Mission Partners

We choose to give away ten per cent of all our parish income in order to resource mission at home and overseas. Two thirds of this money is shared between mission partners selected by the PCC. Information about what our partners are up to and how you can pray for them can be seen below.

TearFund – Israel and Gaza

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with over a million people forced to flee their homes – and even more at risk of starvation. Tearfund is working with local churches and partners in the Middle East who are urgently responding to people’s needs. 

What to pray:  Pray for healing, Pray for peace, Pray for hope 

Pray for people who have been traumatised or injured; ask God to heal their physical and emotional wounds and bring them deep comfort. 

• Pray for hospitals and medical workers who are struggling with limited resources and overwhelming needs. Ask God to provide all the resources and equipment they need to treat the sick and injured.
• Pray for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence. 
• Pray that God’s peace would fill the hearts and minds of everyone who is suffering as a result of this conflict. 
• Pray for world leaders with influence in the region to make wise decisions that lead to lasting peace. 

Pray for safety 

• Pray for all civilians – that God would protect them from harm, particularly the most vulnerable, including children, older people, and people with disabilities. 
• Pray for humanitarian workers – for protection for those who are working to provide humanitarian assistance and medical supplies.  

Pray for strength 

• Pray for church leaders – for wisdom and strength to lead people through fear and uncertainty. Pray for bravery as they guide their communities and offer loving support. 
• Pray for Christian communities and faith leaders across the region – for unity, connection and mutual understanding so that they can help bring people together and show kindness. 
• Pray for Tearfund’s partners in neighbouring countries – that God would strengthen them as they provide essentials such as food, blankets, mattresses and hygiene supplies to families who have been displaced. 

Updated June 2024

Open Doors June 2024 – Iran and North Korea

Open Doors helps Christians in over 60 countries, from training leaders to raising awareness about global persecution. You can find out more on their website at opendoorsuk.org

A Christian convert in Iran has been given a 15-year prison sentence for ‘undermining national security and promoting Zionist Christianity’. 

Yasin Mousavi from Izeh, south west of the capital Tehran, has been accused of two ‘crimes’. The first is ‘membership in disruptive groups’, which centres around his involvement in a Christian organisation; the sentence for this is ten years. The other five years is for ‘anti-regime propaganda’, which is for actively participating in protests in 2021 over deteriorating living conditions. Yasin was amongst those arrested in a crackdown on Christian activities over Christmas last year. He spent 20 days in solitary confinement, followed by five months in Sheiban Prison. He was released on bail on 1 May, before being sentenced on 27 May. Yasin has previously spent time in prison in 2017 and 2021. 

Several other Christian converts arrested in Izeh last year have also received harsh sentences. Hamid Afzali has been sentenced to 10 years, Nasrollah Mousavi and Bijan Qolizadeh to five years each, Zohrab Shahbazi to nine months, and Iman Saleh to five years. Two other unnamed converts have each been sentenced to two years.The strongly Islamic regime sees Christianity – which continues to grow at an extraordinary rate in Iran as a threat to its authority. It’s resulting in a crackdown that’s unpredictable and brutal. Please continue to keep the country and its faithful believers in your prayers. Please pray 

That Yasin and others who have recently been sent to prison will feel upheld by God’s strength and comfort, and pray that their faith will remain unwavering 

• That their families will feel surrounded and sustained by the Holy Spirit’s comforting presence 

• That the church in Iran will stay resilient, united and bold in their faith, and pray for international awareness of persecution to grow. 

North Korea’s punishment of two teenage boys is troubling reminder of regime’s brutality 

North Korea is in the news with the visit of President Putin, but little continues to be shared about the country’s atrocious abuse of human rights, as epitomised by the brutal punishment of two teenage boys for using and sharing songs and videos from South Korea. The ongoing abuses were recently covered in a UN Council discussion, but the specific threat to Christians was overlooked. 

Report back from Dave Maguire – June 2024   

I want to thank the Lord Jesus for all his grace and provision to serve the poor and oppressed and bring the good news of Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit ministering healings, salvations and deliverance to many who we meet at each place.

We have had the chance to go several times to Ukraine with food and the gospel of Jesus and share doing outreaches/conferences/church meetings and outdoor sharing with signs following the preaching of the gospel.

I’ve been able to teach at 2 Ywam sites in Romania this year and in a bibles school in the north of Romania.

We have had teams from Poland, Holland, Stockport England, Germany, stepping out in faith doing evangelism and being equipped in the word of God and the power of his Holy Spirit.

Ministry has expanded into new spheres and blessing new areas with God’s goodness.

A full summer is ahead with other trips to Ukraine /north Romania/ and west Romania doing outreach with the poor and needy and equipping the saints.

Also, we have a team from America coming and other ones asking also to come from Holland.

Keep us in prayer and please write back any thoughts from the Lord you might have to encourage us.

Blessings from the Maguires.

We thank you for supporting us in prayer and all your practical ways you keep us supported in God’s work.

Dave

Embassy

Dear Friends, 

Wow, what a year 2024 has been! 

As Christmas and the New Year approaches, I hope you’re able to reflect on joyful moments just as our team is doing. We are so thankful to God for the good things that have happened this year. 

We’re so unbelievably grateful for all your support. Whether you have donated, given your time, followed our exciting journey, or remembered us in your prayers – we honestly couldn’t achieve what we have without you. 

2024 proved to be incredibly busy for us at Embassy, and we are excited to share some highlights:

• We have welcomed 12 new residents 
• We’ve provided approximately1,800 hours of support
• We have helped 12 residents to enter employment
• We’ve helped 5 residents to move on into more permanent accommodation
• And… work has begun on the Embassy Village!!!

We’re so excited to see what 2025 has in store for us as we are on track to significantly increase the number of places we have for both men and women! As we take on additional properties, we’ll be able to help nine more women make a new start; like Sarah, who we have helped get back on her feet. With our support Sarah now works in a care home full-time and has enrolled on an IT course!

This next year will be our biggest year yet and we’re so thankful to have you on this journey with us! 

Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your kind words, for following us, donating and praying for us. Let’s make 2025 an even more remarkable year!

With prayers for a joyful Christmas and many blessings in 2025.

God bless, 

Sid, Tess and the Embassy Team 

P.S If you can give extra gift this Christmas, please donate via this link: www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/freshstartchristmas

 

Dear Friend,

What were you doing 10 years ago? That’s a pretty long time ago, right? In Greater Manchester, 10-15 years is the usual wait time for a council house. That’s a decade someone could spend rebuilding their lives and thriving in society. Like Helen who came to us when her future looked bleak, Helen now works full time in a care home, is doing an IT course and feels secure and confident in what the future holds.

As Christmas approaches, we reflect on the greatest gift of all: the birth of Jesus Christ, a story of new life, peace, and giving. This season, we invite you to share in that spirit by giving the gift of a new home and a fresh start. Just as the nativity began with finding shelter and safety, your generosity can offer someone in need the promise of a new life.

Last month we shared the exciting news that, in 2025, thanks to supporters like you, Embassy is growing to support more homeless people on Manchester’s streets! With the Village opening and new homes for nine additional women, you’re helping to more than double our capacity, providing life-changing support to men and women waiting for a fresh new start.

As we reflect on the gift of God’s love at Embassy, we ask if you would consider giving again this Christmas to help someone else get back on their feet? It is because of your generosity we have changed lives, and we are deeply grateful. Here’s what your gift could mean:

• £10 could cover a welcome pack for a new resident providing toiletries, teabags and other essentials
• £25 could deliver a one-to-one mentoring session improving our resident’s mental health and wellbeing
• £50 could contribute towards a group outing for residents to build social connections and reduce feelings of isolation

If you can, please donate here www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/freshstartchristmas

We are eternally grateful for your ongoing generosity. You enable us to continue making this journey possible for so many.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for journeying with Embassy, and more importantly, helping us get men and women off the streets and into a new home to make a new start.

With heartfelt thanks and Christmas blessings,

Sid, Tess, and the Embassy Team

PS – Your gift will help ensure homelessness does not become a tradition.

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