Hope from the Edges
Watch the latest stories of what God is doing in Honduras, South Sudan and across the world.
Lent events not to miss
- Connect and Pray: Africa focus, 2 March, 7pm
- Webinar: Dreaming from a place of lament, 12 March, 1pm
- Conversations day: Being the people of God, 17 March
Find out more about the stories mentioned in this month’s Hope from the Edges:
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Video transcript
Hello and welcome to Hope from the Edges. I’m Andy Roberts, CEO of CMS.
In the next few minutes, we’ll bring you inspiring news from three edges in our world – stories that you are making possible through your gifts and prayers.
First, we’ll go to Honduras and hear about a young woman who went from street life to full life. From there we’ll go to South Sudan where a former cattle rustler was steered towards a better path. Finally, we’ll turn the spotlight on a mission partner who has spent two decades in challenging work that has taken her across the globe.
But before we begin, I want to take some time to acknowledge an anniversary none of us would have wanted to commemorate.
By the time you receive this video, we will have crossed the four-year mark since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and I want to take a moment to ask for your prayers for our mission partner Alison Giblett, who has remained in Ukraine this whole time, faithfully sharing the light of Jesus – despite missile attacks, freezing winters and growing despair.
This is most definitely mission at the edges. Let’s go to God together and keep praying for peace to prevail.
And now, let’s hop over to Honduras for a story of hope nine years in the making.
The country of Honduras faces huge challenges including rampant gang warfare, poverty and corruption.
Many children in Honduras suffer from abuse or neglect and are drawn to life on the streets, which can be both cruel and dangerous.
In 2017, a young girl named Johanni was one of these at-risk children.
She recalls, “When I was eight years old, I spent most of my time out in the street. My parents didn’t send me to school. No one was looking out for me except myself.”
Johanni spent much of her time hanging out with other kids at a local park. She could see no real future for herself.
One day, she met some adults who were different – kind and interested. They listened to her struggles and told her Jesus loved her.
Over time, these people, CMS mission partners Lindsey and Steve Poulson, helped Johanni and 14 other children register for school. This was the beginning of a new life chapter for Johanni as well as the start of what would become a life-changing project for many children.
This group of 15 children were the beginning of Proyecto Alas, a programme that supports at-risk children to continue in education and make good choices for the future. A key part of this programme is that each child is assigned a mentor.
Johanni says, “My mentor listens to me, encourages me and helps me make positive decisions.”
Now 16 years old, Johanni is an aspiring nail artist. She says, “Most girls my age don’t make it to high school so I’m really proud of my achievement and growth.”
The Poulsons are grateful to have walked alongside Johanni these nine years and to have seen her and others reach their God-given potential.
We now journey to South Sudan.
In South Sudan livestock is highly prized. So, cattle raiding is big business.
In recent years, raids have become more intense, more violent and take place on a much larger scale. It’s a crime with a huge cost.
Makol was a cattle raider from Warrap State, South Sudan. He knew that stealing cattle was wrong and that people were getting hurt, but he was making too much money to stop. He also knew if he was caught, he could be executed.
One day Makol was caught in the act, arrested and put in a police car. He knew his fate was sealed.
What Makol didn’t know was this: that night a peace rally was scheduled to take place, led by Archbishop Moses Deng. Drawing on training he’d received from our colleagues in CMS-Africa, the Archbishop spoke to the community on the theme of love and forgiveness.
The governor of Warrap State, General Aleu Ayieny, attended this rally. Having heard about Makol’s crimes, he had planned for him to be publicly executed at the end of the peace rally.
Evening came and Makol found himself sitting in the back of the governor’s car, waiting for his punishment, while General Ayieny listened to Archbishop Moses’ message nearby.
When he had finished, the governor stood up and addressed him:
“Your Grace Moses, I have a living dead young man in the back of my car. I have brought him here to kill him in front of these crowds and multitudes by firing squad. We have spoken a lot against this practice of cattle raiding and today we could have been making an example out of this man…but because you have spoken of forgiveness and reconciliation command I have forgiven him.”
The governor went back to his car and instructed Makol to follow him. Makol followed slowly, walking to his death.
But standing there in front of his community, hanging his head, he heard the words, “You are forgiven.”
Makol was overwhelmed at this mercy and grace. It wasn’t long before he received Jesus and was baptised.
Four years later, his cattle raiding days are behind him. He and his family belong to a local church and Makol provides for his family by working as a prison warden.
Join us in giving thanks for this life that was changed and continue to pray for all CMS people in mission involved in making disciples in areas facing violent conflict.
Last but absolutely not least we want to congratulate a CMS mission partner who is marking 20 years since she first began responding to a huge call God placed on her life.
In 2005, while lamenting the suffering of millions of girls and women impacted by the practice of female genital mutilation (or FGM),
Ann-Marie Wilson asked God: “Who will help girls like this?”
To her amazement, the answer came back as an audible voice: “You will.”
Two decades later, Ann-Marie is still answering that call. Through her international organisation, 28 Too Many, which merged with Orchid Project in 2022, she has gathered the stories of thousands of FGM survivors and built a global movement dedicated to ending FGM worldwide.
Ann-Marie and the Orchid Project team haven’t just changed individual lives; they’ve shifted global policy and fostered grassroots change across continents.
You can discover the remarkable story of Ann-Marie’s 20 years in this vital work by going to the Stories section of the CMS website.
Ann-Marie’s journey is a powerful testament to how a single person can spark profound global change.
And it all began with a simple, radical act of daring to ask, Who will help?
Thank you for joining me for these stories from the edges and for your prayerful support, which makes them possible.
Please share this video with your church, small group or anyone you think could use some fuel for their faith.
Until next time, we are so grateful for your gifts and prayers as together we go:
With Jesus
With each other
To the edges
ENDS
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