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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 Tanzania, where new opportunities are making all the difference to people with disabilities. From there we’ll go to North India to see how Christians are creatively responding to the challenge of persecution. And then finally we’ll meet a man in Reading here in the UK, who is doing something amazing for mission in honour of his parents.

[00:00:39] First let’s go to Usa River, near Arusha, Tanzania, and meet a man called Elinaja. Elinaja was an able-bodied man in his early thirties with a job, a wife and four children. One day as he was returning from work his motorbike was hit by a bus as it veered off the road. His right leg was severely injured. After six painful weeks without improvement the doctors advised amputation. Suddenly disabled, he was no longer able to find work. He could no longer provide for his family and despair crept in. Three years later a sponsor paid for Elinaja to get a prosthesis fitted, which allowed him to walk with a stick instead of heavy crutches. On the day he received his new leg he visited the SAFI office. SAFI stands for See Ability First International and was started by mission partners Ben and Katy Ray to provide training for people with disabilities so that they can earn a living. Elinaja was invited to join Sawawa, a micro enterprise group producing handcrafted wooden homewares. Elinaja seemed to have a natural talent for woodturning, but standing all day at a lathe on his prosthetic leg became too painful for him to continue. SAFI reached out to Tools for Solidarity, an organisation that supplies refurbished tools. By chance they had just received a compact tabletop lathe ideal for Elinaja to use. He completed his training. And now he’s producing his own range of wooden items. Bowls, pots, honey dippers and light fittings. Today Elinaja is part of a purposeful, friendly community at the SAFI centre, taking part in devotions, praying and singing along with other members of his community. And he can support his family once again. Ben and Katy have plans in place to start 12 micro enterprise groups like the one Elinaja joined. These will help dozens of people with disabilities like Elinaja find dignity and hope.

[00:02:32] Next let’s go to North India, to the foothills of the Himalayas. This area is home to a people group who were once considered unreached by the gospel. Where they live is also almost unreachable, geographically speaking, due to the mountainous terrain. Despite this, in recent years due to grassroots mission efforts, close to 5,000 members of this people group have decided to follow Jesus. Eddie, whose name has been changed, is one of them. He came to faith in Jesus 35 years ago at the age of 15. Over the years he became a pastor and has helped train 50 to 60 house church leaders for this area. Each leader looks after 5 to 10 house churches. Recently, the rising hostility and threats of violence from religious fundamentalists means these Christians can’t meet together in groups of more than a few. This has led Eddie to introduce a creative idea, what he calls Moving House Churches. Eddie, his colleague George and other house church leaders get together for fellowship, prayer and Bible study while hiking in the mountains for a few days or a week at a time. This is truly church on the move, and this remarkable story shows how resilience and creativity can overcome oppression in places where followers of Jesus are in a minority. You can read more about it on the CMS website under the Stories tab.

[00:03:52] Finally, speaking of resilience… Let’s meet someone embarking on a huge challenge to raise financial support for CMS. David Hubbard from Reading is preparing to cycle 5,000 kilometres around East Africa’s Lake Victoria at the beginning of 2026. David is doing this incredible sponsored challenge in memory of his parents, Laurence and Wendy Hubbard, who served with CMS in Africa from 1966 to 1973, and Laurence was also later the regional secretary for CMS. David’s cycle will take him through Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and he’ll get a chance to spend time in places where his parents lived and worked as well as visit current CMS mission partners and projects. We are so honoured to see David preparing for this inspiring fundraising endeavour, and we’ll be praying for him on his journey.

Do you have a fundraising idea, or would you like to borrow one of ours? Find out more at churchmissionsociety.org/fundraising.

[00:04:52] Thank you for joining me for these stories from the edges and for your prayerful support, which of course makes them all possible. Please share this video with your church, small group or anyone you think of who 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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David Hubbard is a CMS supporter preparing to cycle through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2026 in memory of his father, a CMS mission partner. As he tells Emily Wilson in this interview, his 5,000km East African ride is more than a challenge – it’s a tribute to his father’s life in mission. And a way to raise money for CMS.

David, what inspired this incredible, intrepid undertaking? 

My parents, Laurie and Wendy Hubbard, went to Kenya as mission partners with CMS in 1966, my dad served as an Anglican vicar in the Kenyan towns of Nyeri and Nanyuki for about seven years. I don’t know what drew Dad to Kenya – he was open to anything – but I know that his dad had also done mission work for many years in Nigeria back in the 1920s or 30s.

I was born in Kenya, my wife Rachel was born in Kenya too. My family left Kenya before I turned five, but I have a few childhood memories of Nanyuki. I do remember that on a clear day you would see the very beautiful view of Mount Kenya in the distance.

When Dad died this year we were thinking, what can we do in his memory? And this idea came about. 

I understand you’re a competent and keen cyclist but why such a long way, and why East Africa? 

Any excuse for a long cycle ride, especially in Africa, if I’m honest! But I was thinking, while it’s a fun thing to do, and it’s a challenge, how could I honour my dad and encourage others along the way? 

After discussing with various people, and realising that CMS [still] has links in East Africa, I came up with the idea of cycling a kind of loop around Lake Victoria. I’ve cycled in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania before. My family and I visited Kenya this summer and I had a chance to do some cycling and plan some of the route. I brought out a folding bike in a suitcase, which held up remarkably well on the rough roads! 

How long do you think the cycle will take? 

My hope is I’ll do it in two months. I can use leave or school holiday time in order to have enough time away from my jobs teaching and with Friends International.

Starting in Nairobi, Kenya, I will travel north to Nyeri, near Mount Kenya, to visit a family that my dad knew well, before heading across the semi-arid area called Laikipia, hopefully seeing some wildlife along the way! I’ll meet up with my son-in-law’s family in Busia County, visit the CMS-Africa team, then head into northern Uganda to visit CMS’s work with refugees. From there I will then travel south across the border into Tanzania. I hope to visit schools in Iringa and Morogoro where I used to work. I want to help do some staff training with teachers whenever I get the chance, as teacher training opportunities are quite limited. 

In Tanzania I also hope to visit CMS mission partners Ben and Katy Ray before crossing north back into Kenya to complete the 5,000km loop. 

There are various personal connections – former colleagues, friends, family – but I also want to give as much time as possible to see school projects, CMS projects and to link with other people where I could do anything useful. That would be great. 

Why do you think your father stayed connected to CMS’s work for so many years after he returned from being a mission partner in Kenya?  

“I think he was motivated by a few things. One, he made connections with people. He’d fallen in love with people, their warmth, their kindness. But he also saw the need to care for them, he was very generous and supported CMS and individuals in Kenya for much of his adult life. There are so many physical and economic challenges in that part of the world. 

Two, his work for CMS when he returned from Kenya. He got involved from a different angle. As an area secretary in Kent in the 80s he was encouraging other people, visiting churches and groups to raise awareness of CMS’s work. He believed in what CMS does and what you stand for. Along with my mum, he went to CMS conferences and kept up relationships. You want to support people who have been through something similar to you. 

How will you stay motivated on your ride? 

Firstly, knowing that Dad would be really, really happy and supportive of it. 

Dad maintained contact with, and a passion for, CMS all the way through his life. When you do these things there’s always going to be times when you think, “What am I doing this for?” It’s good to know that this trip is bigger than I am. It’s not just a jolly, a physical challenge or even all about fundraising for CMS – it’s something that will hopefully achieve something really positive.

I want to go and see these people. People are moved when you make the effort to visit them. Whether they are missionaries or local partners, friends, family. They really, really appreciate it. And I know I’ll learn much from meeting them, too.

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Donate Sponsor David via JustGiving

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We have been blown away by the response we received when we contacted CMS supporters earlier this year about emergency needs in eastern DR Congo as a result of escalating conflict.

Alongside many generous donations, a couple of members of the CMS family went a step further to raise money.

We’re so grateful to Judy Rous, former mission partner and current mission associate serving DR Congo, who marked her birthday with a fundraiser. Inviting friends and family to give, she raised almost £300 for CMS’s urgent appeal about eastern DR Congo.

Another former mission partner (and former trustee) Craig Hampton put on his running shoes and completed the Reading Half Marathon in March as a sponsored challenge. He completed the race in just under two hours and managed to raise about £800 for CMS. Speaking about the event, he shared: “I almost didn’t make it as I was delayed in France following the Heathrow fire and arrived just before midnight the day before the race!”

Thank you Judy and Craig!

Our partners in eastern DR Congo were also greatly encouraged by CMS supporters committing to pray for the country during a week of prayer from 5 to 11 May. Thank you especially to the more than 50 people who joined us online to hear from partners on the ground and pray together.

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The post Fabulous fundraisers appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

This autumn, CMS staff were delighted to receive a visit from one of our youngest supporters.

In September, the CMS fundraising team opened a heart warming letter from Harry, aged five, explaining that he was donating £45 to mission partner Nicci Maxwell in South Sudan.

He wrote: “Each week, my mummy and daddy give me some money and I decide how much I’d like to save, how much I’d like to spend and how much I’d like to give to charity.… I’d like to send my money to you so you can help the people you’ve met.”

In his letter Harry mentioned that he’d especially like to be able to hand over his gift in person. When he arrived at the CMS office in Oxford, with his parents and sister Isla, CMS staff learned more of the story behind Harry’s special gift.

Harry and Isla choose each week how to split their pocket money between pots for spending money, savings and charity.

As summer approached, the family looked into where they could donate the money that was building up in the charity pots.

They wrote to their church to ask if the church could suggest any possible charities that the children might like to give the money to – and the church gave them information about different causes that they supported.

Harry and Isla’s church supports Nicci Maxwell, a CMS mission partner who provides medical care to babies and children in a hospital and refugee camp in Juba, South Sudan, as well as training and supporting local paediatric teams.

Harry was inspired by the idea of helping children who are sick and don’t have access to medicines and care like children in the UK. He decided to give the money to Nicci’s work.

Nicci commented, “I confess to being moved to tears when I read Harry’s lovely letter that his dad emailed to me. I was amazed that a five year old boy wanted to send his saved pocket money to help children in South Sudan. Harry’s generosity will bless so many struggling families in Juba.”

While at the office, Harry got to meet Victoria Summers, personnel lead for Africa, who supports Nicci and other mission partners all over Africa, and the finance team, who are making sure the money gets to the right place.

Harry and his family also had a look at some items from the CMS archive, including old collection boxes and a teapot dating back to the very beginning of CMS in 1799.

Harry still buys toys and sweets with his spending money, and is learning all about saving up for the future – but he is also making a difference for children living thousands of miles away.

Thank you Harry!

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Rev Clive Main, a Church of England vicar and former Church Mission Society mission partner is embarking on a quirky community fundraising project that he hopes will raise thousands to support a vocational training centre for people with disabilities.

The church Rev Main leads, St Barnabas Homerton, in East London, dates from 1847 and is surrounded 725 perimeter railings. Inspired by CMS’s ‘Two-gether for Mission’ fundraising campaign, marking the 222nd anniversary since the organisation was founded in 1799, Rev Main decided to ‘pick up his brush and paint’.

He estimates the task will take until October to complete.

Prior to his time as a vicar in East London, Rev Main served as a CMS mission partner in DR Congo from 1985 to 1992 and has continued to support CMS ever since.

He explained how the occasion of CMS’s 222nd anniversary inspired him to start a unique community fundraising initiative.

Rev Main explained: “Remembering that a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, I started to scrape and paint the first railings, and as I did so, I got the inspiration to double the harvest – paint at least 222 rust-free shiny black railings and at the same time raise money for CMS to celebrate their 222 years of creative, gospel-centred mission.”

Rev Main’s herculean efforts have so far raised over £4,000, including Gift Aid.

He said: “I have been amazed and humbled by the response. People have contributed from far and near. I’ve never done anything like this before. People like the idea that there’s something useful to show for it, as well as money raised for a great cause.”

He continued, “It’s tedious work – three hours to scrape 40 railings, two-and-a-half hours to paint them, but we’re managing to paint at least 40 railings a week and more than half are now completed.”

He is being helped by a church member and because the railings face the high street, Rev Main has become a visible presence, and all sorts of people stop to chat about the project…and even shout encouragement from passing vans!

The money raised will go primarily to support Neema Crafts, a CMS supported training centre in Tanzania for people with disabilities. Comprising seven different workshops, a cafe, conference room and guesthouse, the centre provides education, vocational training and employment for people who would otherwise be discarded by society and left to beg on the streets for a living. St Barnabas have supported this project for over 10 years. 

Jim Barker, Director of Fundraising at Church Mission Society, said: “Clive’s effort is a great example of the imagination, humility and faithful dedication characterised by CMS missionaries over 222 years. All of the CMS community is with you – praying for you, painting with you [in spirit] and willing you on, as you take on this epic challenge.”

Call to action

For more information about Clive Bain’s fundraising challenge go to his JustGiving page:

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The post Pick up your brush and paint (and fundraise)! appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Twenty-three years late, Jenny Green sat down to write a final letter to the supporters who have seen – and prayed – her through 26 years as a CMS mission partner in south-west Uganda and in Bradford. It’s a moving glimpse into the faithfulness of God, of Jenny, and especially of those many supporters.

This is my final letter as your Church Mission Society mission partner. It was scheduled to be written in 1997 after the three years I signed up for. But I had just started to find my feet in Kisoro [south-west Uganda].

Kisoro was just recovering from the horrendous Rwandan genocide and there was so much to do. [Many refugees from Rwanda had fled just over the border to Kisoro.]

Learning to be a local

Back in 1994 the stars shone brightly with no electricity or light pollution and nights were absolutely silent apart from the call of owls and the squeak of bats (and the occasional rattle of gunfire). Water arrived in jerry-cans on the back of a bike and there was no rice, bread or breakfast cereals and sometimes no toilet paper either! I walked everywhere because I had no car and I learned to eat, enjoy and cook local food. Wonderful!

By the end of my second three years, I had been made diocesan children’s ministry coordinator (having moaned that there was no children’s ministry, despite 50 per cent of the population being under 14).

All for the children

Since I couldn’t coordinate the children’s ministry until it was there to be coordinated, I put off my final letter until 2000.

By then we had thousands of children in churches, but struggled with AIDS, malaria and far too many funerals. Hannah [who would later become Jenny’s first adopted child] was born and needed 24/7 nursing care along with God’s intervention.

There were 133 Sunday schools to coordinate and millions of youth who loved to congregate in their thousands for residential camps. Again I postponed my final letter!

By 2003 Potter’s Village was being born, AIDS was still real and motherless babies were everywhere. Potter’s Village scooped them up and set them on the path of life. Then in 2006 Joseph [Jenny’s second adopted child] joined our family.

“You made it possible”

Potter’s Village was growing, visitors and volunteers came and went, Hannah went to school in Kenya, Joseph struggled with local schools and seizures, more babies arrived and there was no time for final letters.

No mission partner has had more loyal, faithful, generous, caring supporting churches than I had. Your love and support continue to humble me and I pray God rewards your loving hearts. So it was your fault I didn’t do my final letter – you made it possible for me to stay!

Then came the day I had to leave after 20 years in Kisoro – I had given up planning to go, so it was shocking and sudden. That was very hard, lots of tears and unknowing. But it was the right time because God had worked it all out.

“God was faithful and so were you”

I came back to chilly old England with a heavy heart and a very poorly boy. But that wasn’t the end – CMS relocated me to Bradford. Back to the place where I had heard God call me to mission.

You have faithfully supported me, my children and my work all the way. Through war, illness, siege, joy and sorrow, in strength and extreme weakness, through earthquake, volcano and flood, through surgery and famine, through success and failure, God was faithful and so were you.

After that you helped to keep me in Bradford, where I struggled with the climate and missed the babies and tried to remember how to work in England. God and you made it possible.

I signed up for three years and stayed 26. I can only conclude that my maths is limited and you being such wonderful supporters, prayers and encouragers helped to keep me where I loved to be, so I never realised my time was up and I was supposed to write a final letter!

“My heart overflows”

I guess you originally signed up for a three-year stint too, and I thank God for you every day.

Often in my dreams I’m on my way back to Potter’s Village, where most of my heart still is. But Potter’s Village is in good hands and the God who made it happen will keep it happening for as long as he needs it.

My heart overflows with thanksgiving for all he has allowed me to do, see and be, and because you were a vital part of that, my heart overflows with gratitude for you.

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Spirituality. Fundraising. In the same sentence? Really? Spirituality – that’s about God and faith and worship; a way of life, choosing to follow Jesus. Fundraising, well, that’s about money…

By Heather Ramsey

Asking for money, or being asked for money. It’s a profession, requiring specific skills and expertise. Why do we need to do it, especially as people of faith? Why don’t we have more faith, simply pray that God would provide for our needs? Asking for funds is awkward, a bit embarrassing. Or is it?

Fundraising as a ministry

Indeed, God does and will provide for our needs. We ask him to give us our bread for each day and he gives in abundance – we live because he has loved us first and knows exactly what we need. So why should we ask for money? Why do we give, as a response to the asking?

Henri Nouwen, renowned in his lifetime as a professor, pastor and as author of books on the spiritual life, was convinced that spirituality and fundraising are bound closely together. In fact, he believed that, “Fundraising is first and foremost, a form of ministry… [It] is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.” [1]

Sharing a vision, sharing a cause

Nouwen’s vision for fundraising goes way beyond asking for pennies and pounds. It’s about participating together in mission, shared vision, growing relationship. The blend of confident asking and joyful giving will result in mutual blessing. “When those with money and those who need money share a mission, we see a central sign of new life in the spirit of Christ. We belong together in or work because Jesus has brought us together, and our fruitfulness depends on being connected with him.” [2]

We at Church Mission Society count it a privilege to be able to ask, to share the cause of mission and work to see God’s kingdom being extended around the world. We are also very blessed in receiving from faithful individuals and churches like you who are committed to partnership and give sacrificially of time, prayer and money.

People like CMS Advocate John Harwood. Inspired by Captain Tom’s fundraising success for the NHS, John decided to embark on his own fundraising mission, but to raise funds for CMS. He planned to take on 94 walks, one for every year of his life, between his home in Emsworth, Hampshire, and his church, St James, Emsworth – a total distance of 47 miles.

The continuing need

Speaking of his reasons for taking on the challenge, John, long since a CMS mission partner in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, said, “I now wish to raise £1,000 for the work of CMS. Why? Because I am convinced of the continuing need to support the Christian mission in the UK and world-wide.”

John completed his walks in June 2020 and raised nearly £13,000, hugely surpassing his initial target. His courage and sense of slow, steady adventure caught more than 200 people’s imaginations and inspired them to support. And in the process, he has promoted awareness of CMS’s mission around the world. Not only that – perhaps his efforts have inspired a thought – ‘If John can do it, why can’t we?’

So – what do you think? We would love to hear about your experiences of fundraising, as advocates for mission in your church. Do Henri Nouwen’s principles resonate with you and your congregation? And can we support you or resource you to fundraise for mission in your church? Or, what advice would you give us as we look for ways to fund God’s mission through CMS? We’d love to hear from you. Email the team.

[1] Nouwen, H. (2010). A Spirituality of Fundraising, The Henri J Nouwen Spirituality Series. p.16
[2] Ibid. p. 22

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