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Video transcript

Hello everyone and welcome to Hope from the Edges. I’m Andy Roberts, CEO for CMS.

In the next few minutes, we’ll bring you inspiring updates from three different edges of our world, stories of resilience, transformation and hope that your gifts and prayers are making directly possible.

First, we go to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where local church leaders are stepping onto the front lines of a critical health crisis. Then we cross the ocean to Brazil. For a mission story that happens to be very close to my heart. And finally, we’ll return to the UK to celebrate a remarkable story of community resilience and a grand reopening in Carlisle.

We begin today with a sobering situation unfolding in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The country is currently facing its 17th Ebola outbreak in 50 years, with over 1,000 suspected cases. And more than 200 tragic deaths already officially reported. The epicentre is in Ituri province, but confirmed cases have reached the major city of Goma and crossed borders into Uganda.

If you’ve kept up with CMS mission efforts in DRC, you’ll know this crisis is compounding severe humanitarian and political instability. Over 10 million people are currently living under the control of M23 rebel authorities. An ongoing conflict has forced the closure of local airports, severely restricting the flow of vital medical supplies and response teams. In these incredibly vulnerable, volatile spaces, the Church is proving to be a primary safety net and lifeline.

CMS mission partner Martin Gordon, the Bishop of Goma, reports that local churches are uniquely positioned to respond because they remain among the very few institutions truly trusted by the community. This local trust is a matter of life and death. Widespread public mistrust of health authorities has unfortunately fueled scepticism about the virus’s existence, even leading to two treatment centres being set on fire.

Drawing on their hard-worn experience, the Diocese of Goma is mobilising rapidly. They’ve already circulated vital pastoral guidance on tracking symptoms, introducing strict hygiene and sanitation standards. And managing medical referrals safely. Plans are also underway to equip local schools and churches with temperature screening equipment, launch awareness conferences for clergy and teachers, and partner with local journalists to actively combat misinformation. Because this involves a rare strain of Ebola, for which there’s currently no approved vaccine or cure, containment through community education is our most critical line of defence.

Bishop Martin is calling for urgent prayer for protection over health workers and wisdom for church leaders. To learn more and to stand with them, please visit our website.

Now let’s travel to Brazil for a story close to my heart about how the posture of mission is changing and the beautiful fruit of local leadership.

Many years ago my wife Rose, who is from Brazil, and I felt a call on our hearts to help protect vulnerable girls from exploitation. We founded Revive International. Now, when I had first arrived in Brazil as an 18-year-old gap year volunteer, a young local woman named Elise became my translator. She also joined our dining room table prayer meetings and eventually became Revive’s very first paid employee.

When the time came for Rose and I to move to the UK after 15 years, we faced a choice. Rather than bringing in another foreign leader. We chose to step back and entrust Revive entirely into the hands of Elise and the local Brazilian team. We wanted to intentionally dismantle the mindset that subtly implies that leadership must come from the outside. And when we told them, they burst into tears. Under Elise’s leadership, Revive has thrived. The team have listened to where the Holy Spirit has been moving, bravely transitioning the work away from large residential institutions or safe houses, toward pioneering a growing fostering service. It is a living testament to Psalm 68, which reminds us that God sets the lonely in families.

The same shift towards collaborative, locally rooted mission is beautifully reflected in story of CMS mission partners Stu and Rosie Bayford. During the seven years serving alongside Revive, they partnered with a local church to pioneer a community market in an underserved neighbourhood. Rejecting a dependency-heavy handout model, they built a system where local families could buy food at deeply reduced rates, preserving agency and dignity. The market grew into a thriving community hub, a space for shared prayer, parenting workshops and other seminars. Through these relationships, three local sisters came to faith and were recently baptised.

And just like Rose and I did years ago, as Stu and Rosie now return to the UK, they have handed full ownership of this market over to a dedicated team from the local church.

This is mission at its best, where all parties are listened to, working in genuine partnership, building up each other’s gifts, and stepping away so local leaders can flourish.

Finally, let’s return to the UK to see this exact same pattern of local empowerment and resilience at work. In Cumbria, the Carlisle Community Shed, a project involving CMS mission partner Gary Ion, has been a vital lifeline, connecting with people on the margins who are navigating loneliness or mental health challenges. Through practical, hands-on workshops, the shed provided a safe space for people to find community and purpose. And to explore faith in Jesus too.

However, in October 2025, the project hit a major financial roadblock and was forced to close its doors. The tools were packed away, the contents were moved into a storage unit, and the doors were locked. But the story didn’t end there. What followed was an incredible outpouring from the local community, refusing to let the space of hope disappear.

A powerful local outcry sparked a special fundraising campaign. Thanks to that local determination and prayer, the Shed recently celebrated a grand reopening. Gary shares that the new location is even better than before, featuring a spacious workshop, a dedicated social area with sofas and an indoor game space.

Thank you so much for joining me for these updates from the Edges. And for the prayerful and financial support that makes these breakthroughs possible.

Please consider sharing this video with your church, small group, or anyone who needs a reminder of how God is moving in our world today. Until next time, we are so deeply grateful for your partnership as together we follow Jesus.

With Jesus
With each other
To the edges

ENDS

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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 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

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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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Elinaja’s life was changed forever when his motorbike was hit by a bus one day, causing him to lose his right leg. He couldn’t walk and he couldn’t work to support his wife and children. But now, he is working to support his family once again as part of a purposeful, friendly community.

Elinaja was an able-bodied man in his early 30s 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.

The months that followed were some of the hardest of Elinaja’s life. Unable to work, he stayed at home, struggling to move and to support his family. He helped care for their youngest daughter, but as time passed, his hope faded. With no income and no way to afford the £900 needed for a prosthetic leg, despair crept in.

Three years passed before Elinaja found a sponsor who helped him get a prosthesis fitted at the Usa River Rehabilitation Centre. He had already been in contact with SAFI (See Ability First International) Tanzania in search of training opportunities. SAFI, led by mission partners Ben and Katy Ray, offers people with disabilities from across East Africa the opportunity to gain new skills to earn a living.

On the day Elinaja received his new leg, he visited the SAFI office to show how he could now stand and walk with a single stick instead of heavy crutches. At the time, SAFI was looking for a new trainee to join the Sawawa group (one of 12 micro-enterprises that SAFI is setting up over the coming 18 months). Sawawa produces handcrafted wooden homewares.

A week later, Elinaja returned to begin his training with Doris, a skilled deaf carpenter, who had trained with SAFI just six months previously. He initially trained on the large standing lathe and seemed to have a natural talent for woodturning. Unfortunately, standing all day on his prosthetic leg was painful for Elinaja, and so he waited at home until a suitable solution could be found.

SAFI reached out to Tools For Solidarity, an organisation that supplies refurbished tools. By chance, they had just received a compact table-top lathe – ideal for Elinaja. He was soon called in and measured up for the new lathe so it could be set to the perfect height. Two months into his training, Elinaja is now producing his own range of wooden items – bowls, pots, honey dippers and light fittings.

Elinaja is so pleased to be part of a purposeful, friendly community at the centre and to have found work that not only supports him and his family, but also gives him a great deal of satisfaction as he uses a newly discovered talent. Please pray for Elinaja and the carpentry team as we look to raise funds to build a more spacious workshop further from the cafe.

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When it’s not safe to go to church – even a house church – what do you do?

Eddie and George (names changed) live in the foothills of the Himalayas about 200 to 250 km from the China–Tibet border. Eddie is a pastor and George works closely with him. Eddie belongs to a high-caste, but generally poor and rural, ethnic group who are scattered over small villages that dot the mountains of this region. Most of these villages are only reachable via four-wheel drive and hiking through the mountains.

Coming to faith at the age of 15, Eddie is instrumental in a grassroots movement that is reaching his people – a previously unreached people group. He helped train 50 to 60 house church leaders who now care for some 4,000 to 5,000 of his people who have come to faith in Jesus.

Eddie’s ethnic group is classified as an unreached people group. In the past, a few of this people group have come to faith. But they usually joined existing churches in the towns that are largely attended by migrants from other parts of India. Eddie’s own people remained unreached for many years.

However, in the last 15 years, disciples of Christ trained by Eddie, George and others have taken the gospel to the villages, planting numerous house-churches. In different villages, groups of believers would meet together in worship and study of God’s word. But in more recent years after the covid-19 pandemic, the hostility from religious fundamentalists has worsened. Christian believers in the villages can no longer freely invite their neighbours to pray together without opposition, which at times has turned violent. Eddie and George could no longer freely visit the leaders and believers in different villages like they used to.

Against the odds: what they did next

Eddie has introduced a new strategy. He calls it “moving house churches.”

No longer able to freely meet, Eddie and George go hiking into the mountains where they are joined by leaders whom they can contact. On these mountain hikes, that last from a few days to perhaps a week, they spend time together in fellowship, prayer, and studying the Bible. In the mountains is where Eddie and George teach, share life together and teach these leaders.

Most of the leaders range in age from their late teens to early thirties. Many of them have gone through high school and college. Each leader is responsible for leading five to 10 house churches; with each ‘church’ numbering five to 15 believers. In total, they number 4,000 to 5,000 believers scattered over a radius of 50 to 70km from where Eddie and George live.

Sacrificing self to serve others  

Eddie and George’s passion to serve in difficult circumstances is inspiring. Eddie holds three masters’ degrees and was invited to pursue a PhD in the USA. His wife and children are already in the USA, but he has chosen to stay – for the sake of his people. In 2017, George left his job as a hospital technician to assist Eddie in the work of discipling indigenous leaders. 

Over the last few years, Eddie and George have faced many challenges – in ministry and in their personal and family lives – shaped by the  sacrifices their work demands. Both of them are in their late 40s and early 50s, yet they don’t plan on stopping their regular treks into the mountains. Eddie says he’ll continue his trips into the hills, “as long as my body allows me.”

Eddie and George are like a modern-day Paul and Barnabas. They take God’s word to the very edges. They share the gospel, pastor, lead and disciple followers of Christ in situations where traditional church approaches cannot work. 

Shared with kind permission of AsiaCMS. 

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Video transcript

Hello. And welcome to Hope from the Edges. I’m Andy Roberts, mission director for CMS.

In the next few minutes, we’ll bring you inspiring news from three edges in our world, stories you are making possible through your gifts and prayers.

Our first stop is in the Middle East, where a courageous woman has chosen to follow Jesus despite huge risks.

Then we go to the DR Congo to hear how hundreds of baptisms have taken place in areas of violent conflict.

Finally, we spend some time in a community shed in Cumbria where a group of people have begun meeting regularly for cuppas, conversation and carpentry. And for some, faith has been built too.

We begin in the Middle East with the story of Mariam, whose name has been changed for security reasons. But I need to tell you that some parts of Mariam’s story might be upsetting to some viewers.

Mariam grew up in Syria, in a strictly observant Muslim household. Mariam’s Mother removed her from school at age 15 because she disapproved of the fact that her daughter had Christian friends.

Hoping to escape the confines of her home life, Mariam agreed to get married, but her husband was abusive and Mariam had even less freedom than before.

When the civil war in Syria began, Mariam, her husband and their children became refugees in Lebanon. A neighbour noticed the family circumstances and told Mariam about a place she could go to for help. That place turned out to be a church.

In addition to providing practical help with food and other basic necessities, the church members also prayed for Mariam and gave her a Bible.

But her husband forbade her from reading the Bible, saying it was full of lies. Yet Mariam found the Bible irresistible.

As she read it in secret, she felt God speaking to her. And one day she prayed and decided to follow Jesus.

When Mariam’s husband found out about her new faith, he became violent and told her she needed to choose between Jesus and her family.

He took the children with him back to Syria. And this broke Mariam’s heart. Still, Mariam refused to give up on her faith. She prayed and asked Jesus to help her carry this burden.

Mariam started serving with her church, and she connected with a CMS partner who trained her and equipped her to follow her calling into mission.

Today, Mariam helps disciple children and young people, and she leads a thriving ministry among dozens of Kurdish women who meet together in house churches.

Not long ago, Mariam was also miraculously reunited with her daughter.

You can read more about this amazing turn of events on the CMS website. Mariam’s story is a moving reminder that Jesus never gives up. Neither should we.

Now, let’s go to the DR Congo, where CMS mission partner Martin Gordon, bishop of Goma, has reported on remarkable things happening in two key areas: Masisi and Walikale.

We’ll begin in Masisi, which has been on the frontline of the conflict between the Congolese government and the Rwandan backed M23 rebels for the last three years.

Despite the intense suffering this conflict has wrought, Bishop Martin reports that months ago, 93 new followers of Jesus were baptised and 60 more were baptised on Christmas Day.

This took place in Musangati, where the church has got so full services need to take place outside.

The other area is Walikale, which is located so far deep into the Congo forest that it can take three days to get there. The archdeaconry hadn’t had a visit from a bishop in 30 years until Bishop Martin decided to go last summer.

The remoteness of Walikale means that it’s still considered pioneering territory for the gospel.

The main purpose of Bishop Martin’s visit was for a week of teaching on growing healthy churches, and to share Jesus.

At the end of the week, over 500 people had given their lives to Christ, more than 100 had been baptised and 200 confirmed.

At the closing service, Bishop Martin and colleagues commissioned 98 evangelists and nine church leaders.

Since that summer visit, God has been powerfully at work. Many people are turning to Jesus, including village chiefs and former witchdoctors.

Last, but certainly not least, we know Christmas seems like ages ago but we wanted to show you some of the fantastic handmade items crafted by people who are part of the Community Shed in Carlisle.

CMS mission partner Garry Ion serves at the Community Shed and tells us that about 30 men and women are now regularly joining in for carpentry workshops as well as conversation and pastoral care.

Many of the people who come to the shed have struggled with addiction or mental health issues.

The shed is a safe space to meet new friends, ask questions about faith, and study the Bible together for those who want to.

Over time, Garry says he’s seen people trust in Jesus and grow in faith, thanks to this community.

Over the winter, there is also Community Space in the evenings. This a warm space adjoining the shed, where people come for a more in-depth chat, cuppa and access to indoor games including table tennis, pool and darts.

Let’s give thanks for Garry and others from Carlisle Diocese who have developed this space where people who might not feel comfortable in traditional church, are finding friendship and faith.

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.

So 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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The post Hope from the Edges February 2025 appeared first on Church Mission Society (CMS).

Mission partner Garry Ion reports on Carlisle’s Community Shed, from seasonal crafts to a former prisoner sharing his faith.

Whether being productive in the shed, nattering over a coffee or enjoying a Garry’s chicken burger special butty, we remain very busy.

Unlike other Men’s Shed projects, the Community Shed is open to both women and men who’ve usually been referred to us through social or mental health services and associated organisations and charities.

We also increasingly welcome new members through probation services and their Rebuilding Lives programme.

Care-full and prayer-full

What also sets us apart from most other sheds is our desire to care holistically for body, mind and spirit.

Endeavouring to tread carefully and prayerfully, we share our faith through conversation and life experiences.

The seasonal crafts are also a talking point about the gospel message: the planter and the seed of faith sown that flourishes, the bird box and God’s love for his creation, and Christmas decorations and the coming of Emmanuel. Last year during our run up to Christmas we enjoyed fellowship in the shed using our Christmas tree decorations as a backdrop to Bible readings by candlelight.

Welcoming space

As winter approached, we started a new programme called Community Space. You may recall previous Warm Space initiatives across the country that came about due to the cost-of-living crisis and isolation after lockdown.

By request, our Community Space is an offshoot of this where we meet in the evenings, in a warm space adjoining the shed, for a more in-depth chat, cuppa and access to indoor games including table tennis, pool and darts.

It is nice to see several of the lads who have struggled previously with alcohol or drug addiction coming along. This is a problem which often increases at this time of year.

It has also been nice to fellowship and see friends be transformed and grow in faith as we build friendship together.

(Creative) freedom for prisoners

Two new members recently joined us on remand from prison. With a probation officer and tags secured to their ankles, we were initially concerned about their attendance. But both quickly settled, getting on very well with the rest of their groups. They are talented and creative; having gained these skills while inside prison, they now share carpentry skills with members of the shed.

One of these new members had become a Christian while in prison and has begun to share a little of his testimony – from violent gang member, stabbed, fighting for his life, and then presented with the gospel by a prison chaplain. This seed of faith has grown and his charisma in Jesus is clearly seen and heard in the shed.

Last week he invited me and a few other members to a Men’s Breakfast at Carlisle Cathedral where he has started fellowshipping. In the few months we have known him his tags – “shackles” – have been removed from his ankles, he no longer needs to be chaperoned by an officer and is now encouraging shed members, including me, to church activities.

Read more about our work bringing hope where people have given up on God and the church.

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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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Video transcript

Hello, everybody, and welcome to Hope from the Edges. I’m Andy Roberts, mission director for 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.

Our first focus is in Asia, where we’re celebrating a mission partner’s 40 years of faithful service. Then we meet a young man in Ecuador who has found faith and a brighter future than people could’ve ever thought possible. Finally, we spend a bit of time with CMS’s youngest donor and hear about his heart for work in South Sudan.

We begin in Asia, where a CMS mission partner has been serving for 40 years.

Due to security concerns, I can’t share our partner’s name or the exact location of this story, but I can tell you that in this country, about 2% of the population are Christians. The majority of the rest are Muslim. So in many ways, choosing to follow Jesus makes someone an outsider.

Our mission partner, we’ll call her “F”, first went to this country in 1981 as a volunteer. She worked in the library of a college with a Christian ethos. At this time, the country was living under a military dictatorship. It was a difficult time for women and minorities, as discriminatory laws were put in place.

Despite the challenges, F longed to keep serving in this country. So she returned in the mid 1980s. F had come to realise that there was a great need for Bible teachers in the country, because many Christians were growing up without knowing much about their faith. F served as a Bible teacher, Bible college lecturer, and she wrote courses on church history.

In her four decades in South Asia, F directly taught more than 2,000 students. Many of them were women. Thousands more have studied on the courses that she’s written. In a context where following Jesus can be risky, F has helped strengthen the faith of thousands of people, and many of those have gone on to share their faith with others.

Now, as she approaches the age of 70, F is returning here to the UK where, among lots of other things, she’s praying about using her language and teaching skills to serve in the UK churches in areas with large Asian populations.

Join us in giving thanks for F’s remarkable time as a mission partner and pray for her as she decides her next steps.

From Asia, we zip across the globe to Ecuador to meet a young man called Jonathan. As a child, Jonathan was diagnosed with learning difficulties.

In Ecuador it’s often assumed that people with learning difficulties are not capable of much. So they are frequently written off or cast aside.

Many years ago, a CMS mission partner called Jill Ball founded an organisation called Life in Abundance Trust to give children like Jonathan a chance to show just how much they can do. Jonathan started taking classes there when he was 11 years old, and this is where he met another CMS mission partner, Sharon Wilcox.

They met on Sharon’s very first day of work, and for the next 10 years, Sharon journeyed alongside Jonathan, sharing the love of Jesus and helping him learn life skills.

Realising that children like Jonathan needed further support as they got older, Sharon launched the Orchid Project and Jonathan became part of that too.

Thanks to the skills he learned Jonathan was recently offered his first paid job at a nearby hotel. He has grown in his faith as well. Jonathan’s mother says he’s helpful at home, generous, and is happy to lead prayers.

CMS Latin America mission manager Paul Tester recently visited the Orchid Project and said, “As I spoke to the mums and dads of the young people, they told me of their surprise at what their children were now achieving. It has challenged preconceptions and enabled young people to do far more than they might have imagined. The word I heard them use most about Sharon was that she was an angel sent by God!”

It just shows that Jesus never gives up on young people like Jonathan, and neither should we.

And speaking of being impressed with young people, staff in the CMS office in Oxford were delighted recently to receive a letter from a young man called Harry, who has to be one of our youngest donors ever.

At just five years old, Harry already has a heart for mission and saved up his pocket money to give to CMS mission partner, Nicci Maxwell [in white] in South Sudan. Harry was inspired by the idea of helping children who are sick and don’t have access to medicines and healthcare.

In his letter to CMS, Harry mentioned they would like to give his gift in person. So CMS happily welcomed Harry and his family to our offices and showed him around.

No word yet as to whether he has filled out a job application but thank you so much, Harry, for your generosity and for being a small boy with a big heart.

So today we’re seeing God at work among people at the edges through the longstanding faithfulness of CMS people in mission.

Thank you all for watching these reports from the edges, from across the globe, and for your prayerful support, which makes them all possible.

Please share this video with your church, small group, or anyone you think could use some fuel for their faith.

Until next time, whether you’re as young as Harry or simply young at heart, we’re grateful for your gifts and prayers as together we go with Jesus, with each other, to the edges.

ENDS

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Video transcript

Hello everybody and welcome to Hope from the Edges. I’m Andy Roberts, mission director for CMS.

In the next few minutes, we’ll bring you inspiring news from three edges in our world, stories that you’re making possible through your gifts and prayers.

First we go to DR Congo to meet a man who was once a part of a violent militia group but is now a minister of the gospel. Then we’ll go across the world to Argentina to celebrate the growth of an amazing movement that began among indigenous women. Finally you’ll get some encouraging news from here in Oxford in the UK.

We begin in DR Congo with a remarkable story of transformation. This is Manasseh from eastern DRC. For many years this part of our world has been embroiled in violent armed conflict between warring tribes and militias.

As violence came closer and closer to his village Manasseh was faced with a devastating choice: either join an armed militia group or risk losing his and his family’s lives. Reluctantly Manasseh joined the militia group and took part in terrible acts of violence.

One day his commander was arrested and Manasseh decided now was the time to run away. He ended up in Bunia, close to where CMS local partner Bisoke Balikenga leads a peace centre.

Bisoke recalls that when he first met Manasseh, the former militia man was very withdrawn and unhappy.

The peace centre team invited Manasseh to take part in the trauma healing programme where he was able to face the terrible things he had done and asked for forgiveness.

According to Bisoke only Jesus can bring about the kind of turnaround he’s seen in Manasseh’s life. In the five years since he started following Jesus, Manasseh has done more training with CMS-Africa and trained for ordination.

Today Manasseh is a minister in an Anglican parish and works with Bisoke at the peace centre. He goes into local refugee camps to share his testimony and encourage others to turn to Jesus for hope and healing. You can read more about Manasseh’s journey on the CMS website.

From Africa, we head across the ocean to Argentina where celebrations have been taking place. Ten years ago a movement of God’s love in action was born among the women of Northern Argentina, a good number of whom are from indigenous people groups.

Over the last decade God has been working through CMS people in mission to empower indigenous women to share the love of Jesus in their communities.

In recent years this movement has grown to include more and more women from Argentina and the rest of the province of South America. More than 1,600 women have joined this movement which is called AMARE.

October 2024 marks the 10-year anniversary of the birth of AMARE, which is affiliated with the Mothers’ Union.

Catherine le Tissier, who was there at the beginning, said: “AMARE’s main aim is that women should know just how loved they are, that they are precious in God’s sight and of much worth in a society that does not always value them or their children. As they know more of God’s love they can then reach out to others.”

In the last decade, hundreds of indigenous women and others have worked together to challenge and change the status quo in areas of domestic violence, peace and reconciliation and strengthening families. The anniversary celebration was a joyous event with prayer, worship and a spirit of thankfulness.

Let’s keep praying for all the women in the region to know and share God’s love.

Finally we go to the edges in the UK. Over the summer, the UK faced a series of riots and public unrest, much of which was focused on immigration.

Did you know that in our world one in every 30 people can be considered migrants? What should our response as Christians be living in this reality?

That’s one key question being considered by the CMS team involved in our new Acts 11 Centre for mission and migration, which launched in September.

This project will help migrants – many of whom are Christians – share their faith in the places they migrate to and it will also help UK Christians show hospitality to people who move here from other places.

Go to churchmissionsociety.org/acts11 to learn more about this innovative new venture.

So today we’ve seen that yes, people are being pushed to the edges in our world by poverty, oppression and violence, yet Jesus is bringing New Life at the edges and we get to join him.

Thank you for watching these reports from the edges in DR Congo, Argentina and the UK. Your prayerful support is building hope in these and so many other areas.

Please do share this video with your church or anyone you think could use some fuel for their faith.

Until next time, we are grateful for your gifts and prayers as together we go with Jesus, with each other, to the edges.

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Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of AMARE with Catherine Le Tissier, who was there from the beginning.

What began with a handful of women in Northern Argentina in 2014 has grown into a movement of more than 1,640 women from all of the people groups not only in the Diocese of Northern Argentina but also across Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Peru (where it is called AMA).

by Catherine Le Tissier, former mission partner in northern Argentina

A cry for help

The movement began with a cry for help from praying Wichì (indigenous) women looking to the church for practical help for their families.

These indigenous communities, who lived so well in the forest, were thrust into modern life with all its new technology.

Although they benefitted from essentials such as schools and hospitals, parents felt the pressure from the increase of Western influences as they were ill-equipped to guide their children in interacting with unfamiliar culture and technology.

Traditional skills were lost and parents felt powerless as they saw their way of life eroding.

This sparked the vision of one Wichì woman, Isabel Vilte, who worked with a team of Wichì, Toba and Criolla (white settler) women, alongside (now retired) CMS mission partners Catherine Le Tissier and Shelley Stokes, to bring women together.

From MU to AMARE

The idea of a women’s group focused on the family was not totally new – some older women remembered the Mothers’ Union, which had been introduced to northern Argentina some 80 years previously but had sadly declined.

A new “shape” was needed so, encouraged by the worldwide Mothers’ Union, AMARE was formed as an affiliated group.

AMARE seeks to teach Christian basics, gather women and affirm that they are loved, forgiven by God and so precious!

To many women, who often felt invisible culturally, this basic principle was really important.

AMARE encouraged them to know that their love and work are important and so to find new ways to serve God.

Early growth

In the early days of AMARE there was huge growth (numerically and geographically), especially among the indigenous communities. Many women heard teaching and soon wanted to become members.

We soon saw how the teaching on love and forgiveness would lead to reconciliation, sometimes of individuals and sometimes of whole families!

We spent many an hour sitting quietly while Isabel and other leaders listened and encouraged women to sort out their differences and find a way to love and forgive.

It spread to urban centres too – and some members of the church in Buenos Aires even came to the north and caught the vision!

The message was simple, but so powerful and practical, and God’s Spirit moved!

AMARE was not just another women’s group – it was a way of life, and on receiving membership every woman would promise “to love God, and my neighbour, to serve him in my family, in the church and in the community”.

Getting organised

As the movement grew, so did the need to establish the organisation, so in 2016, again with some help from Mothers’ Union, AMARE drew up its first constitution.

A General Assembly was held, supported by the bishops and the local mayor. It was quite a task finding places for everyone to sleep, and ensuring there was enough food for over 300 women, many of whom brought their families!

Workshops during the weekend covered issues such as Bible study, gender-based violence, administration and the family. The first executive committee was chosen, including representatives from several different ethnic groups across the diocese.

Training for family life

In 2017 and 2018 women from AMARE groups across the Province of South America were equipped to facilitate training offered by Mothers’ Union called MULOA, aiming to address the need for support in family life.

MULOA (Mothers’ Union Listen Observe Act) has had a huge impact, helping individuals and groups to listen to God and to others, to observe the needs and priorities, and to take action.

Through Bible study, dynamic games and dramatisations, the way forward becomes clear, and everyone has a lot of fun.

CMS local partner Mirna Paulo continues to use the method among the indigenous communities with huge success.

However, family needs were not all being met and there were many families in crisis. Training using a Mothers’ Union parenting programme had some success, but it didn’t flourish in our context.

In early 2020 parenting facilitators from across the region came together to pray, evaluate the training, consider the challenges facing families and develop strategies to increase outreach.

Facilitators adapted the format to connect better – and some held a group soon after that greatly helped parents and carers.

Times of change

As 2020 progressed, suddenly everything changed with COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, gathering in community was hugely important to AMARE.

Members undertook uncomfortable journeys, slept on church floors and accepted uncertainty around food to be together. So, with tight restrictions on movement and gathering, how could they connect?

Part of Mothers’ Union’s rhythm is a daily “wave of prayer” – every day Mothers’ Union groups are prayed for by others.

For the women of AMARE in Northern Argentina, this prompted a daily WhatsApp prayer group – with women posting and praying daily at noon. This was intended to sustain the group during the early days of the pandemic, but it continues more than three years later!

During lockdowns, some of these messages were broadcast to more remote areas via radio.

Love in action

The heart of AMARE’s vision is to put love in action. As well as supporting parents, prior to the pandemic this included praying for public organisations, such as the police during times of turmoil and launching a football team made up of young men who had been caught up in addiction.

In Ingeniero Juarez, women from AMARE were warmly welcomed by staff and patients as they visited the hospital and prayed with patients.

During the pandemic, the enforcement of restrictions in some areas was heavy handed. There was fear: of the virus, of the police, of being hospitalised.

In Buenos Aires, the group from San Marcos was not deterred, and formed a group of helpers from the community to reach out to struggling families from their local school. They remained strong as they met as a group online.

Joining global voices

Over the years, AMARE held General Assemblies in 2019 and 2022, and leaders were able to connect with Mothers’ Union members from around the world in Rwanda in 2019 and at the Lambeth Conference in 2022.

In addition to serving their own communities, the women of AMARE joined with others around the world in the Mothers’ Union “No more 1 in 3” campaign against gender-based violence. In 2020, AMARE women spoke out on social media and took part in web-based events focused on eradicating abuse and violence towards women.

Challenges and hopes

Since the pandemic, life has been restored to “normal”. Being able to be together is no long seen as a given, but something to strive for – and there have been amazing times together. AMARE continues to be supported by CMS as part of facilitating an indigenous mission group across South America.

AMARE members meet together faithfully, to pray, to love and to serve. There is still strife, apathy, bewilderment, disappointment and sadness, as in communities all over the world. Practical love is not always an easy path to tread.

Yet there is much hope and joy. We see AMARE members taking initiative, taking time with their families, using their God-given gifts as Sunday school teachers, hospital visitors, cleaning, helping, serving.

The old gives way to the new, but we know that the Lord is the same:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15: 58

As we look back over 10 years, AMARE has discovered many creative ways to love God and to love others, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower.

It has brought some unity across culture and class, breaking stigma and prejudice, bringing hope to the downtrodden and abused, and help for families – but there continues to be much need.

Our prayer for the future is that AMARE continues to find ways to bring hope, joy and God’s transforming love to families and communities across the vast continent of South America.

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What can make someone go from being part of an armed militia to a minister of the gospel? As local partner Bisoke Balikenga shares the remarkable transformation story of Manasseh from DR Congo, his answer is clear – only Jesus.

“There was nothing else to do”

Manasseh never thought he’d join an armed militia. But one night he jolted awake to the sound of gunfire shattering the stillness of the night in his village in eastern DR Congo.

Dangerous militia men were coming: Manasseh and his wife were told to get out and run, escaping into the forest.

They lost everything – leaving behind their property, their possessions and the farm that supplied their food and income, with survival their only thought.

Without any of the security of his former life, Manasseh joined the militia group to survive. He explains, “There was nothing else to do. You’d left all your property, you cannot plant, you cannot farm, you cannot do business.”

He lived in the forest with the militia and later became the bodyguard of one of the commanders. Manasseh felt that life in the forest with the gangs was not good, and knew he was doing bad things – but he didn’t know where to turn.

Eventually the commander was arrested for war crimes and Manasseh knew he was at risk too. He ran away with his family, ending up in a refugee camp in Bunia.

Complex conflict

The people of eastern DR Congo have long felt the terrible effects of violent conflict.

CMS local partner Bisoke Balikenga works for peace in Bunia and explains, “The situation in DRC is very complex. In the north east of the country we have three militia groups attacking and killing people, and there are ongoing conflicts between different tribes too.

“Where I live in Bunia there used to be conflict between the Hema, who farm cattle, and the Lendu, who grow crops – this dated back to the period of Belgian colonial rule, but intensified 20 years ago.

“That conflict wasn’t fully addressed and now both groups have weapons. And we have 440 tribes in DRC, and they each have conflict with another tribe.

“People say, ‘if our group can have a weapon, it can protect our village’. So now all those people are fighting together.

“In Bunia, we have UN peacekeepers, and also government soldiers. That’s why in Bunia there is a bit of peace, but you cannot go more than 20km away.

“People are coming to Bunia because where they used to live the killing is still going on. There’s no way to stay – it is better to run away, to go where they can have peace.

“But when they get to Bunia, there is another terrible situation. People come having lost a loved one or some of their family, and when they reach Bunia, sometimes food and a place to stay is not easy to find.

“If there is peace, life in the village is nice. We have very good soil people can cultivate, so you can have land, you can eat very well and relax. But in town people need to buy everything and they don’t have money.

“When I talk about this situation, I feel so bad. People have been killed like insects. Our future is really not clear.”

Working for peace

In the face of this bleak reality, Bisoke, who works for the Anglican Church, is still seeing God at work through a peace centre he started. And Manasseh now works alongside him!

How did such a transformation take place? Bisoke is clear: “Only Jesus.”

The peace centre was born out of a request for Bisoke’s help and the gift of a small piece of land. After praying and talking to local leaders, Bisoke wanted to do something about peace.

Starting small, Bisoke and his colleagues cultivated crops and started to help women to learn to read so that they could access the Bible. Later they started teaching practical skills so women could earn an income.

When war came nearby, many people came to the centre knowing that there might be a welcome there.

The people arriving were traumatised and needed help, so Bisoke and his team got training in trauma healing and reconciliation to offer a trauma healing programme.

The centre provides food and access to clean water too, as people need these basic necessities before they can engage with the training.

Bisoke and his team face great challenges, but they are seeing God at work and seeing people become Christians and be transformed. Some are starting to be able to work together across divides.

Turning to Jesus

The Anglican team from the peace centre go into surrounding refugee camps to share the gospel, including the camp where Manasseh was staying.

Manasseh’s wife became involved with the peace centre first. Like other women receiving their support, she began to noticeably change.

Manasseh started to slowly get involved at the peace centre too, encouraged by the fact that the team showed him God’s love despite the terrible things he had done.

Bisoke recalls that when he first met Manasseh, he was not happy and could not laugh or smile.

Over time, they started to talk more and Manasseh took part in the trauma healing programme. He turned to Jesus, and over the five years since becoming a Christian he has participated in training with the peace centre and CMS-Africa.

CMS-Africa’s training aims to help people experience holistic transformation as their faith impacts all areas of their life.

Manasseh learned about self-reliance and having a biblical approach to money and resources, and as a result he planted crops, sold them and started a shop to provide for his family.

Bisoke’s team arranged for Manasseh to train for ordination in the Anglican Church, and now he is the pastor in an Anglican parish as well as working at the peace centre. He goes into the refugee camps to preach and share his testimony to encourage others.

Testifying transformation

There are more people like Manasseh who used to be in the militias coming to the peace centre.

Manasseh shares, “They go through a very difficult life, violence, no peace, conflict among themselves and within themselves. They can now see how I live outside, since I have come out and joined Jesus and been rehabilitated in the community.”

At the peace centre, there are people who have been deeply traumatised by the militias experiencing support and healing from their suffering, as well as those who have participated in horrific violence.

Bisoke shares, “We keep seeing the way Jesus says: ‘I’m coming in to help those people who are sick.’ Then we see the people coming in are really vulnerable people.

“God has really put his hand on some people. They are becoming Christian. They are being transformed. Then some are saying, now we can work together.

“They say, ‘People were killing us. Then we ran away and we are here. We thought you really can help us, or the army can help us. No. Now we have seen the only one who can help us is Jesus.’

“That’s why we keep saying only Jesus. We like people to develop prayer a lot so they can discover Jesus. Then they will come back to help us, like Manasseh.

“It builds our faith, to see the way people are coming without anything. Then they become Christians. In spite of everything they face, some say, ‘Wow, we see things as very good,’ which means we’re really in the right place to help people.”

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