February 2011 Mission News

Mission News

At St Thomas’ we follow the biblical principle of giving 10% of our income away. We support and have links with a number people and missions. These include The Children’s Society, Tearfund, Word of Life, CMS where our link missionary is Shelagh Wynne working with Friends of China in Thailand, Interserve where we have links with D and M W with K working in South East Asia and  Jo and Denny Fleming working at the Christian Medical Hospital in Vellore, India. We also support Serving In Mission and are supporting Nathaniel and Donna Jennings with Micah and Tabitha working in Bangladesh and the Children’s Uplift Programme where Beth Jennings is working also in Bangladesh.

Nathaniel and Donna Jennings’ News

Nathaniel and Donna sent news in December. They have much to thank God for.

• Good progress with the work alongside Bangladeshi believers who had come from another faith. They now share, encourage and support each other and are reaching out to others.
• The English school was well established with good links with local schools and colleges and many referrals.
• Deepening relationships with a few local women who Donna was able to share with.
• Faith and spiritual growth in Akhtari who worked at the language school with Nathaniel.
• The arrival of their daughter Tabitha on 5th October, an easy delivery and a model baby!

However they have faced a very difficult decision since their return to Ireland last summer.

Life in Kushtia was not always easy as the team they were supposed to work with did not materialize. Prior to their return they wondered about moving to another town where they would be able to share with another couple. This was particularly as they were aware that, since April, Micah’s development had not been progressing along normal lines. Since their return from Bangladesh, Micah has been diagnosed with more serious developmental difficulties, so they have made the very difficult decision to stay in the UK for the present, so that Micah can get the help he needs.

Nathaniel returned to Bangladesh for 2 weeks in December to close down the work they were doing and pack up.

• Do pray for them as they adjust to this change in direction and seek employment, a home and expert help for Micah.
• Pray for them in their care and support of Micah.
• Also pray for all those they have left behind who were expecting them to return at least in the short term.

SIMwill continue tosupport themfor a few months to allow them time to rearrange their lives.

Biddy Dawson

This was the result of a recent survey which listed all the qualities that people expect from their pastor:

• The perfect pastor preaches for exactly twelve minutes.
• He is twenty-eight years old, but he has been preaching for thirty years.
• He works from 8.00 a.m. until midnight everyday, but is also the caretaker.
• He frequently condemns sin, but never upsets anyone.
• He wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, gives generously to the poor, and has a low salary.
• He makes fifteen daily calls to parish families, visits the housebound and the hospitalized, spends all his time evangelising the unchurched, and is always in his office when needed.
• He is very handsome!

Forwarded to us by DW