SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS
SHARING GOD'S LOVE
Locally - Nationally - Internationally
At St Mark we are committed to supporting God's work both in our local community, nationally and internationally.
To find out more about world mission at St Mark do speak to any of the World Mission Team (Jim Edie, John Jepson, Lucy de Mello, Susanne Hauser).
WHY FOCUS ON WORLD MISSION?
We believe we are called as a church to play our part in spreading the good news...:
"Go and make disciples of all nations"" (Matthew 28:19)
...and sharing God's love, particularly with those in most need:
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless, maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy" (Psalm 82:3-4)
We are extremely grateful for all that God has provided for us as a church both individually and corporately, and want to express this gratitude by being a generous sending church - generous in people, generous in prayer, generous in giving.
As a church therefore we are committed to fulfilling God's call to mission within our local community, nationally and worldwide.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Praying:
We are keen to support our mission partners in prayer, and will be having regular mission prayer meetings in the coming year. In addition there are specific prayer groups for Missions to Israel (Alma Blackshaw), CMS (Pat Edden) and the French Connection (Yvonne Burton). If you would like to know more about how you can join us in prayer for our missionaries then do get in touch with Pat Edden or Jim Edie.
Going:
Over the last year different members of our congregation have spent time serving God all over the world (Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia!) in a variety of roles including teaching, nursing, and working in orphanages. The World Mission Team is committed to supporting members of our congregation (both young and old) who want to serve God overseas or in this country. If you are interested in finding out more about how you could "go" long-term, or on a short-term team then do get in touch with any of the World Mission Team, and we will support you in finding opportunities.
Also, see the Christian Vocations website for ideas about long or short term mission opportunities.
Giving:
The church currently sets aside 5% of its budget to go towards mission giving which is shared between our mission partners. In addition, we organise other fundraising events throughout the year. In 2008 we were able to send over £10,000 to our mission partners.
If you would like to give to the work of our mission partners then please talk to Pete Babbage or Jim Edie.
OUR MISSION PARTNERS
We support a variety of partners both in this country and overseas (click on the links below for more information):
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TOWARDS A SENDING CHURCH:
A 5-year vision
In 2007 we set out our 5 year World Mission vision for St Mark: to become a thriving sending church that will, by 2012 be characterised by...
- At least 5 Home-grown missionaries serving in this country or overseas in full-time mission work (those whose calling we have tested with them and who have been sent out from our own congregation).
- One fifth of the total church giving directed towards mission.
- Fifty active mission members within the congregation (attending mission prayer meetings, participating in short term teams, actively involved in promoting mission, those seeking guidance or training over possible future mission)
We are a Fairtrade Church
We have a Traidcraft
© stall on the 3rd Sunday of each month after the 10.30am service.
We have committed to:
- Use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and for all meetings for which we have responsibility
- move forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar, chocolate and fruit
- promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship and other activiites where posssible