As a church we feel that it is important that we look outwards beyond ourselves. For many years the PCC (the Church council) has committed to paying a percentage of our income to charities and other organisations. We have a regular programme of support for these, both with financial giving and prayer.
Below is a list of the current organisations that we support.
The Charities we support:
Barnabas Fund serves the suffering church and makes their needs known to Christians around the world, encouraging them to pray. It provides practical help to strengthen and encourage the church in many different ways. Barnabas Fund supports Christian minorities that suffer discrimination and persecution around the world.
Bible Society exists because millions lack the Bible in a language they can understand, in a form they can use or at a price they can afford. At the same time millions still have no understanding of the Bible’s value for them and their communities. This is Bible poverty. They are working to see a day when the Bible’s God-given revelation, inspiration and wisdom is shaping the lives and communities of people everywhere.
http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/
Caring For Life, more commonly known as CFL, is founded on very clear Christian beliefs. People often question what that actually means and how it affects the way they work. Caring For Life is a registered Christian charity with the aim of sharing the love of Jesus with homeless or vulnerable people by providing accommodation, ongoing support, love and friendship, and when necessary, providing that care ‘for life’! Such care enables people to develop dignity and self-respect. Their motto is simple, “Sharing the Love of Jesus.” They believe that all men and women are made in the image of God, and that leads them to treat people with dignity and respect. Most of those they support have been afforded little respect in the past. Their principles of care spring from the example of Jesus Christ and the way He reached out to those who needed help.
http://www.caringforlife.co.uk/
Church Mission Society (CMS) is committed to evangelistic mission, working to see our world transformed by the love of Jesus. They are inspired by the hope that one day the whole of creation will be restored to a living, loving relationship with God. Born in 1799, in the crucible of the campaign to abolish slavery, CMS has always had justice and evangelism at its heart. Today they are a community of people in mission working in over 35 countries – a community that has heard God’s call to join in his loving outreach to the world and has rolled up its sleeves to serve others in mission.
Flame International is a UK-based charity that takes teams of trained volunteers from around the world to bring hope through reconciliation and healing to communities suffering the effects of post-conflict trauma. They work mainly within Africa at the request of, and in partnership with, the national and local church and they are now being invited to extend the work in Africa and expand into Europe and the Middle East.
http://www.flameinternational.org/
Foundation for Relief & Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME): Without genuine reconciliation there can never be lasting peace. Religion and politics are intimately linked in the Middle East, so a religious track essential to a balanced peace process. A wholly secular approach will not suffice. The FRRME specialise in forging reconciliation by engaging religious leaders in dialogue, and helping them use their influence to promote peace. Their founder, Canon Andrew White, is uniquely placed to fulfil this role in the Middle East. He spends the majority of his time living in Iraq, leading the country’s largest Anglican Church – St George’s, Baghdad. His 12 years experience of the country, and obvious love for its people, has earned him the trust and respect of many influential Iraqi leaders.
Joshua Radio was a collaborative project between St Simon’s and WPD (Women Peace and Development Consultancy), involving Dinah Mason, Hugh Mason’s wife, for the development of the Teso and other communities in the remote north-eastern part of Uganda. Joshua FM is dedicated to using reason as the best way of attaining life and peace through participatory development. As part of its ownership is Christian, it draws continuous sustenance from God’s eternal promise to the Biblical Joshua: “I will be with you every step you take.” The radio station was opened in 2008 and continues to broadcast programmes to promote peace and development among the different peoples covered by its reach.
Oasis en Gadi a registered, Mexican charity started by Gail Robins (formerly Gail Diani) in 1997. Today they continue to work with street kids but now mostly work with children at risk of maltreatment and with those who are one step away from street life. They believe that all children should be able to enjoy a childhood free from fear and maltreatment. To that end they want to facilitate them being Rescued from abuse or potential abuse. Restore them in the sense of helping them get healed up from the past. See them Reintegrate into a happy childhood and all that is implied there with positive family contact (where possible).
http://www.oasisengadi.org/#Home
One Accord’s vision is that marriage and relationships as God intended will be experienced in our own lives, become a prophetic statement within churches nationwide and ultimately transform society. They aim to encourage each other in their own relationships, support each other in marriage and relationship ministry, teach the principles as widely as possible, train and support individuals and church teams, encourage prayer within and for marriages and work with other individuals & groups with similar ethos & aims.
Outlook Trust. Outlook is a Christian organisation which aims to reach older people with God’s Good News about Jesus and His promise of abundant and everlasting life. Membership of Outlook is open to individuals of any age who are concerned for older people in Society and feel called to participate in mission and evangelism to them. Outlook keeps members in touch with each other throughout the country from its headquarters at the Wycliffe Centre. Some of their Members meet together locally for prayer, fellowship, encouragement and support.
http://www.outlook-trust.org.uk/
St Simon’s Youth Work is led by Jo Borley, St Simon’s youth worker, supported by a large team. Besides an annual trip to Soul Survivor, other activities (eg weekends away, slum survivor etc) are supported by the church.
Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue. It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working. There are now over 200 teams around the United Kingdom. Elly Mulvany, from St Simon’s, is the area coordinator and several people from the church have trained to become street pastors in Portsmouth.