Hope from the Edges
Watch the latest stories of what God is doing in the UK, Spain and Lebanon.
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Find out more about the stories mentioned in this month’s Hope from the Edges:
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Video transcript
[00:00:05]
Hello and welcome to Hope from the Edges. I’m Andy Roberts, CEO of CMS.
In this episode, we’re bringing you three inspiring stories from the edges. We hope you’ll rejoice with us as you hear about people finding new hope in Jesus. First we’ll head to Nottinghamshire, where a community have changed their minds about church being irrelevant. From there, we’ll go to Spain, where some of our partners are getting creative about connecting with their neighbours. And finally, we’ll go to Lebanon and share an update on our recent appeal.
[00:00:41]
First, let’s go to a village in Nottinghamshire where people are meeting Jesus through a new church community. CMS pioneer training graduate Jane Robins lives in Ruddington, where until recently many people thought church was irrelevant. Following her training, Jane got stuck into village life and listened to her community. Wanting to help people to meet Jesus. But not necessarily through traditional church.
Jane started a church plant, Framework Church, which runs from a coffee shop. Though part of St Peter’s Anglican Church, it’s a more informal community, a good fit for people who’ve just done Alpha or who find traditional church intimidating. Framework Church has seen as many as 40 people attending and is growing steadily.
Framework and Alpha aren’t the whole story. St Peter’s is thriving too, because people now consider the church part of village life. Over 1,100 people attended Christmas services last year, more than three times as many as the year before. Last year, 11 people in this village were baptised, and they’re now all involved in God’s mission. One of them has started a weekly prayer group in one of the toughest prisons in region.
Jane is now planning an Alpha course, geared towards families, and she’s excited to keep pioneering as the spirit leads.
[00:02:11]
Now let’s go to Spain, where CMS partners support Christians across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as actively engaging in local outreach near their home in Madrid.
For these partners, mission is a family affair. Last year the three children joined with Christians on their streets and gave out homemade cookies and Bible verses to neighbours at Halloween while their parents prayed together for the community. Days afterwards, the family were able to talk about Jesus on the way home from the park.
At New Year, they gathered with friends to worship together and pray for their neighbours.
As well as connecting and sharing Jesus with their immediate neighbours, one of our partners takes time when he can in a busy city street finding space for people to talk and sometimes share deeper questions about faith.
Their daughter helps run a children’s club at their local church, welcoming in neighbours from non-Christian backgrounds to learn about Jesus, and some of their families have come along to the church.
[00:03:16]
And now to Lebanon, which might be mostly gone from the headlines, but not from our hearts. You may remember we recently held an urgent appeal for Lebanon, hoping to raise enough money to support 1,000 families in desperate need.
We’re so grateful to God and to you, our supporters, that together we reached this goal and we’re able to provide life-saving practical relief for some of the most desperate families in Beirut. Our partners are continuing to support families through ongoing trauma support and spiritual care.
Thank you for giving generously and for praying faithfully for our partners in Lebanon.
Thank you for joining me for these stories from the edges and for your prayerful support for all our work at the edges around the world.
Please share this video with your church, small group or anyone you think could use some fuel for their faith. Until next time, we’re so grateful for your gifts and prayers as together we go with Jesus, with each other, to the edges.
ENDS
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