Uganda: stepping into a new season

Sarah and Simon Cawdell recently finished as CMS mission partners, having served at Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College in Uganda for three years. They ask for prayer for the work of the Diocese of Northern Uganda as former colleagues press on in doing good and seeking first the kingdom of God. Please also lift up Sarah and Simon in their new home in West Yorkshire, where Sarah was recently installed as an incumbent and Simon is praying about how to serve in this next season.

The post Uganda: stepping into a new season appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: Acts 11 conference

Pray for a mission and migration conference taking place today and tomorrow in Liverpool and online in connection with CMS’s Acts 11 Project. The Acts 11 Project (named for the first multicultural church in the Bible) invites people to explore how migration is shaping Christianity today. Pray for meaningful conversations and for connections made to lead to longer-term collaboration.

The post UK: Acts 11 conference appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: Big Church Festival

Last weekend saw the annual Big Church Festival shut down early following a tragic accident in which Pastor Robert Guanco lost his life and several others were taken to hospital in critical condition. Pray for Robert’s family and friends as they come to terms with this tragedy and for other victims as they recover from their injuries.

The post UK: Big Church Festival appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: Acts 11 conference

CMS’s Acts 11 Project is a space where people can explore the ways migration is shaping Christianity today. The Acts 11 team ask for prayer for their upcoming conference (4–5 September); for the right people to come, meaningful conversations and relationships that lead to longer-term collaboration. See the “events” section of the CMS website to find out more.

The post UK: Acts 11 conference appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Middle East: preparing to return

Mission partners J and R are currently on home leave in the UK, visiting churches and spending time with family. Pray for a restful time, and for them to be able to return to the Middle East as scheduled towards the end of October.

The post Middle East: preparing to return appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: preparation for festivals

Two teams from the CMS office are preparing to represent the organisation at Greenbelt and Big Church Festival over the August bank holiday weekend. Pray for plans for transport and other practicalities to come together. If you are going to be at one of these festivals, please do come and say hello!

The post UK: preparation for festivals appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Greenbelt is an annual fixture in the team calendar and we are looking forward to this year’s festival. CMS has a stand so if you are coming do come and say hi to us there.

Church Mission Society at Greenbelt 2026

• Friday 28 Aug, 3.30pm: Pioneer meet-up at Hope and Anchor
• Saturday 29 Aug, 11am: Fringe Dweller with Jonny Baker and David Cotterill + guest artists at Shelter
• All weekend: Come and connect at the CMS stand, and sign up for Fringe Dweller

The theme of the stand this year is based around Fringe Dweller, with a series of postcards using images from the book inviting people to join in God’s mission at the edges.

The popular Fringe Dweller Lent course has been set up as a course you can subscribe to any time which comes to you via email. Each postcard has a QR code so you can do that. Do come and take those and encourage people you’re with to visit the stand and do that.

Part of the charism of pioneering and indeed CMS mission purpose is about joining in with what God is doing and making disciples at the fringes. In fact the name Fringe Dweller was inspired by former General Secretary of CMS John Taylor who suggested in one of his newsletters that if we are followers of Jesus then we will find ourselves fringe dwelling. 

A new prospectus for pioneer training was delivered yesterday to CMS office which looks great – so do come and grab one of those. Our best advert for the course is former students so please invite people to come and talk to us about training. It’s not too late to sign up for September (though it is quite late!).

Last year we had quite a few conversations about Aspen, the new ecclesial community we launched last November. So if that’s something you’d like to talk about we’d also love to do that.

Look out for me (Jonny Baker) and David Cotterill taking Fringe Dweller to Greenbelt in the Shelter venue at 11am on Saturday exploring ‘Flip The Script’ with a series of artists responding to it. It feels such a Greenbelty kind of theme!

We will have a pioneer meet up for anyone and everyone at 3.30pm on Friday at the Hope and Anchor. Do come along and meet other pioneers, Aspen members and so on. 

Speaking of the Hope and Anchor, Methodist pioneer friends will be hanging out there I’m sure. Ash and Anj Barker and Newbigin hub friends are involved in the URC venue. Anj is hosting some conversations each evening that are pioneer/mission focused. 

Greenbelt is always a joy – look forward to seeing you there.

Get our email newsletter:

SIGN UP

The post Pioneers connect at Greenbelt appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: mission partners on leave

Many CMS mission partners are currently on UK leave, trying to fit in as many church visits as possible as well as spending time with family and friends, and trying to find some time to rest. Pray for opportunities to recharge amid the busyness and to be able to return to overseas locations feeling refreshed.

The post UK: mission partners on leave appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: PiM conference

This week, many of CMS’s people in mission and staff members have come together for our people in mission (PiM) conference at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire. Give thanks for a good time of fellowship and pray for people in mission particularly to come away built up and ready for the next season.

The post UK: PiM conference appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Spain: family transitions

Miranda and Tim Heathcote support mission workers, especially those serving in difficult locations, through debriefing, spiritual direction, retreats and leadership development, both online and in person. For the past two years, they have divided their time between Oxfordshire and Place of Springs, their ministry house in Spain. Pray for them as they transition back to being at Place of Springs full time. Miranda and Tim ask for prayer for their younger daughter as she seeks accommodation and a more full-time job in Oxford by the end of August.

The post Spain: family transitions appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

UK: people in mission conference

Around 75 people will attend CMS’s people in mission conference next week at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire. Pray for safety as people travel to the centre from near and far, for a great time of fellowship and for God to minister to each person as they need.

The post UK: people in mission conference appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

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.

The post Spain/North Africa: on leave in the UK appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).