OVERSEAS CONNECTIONS

Wusasa is a large diocese in the North of Nigeria, on the edge of the city of Zaria, about 100 miles south of Kano.  Christianity was brought to Zaria early in the 20th century by missionaries, who also established a school and medical centre.  There is no Christianity North of the Diocese, but Christianity is expanding rapidly in it, and new churches are being planted in the bush all the time.  However there are minimal facilities for education and health, and most of the people are very poor despite the country's oil resources.

The school founded by the missionaries, St. Bartholomew's, has over 1000 pupils, including 400 boarders, 45 teachers, and 40 assistants.   The charismatic Head Teacher, Sunday Maiwada, has a vision of providing a sound Christian education to enable his pupils to transform Nigeria.  The school has an excellent reputation, and has produced many notable former pupils.  Fees have to be paid by pupils in order for the school to survive, and this involves great sacrifices by parents in a region where wages are minuscule. 

A link between the Parish of Alverstoke and the Diocese of Wusasa was initiated in 1999, and the Parish is providing support by:

• prayer
• financial support for finishing the cathedral and for the Diocese's evangelical work.
• providing computers, books, and other materials for St. Bartholomew's School.
• helping with the fees for some pupils at the school.
• future 'Twinning' of families for exchange of letters and emails, and possibly exchange holidays for children.

Two former parishioners, John and Angela Dickinson, left to serve Christ in Nepal in April 2000.  John was Director of a United Mission to Nepal AIDS and HIV programme and was also involved in Tuberculosis control work.  He is now teaching physiology and medicine at the Kathmandu University Medical School, and providing advice and support to the Director.  Angela is teaching English in a UMN Nursing School.

Both John and Angela have been Christians for over 40 years. They are not new to Nepal having served with the Bible and Medical Missionary Fellowship and the United Mission to Nepal for 17 years. On returning for family reasons in 1986, John was commissioned in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was at times used for various tasks connected with the Gurkhas, including 18 months in Nepal, accompanied by Angela.

Having lived in various places with the Army, their support base is quite diverse, including St James' Bethnal Green, St Mary's Alverstoke, St Peter's Titchfield and St Aidan's Catterick.

Would you like to share in the Dickinsons' ministry? You and your church would be most welcome to join their support team. If you would like to pray for them regularly, or contribute to John and Angela's financial needs please contact Christine Hunt at Interserve, Freepost, London SE11 4BR, tel: 020 7735 8227 fax: 020 7587 5362.

The parish of Alverstoke supports the Dickinsons by:-

• prayer
• commitments by individuals to help fund their work

The parish of Alverstoke is one of several in a local Church Missionary Society Association, whose aim is to support the work of the CMS.  The Association holds bi-monthly meetings at which there are guest speakers, usually with a mission related topic. 

The parish has supported Mission Partners of the Church Missionary Society for some years, first in Malaysia, and more recently in Nepal, whence John and Lynn Gregson returned in July 2000.  John did IT work at the university in Khatmandu, and Lynn worked as a physiotherapist while both spent non-working time organizing, teaching, and training leaders in the local Christian community.  Nepal is a Muslim country, and the law does not allow other faiths to to attempt conversions, despite which Christianity is growing fast, and as in the early Christian church, the great need is to provide teaching, inspiration, and help them achieve cohesiveness.

The parish of Alverstoke supports the Church Missionary Society by:-

• prayer
• donations from the funds of St. Mary's, St. Faith's, and St. Francis'.
• donations by individuals and the proceeds of their mission collection boxes.

The modern merchant ship is often crewed by people of many nationalities and languages, who may well be lonely, unable to communicate with others on board, and ill-equipped for cold climates.

The Mission To Seafarers cares for seafarers of all nationalities and creeds in some 300 ports around the world.  It works through a network of chaplains, lay staff and volunteers who offer seafarers a welcome, friendship, and practical and spiritual help. 

The Parish supports the Mission To Seafarers by

• prayer
• provision of balaclavas and other warm clothing
• donations of money