Mission Team Report

The Mission Team’s aim is to offer financial, practical and spiritual support to those engaged in mission, whether individuals or organisations.

1. The Mission Team is now 3 years old! What have we achieved over this period, especially during the last year?

• We hope that you are more aware of the missions we support as a result of the Mission of the Month feature in the magazine, on the Church website and on the notice board.
• We have ensured that the missions which we support are included in our intercessory prayers.
•  Again a number of our young people have undertaken short-term mission projects this year. They have gone to such diverse places as South Africa, Tanzania and London!  We have supported their fund-raising events. It has been good to receive their news via email while they have been away as well as to hear their stories on their return.
• We have ensured financial support for the missions to which we are committed through our Church giving.
• We have also arranged/ facilitated occasional collections for disasters and other needs. The Church Christmas card raised money for the new Chapter 1 project in Buckingham this year.
• One of the monthly prayer evenings was devoted to missions.

2. Events: We have held a number of events over the last year. These include:

• Romans 1: 11 Trust: two pastors spent a weekend with us in March, and shared stories of their work in rural Uganda.
• Toy service (December 2009): this year the toys were again sent to Homestart in Milton Keynes.
• We supported gap-year students in their various fund-raising initiatives.
• A Mission- focused prayer evening was held in May 2010.

3. Budget/ Giving:
We have continued to support the main denominational charities/ mission projects, as well as a number of other local, national and international missions, with which we have strong links. As we had a slightly reduced budget this year, we were unable to add new missions to our list, although it has been possible to hold special fund-raising for other Missions, such as Sunflowers for Life, Chapter 1 and Homestart. More details are in the financial report.

4.  Plans for this year:
Date for your diary: 11am- 3pm Saturday November13: we are holding a missions event, to which we have invited representatives from the missions we support. Do come along and find out more about all your favourite missions! We will also be providing a light lunch. More information to follow.

Jane Butcher, Margaret Gateley, Pat Golding, Jill Townsend, Dot Young.