Greenbelt 2025 – an alternate universe
Greenbelt 2025 – an alternate universe
This year some of our students volunteered at the CMS stand and here are their reflections.
Words and photos by Helen Harwood,
Greenbelt is an amazing place; I have been going since I was 18 (although not every year)! Over the last few years, I have been occasionally attending to be present on the CMS stand and talk to people about our work with Pioneer Mission Training. It’s been a privilege to do this.
This year our stand was run by me and Jonny Baker with four volunteers from the CMS study community.
I spoke to one of our volunteers, Christian Osborne, an undergraduate ordinand student, who told me:
Being in the CMS stand at Greenbelt was a great way to get to meet people from around the country who were interested in the work of CMS. Conversations ranged from the decolonisation of mission, to a Sri Lankan ordinand who wanted to share his positive experience of attending a school which had originally been set up through CMS, to people considering whether they would like to sign up for an MA, BA or individual modules to support the pioneering work that they are already doing.
Most encouraging were the stories from those who were trying to grapple with a sense of calling from God to learn more in order to be equipped on the ground in their local settings. It was a joy to share with people the range of ways in which CMS might be able to help equip them whilet bringing them the opportunity to be a part of the CMS community spread across the UK and beyond.
I spoke to another of our volunteers, MA student Lindsey Morgan Lundie, who told me:
Greenbelt this year for me was all about linking up with people new and old, spending quality time while listening to some amazing music! It was really wonderful to connect with so many being on the CMS stand and linking people together that will hopefully become part of the network.
And finally, another of our MA students, Fiona Barber, told me:
We frequently talk of pioneers as people that don’t quite fit in. But at Greenbelt we step into what feels like an alternate universe filled with poetry and music, shared meals and laughter alongside deep conversations and even deeper prayer. A place where we dream of all we could be together with God. A place where those that don’t fit in – do! Four days in a field that refreshes the soul with belonging to step out into a world where I don’t feel like I do! As Greenbelt says: “We’re somewhere to believe in. We’re somewhere to belong.”
Personally, I am always impressed by the emphasis on justice at Greenbelt. This time there were many talks about the theme of justice and we were treated to a replica of the Gaza Lighthouse. The original tower was built from the rubble left by Israel’s 2012 assault on Gaza and was designed and constructed by acclaimed Gazan artist Shareef Sarhan. Shareef Sarhan was exiled in Paris and responded by rebuilding. He created a work of grief, memory and resistance – brought to Greenbelt by their friends, Amos Trust.
With justice very much at the centre of Greenbelt, this year as always, it felt like a very safe space to be. Lots to see and do, hear and eat, and perhaps most exciting of all, lots of new people to meet.
If study with CMS is something that interests you, it is not too late to sign up for a course this coming academic year, or look into an open event with a view to studying in 2026.
And if Greenbelt interests you, maybe we will see you there in the future, dreaming together in a field in 2026 or beyond!
