Raymond and Rebekah Brown

John and Rena Downing

Ulric and Annabel Gerry

Mike and Ann Hutchinson

Sena and Jane Ounate-Lare

This year has seen new opportunities in mission for Crosslinks, as well as the growth of existing programmes. Whilst a long-standing vision, like that of Peter and Miranda Harris and David and Betty Payne for A Rocha, continued to expand, a new vision for student work and church planting came into prominence. Focus for this was Raymond and Rebekah Brown’s move to a student church plant in Durban, and Rob and Clare Miles’ call to ministry with students in Johannesburg. Associates Ed and Laura Nelson began a similar work in Paris. Meanwhile, in Kisumu, Kenya, Timothy Mazimpaka was welcomed as a Campus Student worker, and in Dar-es-Salaam, Ulric Gerry began working in the university with Chaplain Thomas Godda. All these initiatives provide scope for evangelism and discipleship. 

CREATIVE

A further focus on student/youth needs was given by Carlile College Principal, David Williams and his team, when they developed Certificate Courses in Youth and Urban Ministry, with availability in Kenya and throughout Africa. Meanwhile, in contrast, at rural Berega (Tanzania), Mary and Noj Northway, along with the local church, targeted a number of villages around the Hospital with creative, holistic programmes of community based health care and evangelistic outreach. The area’s spiritual climate was transformed. 
New geographical frontiers for Crosslinks were opened up by Richard and Bianca Reeve in Mozambique, and Robert and Patricia MacCurrach in Serbia. Another new area was added when we accepted Sena and Jane Ounate-Lare for service in animistic Northern Togo. In addition, there was the good news of the Bishop of Egypt’s success in “re-opening” the official church in Algiers, where Julian and Mei-Wha Brown will return. 

CHALLENGED

Some older folk were challenged in 2002 to explore new frontiers in their own lives. Among them were Geoff Barter, better known as Crosslinks’ monthly prayer update co-ordinator, who helped at Rushere Hospital, Uganda; and Moira Johnson, a former Regional Co-ordinator, who trained to teach English to nurses working with the Emmanuel Hospital Association in India. In fact, English Teaching proved a rapid growth area, especially in rural Tanzania. Mission partners at Msalato and Mara, as well as at KCMC, all found that for pastors and for secular workers alike, facility in English is now a pre-requisite for further study. Crosslinks’ staff working in Asia also proved that teaching provides an excellent vehicle for creative ways of sharing the gospel with children, students, and adults.

COMPASSIONATE

In addition, throughout 2002, five women seized the challenge to extend existing opportunities for gospel witness through compassionate service among the poor, the disabled and the marginalized. These included Pauline Ndigirwa teaching deaf children in Dar-es-Salaam, and Rachel Williams assuming administrative responsibility for the Kipawa Paper Project in Nairobi’s Kibera slum. Jenny Merritt was told that the fledgling school for the deaf in Nekemte, Ethiopia, could expand to extensive premises miraculously returned to the Mekane Yesus Church.  Bridget Hathaway returned to Tanzania to establish a new community based rehabilitation programme for the disabled in remote Karagwe. Meanwhile, the centre for handicapped children where Mike and Safaa  work has continued to thrive.

However, the area that probably saw the greatest increase in mission partner involvement than ever before was, tragically, the HIV/AIDS pandemic. For some, like medical personnel Phyll Chesworth, Rachel Tarling, Alison Talbot, Mike Hutchinson, Brian Carson, Annie Roberts, Stephen and Katie Reaney and Noj and Mary Northway, this was in their daily work. For others, like Rena Downing (MA course in HIV/AIDS, Limuru, Kenya), Karen Salmon (Nurse Tutor, Jimma, Ethiopia) and Simon Clift (AMREF, Tanzania) it necessitated a major specific teaching focus. For John and Thelma Boase it meant offering to serve in the Chiang Mai Agape Home for babies and children with HIV/AIDS. Other mission partners and Associates, for example: Elizabeth Wiseman (Zimbabwe), Caroline Maclean (Malawi), Nicky Darby (Uganda), and Ned and Jenny O’Keefe (Tanzania) have found themselves drawn into HIV/AIDS related work.

REFLECTS

Perhaps Camilla Symes (South Africa) reflects the view of all: “I am haunted by the fear and despair I have encountered time and again in people who have this disease. They fear rejection by the community, they fear suffering and death, and they fear for those they leave behind. The church is uniquely equipped to bring the truth and the compassion of Christ into the worst of these situations. It should have the moral authority to speak out about behavioural change and family life, (at least it will have, if more godly leaders who teach the truth and live godly lives can be raised up through the colleges”).

And it’s in those Bible Colleges, and theological education generally, so close to the heart of Crosslinks, that Mission Partners were emphasising life application of Biblical truths at every level of their teaching. They also reported growing numbers of applicants for theological qualifications, bringing more demands for Certificate teaching for Philip Richardson; more Diploma level work for Liz Tilley, Mark Meynell, and Paul Hunter; and more Degree teaching in Carlile College and St Paul’s Kenya. For Bill Goodman (Ethiopia), and David (India), increased demand meant extra courses prepared for their post-graduate work. 

Other mission partners seized opportunities to develop theological education further at grass roots level, especially Adrian and Jill Chatfield at TEE College, Johannesburg, and Jem Hovil with the Veritas programme in Uganda. Alongside these was the outreach and teaching done by Les Jesudason at Deanery level in Mara Diocese; and Andrew Symes’ evening course for lay preachers in Port Elizabeth. And of course, there were the countless group and individual Bible Studies and Fellowships that are a distinctive of all Crosslinks mission partners’ work.

UNSTINTINGLY

This distinctive is seen supremely in the hours of dedicated Bible Study and discipleship that Colin and Hazel  gave to enquirers and deserves special mention here. They conduct this unstintingly, in the midst of their Translation and Literature work.

Crosslinks’ commitment to the Other Faiths’ Forum also saw continued growth throughout 2002. Mission partners, like Afri and Pam Chandra in Nairobi, and Wilson and Rebecca Gill in Slough, praised God for his work among some Hindus and Muslims. Marjolÿn  rejoiced in the culmination of eight years’ patient work in London’s East End, when the summer camp and the holiday club that she’s involved with blossomed in numbers, as well as in active support from Bengali parents. Other personnel, like Norman Critchell, experienced increased demand from UK Christians for clear teaching on Islam in the wake of September 11th. And for John Chesworth and Ida Glaser, 2002 presented them with further strategic opportunities for teaching and training on Muslim-Christian relations on an international basis. Sadly, Crosslinks mourned the death of Sewa Mehat in September, just as two more couples applied to join the Other Faiths UK Team.

SERVICE

In fact, there was a larger number of new mission partners and associates in 2002 than in previous years. Eighteen folk embarked on missionary service, with all its attendant challenges. But for the Charlie and Anita Cleverly, Simon and Esther Clift and Nigel and Karen Rooms, 2002 brought return to UK, with their families, and to the upheavals that such readjustment brings. Other families, like Andrew and Uta Buckler in France, moved to more challenging posts within the country.

CLOSED

Security issues were prominent throughout the year, especially in Zimbabwe, where Ben and Lisa Bentham were often affected. And, sadly, Zimbabwean Immigration issues closed ministry there, for Dan and Rosie Button and Dean and Paula Finnie. In fact, visas and permits became tighter generally. Increased bureaucracy in both the UK and overseas affected many aspects of missionary life.

Nevertheless, in a tidal wave of change, mission partners have pursued their dedication to serve Christ and His Gospel, with love and professionalism. The ninety-four mission personnel who comprised the body of Crosslinks’ international staff in 2002, and all of whose outstanding work is referred to, directly or indirectly, in this review, are Crosslinks’ richest asset.

Looking forward

May 2003 Crosslinks' Annual Review index