JHMT 2019 Christmas Appeal

As we look towards Christmas the James Hannington Memorial Trust highlight projects that we would like to invite the church family to support.

If you wanted to make a donation please pick up a Christmas Appeal leaflet available at the church or contact the church office for more details. This year we have 2 projects & they are:

PROJECT 1
Help persecuted Syrian families shine with hope this winter.
​​Syria has been in the news a lot recently. The attacks in northern Syria have already had a devastating effect on Christians in the area. Open Doors partners have been on the ground in Syria for many years helping them give vital support to those affected. Christians in Aleppo may not currently face immediate threat of fighting or terrorism, but there are people still suffering the consequences of the crisis.
 People like Jina. Her husband Rober was taken captive six years ago and is still missing. He was abducted by Islamic extremists and the reason he was taken was his Christian faith. They are being supported by a church that operates as a Centre of Hope in Aleppo, run by Open Doors partner Pastor Abdalla. Through the Centre of Hope, Jina receives regular financial help and fuel for heating.
 Jina’s son Abraham is learning about the Bible in classes run by Abdalla’s Centre of Hope. These classes can help raise the next generation of believers in Syria. The ultimate vision for the church is to be a witness for Jesus in Aleppo. The hope and intention is that Centres of Hope will lead to resilient communities, resilient families and a resilient church. A church that is powerful and life-changing, flourishing across the Middle East and shining as the light of Christ in the darkness.
Christians know that they are still at risk, and they need the long-term support of the worldwide church so that they, in turn, can stay in their communities and be the hope for the Middle East. And that could start with a parcel of food or a gallon of diesel for a family like Jina and Abraham.
Every £24 could provide ongoing medical care for a believer in Syria..
Every £35 could provide a supplementary food pack and fuel aid to help a vulnerable Syrian family like Jina and Abraham’s survive the harsh winter.
A gift of £65 could go towards providing training and a loan, to enable a woman to open a small business so she can support her family and community.

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PROJECT 2- OFF THE FENCE
​Supporting those sent from our local Church serving those most in need within our own City.

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Did you know that while you’re curled up in front of Netflix in the evening, teams of Christians are walking the streets of Brighton, looking out for homeless men and women who may be in need of food, hot drinks and warm clothes?
They are signposted back to the Off The Fence day centre on Portland Road where they can get a hot shower, clean clothes and support with accommodation, rehab or any health needs they might have. That’s where they’ll probably meet Nigel. S, who works there making sure the homeless get not only the practical support they need but the pastoral care. A client who has been living in a hedge on a local trading estate described the work at Antifreeze as ‘a really special place.’
As well as the this work with the homeless and our Gateway women’s work, Off The Fence has a schools’ team working across fifteen city schools, providing support through mentoring, workshops, courses, safe spaces and interactive prayer spaces. The team is led by Lizzi. D and supported by intern Emily.W. If you read the news, schools are struggling in so many ways, and also becoming increasingly intolerant of Christianity. As we walk alongside the struggles, we find that our work is not only deeply appreciated but encouraged, and it’s clear the difference it makes.
‘They bring God to the students in a really relatable fresh safe creative 21st century way that the children have just really engaged with and loved.’
Head of School, Cardinal Newman
All of this work, which involves around 30 staff, is made possible by a core team headed up by Monica. H holding us to our core values of excellence, compassion, integrity and unity.
Please do what you can to support these valuable BH members of our team at OTF.  At this time of year when we think of the lengths God went to so He can reveal his love for us, it’s right that the church is sending its members to some of the most difficult places to continue revealing God’s character. The streets are indeed dark at this time of year; please help enable us to continually reveal the everlasting light.