Being Christ’s servant
Posted on: 2nd June 2020
CMS missionary Judith Calf served in Tanzania for many years, returned to Australia and is now back in Tanzania. Judith reflects on the daily challenges of serving in mission with humility, and how she seeks to follow the example of Jesus. When I was asked to write about humility in mission, my first thought was ‘I am not comfortable with doing that!’ Writing about how I live out humility in my life and ministry […]
Trapped in Japan, but ministering in the Middle East
Posted on: 2nd June 2020
K is a Japanese-speaking CMS worker in the Middle East who focuses on working with the Japanese diaspora community. The COVID-19 crisis has seen her caught in Japan, where she previously worked for many years. Here is a wide-ranging reflection on how God is using this time to both test her, and to give gospel opportunities online. This includes continuing to […]
Learning patience
Posted on: 26th May 2020
CMS missionary Grace Adams, serving with Chris in Timor-Leste, was hoping for quick results when she embarked on a translation project. But sometimes God seems to work slowly in his gospel mission. We had been well-trained by CMS to have realistic expectations about what we might achieve, and how soon. When we were missionaries-in-training, experienced missionaries told us that we would do well in our first […]
Giving thanks – Maurice Betteridge
Posted on: 26th May 2020
We praise the Lord for the life of Maurice Betteridge, who died 25 May, aged 92. Maurice was well cared for by the staff in Hedley Sutton aged care facility and supported by his daughter Joanna and son Peter, and also by Jill Wilson (she and her late husband Bp John had been with the […]
Zooming in: our last letter to, or from, Japan
Posted on: 26th May 2020
CMS missionaries Brad & Michelle Jackson have been serving in Japan for over 13 years and have returned to Australia for their final Home Assignment. Here they speak about leaving Japan at short notice with both sadness and gospel joy. At the time of this posting, they are in quarantine in Sydney, before returning to Melbourne. Good news! COVID-19 has not stopped the ministry of the gospel. […]
Giving thanks – Mrs Shirley Cole
Posted on: 25th May 2020
We give thanks to the Lord for the life and faithful service of former CMS Missionary, Mrs Shirley Cole who went to be with her Lord on 21 May 2020. Mrs Shirley Cole and Reverend Dr Alan Cole served as CMS missionaries in Singapore from 1962-1968, they then returned to Australia. Alan was the CMS […]
Leading with humility
Posted on: 19th May 2020
CMS missionary Nathan Lovell lectures in theology at George Whitefield College in South Africa. Checkpoint asked him to explain the challenges of approaching this position of authority in Christian humility. “Can you please stop ragging on John Piper now?” ‘Ragging’ means constantly criticising someone, and my student sounded somewhat exasperated. It wasn’t true; I wasn’t ragging on John Piper. Well… I was, sort of. […]
SAH redevelopment update: Foundations
Posted on: 15th May 2020
Foundations We thank God that in the middle of the current COVID-19 crisis, building at St Andrew’s Hall (SAH) can continue safely. The slab for the basement has been finished and the formwork for the ground floor has begun. We are excited that the foundations for the physical building are being laid. But we are […]
COVID Isolation and Christ
Posted on: 15th May 2020
CMS missionary Maggie Crewes serves with Retrak in Cambodia. Here she speaks of the strangeness and comfort of the recent COVID-19 Easter. Easter 2020 was one to remember! No physical church services as we practised ‘loving our neighbour’ by isolating ourselves in our little corners of the world to stop the spread of COVID-19. Here’s […]
The decision to remain
Posted on: 14th May 2020
CMS Worker Caroline is married to Warwick, who pastors an international church in the Middle East. Here Caroline talks about a hard decision: remain on location or return home. This article was written just before Easter. COVID-19 has changed all of our lives. Freedoms in my city have been reducing over the last weeks. We are now on lockdown and […]
