Mission Support
We are called to share our faith in Jesus. The Church exists to spread the good news of Jesus’ love & life. We are committed to achieving this locally. We also make a difference well beyond our parish boundaries. We support and work with teams that fight poverty and spread the good news of Jesus locally, nationally and around the world.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation”. – Matthew 28:19-20
One of the key themes at St Michael’s is Sharing Jesus Together. Through the Mission Support Group (MSG), St Michael’s Church has formed partnerships with individuals and organisations reaching out to help and share Jesus with people and communities in the UK and around the world.
Each month we have a ‘Mission Partner of the Month’, with short presentations being given during Sunday services, and information sheets shared.
The Brickworks – John & Poppy
Location: South Sudan
The Brickworks is a charity that works alongside the church in the very needy nation of South Sudan, helping people to rebuild their lives after years of civil war. Many South Sudanese are now in refugee camps in Uganda due to insecurity and The Brickworks supports Dioceses with their work with refugees. They support the local church in discipleship, running a very busy health clinic, improving schools and training teachers and medics.
It also funds three under-tree schools in the camps, catering for over 3,500 primary school children living as refugees in Uganda.
Katia Rocks – CMS Missionary
Location: Florianopolis, Brazil
Katia played a vital role in starting the Vineyard Florianópolis church plant in 2015. It began with a Bible study in her home and grew and grew. These days, church members regularly go out into the streets to talk to people about spiritual things and offer to pray for people who are out and about. Through this they have seen many people decide to follow Jesus, be baptised and become part of the church community. The church also runs various small groups, youth and children’s work and local outreach for people living in poverty. Katia has done a prison chaplain course and she will be starting to visit women who are in prison in Florianópolis.
Epaphras Trust
Location: India, Nepal, Kenya & Ukraine
Epaphras Trust was established in 2008. The charity objectives are principally to offer voluntary teaching and leadership training to serve in communities, in addition to caring for widows and orphans. We work with organisations in Kenya, India, Nepal and Ukraine.
Our Timothy project partners with EBC situated in Bihar state, India. Sharing a border with Nepal, the state of Bihar is one of the poorest in India.
EBC is an arm of Soul Winning Mission which was birthed from the vision of Emmanuel Samuel, many decades before. His vision was to build a children’s home for orphans, a school and a training facility to train young people from areas of North India. He modelled his vision of faith on the same model as George Muller.
Univida – Marc & Ruth
Location: Fortaleza, Brazil
UNiViDA runs a Christian educational project serving 260 children aged 7-14 in the slums of Fortaleza in North East Brazil, bringing them life, hope and opportunity.
All the children go to state schools, but only for 4 hours per day. UNiViDA provides each child with an additional 4 hours of education per day. Practical support for the children and their families is also provided.
Ruslan and Larisa Telpiz – Transform Europe Network
Location: Gotesti, Moldova
Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, with very little paid work available and many people are leaving the country in search of work. Ruslan is the Pastor of the Baptist Church in Gotesti. His ministry includes leading Sunday services, preaching, youth work, baptisms, pastoral care and discipleship of church members and new believers. He is also involved in outreach and evangelism in Gotesti, Chircani and Tiganca.
Larisa runs the Day Care Centre (Children’s club) for socially vulnerable children. This is an after-school ministry held in Gotesti Church, which provides food, games, Bible stories and help with school work, in a caring and supportive environment. Larisa also supervises the Sunday School and is involved in the church’s ministry with women and families.
SIITA Nest – Alice
Location: Jinja, Uganda
SIITA Nest Mother’s Love Home provides shelter, food, medical care, education and emotional and spiritual support to children in Uganda who have been orphaned by civil war or HIV/AIDS, abandonment and family breakdown.
St Michael’s funded the purchase of land in Bugembe and contributed to the construction of the first two buildings and the site boundary wall.
We provide ongoing support, contributing to school fees and the running costs of the home.
inHope
Location: Bristol, UK
inHope has a vision of communities where everybody can reach their God-given potential, free from injustice and insecurity.
We exist to help people overcome insecurities such as homelessness, hunger, addiction and poor mental health. These insecurities are often caused by injustices such as insufficient housing, limited access to food, poor employment, discrimination and abuse.
Every person is unique. By offering help to enable people to overcome insecurity and challenging the root-cause injustices, people are then free to reach their God-given potential.
inHope brings together volunteers, supporters and churches from across Bristol, to offer hope, justice and security to our city.
Sarah & John Sutton – Clwb Coffi
Location: Tonypandy, Wales
Sarah Sutton is working as a pioneer missionary with Hope Church at Tonypandy, in the Rhondda Valley with her husband John. She is involved with church outreach and local groups in the community. In summer 2020 they opened a community coffee shop called Clwb Coffi which is seeking to regenerate the high street and show God’s heart for their town, as well as build community. Before going to Tonypandy Sarah was a youth intern at St Michael’s.
Upcott
Location: Bristol, UK
Upcott is a Christian charity committed to providing an environment where young people can experience the fulness of Jesus in their lives.
Many young people from St Michael’s have attended Upcott Weeks over the years. Some have helped on weeks or done gap years and others are now serving as trustees.
The Trust is in a period of transition. For over fifty years the work was based in a residential environment, the original Upcott in Seaton, Devon between 1968 and 2007 and then The Beacon in Minehead from 2007 to 2019. But with the sale of The Beacon we are moving into a new phase. We will continue to run residential weeks. To that we have added on-line discipleship and study groups, enabling young people to have a vibrant relationship with Jesus that is outworked on a daily basis. We are also developing online resources to further support young people in their relationship with Jesus.