Mission
There has always been a steady stream of people at Christ Church who decide to leave their ‘normal’ jobs to work exclusively to share the message of Jesus with those who do not know Him. We have a mission’s support team at Christ Church that endeavours to keep our missionaries supported financially, emotionally and in prayer, and helps keep up contact between them and the church. Because we value the role our missionaries play, 15% of our budget each year goes towards their costs as well as to various other missionary organisations. Below is a list of our missionary friends and a few of such organisations:
Pat Herbert
Wycliffe Bible Translators - Tamale, Ghana
Pat was a parish worker at Christ Church before joining Wycliffe. For the last 30 years she has been involved in literacy work and in facilitating the translation of the Bible into two languages in northern Ghana – Vagla and Deg. She now heads the translation project, and is working hard to complete the final 20% of the Old Testament checking.
Link Person – Esther Johns
John Earwicker
CEO - Medic Assist International
John, a member of Christ Church for several years, became full time Chief Executive of the mission agency MAI in September 2008, having previously been a consultant to the mission. He oversees the support that MAI gives to medical projects in Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa and Pakistan. His job entails much travelling. He is leading a mission team of 12 (mainly from Abingdon) to South Africa in August 2011.
Link Person – John Earwicker
Peter and Miranda Harris
A Rocha International
Peter and Miranda founded A Rocha (The Rock) in the Alvor Estuary in Portugal. As the first Christian Conservation Mission, it teaches a practical biblical view of creation, the environment and conservation. Since 1997, A Rocha has become more international and Peter and Miranda, now resident in Wiltshire, spend a lot of time travelling to encourage A Rocha projects around the world, in writing, and in the advocacy of “Creation Care” in government and academic circles.
Link Person – Richard Riggs
Martin and Rachel Riddall
Student Evangelism and Discipleship – Woodlands Church, Bristol
Martin became a Christian through the youth work at Christ Church while serving at RAF Abingdon. He and Rachel subsequently joined Agape UK, and have worked in student evangelism and discipleship in Birmingham, Warwick and Bristol. In September 2009, Martin joined the staff of Woodlands Church in Bristol as pastor to students. Rachel also helps in the church, with Alpha, and a developing independent ministry to women. Rachel is also doing part-time theological studies at Trinity College, Bristol.
Link Person – Rachel Buckingham
Tabitha Jorden
Student ministry – East Asia
Tabitha’s family were members of the LF congregation before moving to Cambridge, and she renewed links with us while doing student ministry in Oxford. Since 2010 she has been part of a team of Christians involved in student discipleship and outreach in a sensitive country in East Asia.
Link Person – Jane Robinson/Roland Knight
Gareth and Wai Sum Rouch
IT support for the Operation Mobilisation ship Logos Hope / church work in Hong Kong
Since their marriage at Christ Church in August 2008, Gareth and Wai Sum have been living and working in Hong Kong. Gareth continues to provide IT back-up to the OM Ship MV Logos Hope, and they have both been working in their local churches. Wai Sum is now engaged in full-time theological studies in Hong Kong, and they are seeking how God wants them to serve him in the future.
Link Person – Alison Grieve
Andy and Andrea Warner, Alicia and Jacob
Church planting – European Christian Mission – Spain
The Warners have been attending Redlands Missionary College in Gloucester since Sept 2010 in preparation for a move to Spain in 2011 to take up a role in evangelism and church planting in the Valencia Region of Spain.
Link Person – Mike Warner
For more information about Christ Church mission download this years mission leaflet: