Beyond ourselves

There have been changes in the way the Methodist Church works with regard to our overseas partners but our support through prayer and with our giving remains as necessary as ever. Names have changed and is now known as ‘Global Relationships‘, not Overseas Mission.

Every year we invite a speaker with up to date experience overseas to take a Sunday service. This is education and is a vital part of our work.

We take part in the Easter Offering organised by Methodist Women in Britain using envelopes provided nationally and taking part in a circuit service at which our various churches bring their contributions for work towards justice and ways of helping with education and medical care in some of the poorest and neediest parts of the world.

We have a branch of Junior Mission for All working through SMC Seekers and SMC Kidz. This aims to educate our young people and their families as to the need overseas. One fifth of the money they raise goes specifically to work at home.

Over 30 years ago when we were seriously considering how we could best finance our churches commitments, we were also on the lookout for a long term Methodist overseas project – we had no idea just how long term that might become! The idea was very new at the time. They were called Second Mile Projects.

We had linked with Haiti and south India previously and later with Varna in Bulgaria. About the same time we met John and Sharon Harbottle and family on furlough from the Maua Methodist Hospital, Kenya. and after hearing first hand of the needs there took this on board for our birthday scheme,  an idea borrowed from the ex Baptists among us. We invited members to make annual donations on their birthdays as a thank you for a years’ good health and for the fact that access to free health care at the point of need is still recognised in Britain. The first cards were designed by Nicola Stevens. Now Gwynneth Swift provides these. We are most grateful to her.

Through our giving, we have helped repair the hospital Land Rover, provide an X-ray machine to improve diagnosis of women and 39 specific types of cancer, sent our old hymnbooks for use in the chapel and funded trolleys for serving food to patients.

More recently, following a suggestion from Rev Andrew Ashdown during a recent visit to us, we are now concentrating our efforts on a new clinic in Nok in Togo in a very poor region. There is a building built by the Methodist Church in Togo but no furniture or equipment. At present care is based miles away with no transport and there are many unnecessary deaths.  With this provision as a base, a nurse could visit regularly to provide care for the community. It will also be a vaccination centre.

We particularly give to All We Can – Methodist Relief and Development at harvest as well as the funding of the Leprosy Mission with other churches.  Christian Aid envelopes are available in May – the need is so great.  Action for Children envelopes are available in July, and proceeds from carol singing are also donated.  A collection for Missions is taken at our monthly Weekday Service of Holy Communion.