In a significant answer to prayer, a project in Cumbria that connects with people on the margins through practical hands-on workshops re-opened at the end of February 2026.

In October 2025, Carlisle’s Community Shed was forced to close for financial reasons. The team, including mission partner Garry Ion, moved the contents of the Shed into a storage unit.

Following an outcry in the local community and a special fundraising effort, the Shed has reopened its doors. Once again, people living with loneliness and mental health challenges, including people recently released from prisons, can find invaluable support.

Garry shares that the new shed is even better than the old one: “We have a spacious workshop and social area with sofas and an indoor games area.

“The original shed started in a garage during the COVID lockdown by myself and Pioneer Chaplain, Rev Chris Harwood. This time, the local community’s involvement, commitment and determination have driven its reopening.

“The new Community Shed is in a very underprivileged area of Carlisle, and it’s truly heartwarming to see the generosity and time given by the community to support its future. We have so much to be grateful for as we begin this new chapter together.”

Related stories

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post Carlisle: a grand re-opening appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Have you ever felt a “holy discomfort”? That nagging sense that God is calling you to serve, but perhaps not in a way that fits into a traditional Sunday morning box?

Recently, I stood in the Bishop of Exeter’s Palace to celebrate with a group of people who felt exactly that. I love that pioneer training with CMS doesn’t just happen in Oxford or in one single place. It’s happening – and growing – across the UK.

The latest CMS Pioneer Graduation gathered students from across the South West, including Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

The palace was filled with creativity, warmth and joy. There were interactive worship displays, beautiful sung worship led by a harpist, moving student testimonies, lots of delicious food and, of course, as befits a celebration, much cake.

A celebration of community 

This was more than simply a celebration of completing a course or receiving a certificate. Again and again, students spoke about finding a home. They spoke about finally discovering a language for what they had sensed God calling them to for years. They found a way of looking at mission – a missiology – that made sense of the places they were serving, and training that helped them do what they do with greater confidence, wisdom and courage.

That is one of the great gifts of pioneer training. It names and nurtures what God is already stirring. It helps people understand that mission does not only happen in familiar church settings, but also out at the edges – in the overlooked places, among those who may never walk into a church building, in communities where fresh expressions of Christian witness and discipleship are needed.

Some of the creative demonstrations of work by graduating students

Jesus calls us to the edges with him 

I had the privilege of sharing a few words during the celebration, and I found myself returning to a theme that has been growing in me for some time: Jesus as the Great Disturber.

That might sound like an odd thing to say at a graduation, but I think it fits. Jesus has always had a habit of lovingly disturbing people into new possibilities. That disturbance is not there to crush us, but to awaken us. It is often how mission begins.

Because pioneering is not first about having all the answers, having a perfect plan, or building something impressive. Pioneering begins with a willingness to follow Jesus into places that are unfamiliar, overlooked, risky, and sometimes uncomfortable. And that is right at the heart of CMS.

You may not always feel ready. You may not always feel confident. Some days you may feel small, uncertain, or underqualified. But the good news is this: God has always loved working through ordinary people who say yes.

And as I said to the graduating students: “Your ‘yes’ matters. So, as you graduate, don’t just think, ‘I’ve finished something.’ Think, ‘I’m being sent.’”

Rt Rev Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter, and I handed out certificates to around 24 students, each one representing a story of faithfulness, courage and calling.

As ever, the certificates only told part of the story.

The real story is what comes next: the communities that will be served, the conversations that will be had, the experiments that will be tried, the friendships that will be formed, the prayers that will be whispered, the people who will encounter Jesus in new ways because these pioneers said yes to his call.

Are you being called to something new? Find out about training with CMS

Get our email newsletter:

SIGN UP

The post South West: the pioneer stories continue… appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

People from Dinka Twic and Dinka Ngok tribes, which have been in conflict since 2017, now worship together in a church plant in Turalei, Warrap State, CMS-Africa reports.

Many had thought such a thing would never be possible. But now, the people groups are working together to build bridges across a longstanding divide.

Children from the two tribes now play together and adults are building community. In their own words, “God has done this.”

The conflict is related to a dispute over a piece of land which is being claimed by both communities. This led to the outbreak of violence. A particularly bad instance of this in 2022 led to the displacement of thousands of people and massive destruction of properties as well as the loss of several innocent lives.

Women take the lead for peace

CMS partners have been facilitating an ongoing peace process and in June 2025, women from these groups came together for a special event: the Twic and Ngok Joint Women Peace Dialogue Meeting.

The event brought together religious leaders, United Nations Mission in South Sudan, government officials, community representatives and more, and was facilitated by local partner Regina Lueth, who teaches theology at St John’s Theological College in Wau.

Women from both people groups committed to be ambassadors of peace in their homes and communities, to encourage forgiveness and respectful dialogue and to lead peacemaking efforts.

They made an impressive list of formal commitments to work for peace:

1. Act as peace ambassadors in our homes and communities by messages by sharing peace messages with husbands, sons, daughters, and neighbours.
2. Denounce hate speech and incitement, especially through cultural mediums such as music and storytelling.
3. Lead peace dissemination efforts through radio stations, churches, schools, health facilities, and local gatherings.
4. Engage in women-led exchange visits and trust-building dialogue between the Ngok and Twic communities.
5. Encourage forgiveness and respectful dialogue at the family and community levels. Engage youth to discourage violent practices such as cattle raiding and retaliation.
6. Counter misinformation and disinformation through verified messaging and strengthen the local peace network.

Pray together

Pray for the women in these communities to actively look for big and small opportunities to build bridges between the two groups, and encourage each other to keep working towards peace. Pray for their desire and drive for peace to spread to those around them.

Related posts

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post Peace-building in South Sudan appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Find out more about the stories mentioned in this month’s Hope from the Edges:

Be sure to receive Hope from the Edges every time!

GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES

More stories you may like:

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

Be sure to receive Hope from the Edges every time!

GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES

The post Hope from the edges March 2026 appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Tuesday 24 February 2026 marks four years since Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine. On this tragic anniversary, we share an update from Alison Giblett, CMS mission partner in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Alison has been living in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv since 2004. When Russian forces entered Ukraine on 24 February 2022, she made the bold choice to stay in the country. For the past four years, she has offered practical, spiritual and emotional support to people whose lives have been torn apart by the war, in Kyiv and beyond.

Alison recently shared news from Ukraine. Her update paints a difficult picture of everyday life for war-weary people. But, it also shares hope, testimonies of God at work and answers to prayer. 

The mood is bleak in Kyiv, snow is a foot deep and power is only available 1.5-2 hours a day. Recruitment of people to join the war has gotten harsher, creating a lot of fear. The increase in attacks on the capital city has resulted in much destruction.

But Alison and her church continue to work. To encourage and strengthen people’s faith. 

Such as visiting soldiers with serious wounds. Talking and praying with hospital patients and supporting their families.

Alison is studying a course with Ellel Ministries focused on releasing people from trauma and PTSD. “It is wonderful to see how God’s Word is just as powerful today to set people free, whatever the circumstances.” 

Her training is equipping her with tools and understanding to minister to soldiers and their families. 

“Most of the men who have lost limbs in conflict continue to suffer from phantom pain (pain in the part of the body they no longer have). One of the Ellel trainers, who was praying for such a soldier, felt led to ask him if he had let go of his leg. The answer was no. So, with his agreement, she led him in prayer. They prayed to forgive those who had caused the loss, thanked God for the years that his leg had served him, and then released his leg – accepting that it could no longer support him. Choosing to trust that God would provide for him without it. After praying he testified that the pain had completely gone!”

Alison’s work with CMS continues to shift as the war has changed the landscape and needs of those around her. She dedicates much energy and time to learning more of the Ukrainian language and to developing trauma recovery skills. And she takes part in evangelism visits and volunteering as a chaplain to minister to veteran soldiers and families and widows of those who have been killed. 

Alison will share more stories of hope soon. 

Latest prayer needs from Ukraine 

• Pray for Alison’s safety and that she and so many others will somehow be able to cope with the cold and lack of power 
• Pray for veteran soldiers who have left the army at the end of duty or because of injury, as they adjust to civilian life. A number are on their own and don’t know where to turn. Others may have left the country or been forced to move to the west of Ukraine. Many veterans feel lost and turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with their stresses, the practical and emotional difficulties.  
• Pray for families who are separated with some members abroad and partners in Ukraine. Pray for people as they adjust to the consequences of this new reality. 
• Pray for peace. For lasting, safe, life-giving peace between Ukraine and Russia. This time next year, may the violence have long ceased. 

Related posts

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post Ukraine: an unwanted anniversary appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

We have some exciting news to share! We are partnering with the Church of England’s Church Support Hub to bring you a special introductory webinar on Thursday 26 February from 12 to 1pm.

If you want to engage with people who are unconnected to Jesus but don’t know how to start, this webinar will help.

If you have been thinking about taking a Pioneering Parishes course but not quite sure if it would be right for your church. Then sign up for the one hour webinar to find out more.

Invite your PCC or church leadership team to come along to the taster to get a feel and discover the tools, practices and postures we offer to help you go into all the parish.

By the end of the webinar, you will have a better understanding of how to engage with a wider range of people in your community who are unconnected to Jesus.

We don’t offer a one size-fits-all, quick fix. Instead, we provide tools to cultivate an environment in which new things can thrive in an appropriate way for your context and community.

As one former participant commented: “Every church wants to be more outward looking and this gives simple ways to be so”.

Book your place at Pioneering Parishes introductory webinar to get help to go into all the parish.

More from Pioneering Parishes

Connect with Pioneering Parishes:

Get in touch

The post Going into all the parish appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

In late January 2025, M23 rebels took over the city of Goma, bringing death, destruction and hardship. But amid the suffering, the church has brought healing and is growing.

On the first anniversary of the invasion by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels into Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], Bishop Martin Gordon, the UK-born Anglican bishop of Goma, has spoken of the Christian awakening that has swept across his diocese, resulting in thousands of people putting their trust and hope in Jesus.

The invasion in late January 2025 left more than 3,000 people dead and another 700,000 displaced and also led to a spate of summary executions, a spike in sexual violence and kidnappings, and the closure of the banks, courts and airport. However, as Bishop Martin explains, God has been at work, often quietly but sometimes noisily, in and through the Church. He says, “There were parishes that we been unable to reach for three years, but this year we’ve been able to visit and encourage the people that they are not forgotten.”

He continued: “The suffering in Goma seems to have captured the attention of many in the Church globally, and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of churches and individuals. As a result, when the situation was at its toughest, we were able to give a cash gift to each of our staff and clergy and even our teachers who hadn’t been paid for six months because of the closure of the banks. And again, at Christmas we blessed 200 families with a gift of a chicken and a sack of rice to celebrate.”

Bishop Martin went on to explain that not only were the churches a source of peace and practical succour but there was also a spiritual hunger emerging. He explained, “The Church is the one institution that is still trusted in DRC. It is at the heart of every village and community. When war came, people looked to the churches for every kind of help, as well as for hope. They were used as shelters, as distribution centres and we saw an increased attendance in many of our parishes that were not displaced. Those who didn’t usually attend started coming for prayer. Those who were more sporadic started attending more regularly.

“We’ve seen people hungrier than ever for the basic truths of the Christian faith and as I’ve been doing the rounds of the churches in the Archdeaconry of Goma, we are seeing a greater number of candidates for baptism and confirmation. And the church attendance figures show that the archdeaconry had doubled in size numerically in 2025, with 250 being confirmed in October and November. In our summer missions in secondary schools, over 6,000 children gathered to hear about Jesus and more than 1,000 put their trust in him.”

In Kibumba, a town in the territory of Nyiragongo just north of Goma, the diocese had long fostered plans to plant a church but were thwarted by the fact the town lay on the frontline between the M23 factions and government forces.

Bishop Martin explained what happened next: “We already had a school there, which struggled to function, but recent events have meant that getting around is actually easier. So, we bought a plot of land in October. Then in December, within the space of a 10 days we appointed an evangelist, built a 12m x 8m wooden church with the generosity of a UK parish, and held a two-day evangelism campaign which was attended by over four thousand people, with nearly 900 became Christians.

“Now there is the small matter of follow-up, but the following Sunday the church was full, and they had to borrow chairs from the neighbour to give everyone a seat. This is a Kinyarwanda speaking area and we have just finished translating the catechism into the local language which will help disciple these new believers.”

In the immediate aftermath of the invasion, Bishop Martin helped to launch the Goma Call for Peace, a nearly 500,000 strong global petition, supported by the Anglican Communion, that helped to raise the plight of the Congolese and call on the international community to intervene.

Bishop Martin concluded, “Times are incredibly hard in Goma right now. The 2025 invasion adds one more layer of trauma to more than 30 years of conflict. And many still struggle to make ends meet. But amidst the suffering, we testify daily to God’s faithfulness, and we continue to put our trust in him, as the one who will ultimately bring about peace.”

Related posts

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post Goma DRC: one year after invasion, church thrives appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Spiritual hunger in the Middle East leading to “discipleship gap” say local Christian leaders

Behind today’s worrying headlines, and amid turmoil, displacement and deep trauma across the Middle East, Christian leaders in the region report an extraordinary spiritual awakening – one they say is gathering momentum at a pace not witnessed in generations. Now, many of these leaders are calling upon their counterparts throughout the world to join with them and “prepare for the harvest”. They caution that without joint efforts, there’s a risk of a “discipleship gap” developing.

In a recent interview with Church Mission Society (CMS), S,* a regional leader who serves with a CMS partner organisation, describes a “massive and genuine search for God” emerging from the heart of crisis. She explained war, migration, political instability and global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic have created a moment of unprecedented openness to Jesus: “Although the world is in chaos, God has been preparing the scene for the biggest revival ever. People have been dragged out of the normal rhythms of life and into deep pain – and in their pain, they are truly searching for God.”

Shaking leads to awakening

According to S and others, the spiritual hunger now visible across the region began during the global pandemic and continued amid tumultuous world events and ensuing instability: “Everything is shaking,” she said. “But in the unseen, God has been preparing hearts.” In several Middle Eastern nations, people displaced by war and/or disillusioned by corruption are encountering faith in Jesus for the first time. One woman told S that if she had not lost her home and been forced to flee from Syria, “I would never have met Jesus.”

A surging movement – and a massive challenge

As large numbers – reportedly tens of thousands – of people living in the Middle East begin exploring Christian faith, the need for support structures is becoming acute. As crackdowns on religious freedom and missionaries in some countries increase, many new believers, especially those from Muslim backgrounds, cannot safely or comfortably attend traditional churches. “They need love, acceptance, a safe community,” said S, adding, “They need help discovering their identity in God. And many churches in the region simply aren’t equipped for this.” This reality has led to a rapidly expanding network of house churches and online Bible study groups across the region where believers live out their faith more secretly. Yet, a frequent question these days is, with such demand, who will lead these groups and guide these men, women and children in following Jesus?

Andy Roberts, CEO and previous mission director of CMS, said, “Though people are turning to Jesus in large numbers, the risk is that without steady, contextual, locally-led discipleship, a huge portion will turn away due to pressures they often face from their communities. There is in a very real sense, a discipleship gap growing in the Middle East, which means that if we don’t act at this pivotal moment, this could adversely affect the future of the body of Christ there.” In light of this, CMS is currently making it a mission priority to equip and encourage believers in places where they are still in a pressured minority.

Making the most of this moment

Roberts outlined four key strategic efforts being put into place so as not to lose momentum:

• Equipping and Discipleship – Training local believers to disciple the growing number of seekers and new Christians.
• Raising Quality Local Leaders – Empowering young, skilled leaders who understand the culture, trauma and challenges faced by new believers from another faith background.
• Innovative Digital Outreach – Using social media and modern communication tools to reach audiences who cannot access physical churches.
• Planting Home Churches – Establishing safe, discreet communities where people can explore faith and grow spiritually.

S emphasised that the key to sustaining the movement lies in unity, humility and collaboration across Christian organisations. She also says, “We cannot continue with ‘business as usual. The harvest is huge. We must work together in new ways. God is connecting modern day Esthers, Josephs and Daniels – ordinary people with an extraordinary purpose.” She added: “Revival will come from the nameless and faceless, grassroots; small groups are good but they need to be connected.”

S concluded: “This is a unique opportunity. We are about to witness the biggest harvest the world has ever seen. We believe churches and individuals in the UK have a vital role to play. We need partnership. Each organisation has an edge – something they do best. If we bring those strengths together, we can meet the enormous needs on the ground.

“Evangelism and salvation are important but growth in Christ is just as important if not more so. We have to nurture the seeds that have been planted or they will get snatched away.”

[* Name withheld for security reasons]

Related posts

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post Spiritual hunger in the Middle East appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

There are five new faces at the CMS trustee table. They bring a wealth of experience across finance, governance and pioneering leadership.

Dupe Adefala completed an MA with CMS and is a Biblical and Theological Studies graduate of Regent’s Park College. Dupe is driven by a passion for community action and growing the next generation of leaders.

Our finance and governance functions are boosted by three seasoned experts.

Tunji Iyiola, a Fellow Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of senior leadership experience, shares our heart for discipleship at the edges.

He is joined by Jonathan Smith, who brings 25 years of public sector accounting wisdom alongside a dedication to his local church.

Oluwaseyi Kehinde-Peters’ experience spans HR and social impact, focusing on economic dignity and inclusion for women and young people.

Ruth Whitaker brings with her a passion to see people engaged in mission and encouraged to give with joy. Ruth was CEO of Mission Aviation Fellowship for 16 years. Her skills will be invaluable to equipping CMS supporters and encouraging people to follow their own calling into mission.

Thank you to all our trustees, past and present, for giving your time and skills for CMS.

Related posts

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post New year, new trustees appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

CMS celebrated the graduation of 38 Pioneer Mission Training students on 11 December 2025 with a commissioning ceremony filled with prayer and praise.

James Butler, Pioneer Mission Training leader, opened the event with a reminder that we are sent by Jesus into the harvest that awaits – to leave behind what is past, carry forward what we’ve received and go where Jesus leads.

One graduate, Paul Latham, says he has “never fitted in”, but that at CMS he found a community of others like him.

He describes the pioneer teaching team as “great founts of knowledge,” and stresses that the strength of their teaching is that they’ve done pioneering mission themselves; they can offer guidance based on their own experience.

Angela Rena Collins Itzstein, who also graduated, said one thing she particularly appreciated about the African Christianity focus was the breadth of perspective afforded by students in different countries participating online:

“You have all of these different people, from all different types of experiences, wanting to do different things, but we’re all able to come together and share our hopes and our dreams and the things that God is saying to us and share that in this space.”

Related posts

Get our email updates:

SIGN UP

The post Pioneer graduation celebration 2025 appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

CMS Open days onsite in Oxford and online Open evenings 2026

With so much going on at this time year, it can be hard to think about anything beyond Christmas! But amid the preparations for festive traditions, perhaps you sense something new is happening? Are you feeling that next year God is going to do something special? If there is a restlessness in your soul, we can help!

Come to a Church Mission Society Pioneer Mission Leadership Training open event to find out how a qualification in theology, ministry and mission, which is accredited by Durham University, could complement the work you’re already doing.

But it won’t only be a Durham University award that you achieve. You will be embarking on a spiritual journey. A re-boot of your purpose, your mission, your vision; maybe even your faith.

If you feel that you’ve never been academic then you will be surprised what you can achieve. David Ritchie, one of our graduating students said: “I really enjoyed putting [my assignment] together, I was so thankful that I could do this one orally rather than being another written assignment where I struggle. I was blown away by my grade for that one!”

There are lots of options for study and the qualification you can gain, from a one-year Certificate to a doctorate of theology (awarded by the University of Roehampton). And it can all be studied in person in Oxford or online from anywhere in the world. There is also an opportunity to focus your learning on the pioneer approach to mission, Children and Families ministry, Youth work or the study of African Christianity or Asian Christianity.

Ordinands in the Church of England can train with Church Mission Society Pioneer Mission Leadership Training, through a partnership with Ripon College Cuddesdon. Tours of Ripon College Cuddesdon can be arranged for you as part of an open day.

Book your place at an open event now:

• 10 February, 21 April, and 30 June 2026 from 10:30am to 2pm in Oxford
• 10 February, 22 April, and 30 June 2026 from 7pm to 8:30pm online

Booking is essential. Please email us on pioneer@churchmissionsociety.org to book your place.

If you have a friend who is interested in reaching new people and places for God, why not forward this to them.

Get our email newsletter:

SIGN UP

The post Will 2026 be the year you get your theological qualification? appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Pause with us and look back over 2025 – a year in which the Acts 11 project deepened its voice, expanded its reach, and continued to join God in the ongoing story where mission and migration meet.

by Joseph Ola

11 December 2025

Learning from Global Voices

We began the year reconnecting with the prophetic insights of Prof Jehu J Hanciles, who reminded us at the launch of this project one year ago, that nearly half of the world’s migrants are Christians and that the Body of Christ is profoundly on the move in our generation. This set the tone for all our activities this first year.

In May, Prof Esther Mombo challenged us to confront the racialised structures that shape global mobility and ecclesial belonging. She urged Western churches not only to welcome migrants spiritually but also to stand with them in resisting unjust immigration systems – a message whose urgency only grew as UK immigration policy debates (and, indeed, in the United States and beyond) intensified through the year.

The Quiet Revival, Intergenerational Faith and Diaspora Wisdom

June and July carried forward national conversation around the Quiet Revival report. While the Bible Society’s findings highlighted increased openness to faith among young adults, our reflections emphasised the often-overlooked role of migration in shaping the vitality of the church today.

Our June webinar on Faith and Faithfulness Between the Generations explored how first- and second-generation African Christians live and pass on their faith, and what the wider UK church can learn from diaspora communities navigating spiritual inheritance in complex contexts. Then in July, many of you joined our conversation with one of the co-authors of the Quiet Revival report, Dr Rob Barward-Symmons, where we explored these themes more deeply.

As Angelina reminded us in July, the renewal of the church often happens when generations stand side-by-side in worship, learning to listen to one another’s rhythms of faith.

Scripture, Migration, and Decolonising Mission

In August, Tyler helped us look again at Scripture’s migration stories and how they inform our mission theology today. By September, Harvey’s reflections on decolonising mission (to mark the release of his newest book by the same title, Decolonizing Mission) invited us to grapple seriously with the entanglements of imperial history and Christian witness, and to imagine mission shaped by mutuality, justice, and global interdependence.

Witness in a Shifting Political Climate

October and November brought reflections on rising hostility toward migrants in the UK, alongside stories of Christian solidarity standing against fear and division. As anti-immigration sentiment intensified, we heard testimonies of believers choosing courageous welcome in costly places.

Across the year, the Acts 11 Project has sought to name reality honestly while nurturing hope: that God continues to move through his people – especially those on the margins.

As we turn toward a new year, our commitment to resourcing and equipping the church deepens. We look forward to continuing to share reflections and updates that support congregations, mission organisations, and researchers engaging with mission and migration.

In 2026, we will be launching our Acts 11 Book Club, begin a new round of webinars, and prepare toward our next Acts 11 Conference later in the year. We will also continue exploring fresh ways to amplify diverse voices and strengthen the church’s imagination for God’s mission in a world on the move.

Explore Acts 11

Acts 11 newsletter:

SIGN UP

The post Recap 2025 – the Acts 11 year appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).