Live could get any better, but it does”. He steered the evening through presentations of highlights of mission work from Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile such as mountaineers raising money by climbing the highest peak in South America and interviews with South American volunteers working in Ireland. The audience were in roars of laughter at twelve young builders from Annaghmore Parish who, along with their Rector the Rev. Dorothy McVeigh and SAMS representative Geoff Hamilton spent part of the summer building churches in Argentina and Bolivia. They made quite an impression with wise cracks, stories and touching testimony. Dorothy, the keynote speaker, encouraged everyone to learn from the Good Samaritan and to ‘Get out there’ and reach out to those in need.
Claire Holmes, a SAMS Ireland mission partner, has just returned after 13 years in Paraguay. She shared emotionally of the children’s and youth work she had built up in the remote town of Concepcion and asked everyone to pray for the team of volunteers she had trained to carry on the work.
Esteban Alvarez from Chile, one of the Fusion volunteers, told everyone about his two years working in St. Saviour’s Parish in Craigavon. He shared that his experience in Northern Ireland has helped him decide to train for the ministry in the Anglican church when he returns to Chile.
Visiting the conference for the first time was Bishop Henry Scriven. He first served with SAMS GB in South America in the 1970s and now is Mission Director for South America in CMS (formerly SAMS GB). When asked about the evening he said, “I am incredibly impressed that you can get so many people to support SAMS Ireland.”
Summarising the event, Bishop of Down and Dromore the Rt Rev Harold Miller said, “My wife and I would not miss Friday Night Live. It’s a significant missionary event. The reason for this is, you always get information on what’s going on, it’s great craic, and there is a sense of the power of God.”
(from left to right) Bishop of Paraguay Peter Bartlet with his wife Sally, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Ken Good, Mission Partner Claire Holmes and the team from Eglinton who visited her in 2009.
Stephen Trew
Please pray for Nick Drayson, the new Bishop in Juarez. He is learning Wichí, the language of the biggest indigenous tribe. Previously he translated the New Testament into Choroti, another indigenous language, similar to Wichí. He understands spoken Wichí but he needs to be able to hold a conversation. Please pray too that the Lord may unite them into a loving and supportive team with Deacon and Latin Partner René Pereira.
Charles and Lynn Barr-Johnston, associate mission partners in Northern Argentina write: “Thank you again very much for praying for us, and for those we minister with. Please pray for God’s continued blessing on the young people who have just been to camps in La Caldera, just outside Salta. Pray that the Word preached may continue to work in their hearts. Roli, the young people’s leader in Juarez, went to the camps with eight young people from Juarez, They were able to attend because Catherine Drayson, the Bishop’s wife, took them in her vehicle. Pray that they will remember the message and share it with their friends, as they go home to Juarez.”
Pray for Bishop Frank & Shawnee Lyons in pastoral oversight of the diocese and in their ministry at La Trinidad church in Cochabamba. Pray also for Pastor Walter Toro who works in La Trinidad.
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