In March, Bishop Tandema set up his C-19 plan to help 100 of the most vulnerable people with handwashing resources, essential food items and C-19 prevention awareness. With the funding CMSI could offer from the C-19 Response Appeal he was able to buy soap and salt. However, the funds weren't enough purchase the rice, beans and cooking oil they had hoped to be able to distribute. Bishop Tandema was able to train a team to take prevention education to many people because he man

Earlier this month, CMSI Mission Associate, Isabelle Prondzynski, provided an update on how the Urban Development Programme (UDP) in Nairobi has been responding to the Covid crisis. Isabelle also shared news of an 'exciting' Zoom conference... On 2nd July, CMSI organised the most exciting Zoom conference that I have yet attended. We were 25 people from ten countries (eight in Africa, plus Nepal and Ireland). Even the technical feat of combining participants from all these cou

“The role of the pastors to disseminate information on Corona virus disease is of great importance as the community listens to pastors more carefully, compared to other people’s voices...” (Wani Justin Francis, Education Coordinator, Diocese of Yei) Church is at the center of responding to immediate needs on the ground in Yei. For the C-19 task force, developed by Bishop Hilary and his team, this has also meant collaboration with other groups with similar aims and compliment

Bishop Emmanuel Murye Modi of Kajo-Keji Diocese has been using all means available to speak hope into the lives of those who have been impacted by the global pandemic. He has encouraged the Christian community to also play their part telling them, and us, that; “We are God given resources to transform our communities”. Kajo-Keji Diocese recently updated us about the their emergency distributions of hygiene kits and food, a new youth focus on income generating initiatives, an

In a world where ‘Zoom fatigue’ is now a real thing, last week stood out as an exception in the long Zoom-filled lockdown weeks so far. On Tuesday we enjoyed our Annual General Meeting with folks from all over Ireland, and on Thursday came the highlight for me – a Voices Of Hope Zoom gathering. In spite of unreliable internet connections, 25 people participated from eight of our Global Partner countries. As faces started to appear on screen there was great excitement; Bishops

67-year-old Mr. Bahizire lost his wife in floods in Bukavu Diocese at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. He was displaced into a slum area of Uvira city and since then he has been living alone in a little shelter there. He has no means to buy food. In response to the double crisis of flooding and C-19, Bishop Bahati sent out a team with food and soap packages to reach those who had been affected. The team shared the following story about their meeting with Mr. Bahizire.

On Tuesday 30th June, over 40 CMSI Members from across Ireland - and further afield - gathered together for the society’s Annual General Meeting. Due to the continued restrictions on large gatherings, the meeting was attended via Zoom video conferencing. While the face-to-face fellowship and shared worship that normally marks this occasion were missing, this virtual approach enabled the AGM to proceed and helped connect folk from across the CMSI family. The response from thos

First Responders In CMSI, we believe that local churches throughout the world are called to be first responders to the needs of their neighbours. And we believe that, within the global family of God, we are called to support one another as we engage in this task of sharing the help and hope that only Christ can bring. That’s why, throughout the past few months of lockdown, CMSI has sought to keep the Church at the centre of the response to the Covid crisis. Connect, Equip, Tr

Last week, Bishop Hilary sent us his thanks for funds gifted by Lisburn Cathedral for pastors in Yei Diocese who were struggling to feed their families. He told us that he was able to support a total of 85 pastors throughout the current emergency. However, Bishop Hilary also updated us that fighting has resumed around the Yei area. Just as the markets were beginning fill up with supplies again he told us that armed groups have been attacking the people doing business... ‘The

As we look back over the past three months of lockdown, CMSI is inviting you to make lockdown count. Redeeming Lockdown Has the experience of ‘staying put’ meant you missed out on something you enjoy? Have you saved money by not doing something that you would normally do, or by not buying something you would otherwise have bought? Cinema or theatre visits? Takeaways? Weekend breaks? Petrol? Would you like to redeem your lockdown losses by putting the money you've saved to pos