From a Virginia paper, the Stafford County Sun:
FAIRFAX – Despite the major split in the Episcopal Church over the ordination of gay ministers, a spokesman for the breakaway Anglican segment insists they must focus, not on the ongoing legal battles, but through continuing Christian service.
According to Jim Oakes, vice-chair of the Anglican District of Virginia, “?our churches will remain as committed to fulfilling the Great Commission through service as they are to holding steadfast to orthodox Anglicanism and honoring the historic teachings of the church.”
The Anglican District of Virginia is planning approximately 30 trips with 100 to 200 Virginian missionaries in 2007. Its focus is aiding people’s practical needs. Each trip will last one to two weeks. One church may sponsor the trip while members from other congregations can join it.
Fairfax and Falls Church missionaries have been making trips to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
“There are tens of thousands still homeless down there and we need to help them,” said Oakes, a member of Truro Church – an Anglican church in Fairfax.
This summer, Truro is again sending its team to work in Anglican Rev. Jerry Kramer’s flooded city. The Anglican Church is also sending teams to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in East Africa to provide help with schooling and provide educational services. Locations are chosen based upon the church’s historical tie with the region.
“We look for relationships and existent structures with which we can work versus just blunder in and about in these places,” Oakes said.
Oakes has personally been on eight African mission trips. He has never felt danger.
“Our hosts are looking out for our welfare and will never let us go into dangerous places,” he said.
In Kenya, the church’s “Five Talents Missionary” will set up small micro-businesses. Africans will be lent $100 in start-up money to buy tools, for instance. The goal of the mission is to teach basic business skills.
The Lakota Sioux in South Dakota are also being helped.
“They are very needy,” said Oakes. “We will provide food, training, coats, encouragement and Bibles. In South Dakota it gets very cold during the winter months.”
In Ohio, mission teams will be building houses, in undisclosed locations, for battered women.
Although the mission trips are moving forward, the church’s ongoing legal battle is still an issue.
[blockquote] The Lakota Sioux in South Dakota are also being helped.
“They are very needy,” said Oakes. “We will provide food, training, coats, encouragement and Bibles. In South Dakota it gets very cold during the winter months.” [/blockquote]
I hope they will contact some of us here in the state if we can be of support…
There are orthodox Anglicans in pockets around here, who seriously lament TEC’s apostasy and would like to build ministry if at all possible. Even if we can just provide dinner for the mission teams as they pass through, I hope we can be of support.
Our website appears below, and once there our email is available.
Also, in the western half of the state, Fr. Chip Johnson can be found via the South Dakota Anglican… http://sdanglican.blogspot.com/
It was interesting reading this parish’s definition of missions and evangelism in contrast to KJS’ in an earlier post.
Northern Plains,
That’s the truth. I’ve often lamented on other forums the lack of communication between Christian groups evangelising in the same geographical area, often times seeming at odds with those already in place. It’s as if they feel that they are the first ones to ever set foot in that area for Christ!
How much more effective the witness would be if the different groups could work together. That’s one thing I greatly admire about the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association — they will make contact with area churches before setting up a rally to make sure they aren’t ‘stepping on any toes’ and to make sure proper follow up is given to those who make a decision to follow Jesus. You will see Chrsitians of all denominational affiliations worshipping and working shoulder to shoulder for a common purpose.
Hi, libraryjim – I have to say, my heart soared when I saw this bit of news. Glad I read deep enough to find the South Dakota connection. Folks have been praying for orthodox ministry here, and maybe this is one of God’s answers.
We’ve posted this news, along with some really informative and inspirational stuff from SD’s first missionary bishop, over at our NPA site.
At a (TEC) deanery meeting last year, a Dakota man stood up and said, “We need you to send us Vicars with a spiritual message. We have our traditional religion, and can go back to that. Our last Vicar wanted to start a scholarship fund, but we have tribal money for that. We need you to bring your spiritual message.” The meeting pretty much ignored him and went back to a discussion of what diocesan property might be sold to help with budget shortfalls.
There is a real need for solid Anglican ministry here.
[i]The meeting pretty much ignored him and went back to a discussion of what diocesan property might be sold to help with budget shortfalls.
[/i]
sounds like the opportunity Christianity lost when Ghengis Khan asked the Pope to send missionaries to explain the Christian religion to him and his people, and the Pope ignored him. Look at what could have been gained with the conversion of the Mongols!
I look forward to exploring your website!
Peace to you
Jim Elliott
Northernplainsanglicans: The missionaries from VA I know come from All Saints’, Dale City. Their youth pastor, Mario Sandoval, has been taking kids up there every summer for I don’t know how long. I think you missed their trip this summer (they typically take off right after school is out), but contact him. I know they would never knowingly leave you all out, if you are called to this ministry. They hang out in Cannonball (may be over the border in North Dakota, my plains geography gets fuzzy sometimes), and have been doing relational evangelism for at least 12 years. From talking to Mario over the years, just gaining the Siouxs’ trust took a good many years. Hope this helps!
In Christ, Crabby
“O almighty God, Lord of the harvest of souls, we ask You to guide and bless all who have gone forth to preach the gospel. Endow them with the gifts of generosity and concern. Send your Holy Spirit on them, that He may strengthen them in weakness, comfort them in trials and direct their efforts. May He open the hearts of their hearers to receive Your message. Let Your revelation enlighten all minds for the salvation of souls, and let Your love heal every heart and body for the happiness of each person. May all people consciously acknowledge You and serve You by living the teachings of Your Son. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen”
This prayer for missionaries was on the Catholic Forum page. I add my heartful intentions to these words for the sucess and blessing of the work of all who preach the Gospel.