Crosslinks April 2004 magazine

Why did I come to work with Crosslinks?

First and foremost, I feel God led me here, and I have never been more fulfilled in a job in my life! Secondly, my parents were actually mission partners with Crosslinks and so I felt I knew the organisation and could wholeheartedly support what they were seeking to do.

What’s good about my job?

Having been to various countries on mission, I can help encourage others to go. Also I’m excited about working with a variety of people from school leavers to professionals in their late twenties and early thirties.

So what are my aims and what do I pray for smile in the next year?

I see smile’s role as an opportunity for younger people to serve, gain experience of mission, have fun and really contribute to God’s mission throughout the world. In the coming year I hope to see smile growing, sending more volunteers to more places so that the Gospel may be preached, and so that those who go with smile will be challenged, cared for and grow in faith and maturity.

click here to visit the smile pages

Rev Neil Barber is the Vicar of St Giles in Normanton, Derby.

St Giles supported Phil Selby (whose article was in our last magazine) on a three-week trip with smile to the Gambia last summer.

What led you and the church to support Phil in going to the Gambia with smile?

Phil was already a part of the congregation and so it was easy to get people to support and pray for him. The church is very keen to support Gospel work both locally and internationally, and Phil showed a real enthusiasm for the work which rubbed off on the congregation. The church knew a lot about Crosslinks; they had supported Rob and Clare Miles (Crosslinks mission partners in South Africa), and they felt that the smile programme was very well known and respected. We sent other volunteers on smile projects in my previous church and would thoroughly recommend the programme. Although smile is one among many short-term mission programmes, it’s not just about an experience for the volunteer, but it’s about the Gospel. I also feel that young people sometimes need some encouragement when considering short-term mission, and seeing that someone else has done it they may think “If he can do it, I can do it!” Who knows – they may end up going out long-term!

The church prayed for him before and during the trip and asked him to feed back on his experiences when he got back afterwards.

Phil’s enthusiasm really rubbed off on the congregation and we were all encouraged. It all worked very well. I would encourage anyone to throw in their lot with Crosslinks’ work.