DR Congo: Ebola outbreak and response

Please continue to pray for people in DR Congo, where the government has recorded over 1,500 cases of Ebola, including over 500 deaths. The World Health Organization reports that treatment centres are at saturation point. Mission partner Martin Gordon, Bishop of Goma, reports that scepticism around whether the disease is real has led to attacks on healthcare centres and medical workers. Pray for the church to continue to be at the forefront of the Ebola response, loving its neighbours, providing hope and signposting to practical help, and for the rapid development of a treatment and vaccine for this strain of Ebola (Bundibugyo).

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Ethiopia: visiting the UK

Chris and Suzy Wilson, who work with Christians to build peace across divides, ask for prayer for the family as Suzy and their three eldest children travel to the UK for four weeks and Chris and their youngest child (who cannot leave the country) stay in Addis. Pray for smooth travel and that Suzy and the three eldest children are able to rest alongside a busy schedule of time with family and church visits. Please pray that the youngest settles well while the rest of the family is away, and that he and Chris have a really good time together.

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North Africa: on home leave

Mission associates C and E, who lead a church in North Africa, are preparing for a trip to the UK to visit churches and attend CMS’s people in mission conference. Pray for safe travels and for a useful, blessed time reconnecting with churches, family and friends. Please pray for their church in North Africa to continue to flourish while they are away.

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Africa: Ebola

DR Congo reports over 1,300 cases of Ebola and close to 400 related deaths. Some local governments have now banned large gatherings, but it is estimated that there may be as many as 20,000 untraced contacts of current Ebola patients, meaning there is still huge potential for the disease to continue to spread rapidly. Pray for people to take sensible precautions and for the disease to stop spreading.

Thank you to those who joined us to “connect and pray” at the online prayer event for Africa last weekend. Paediatrician Dr Nicci Maxwell joined us from Juba, South Sudan, where she works on the neonatal unit at Al Sabbah Children’s Hospital as well as in a local refugee camp. There are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in South Sudan, but it has been predicted that there is a 70 per cent chance of Ebola coming to the country in the next three months. Nicci shared that Al Sabbah Children’s Hospital is unable to pay its staff and lacks medication, basic PPE and immunisations, and doesn’t have facilities to screen incoming patients or visitors. Pray for Al Sabbah and the many other hospitals around the country and across the region who are under-resourced and facing a potential epidemic.

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South Africa: postgraduate diploma students

Caroline and Dick Seed are based at George Whitefield College in Cape Town, and train and resource theological educators across Africa and beyond. Caroline writes, “Please pray for David Turnbull from Local Leaders in Australia who arrives next week to teach our distance and online learning module for the postgraduate diploma.” We give thanks with Caroline and Dick for the high quality of work the postgraduate diploma students have been doing during the first six months of their studies. Pray that the Lord will send the right people to register for the course next year.

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Spain/North Africa: on leave in the UK

This week CMS staff in Oxford were blessed to have a visit from a family engaged in mission in Spain and North Africa. The family ask for prayer for protection and encouragement for Muslim-background believers. Pray for protection and good health for the parents and children while they spend the next few weeks in the UK visiting churches and catching up with friends.

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Africa: Ebola

Please keep the Ebola outbreak in your prayers. As of 22 June, DR Congo has confirmed more than 1,000 cases and 20 cases have been counted in Uganda. Pray that everyone who needs medical assistance will be able to access it, and lift up people living in fear and families who are grieving the loss of loved ones. There is a chance to “connect and pray” for Africa on Saturday 27 June at 11am. We will be joined by mission partner Nicci Maxwell, giving a perspective from South Sudan. Book via churchmissionsociety.org/pray-africa

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Burundi: community development seminar

CMS-Africa partner in Uganda Peter Seme asks for prayer as he travels to Burundi next week for a community development seminar. Pray for safety for Peter and others as they travel to and from the seminar and for a fruitful time of learning and networking.

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Madagascar: reconciliation and elections

Praise the Lord with the people of Madagascar as they mark their 66th Independence Day today (26 June). CMS-Africa local partner Ialy Tongasoa asks for prayer for Christians as they lead the way in reconciliation between Madagascar’s government and activists protesting economic struggles, infrastructure failures and corruption, in preparation for presidential elections in 2028. Pray for peace, unity and wisdom.

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Recently CMS’s facilities manager Simon met retired CMS mission partner Pam Wilding. He shared her story with colleagues with such enthusiasm that we had to turn to the archives to find out more…

We found many many files of Pam’s link letters and photos. With Pam’s permission, we’ve chosen a few highlights to share with you:

Pam’s incredible mission journey began in 1964, when a vivid dream signalled a call from God and led her to CMS. She left a career as a medical secretary and lecturer and sailed to Kenya in 1967 to work with Rev Charles and Helen Tett – the founders of the Christian Industrial Training Centres.

During her 40 years with CMS, Pam was the principal of a Christian Industrial Training Centre, she pioneered secretarial training for girls at Msalato Bible School (now Msalato Theological College) in Dodoma, Tanzania and adapted a unique Swahili shorthand script with the help of her students.

She also requested CMS release her to assist another missionary – Pat Gilmore – to restore medical records for leprosy patients after clinics and medicines were destroyed during Tanzania’s invasion of Uganda. Pam worked for five months in Uganda, learning a lot about leprosy.  

In June 2003 she was named Canon Emeritus of St Thomas Cathedral – the first woman to hold the title in the Anglican Church of Kenya. Pam was awarded the MBE in 2002 for her services to education and community.

On her retirement from CMS and return to the UK Pam went to say goodbye to the churches who had supported her. “I prayed that one of them would use me,” shares Pam. “I worked at St Oswald’s, Preesall until my retirement in the church choir a year and a half ago. I still take a lay service and help with the Rainbows club.”

Pam’s story reminds us that extraordinary lives are often woven into our everyday spaces. If Simon hadn’t stopped to chat with Pam, these inspiring archives might still be sitting on a shelf. So, let’s start asking more questions! Talk to the people around you, delve into their history, and listen – you never know who you are talking with.

Have a story of a chance encounter or an inspiring life journey? Get in touch and share it with us!

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Burundi: installation of new archbishop

CMS-Africa ask for prayer for Bishop Eraste Bigirimana ahead of his installation as the sixth archbishop of the Anglican church on 23 August. Pray that God will grant him wisdom, grace, humility, and the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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Tanzania: peace in difficult decisions

After a period of careful and prayerful discernment, Dave and Tricia Rollett have made the decision not to proceed with their CMS mission placement to Zanzibar. Our prayers are with them as they consider their next steps as a family.

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