Missionary Support

In addition to being at the heart of the Paddock Wood community St.Andrew's Church has a tradition of supporting missionary work throughout the country and throughout the world. As a church we are committed to supporting missionary societies both home and abroad, in prayer and financially with 10% of our income going to support our missionary partners. We have particularly strong links with our sister church in Bereko, Tanzania. 

WHY MISSION?
Jesus' commission to the early disciples was to "go into all the world and preach the good news everywhere " and St Andrew's supports six missionaries (known as Mission Partners) from missionary societies working in South America, Europe, UK, Central Asia and Africa. Our mission secretaries keep in touch with our Partners and through them the church is kept up to date with the prayer needs and ongoing work of each Partner.
One of the highlights of St Andrew's year is a visit from our Partners. These visits bring not only the reality of working in difficult and challenging situations, with the sacrifice and separation from home; but the blessing of seeing new Christians and churches growing in very unpromising places.
The church supports mission by giving one tenth of its income to our Mission Partners; and missionary boxes are available for members who wish to support an individual Society.
Our Partners emphasise that their greatest need is for prayer and we have a monthly prayer meeting but our constant challenge is "to pray always for all God's people".

Church Army
Our Church Army link is the Bridge Project at Marylebone, London. The Project's Aim is to give a secure base for homeless, abused and vulnerable women. The project provides a room, support and medical help to aid the women's recovery to self worth and potential.

Crosslinks
Dan and Rosie Button have been in Uganda for a number of years. They have two children, Abigail and Alex and they live and lecture at the Ugandan Christian University in Mukono.
Dan and Rosie are working at the university with over 5,000 students. Dan works in the Foundation Studies Department. They are both lecturing to 1,400 students on Understanding Worldviews. Rosie also helps run a women's bible study group.
Whilst at the University the Buttons encourage the students to develop their faith so that they can then go back to work in their home churches to further the gospel message.

Scripture Union
Scripture Union  is an international mission movement that was founded over 140 years ago. They work in over 120 countries making God's good news known to children, young people and families and encouraging people of all ages to meet God daily through the Bible and prayer. Their goal is: that all may come to a personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, grow in Christian maturity and become both committed church members and servants of a world in need.
St. Andrew's supports the Scripture Union group leader, Erszebet Komloski, in Hungary. Erszebet is a Pastor in the Reformed Church, based in Budapest.

CMS/SAMS
Ruth Hollingdale Vilella is one of our CMS Mission Partners.Ruth and her husband moved to Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from Recife in the north in November 2009 because of Efraim's work. Ruth became involved in
community work, and families and pregnant women.
Her nursing degree has now been recognised in Brazil and this has meant she was able to work under the auspices of the public health service as a volunteer at a health centre in Porto Alegre. She has been
involved in a local children's home, started up a pregnant women's group where an evangelistic talk, a health talk and a sewing workshop take place. Ruth has been able to visit Recife to take the staff at the House of Hope through Child Protection orientation. Ruth was instrumental in setting up this project.
Efraim became a worship leader in their local church and led the weekly Bible study. Their first child, Max, was born on 19th January in the UK. Efraim's work has changed and the family are now relocating back to Recife and will renew their commitment to the work there. Ruth will now have the support of Efraim's family following the birth of Max.

Methodist Mission
Peter and Janice Clark - are our link for the Methodist Missionary Society working in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
They are both involved in the Sierra Leone Theological College and Church Training Centre, based in Freetown. Peter is developing a syllabus on HIV/Aids and Janice is involved in adult literacy in the east of the city.
They ask for prayer for their pastoral work with staff and students and the political situation with rising food prices.