What is Global Mission?
As followers of Jesus we are all called to be missionaries, our mission is the proclamation of the gospel to those who don’t know Jesus. Some of us are called to do this on our doorstep in our local communities, others are called to serve in another culture and/or country. Missionaries work under the auspices of a missionary organisation that manages such aspects of their work such as salary, travels, ministering to the needs of their missionaries and promotion of their work.
Our global mission partners are supported by our church both in prayer and financially.
Global Mission Partners
Currently we have 17 Global Mission Partners who are sent out and supported by St Jude’s. St Jude’s has committed 5% of our expected annual giving income to support them, as well as regular prayer and contact with them. These Global Mission Partners are assigned to several Congregations at St Jude’s.
How can I support Global Missions?
You can support Global Missions in a number of ways, including:
* praying regularly for your Global Mission Partner
* keep in touch with the Global Mission Partner via e-mail or
sending letters
* send a care package, especially around Christmas/birthdays etc.
* contributing to the financial support of your Global Mission Partner
* become a member of a mission organisation
which allows you to receive their newsletters and
find out about upcoming missions events
* attend missions events
or mission interest meetings
* challenge others to be open to God’s call on your lives and where He may be leading you
How to Pray for Global Mission Partners
Here are some items you might like to consider when praying for St Jude’s Global Mission Partners:
Some Global Mission Partners are quite isolated from virtually all Christian spiritual resources. They may lack Christian books and periodicals and may have few opportunities for fellowship with other mature Christians. Sometimes the only regular preaching they hear is their own. Here prayer is needed for the God to be at work within his servants to help them to continue to grow and mature in their walk with Him.
Relations with fellow missionaries
Some of our Global Mission Partners are part of a major outreach, living in compounds with fellow missionaries from many different countries, denominations and mission organisations. The chances for personality clashes and other disagreements are many. Pray for mutual encouragement between the missionaries and contentment in their individual roles.
Family relations
The intensity of mission life can place immense pressure on family relations, including marriages, with little opportunity for counseling or similar support. This can be aggravated by the fact that missionaries are often expected to be role models within their communities. Pray for God’s love and peace to be displayed in and through missionaries’ relationships both within their families and in their communities.
Relations with home organisations
Some Global Mission Partners feel under pressure from supporters or administrators at home to “succeed”, by winning many converts or achieving some other kind of measurable goal. The pressure may be real or imagined, but can lead to tension, frustration, burn-out and even a spiritual crisis, as some missionaries start to question their service of God. Pray for guidance in their ministries that they would feel secure in God’s wisdom leading them in their work.
A common problem, along with culture shock. It can be aggravated for those Global Mission Partners who have sent their children elsewhere for their education. Remember these Global Mission Partners in prayer as they face some of the trials of their work so far from home.
Living conditions can be quite rough in many locations, with only crude sanitation and medical facilities. Prayer is needed here for God’s protection and healing hand at work in these contexts.
Region of Interest
What is a Region of Interest?
• St Jude’s want to develop stronger links with a few special regions around the world – not to exclude any other parts of the world, but to allow stronger ties between St Jude’s and some particular areas of global mission.
• South Asia is our current Region of Interest.
• Nathan & Claire and Ian & Katharina are ministering in South Asia so it is a good location to strengthen our ties. We do this by establishing short-term global mission trips there, and involve St Jude’s in some Global Poor projects.
• So far we have held 5 short-term Global Mission trips to the region.
• We also support a number of Global Poor projects in Northern India. We have been able to visit these and be involved in these projects.
Global Poor
St Jude’s has committed 1% of our giving income to assist with the relief of global poverty, by supporting a number of projects, as well as emergency relief. Current projects include:
- MUS in Mussoorie, India: a small local project to initiate community development programs in very isolated villages. These include health clinics, education & income generation, and are aimed at the women of the village.
- Support for staff salaries at Sparsh Christian primary school, in an remote village near Mussoorie, India.
- Supporting the work of SAMPAN, a community & health development program that aims to maximise physical and spiritual health among mountain people in Northern India.
- Emergency disaster relief as it occurs around the world. Recently supported the victims of floods in Northern India.
Indigenous Ministry
St Jude’s is committed to investigating how we can support Christian ministry amongst indigenous peoples around Australia.
At present we are working with Heidi Fuelling (YWAM, Perth) in a school project with indigenous children in Coolgardie, WA. Some of our youth and young adults have made two short-term trips, in July 2012 and 2014.
In March 2013 we held a thanksgiving service for the indigenous custodians of the land on which our main building sits, and have attached a plaque at the entrance of the church recognising the original indigenous custodians of the land.
Who can become a Missionary?
Anyone! It is truly amazing the wide variety of people with all sorts of skills and training that God calls to do his work. We’re all blessed with our own unique strengths and talents which God calls us to use in His service. It’s not just doctors and Bible teachers who are sent out, as these days we see people with all kinds of diverse skills, all serving the Lord where He has called them.
Missionaries are the individuals who feel God’s calling on their hearts and put everything on the line to respond to this need.