St.Chad's Church Shrewsbury

Faith in Action – internationally

Pictured right is Pat Rantisi, chair of our Mission Committee with Sheerah Lee from West Malaysia during Sheerah’s twelve months working with us. This was sponsored by the St.Chad’s Trust, encouraging volunteer exchanges between Malaysia and the Lichfield Diocese. Sheerah is now a full-time youth worker in her own church. For more information about our Mission Committee’s role, please follow this link

The following international organisations are those to whom we give financial and/or practical support and are listed in alphabetical order:

ACET

Aids Care Education and Training Ltd is a charity at the forefront of seeking ways to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Action Aid

Inspired by the words of Jesus that whatever we do for the least important people we do for Him, Actionaid was started by a Christian business man called Cecil Jackson Cole in 1972. Working in developing countries to support the poorest, its aim is to enable people to help themselves and its motto is "Giving people choices". Local people and local organisations are helped to tackle basic needs, such as health, agriculture, education and employment, especially small businesses. Important aspects of the work include credit unions, empowering women and advising people on how to campaign for their basic rights. For a summary of a graphic first-hand 2008 talk given by Roger Yates on his return from Kenya, please follow this link.

Amnesty International

Every month a letter is written in support of a "prisoner/prisoners of conscience" and is signed by most of the congregation. Details of prisoners are obtained either from the Amnesty Journal or the Amnesty International website. In addition to this, every year from November until the end of January many church members take part in Amnesty's Greetings Card Campaign. This involves sending greetings cards or picture postcards to prisoners throughout the world.

Bible Lands Society

Bible Lands Society is bringing Christ's Compassion to the Needy in the Lands of the Bible.

Bible Society.

The Bible Society is an advocate for the Bible in contemporary cultures, resourcing and influencing those who shape society and making the Bible heard by all.

Christian Aid A Frantic Theatre
entertainment and supper
in aid of
Christian Aid 2006

Christian Aid aims to support overseas aid projects which enable people to help themselves. St Chad's plays an active role in supporting the annual Christian Aid Appeal in May and in encouraging other events to support this major charity.

Church Army.

The Church Army is linked to the Church of England but works outside church buildings and throughout the world to enable people to come to a living faith in Jesus Christ.

Companion Dioceses

The Diocese of Lichfield, of which St Chad's is a part, has international links with companion dioceses in East and West Malaysia, Qu'Appelle in Canada and Mecklenburg in Germany. Exchange visits are made between dioceses and, as a result there are growing international links with churches across the world. St Chad's also has special links with Grace Church Colorado, U.S.A. This is celebrated on the Sunday nearest to American Independence Day (4th July) when the American Episcopal Liturgy is used at the Parish Eucharist.

Disaster Fund

is maintained from mission funds, Christmas and other special collections. Gifts to this fund are welcome. It is distributed according to immediate need and critical conditions on a world scale. Information about the fund and distribution is published in the newsletter and on the mission notice board.

Feed The Minds

www.feedtheminds.org supports literacy programmes in third world countries.

FRIENDS of SABEEL (meaning ‘spring of water’ and ‘the way’.)

Sabeel works for a just peace for the people of Palestine and Israel. Started by Palestinian Christians, Sabeel promotes non-violence and reconciliation. Friends of Sabeel UK is working in Britain to support that vision.

Harvest Help

For over 20 years Harvest Help has worked with thousands of farmers in rural Africa, helping them to feed their families, earn a living and become more self-reliant.

Iraq Church

Many Christians in Iraq are being persecuted for their faith and we endeavour to support them through the Barnabas Fund.

Leprosy Mission

Leprosy Mission aims to minister in the name of Jesus Christ to the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of individuals and communities disadvantaged by leprosy, working with them to uphold human dignity and eradicate leprosy.

PALHELP fund

This is a small charity set up by Pat Rantisi, one of our church members to help needy Palestinian families with medical or educational expenses. Pat was able to distribute over £800.00 to needy families in Ramallah at Christmas 2006. Some of the money was used to buy food parcels for the villages. She wishes to thank all who contributed and to tell everyone that the fund is still ongoing. Cheques to be made out to 'Palhelp Fund'. Please contact the Church Office for more information.

St. James School, Zimbabwe.

Teachers and students in this school are going through difficult times with the political upheavals caused by President Mugabe.

Supporting justice
throughout the
world, photo
courtesy of the
Fair Trade
FoundationTraidcraft

Traidcraft works as a commercial organisation to trade for a fairer world. Fairer trade can help people work their way out of poverty, and working together we aim to bring an end to unfair systems of trade which trap the poor, and make a difference for those who are exploited by current trading practices. There is a Traidcraft stall in church on the first Sunday of the month, and a shop on St John's Hill. For further information, please contact the Traidcraft representative.

United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

The United Society of Propagation of the Gospel enables people to grow spiritually, to thrive physically and to have a voice in an unjust world.

www.tradingfairly.co.uk

TradingFairly website is an online database of hundreds of Fair Trade suppliers across the UK and is fully searchable by product line or retailer location. It is hoped that by making access to Fair Trade retailers easier more people will be encouraged to buy a wider range fairly traded products, rather than just the traditional tea and coffee.

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