Worldwide connections

Over the years we have established links with Christians, churches and organisations in several countries. Many of these have grown out of personal connections that our members have. Christ Church provides direct financial support to some of these organisations, and we encourage members and groups within the church to make their own donations (if possible) and pray for our partners around the world.

International development A recent survey in Christ Church revealed that TEAR Fund was the Christian organisation that received most financial support from our members. TEAR Fund is one of the largest UK charities, working and campaigning to alleviate poverty in many countries around the world. One of its strengths is in providing resources that churches such as ours can use - especially at Harvest time - to make us more aware of what life is like for the world's poorest and what we can do about it. African street children The Amani Children's Home provides care for street children in the town of Moshi, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. We have felt a special empathy with this cause because, like us, Amani has undertaken a building project - though on a much bigger scale than ours. In February 2007, Cathie, one of our members, travelled to Tanzania for the opening ceremony of their new building, which is now home to around 60 children and young people. British church growth Closer to home, CPAS (Church Pastoral Aid Society) is a UK-based organisation that links together Anglican churches across the country, providing resources and training, especially in the area of children's and youth work. CPAS also runs Falcon Camps, which provide residential holidays for children from deprived backgrounds.

This church in Malawi now has benches thanks to a gift from Christ Church Romania One of our oldest links is with a Christian family in Romania, which began over ten years ago when two of our members drove a truckload of relief supplies across Europe and carried out much needed dental work in orphanages and hospitals. The friendship with István, a pastor in the Hungarian Reformed Church, and his family has been maintained over the years. It was a great privilege for us to be able to contribute towards the cost of a minibus for their village. Media work A family from our church is currently engaged in Christian work in Cyprus. Richard, Sue, Daniel and Timothy have their own family website with more details of what they are up to. ...and elsewhere Donations by Christ Church members (boosted by the profits from the Traidcraft stall) have enabled us to pay for benches in a church in Malawi, medical care for street children in Ukraine, and (in partnership with a church in Germany) a minibus for István's village in Romania.

My story: Amanda

Where in the world is she off to next?

"Two years after starting work as a speech therapist, I went to south India to spend 9 months working at a Christian hospital. The question in my mind was: What does God want me to do with my life? It was a great experience for me as I mixed with people from many countries and cultures. I really felt that I gained more than I gave."

"My next trip grew out of the Diocese of Birmingham's link with the Church in Malawi. A minister called Leslie Mtekateka had spent a year training in Birmingham, and after he went back home I got myself invited over there to continue the link. I spent some time with Leslie and his family and learned a lot about the challenges Christians face in Malawi - not least, poverty and AIDS, which are tragically interlinked. I took with me a donation from church members back here which enabled Leslie to buy wooden benches for seating in his church."

"My role as a courier for gifts from Christ Church was renewed in 2004 when I took a group of young people on a CMS scheme to Ukraine. One of the places we visited was a refuge for street children, and the money I had with me was just the right amount to pay the medical bills of a child who had needed treatment for burns."

"Most recently, I spent three months in south India supporting the relief effort following the tsunami which hit the region in December 2004. My work included helping to set up a medical care scheme covering the coastal villages, and teaching English (and games!) to girls in an orphanage."

"This latest visit was the hardest I have undertaken, especially as I had to work on my own for much of the time. I've found that being away from my usual support network has encouraged me to pray more, and so to see more answers to prayer. Even in the hard times, I've experienced the faithfulness of God."