Missions are a central theme in the Bible, it’s about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, but it’s also much more. Missions aren’t just about preaching; it’s also about demonstrating God’s love through actions.
The Bible highlights caring for the needy, loving our neighbours, and living out the teachings of Jesus in everyday life. This approach to mission includes both words and deeds.
At St.Martin’s we endeavour to support both local and overseas needs through prayer and various initiatives that enable us to mitigate some of the hardships that we become aware of. Recently, we have:
- Raised money to install light and water to a start-up workshop in Zambia that trains unskilled adults, and children who cannot receive education, to produce goods that can be sold to raise money that will enable them to purchase food for their families.
- During Lent members of the congregation who gave up some luxuries brought the monetary value of those items to church where it was gathered together and given to the local charity Somewhere to Go, an organisation providing short-term accommodation for the homeless.
- Throughout the years members of the congregation bring gifts of food, etc. to be collected by the local foodbank. Occasional fundraising events also provide money for the foodbank to purchase food and essentials for local hard-pressed families and individuals.
- The church has supported several projects to provide new schools for children in Zambia where otherwise they would receive no education at all.
- The Diocese of Bath & Wells has a long association with the Anglican church in Zambia and we are fortunate to receive visits from the Bishop of the Central Diocese in Ndola when he comes to this country. For our part we regularly remember in prayer our brother and sisters in Zambia who are living in one of the poorest countries in the world.
- In addition to the foregoing, St.Martin’s has responded positively to requests from the Disasters Emergency Committee as they are received from time to time.