Children of the global church are particularly vulnerable to persecution. Bullied. Rejected. Attacked. They face persecution from their classmates, their community, and sometimes even their own family. Persecution often means rejection and poverty. Their lives are torn apart because they love Jesus – but, even at such young ages, they hold on to Him.
Robin (11) in Bangladesh has seen his life torn apart by persecution. His church was attacked by a mob, he is rejected at school, and even his father disowned him – all because he follows Jesus. You can unwrap hope for Robin.
 
In Bangladesh, Robin’s faith marks him out. At school and around the village, people don’t even use his name: they simply call him ‘the Christian’. Nobody would sit next to him. Other children wouldn’t play with him

​After Bangladesh’s prime minister was ousted in August 2024, political disorder erupted across the country and religious minorities – including Christian families like Robin’s were targeted.
An extremist group waged a leaflet campaign against other local Christian families that had converted from Islam.  One morning, a mob of 40-50 people descended on their small house church.
Thankfully, the believers were warned and managed to flee just in time. The mob burned everything to the ground.
 
Because of the intense pressure from their wider family & community Robin’s Father left them leaving them with nothing. They still face pressure from their family, as well as the threat of further violence from extremists, but their faith is too precious to abandon.
 
Robin’s mother teaches him Bible stories, helps him memorise Scripture and teaches her son what it means to follow Jesus. Open Doors local partners have given Robin a children’s Bible, and he treasures it.

 
At Christmas, it’s a special time, because Robin and his mother gather with other Bangladeshi families who have converted to Christianity for a celebration run by Open Doors local partners.
For Robin, Christmas is a bright light in a world that often feels dark and lonely. It’s a day to unwrap gifts and gather at church with others who share his faith.
It’s a day of knowing you belong.
 
As well as the children’s Bible and special gatherings, these local partners are stepping in with vital food and relief aid. They’re also paying school costs so that children’s education can continue.
 
From practical aid to spiritual nourishment, your help for children like Robin is a tangible reminder that they are seen, loved and remembered by their global church family – helping strengthen and grow the next generation of the church. Millions of children around the world need this encouragement today, and for the long-term.
 
You can help this Christmas:
 

• Every £21 could give three children a Bible to help nurture their faith.
• Every £34 could support two persecuted families with much-needed emergency relief.
• Every £62 could help a family attend a seasonal gathering, making valuable, lasting friendships with Christian community.

​This Christmas, the JHMT are supporting the Project Antifreeze (Off The Fence) ‘Wet Weather pack’ campaign to benefit our city’s rough sleeping community. This is a direct request from our lovely clients.  As a family, couple or individual, please consider giving £78 which will buy a pack comprising a bivvy bag, a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers and a hoodie for warmth. (half a pack would be a hoodie and a pair of waterproof trousers and be half the price!).

​This Christmas, the JHMT are supporting the Project Antifreeze (Off The Fence) ‘Wet Weather pack’ campaign to benefit our city’s rough sleeping community. This is a direct request from our lovely clients.  As a family, couple or individual, please consider giving £78 which will buy a pack comprising a bivvy bag, a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers and a hoodie for warmth. (half a pack would be a hoodie and a pair of waterproof trousers and be half the price!).

Our vision is to open Casa Camino Antiguo (‘the Ancient Way’) Guesthouse in Zalla in the Basque Country, Spain.
It will be a welcoming place to stay for pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago and enable us to
share the love of Christ through hospitality. The space will also be used for our local church which
was planted four years ago, and for us to run outreach activities in the community.

We have found a commercial property located next to the central plaza in Zalla, and right on the
Camino, which we believe is ideally suited for the guesthouse. It was previously a dance studio and has two large open spaces (each 130m2) and well-equipped bathrooms. It only requires internal renovations to provide adequate facilities to host pilgrims.
Praise God that we now have sufficient funds to rent the building for the first year, which means
that we can get started while we also seek to
raise the remaining finances to eventually purchase it fully.
As we look towards being prepared to welcome pilgrims at the start of the 2024 Camino season in
the spring, please would you prayerfully consider partnering with us in this project and helping to
make our vision become a reality!
We are seeking to raise £9000 towards the renovation work required to sub-divide one of the large rooms into smaller bedrooms for pilgrims as well as for volunteers. Your gifts will also help us to install a new kitchen and dining area.
​Thank you for partnering with us as we seek to share the love of Christ in a practical way to
pilgrims on the Camino and to the local Basque community.
 

​The Trustees of JHMT want to thank the BH family for their generosity in respect of the Easter Appeal towards the La Paz food truck and the NGM schools project. The total raised was an amazing £15572.50. Praise God and continue to pray for the work of both these ministries.

Thank you to everyone who has donated already.
​It was great to have a visit from The Firths a few weeks back to tell us more about the Food Truck project and to hear from some of the NGM trustees about the huge need for good teachers to support the boys education at the home. See post below for details on both projects and how to donate. 
The last day for donating will be Sunday 30th April. 

​El Alfarero, founded by Graham & Debbie Frith, responds to the supreme call of God, accompanying university students and leaders, bringing them light and hope, satisfying their spiritual, emotional, social and economic needs. Evangelism is a core value that touches all  we do, through the youth cafe, the discipleship groups, the biblical counselling and training.
The Food Truck for La Paz, would take the services of El Alfarero to the thousands of students where they are at, including food, friendship, evangelism, discipleship and counselling. There are thousands of students in La Paz, and we will be serving them close to where they are studying, with a particular focus on the state university. After the initial investment, the food truck has to be self-sustainable through income generation.
We have a commitment for £7500 from another foundation and so would be aiming to match that with £7500. Any support you are able to give us towards that would be greatly appreciated.

The JHMT would like to invite you to support 2 projects this year
If you would like to support the BH Christmas Appeal please pick up a leaflet at BH, check out BH news or contact the church office to find out the different ways you can make a donation.It would also be helpful if you could confirm whether your donation can be gift aided by emailing or sending a note via the church office. Unless specified, gifts to the appeal will be divided equally between both projects. 
​Project 2 - Kev & Jen Cable, Jaffa, Israel - CMS
​Many of you will know Jen, who grew up in Bishop Hannington . Kevin, a Jewish believer in Jesus, was formerly a long serving police officer, and for 14 years a priest in the Church of England in Bournemouth.
As part of our mission to increase and strengthen the Christian presence in Jaffa, alongside re-opening the Anglican Church of St Peter and building a congregation, we are working with Aviv Ministries in central Tel Aviv, who provide help for those caught in drug addiction, prostitution and the homeless. Our congregation offer help when possible, visiting the shelter to help in the soup kitchen and talk with the people using these services.  Many of them are without any assistance at all, living on the streets on the margins of society, where they often receive little help and are shunned by many. We believe that sharing our faith with actions is a way to draw alongside these people and share the love of Christ, by loving our neighbour through practical support, prayer, and simple human company. Many of them come to know the Lord through the love and care they receive.
We are really grateful for your continued provision and prayers for us and thank you for supporting us as part of your Christmas Appeal. This year we would like to raise money for some new kitchen equipment at the Aviv Ministry to make catering for large numbers easier. High Inflation here also means that food is very expensive, sometimes twice the price of products in the UK, and we would, if possible, also like to raise some funding for food, of which the ministry is in desperate need. Please help our congregation, along with our partners at Aviv Ministries, to meet the needs of those who have no one else to help this Christmas.

The JHMT would like to invite you to support 2 projects this year
If you would like to support the BH Christmas Appeal please pick up a leaflet at BH, check out BH news or contact the church office to find out the different ways you can make a donation.It would also be helpful if you could confirm whether your donation can be gift aided by emailing or sending a note via the church office. Unless specified, gifts to the appeal will be divided equally between both projects. 

Project 1 - Off The Fence
 Off The Fence have 2 fantastic initiatives to run in local schools this term – but we need your help to fund them!
1-1 Mentoring Project
Countless teenagers in our City struggle with poor mental health. Often this is picked up in school by caring staff who want students to be able to reach their potential in all areas of life. The Schools & Youth team at Off The Fence has a huge heart for students in crisis. Through our 1-1 mentoring programme we’re able to meet with students every week, often picking up students as soon as the crisis occurs. We aim to be a consistent, positive, listening presence at a time when life is overwhelming. The team has supported 24 students since September 2022 and hope to be able to support many more in the new year. This initiative costs around £200 per week to run, but has priceless results!
“The service you and your team offer in school is amazing!!!! I don't know what we would do without you....” Feedback from Year 8 Assistant Head of Year at Blatchington Mill School
​ 
Prayer Spaces in Schools Through our Prayer Spaces in Schools initiative we take over a space in a local school for a few days and completely transform it. We set up a number of different creative prayer activities which help children to explore prayer in a fun, safe and interactive way. These Prayer Spaces are run in both Primary and Secondary schools and are events that students remember for years to come! We aim to run one Prayer Space every half term costing £600.
“Thank you so much for continuing to pioneer this work - Prayer Spaces in Schools is significantly better because of you and the Off The Fence community.” Phil Togwell, National Director, Prayer Spaces in Schools.

​

 What a great month of hearing from our guest mission speakers, finding out how God is at work in the world beyond BH and having some focused prayer times for our Mission Partners. They really appreciated being able to join in via zoom or in person.
 We would love to hear from you
•  What’s been your highlight of this mission month?
•  How has God been challenging/encouraging you to be involved in His World Mission?
If you’ve been inspired to find out more about short or long term mission work or you would like to support & pray for one of our Mission Partners then keep praying and please contact
our BH world mission coordinator, Katy (via churchsuite or the BH church office), who would love to help you get connected.

We have some great guest speakers preaching for us this month,
virtual visits from some of our Mission Partners and lots of
extra events to come along to and find out more about how God is at work in the world.
All are welcome no need to book.
Come & visit the stall at the back of church to find out how you can be involved in supporting our Mission Partners and other mission opportunities. 
For more information contact Katy Lambert through the church office.​