During February the Methodist Church seeks to draw our attention towards Overseas Mission with the aim of encouraging churches to focus on the themes of mission and the world church.

Many churches will organise special services or events with guest speakers to share about God's work across the world. But for many the highlight will be attending one of the three annual mission conferences run by MMSI.

For us in the Methodist Church in Northern Ireland the annual conference is Global Vision. Global Vision is a day where Methodists, and others from different denominations, meet together for a day of fellowship, sharing, learning about God's work in the world and praying for those directly involved in the mission work of the Methodist Church. This is a day for all the family and so there is a crèche and full programmes for children and young people.

This year Global Vision has a theme of Boldness in Adversity. The conference has a keynote speaker during the main meeting and a number of seminars with the opportunity to hear about mission work around the world.

This year's keynote speaker is Samson Makhado, he grew up in poverty in South Africa. He began training as a witch doctor but became a Christian and his son was murdered during the apartheid era. Samson has been active in education for almost 40 years and works closely with Alan McIlhenny (Mission Partner) in the Children at Risk programme.

Seminars being given at GV08 include a look at the churches and mission in China, Zimbabwe, Ibiza, the Balkins and Eastern Europe. Also themes of how to pray for the world, development work in Afghanistan and Palestine, bringing up our children with a world view and a discussion on the shape of the Methodist church and mission in Ireland for the future. The Nixon Family (Mission Partners) will lead a seminar on their work.

This is a great opportunity for us to join with others in learning about God's work in the entire world, to better inform us of how we can support those involved in mission work and even how we can become involved in mission ourselves.

So make sure you plan to attend: February 16th 2008; Lismore Comprehensive School, Craigavon and don't forget to register and book for your seminars.

For more information you can download the Global Vision Leaflet and Booking Form.

Mission Partners Prayer Bulletin, November 2007

Barry & Gillian Sloan, Michael (14) & Megan (12), in Germany.

Please pray for…

• our social outreach work in Flöha among the Russian immigrant children
• a spiritual breakthrough in the hearts and minds of the people of Augustusburg. Our youth mission week together with the Lutheran church was much blessed – about 100 young people attended each night and at least 20 made a commitment to follow Christ
• for guidance for the Chemnitz congregation regarding a possible building programme and vision 2015.

Alan & Margaret McIlhenny in Ireland & South Africa.

Give thanks:

• For a very useful meeting of the Open School Managers in Johannesburg. It was a great time of encouragement, sharing and planning.
• Irish Aid has given MMSI a grant to help Open School. This will enable us to serve more children at risk in South Africa and also expand the programme into Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Please pray:

• We have had to re-advertise for the position of Director for the Children at Risk project in Southern Africa. Continue to pray that the person of God’s choosing will respond to the job adverts.
• Alan travels to Thailand to take part in an international Christian conference on children at risk. Pray that this conference will bring blessing to more hurting children through the knowledge shared and partnerships developed.
• A Christian School in Johannesburg which meets on the 4th floor of a converted office in a very dangerous part of the city is struggling to survive financially. Despite their own difficulties, some of the young people from this school volunteer with Open School and are working with the street children on their doorsteps. Pray for safety for the students and that their school and ministry can continue and bring hope to the street children.

Helen Moorehead, in Marimanti school for the deaf, Kenya.

• Please note that Helen will not be able to be in touch with us on a regular basis during the next three months as she will not have email or electricity in Tharaka.
• Please continue to pray for her in the difficult and challenging work that she has undertaken in Kenya.

Ruth Watt in Tonga

Praise God for...

• the family of God with us no matter where we are.
• lots of library books from the Uniting Church in Australia.

Pray for ...

• Tai (14) and her parents (Taholo & Sina). Tai has had numerous operations on her face to remove tumours over the last few years. Recently another one has been discovered (the second that is cancerous) and she will be going back to New Zealand for another operation and chemotherapy after the school exams.
• students sitting state exams at the beginning of November.

David & Sarah Hall, Rebecca (2) and Reuben (7 months) in Bangladesh

Give Thanks For:

• Encouragement after we attended the Church of Bangladesh partners consultation on 25 and 26 October. Church leaders, representatives from overseas churches, mission agencies and donor organisations that support its work gathered together for
• open and honest discussions about the future work of the church.
• The opportunity to have 10 days holiday following the consultation.
• The weather has now cooled and is pleasantly warm - and it should last for the next couple of months. Yippee!!

Please pray:

• That issues discussed at the consultation meetings will be able to be put into practice and not forgotten. For the Church of Bangladesh Synod which will be meeting at the end of November.
• We are looking forward to the wedding of our colleague, another mission partner, James Pender. He will be getting married to Dipty, a local girl, on 9 November. Please remember them in your prayers on that day and as they start their life together. Please also continue to pray for the Morgan family, American doctors working here with the Church of Bangladesh. They returned to the USA recently to be with their 22 year old son who has been diagnosed with bone cancer. We were thankful to learn that the cancer had not spread. He is now undergoing chemotherapy.

David & Rhoda Nixon, Samuel (10), Christopher (9), in Zambia.

• The family will be in Fermanagh until June 2008 whilst David studies.
• Give thanks for the safe delivery of a son called Harlington to Sophia and Subi Thomas. Subi is the Accountant and IT teacher at Chodort Training Centre.
• The staff at Chodort are now advertising the courses for next year. Pray that there would be enough applicants to fill the courses.
• Please continue to pray that the title deeds for the new plot of land would be finalised.
• Pray for the Bishops and senior officers in The United Church of Zambia as they face the challenges of leading a large, growing church.
• Pray for the people of Zambia as they continue to struggle with HIV/AIDS. Pray especially for practical application of Christian morals to slowdown the rate of infection.
• Pray for Samuel and all the other children in Northern Ireland as they do their 11+ transfer tests on 9th and 23rd. Samuel will also celebrate his 11th Birthday on 20th, his first in Ireland in eight years, quite special for him.

MMS(I), Aldersgate House, 13-19 University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NA

Tel: 0044 2890320078, Email: mms@irishmethodist.org

Barry & Gillian Sloan, Michael (12), Megan (10), in Germany. Pray for :

Church family weekend (14th-16th September) that God will bless, encourage, inspire and renew. The launch of our new cook books (Himmlischer Genuss – Heavenly Delights). All recipes are in English and in German. We hope to raise funds for a building project. Gillian's new English course starting in September.

Helen Moorehead, in Tharaka, Kenya. Give thanks:

For completion of the first two classrooms and toilet. On the 1st July we admitted children to the first classroom for the deaf in Tharaka District. For good health and safety on the roads. For good neighbours. Please pray:

For good health to cope with climatic conditions in Tharaka during the next few months For Peter, Aaron, Henry and Pineas and their families, the first pupils at the school. Because of the school these boys have been able to learn to read and write for the first time. For the construction of the dormitories at the school. For the two teachers appointed to teach at the school in Kamatunga. It is planned that they will begin teaching at the beginning of September. Pray that they settle in quickly. For peace in the country during the general elections in December. That God will be glorified in everything that is undertaken in Marimanti.

Ruth Watt, in Tonga. Praise God For:

The opportunity to teach again. A teacher left Vaololoa in the middle of the year and as they had no-one who could teach form 5 Industrial Arts I was asked to come back in for the one class. I am very glad to do so but have found the students very far behind. Safe travel as the education officers (myself included) travelled around the islands visiting the schools for their second visit of the year. The opportunity to visit 'Eua (the closest larger island that I have never managed to get to) and have a short holiday watching the whales and walking in the forest. Pray for:

Me, as I teach that I won't take on more than my health can cope with (although on that point I am feeling more energetic these days). Students as we come to the end of the third term with tests and choir competitions. The education office and particularly our new president of education Feleti 'Atiola as we explore ways to best help the schools and teachers.

David & Sarah Hall, & Rebecca in Bangladesh. Give thanks:

Friends and colleagues have helped us settle back into life here after we arrived back in Bangladesh in the middle of June. We received 6 month visas in London without a fuss. We enjoyed time with family and friends while in the UK. Please pray:

For our continued health and safety, particularly Rebecca as she regularly is covered in prickly heat as a result of the hot sticky climate. For those affected by the flooding in Bangladesh and those suffering the resulting illnesses. That the relief sent by the Church (rice, dahl, potatoes, salt etc.) will be distributed to those most needy in the community. For wisdom for the Social Development Programme as it plans rehabilitation for flood victims. For the political situation in the country - there was widespread rioting and curfews in force at the end of August.

Alan & Margaret McIlhenny, in Ireland & South Africa. Give thanks:

For the amazing transformation of Mogoba village in Limpopo Province. Through the work of Open Schools, all the children in the village are now at school, a kitchen has been built to provide meals for all the children, a vegetable garden planted, and a Sunday School started. In Cape Town, the Open School manager, Kevin, has been training a group of volunteers. Five of them, ex drug addicts, now Christians, who want to help their friends, still on the streets, find new life in Christ. In Midrand, a Christian School and local Anglican church want to get more involved in a huge township on their doorstep. They plan to buy some land to set up a base for Ruth (Open School manager) to reach children with education and the Good News of God’s love. Please pray for:

The Midrand folk as they try to put their vision into practice. Alan and Kevin as they meet with Christian school principals in Cape Town on 17th September. Pray that there will be a good response, and privileged children will be inspired to help other children in great need. Alan and Margaret as they will be travelling extensively in South Africa until 20th September. Please pray for protection in a country ridden by crime. Alan, as he manages a difficult personnel problem, which is causing a lot of stress and frustration, and taking an inordinate amount of time. Pray for God’s wisdom and direction.

David & Rhoda Nixon, Samuel (10), Christopher (8), in Zambia.

Praise God:

For the opportunity for David to study a course which he hopes will help him with the development of Chodort Training Centre That another missionary couple from America were able to rent our house and care for our pets in Choma while we are in Ireland. Pray for:

All the adjustments and changes our family will experience during the next year. David will commence a full time course at Kimmage Development Studies Centre in Dublin on 17 th September. Samuel and Christopher as they adjust from Home Schooling in Zambia to formal School in Florencecourt. It has been tough on them leaving their home in Choma. David that he will concentrate and focus his mind on his studies. Our family as we adjust to being separated as Rhoda and the boys will stay in Fermanagh. Mr. Mwango, acting principal at Chodort Training Centre. Pray that God would guide him, give him wisdom and bless him as he manages Chodort.