Persevering in hope
Posted on: 15th February 2023
CMS missionary M works in a part of Africa where most people have never met someone who knows Jesus, and many are hostile to his message. Here she gives a picture of how she attempts to speak of God’s grace. In the north of this great continent there are very few people who follow Jesus. […]
The benefits of long-term
Posted on: 1st March 2021
CMS missionary Andrew Buchanan, married to Abi, has taught in Indonesia for two decades. It has been continual learning. A few months ago, I taught a Masters’ level class on the New Testament in Toraja. We looked at a number of issues such as honour-shame, rituals and taboos, even literacy, to highlight the areas where local Toraja culture connects with the world of the Bible in ways that Western interpreters are not that interested in. For […]
Long-term partnership in Japan
Posted on: 27th February 2021
Former CMS workers Graham and Cathy Smith served in Japan for many years, working with the Japanese student Bible group KGK. It takes years to develop good cross-cultural ministry partnerships, but it is worth investing in such relationships. This can be seen in the long–term relationship between CMS and KGK (キリスト者学生会) in Japan. As a university student interested in mission, I met the […]
Mutual respect the key to long-term in Tanzania
Posted on: 26th February 2021
Godfrey Mbelwa is Anglican bishop of the Diocese of Lweru in Tanzania. Here he speaks to CMS missionary Judith Calf of the long-term relationship between CMS and the Church in Tanzania. I first met Godfrey Mbelwa in 1998, when I was at St Andrew’s Hall , where he had just arrived to commence his theological studies in Melbourne. Little could I imagine that more than 20 years later I would have the privilege of serving in […]
Beautiful broken vessels: Checkpoint Autumn 2021
Posted on: 24th February 2021
CMS worker K is reaching out with the gospel to Japanese expatriates in the Middle East. Before that she served in Japan for more than 20 years. Here she explains how Christ has worked in and through her as she has served long-term and relocated. There is a beautiful art form in Japan called Kintsugi. […]
A long yarn: Checkpoint Autumn 2021
Posted on: 23rd February 2021
CMS missionary Frances Cook has served in Chile for more than 30 years. Here she speaks about the advantages of long-term mission, as well as some of the difficulties. Yesterday I had a long yarn by phone to Jacquie. I’d lived with her when I first arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile. We talked about family, […]
Cultivating the culture: Checkpoint Autumn 2021
Posted on: 22nd February 2021
CMS missionaries Wim and Maaike Prins have been serving in Cambodia since 2004, where Wim is involved in translation work for the Fount of Wisdom Publishing House. Here Wim reflects on the importance of long-term ministry in building trust in relationships. Some years ago, in Siem Reap, Maaike and I met a missionary couple who, […]
Why long-term mission? : Checkpoint Autumn 2021
Posted on: 15th February 2021
CMS Regional Mission Director Elizabeth Richards served in the Democratic Republic of Congo, together with Malcolm, for many years. Here she explains why it’s worth being committed to long-term mission. ‘Long-term’ is not a new concept for our great God. We believe that God’s love for humankind, and his plan for salvation for this fallen world are long-term, since before creation. There […]
Drawing on God’s compassion and grace
Posted on: 28th January 2021
Maggie Crewes has served with CMS since 1992. Her ministries in Africa, and now South East Asia, have been at the coalface of human need and desperation. She reflects on God’s sustaining grace in her long-term mission. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 How do […]
