Global Mission

As part of the Missional Network system we have a Mission Support Small Group, which meets twice a month in St John’s Centre, and during the pandemic meeting via Zoom. It’s a lively, loving, supportive group for each other, and our passion as well as caring for each other is to pray for and support those in our care who are ‘on the front line’ of mission.

Jesus said: . . . “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’,” (Acts 1 v 8), and it’s a joy to support those being witnesses locally and overseas.

Philippines – with Streetlight and the Kanlungan Centre ministering to street children and the poorest communities of Manila. A member of our church is a trustee of Streetlight, and several members have taken part in short term work at the Kanlungan Centre. It is hoped this will continue in the future.

Brazil – supporting Meninadança, working with at-risk girls as young as 10 years old, along Brazil’s major BR116 highway. The Pink Houses in Medina, Candido Sales, Padre Paraiso, and Catuji currently host to up to 80 girls a day at each Centre. Children visit the Centres and receive God’s love and care in abundance, and are offered hope, healing and justice. Meninadança hopes to open further Pink Houses as funds are available. The latest initiative is a Justice project, which provides families of abused children access to legal advice and representation as well as working to bring sexual abusers to justice.

Honduras – We support The Children of Honduras Trust, who care for poor and disadvantaged families in the remotest areas of Honduras.

Albania – Shaun Thompson, working with Albania Evangelical Mission, in Gjirokaster and Tirana, Albania. As well as reaching out with the Gospel in Albania as part of their weekly ministry, AEM run children and young people’s holiday clubs. Members of our churches have taken part in the past, and hopefully will do so again in the future.

Middle East – As a church we support work in various regions of the Middle East.

Uganda – Pastor Emmy and his wife Sarah run Parental Care Ministries, which cares for orphaned children, providing homes, schools, hospitals and medical care. PCM UK is based in Llandudno, Wales. Again, members of our churches have served on teams in the past, and it is our hope to send more people on short term mission.

Locally our churches support ‘In Christ In Schools’, reaching out with assemblies and Christian ‘after school’ groups to hundreds of children in the Mansfield area; Mansfield Lighthouse, an annual event for children taking place at Queen Elizabeth’s School; Bob Goody, in his role as youth coordinator for British Youth for Christ.

The Beacon Project is part of the outreach of St John’s with St Mary’s and reaches out to the homeless and disadvantaged in our town.

Within our parish the Mission Support Group offers prayer, financial and practical help for School Easter and Christmas Workshops at St Mary’s Church; Ladybrook Lighthouse, Mini Messy Church in St John’s Centre, and children’s groups from our churches on Sunday mornings.

We also support many organisations including Christian Aid, Samaritan’s Purse and Compassion UK, as well as those who highlight the plight for Persecuted Christians throughout the world.

Newsletters from all these are reproduced regularly and distributed to both our churches, as well as on display in our Mission Displays and Noticeboards. A more comprehensive prayer newsletter is produced at least four times a year, giving the latest information for support and prayers by all those who care to use them in joining us in prayerful and practical support for those serving God ‘on the front line’ of Christian service.

Our aims always are to continue passionately supporting those God has put on our hearts, to inspire more people to become involved in short or long-term mission, and through the Missional Networking to draw more people into mission support.

Thank you, Dave Roper,

Mission Co-ordinator, St John’s with St Mary’s

Dave has been with the church for many years and has looked over our mission outreach. Dave and his wife Eileen have been faithful members of St John’s with St Mary’s and they will be delighted to discuss mission – or anything else with you.