Anna Sims, Peru
Work alongside the local church to build community and share Jesus in creative ways in urban Lima.
There are many people in Lima who do not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting – and I partner with iCafe (standing for imagination, culture, art and faith), a church and cultural initiative with a heart to reach them, particularly artists. We long to see the city of Lima reimagined and transformed by disciples of Jesus shaping the city creatively, bringing hope and light through church family, exhibitions, concerts, plays, workshops and artists’ fairs. I also support a pioneer community project Inti Ayllu (Community of Light) in the Pamplona neighbourhood, where young people at risk from joining gangs are trained in a restaurant, providing an alternative to gang life and a safe space that is used for wider community art projects and activities.
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Anna’s story
Although I was brought up in a Christian family, I turned away from God as a teenager. I know firsthand that he is a God of many chances and have seen in my own life how he used others to draw me back to him, making a re-commitment when I was 21.
I supported cross-cultural mission, but it wasn’t ever something I considered doing myself. With a background of arts education in museums and galleries, I first fell in love with Latin America while working on a number of different arts projects. When I returned from a short-term arts projects in Ecuador I felt God prompting me and decided to explore the possibility of returning to Latin America longer-term. I came to Lima with Church Mission Society in September 2013 and have had a variety of roles, working with the Anglican diocese and also an interdenominational English-speaking prison ministry.
In John 10:10 Jesus says he has “come to give life and life in abundance” – I know this to be true. God is a relational and creative God and is using my previous experiences and my love of people to come alongside others and be part of their faith journey.
Partnering with iCafe and Inti Ayllu draws on my passion for arts and education to help to reach people on the edges with the hope that Jesus brings. I work alongside a committed team aiming to use all forms of art to create safe spaces and reflect God’s light and love in the community.
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