There was a time when mission moved mostly from the West outwards.
Today, the picture is very different.
We are inviting you to join hands with our brothers and sisters across the globe and, through your prayerful support, to be part of a movement of God’s mission that is:
Pioneering. Organic. Sustainable. Fruitful.
We call it Global Mission through Local Leaders.
It’s the future of God’s mission.
And you can be part of it today.
Local Leaders: who are they?
Across the world, from Cambodia to Congo, from Paraguay to Palestine, Church Mission Society is privileged to partner with 75+ inspiring women and men who are living out their call to join in God’s mission in their local contexts.
Like Bisoke, a peacemaker in DR Congo who has established a centre where dozens of war rape victims are learning about Jesus and rebuilding their lives.
And Lilian, a Pakistani woman who leads a project that has established more than 100 primary schools in the rural Sindh, giving life-changing education to thousands of children.
Or Emil and Reem in Lebanon, who have opened their home and their hearts to traumatised Syrian refugees, helping provide for their basic needs.
And Abelino, an indigenous assistant bishop in Chile who moved from sophisticated Santiago to a remote region to help equip fellow Mapuche Christians for ministry in an area crying out for trained leaders.
In the Middle East:
Local leaders are opening doorways for the gospel in tough places, where Westerners would struggle to be understood or accepted.
People in these places are often resistant to Christianity, so it’s vital for CMS to partner with local Christians who speak the local language, understand local sensitivities and who are willing to take risks for Jesus.
Our local partners in the Middle East have shared the gospel with hundreds of people, started schools for Syrian refugee children, developed churches for Muslim-background believers, helped people overcome addiction and shown new Christians how to love and serve their neighbours so that whole communities are transformed.
Across Latin America:
Local leaders have helped translate the Bible into indigenous languages; they work among at-risk youth, lead churches, make disciples and equip Christian leaders for holistic mission. Many of our Latin American local partners are called to work among people in poverty, providing much-needed physical and spiritual care.
Anderson Sanchez works in a shanty town in Lima, Peru. His mission call was shaped by the fact that he grew up without a father. So he can relate to many of the young people where he lives, as they are likewise growing up without a father. He has helped many young people move away from gang culture and find family and a second home within the body of Christ.
In Asia:
Local leaders are pioneering in mission in challenging areas and providing vital leadership in places where Christianity is new and growing rapidly. Their understanding of local cultures, religions and languages is invaluable.
Nevedita works for a unique organisation in Sri Lanka, which provides therapy and care for children who have suffered sexual abuse.
“Sexual abuse of children is a big problem in Sri Lanka but it’s also a taboo subject that many like to sweep under the rug. For me, mission is being there for a child who is hurting, and the family, and supporting them through a painful period of time. Being an ambassador of God’s love for such children is the greatest difference I would like to make in their lives.”
Local leaders are also responding to the needs of refugees and internally displaced people; they are helping people start small, sustainable businesses; they are empowering church leaders and youth leaders to make a difference in their communities and sharing Jesus in parts of Africa where Christians are in the minority.
Our partners in Africa believe that renewed mindsets – away from dependency and an evangelism-only approach towards whole-life mission discipleship – is the key to real transformation in Africa and CMS is glad to get behind them in this.
The future of mission
Global Mission through Local Leaders isn’t just about giving money.
IT’S ABOUT SHARED LEARNING.
Thanks to the Global Mission through Local Leaders programme, reflections, insights, stories and knowledge from experienced leaders in 30+ countries make their way around the worldwide Church Mission Society network; these challenge and contribute to our understanding and practice of mission.
Without people, the vision perishes.
“We know that our vocation is a direct calling from God. I think that the programme gives us an opportunity to follow this call.”
Leader in Latin America
“It’s an excellent idea to come alongside and partner with a native Christian as they live out and share their faith with those around them.”
Leader in North Africa
Be part of the story
You can help the African, Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern members of our global family put their call into action.
We are looking for churches and individuals who will commit to supporting our Global Mission through Local Leaders programme.
Could you give £75 per month to help invest in 75+ inspiring people like the ones you’ve met in these pages?
The harvest is plentiful. By God’s grace, the workers are, too.
So what are we waiting for?
Thank you for reading!
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