Missions
'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you' Matthew 28: 19-20
In response to this mandate from our Lord himself, St. Christopher’s has a growing commitment to Mission. Our parish gives 10% of our income to missions work within New Zealand and overseas.This is done at the discretion of the Missions Committee and the Vestry. Some of the activities we are involved in are:
- Joanna Frampton, originally one of our church community, is currently serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Joanna has been sent out by the New Zealand Church Missionary Society (CMS) and is fully funded by St. Christopher’s.
- Don and Helen Lord, formerly in administration with World Vision in Christchurch, are now with the same organization in Outer Mongolia, overseeing projects amongst disadvantaged children.
- We maintain some contact with several people who have been parishioners in their younger days, but are now working overseas in various capacities or for other organizations.
- We provide financial support for people and projects in a number of overseas countries where we have links with individuals, so we can be assured of accountability over the use of funds.
- We are supporting local mission work amongst tertiary students in Christchurch as well as the Scripture Union based programme ‘Get Real’, working with at risk young people in Aranui high school, and the Eleazar Trust, which provides respite care for youngsters with problems.
- There is increasing interest in short term mission experience overseas, and several of our young people have gone out with different mission agencies over the past few years. Further projects are planned for the future.
The Missions Committee meets on the 3rd Monday of the month in the Chapel at 7.30pm, and all members of our church community are welcome to attend. There is often a talk from visiting speakers, as well as opportunity to hear reports from the people and places we support. For further information, contact the Missions Coordinator through the church office.