Mission Action Group
Across the world, we work closely with organisations and individuals providing practical and spiritual help, training and education. The group overseeing how we spend our money on these projects is the MISSION ACTION GROUP or MAG, chaired by Paul White.
Bishop Given and the Diocese of Kondoa: Tanzania
July 2021
Bishop Given and his team celebrate the ordination of eight new clergy, seven of whom have recently graduated from the Kondoa Bible College with a Provincial Certificate in Theology. A number of these new Pastors were sponsored by folk from the Rochester Diocese.
The photo is taken in front of the Kondoa Cathedral – the Cathedral of St. Paul the Evangelist to the Gentiles. Progress has been phenomenal, with the two-storey building standing out like a beacon for Christianity in the community of Kondoa. Furthermore the NBC Tanzanian national broadcast of the Christmas Eve service in 2021 was held at the new Kondoa cathedral.
June 2022
The Cathedral was completed.
The growth of St. Peter & St. Paul Primary School continues from strength to strength. Principal Conjesta has been overseeing the expansion of the school to over a hundred pupils, with a waiting list of a further thirty young hopefuls. Bishop Given and Conjesta recently expressed their huge thanks to Tonbridge Parish Church for providing the half-school fee for the year to help parents, pupils, and the school to ease through the crisis of the pandemic.
This photo shows the five new classrooms being built on the St Peter and St Paul school in Kondoa!
March 2023
It was a joy to learn more about Kondoa and hear from Bishop Given live on Zoom as he discussed his plans for the Diocese.
If you missed this but would like to catch do see the following videos
If you would like to contribute to the remaining cost of completion, around £30,000 please contact Ray on 07810 470100 or
treasurer@tonbridgeparishchurch.org.uk
More information can found in this brochure which has been developed by Principal Conjesta and Canon Sue Chalkley to promote the school. Please click here for a donation form if you are interested in making a donation to support this project.
October 2023
Our team had a great time visiting St Peter & St Paul Primary School and supporting Bishop Given.
The new desks for the school - using money raised from the High Tea at St Philip's church
Click here for our latest letter from Bishop Given: OCTOBER 2024
Click here for latest prayer requests for Kondoa - AUGUST 24
June 2024
Plans for the new Secondary School are coming on well - click
HERE to more information
The Langham Partnership: Global
Langham Partnership’s Vision is to see churches throughout the world equipped for mission and growing to maturity in Christ through the ministry of pastors and leaders who believe, teach, and live by the Word of God.
Langham Partnership’s Mission is to strengthen the ministry of the Word of God through:
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Nurturing national movements for biblical preaching (Langham Preaching).
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Fostering the creation and distribution of evangelical literature (Langham Literature).
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Enhancing evangelical theological education (Langham Scholars), especially in countries where churches are under resourced.
Scholars – equipping theological leaders to reach their nations for Christ.
Preaching – training indigenous pastors and leaders to faithfully preach God’s Word.
Literature – developing biblical resources to equip pastors and leaders.
Chris Wright, a former curate at Tonbridge Parish Church, is Langham Global Ambassador and is much in demand as a lecture and preacher all over the world.
Find out more about Langham Partnership here
NEWS FROM LANGHAM – November 2024 Read more here
Read about Shadrach Lukwago from Uganda who started his own small Bible Institute for rural pastors. Langham Literature’s Library Grants Scheme has helped boost Shadrach’s meagre library with free, contextually relevant books.
Read about Rico Villanueva from the Philippines who toured Northern Ireland with presentations on the topic of “Lament Psalms”. Rico is Regional Commissioning Editor for Langham Publishing and Scholar Care Coordinator for current Langham Scholars in Asia.
LANGHAM LIVE
Meet up with others each month on Zoom for news of Langham (including speakers on video), chat and prayer fellowship.
The link to the next meeting can be found here.
The site also provides links to previous Zoom meetings where you can watch the videos and read prayer requests.
To read the latest Langham Transform magazine click here
December 2024 Prayer Diary here
Bishop Ken Barham: Cyangugu, Rwanda
Bishop Ken has been instrumental in laying Cyangugu Diocese’s foundation much of which was during the years immediately follow the genocide in 1994. Since his retirement in 2001, Bishop Ken and his wife Jill have worked continuously to raise funds to support the continued development of the Diocese. The Church has grown enormously with many churches created, guest houses built to generate income as well as schools and health centres. Recognition of this work was given by the Rwandan Government and Bishop Ken was awarded an OBE.
Nov 24 update
Ken is flying to Kigali on Friday 15 November for the Consecration of the new Bishop of Cyangugu on 1 December. All ten Rwanda Bishops will be staying at Peace Guest House and they will all lay hands on the new Bishop at the Cathedral. Ken will be preaching there a week later. The new man is Nathan Muhuhu and he comes from Kigali Diocese. He is the fourth Bishop after Ken. There is a lot of concern about a government law which states that all religious buildings, not just Anglican, must conform to certain safety standards. In many cases, this means of a lot of money is needed. Cyangugu Diocese's three guest houses income will cover a lot of the work.
St Matthews school now as four centres with 1,600 students, ranging from Nursery to Secondary level. Bishop Charles Semwaga's son Moses, was one of the first pupils of St Matthews. He did an engineering degree in China and is now in charge of the engineering department at Kigali International Airport. He says that all those who started with him are now in top jobs in Rwanda. The other big school is the Jill Barham Technical School. The Rwanda government has sent 200 students there to be trained to work in the hotels in Kigali, and they pay the fees.
After this trip, all Ken's family will join him for Christmas. Following that, he has plans to travel to New Zealand as his grand daughter will stay to volunteer at Ashburnham place until February, He will spend three weeks there. In August he is going to Toronto for a family visit and he will spend three weeks there as well.
Overseas Mission Fellowship: The Gelsthorpe family, Japan
Family photo December 2021
The Gelsthorpes are missionaries from the UK based in rural north Japan.
Read all their latest news, including family life, in their November 2024 prayer letter.
High Hopes: Tonbridge, UK
High Hopes has links with 35+ schools in the Tonbridge area. They lead assemblies on a weekly basis in rotation, with the aim to introduce children to the person of Jesus Christ and His life changing teaching.
More information can be found on their website
Click here for the Autumn 2024 update
And latest prayer requests - click here!