Where do we reach?
Stapleford Baptist Church is excited about what God is doing "out there" and is involved with projects and people in other parts of the world. As a church we particularly support Andrew and Jennifer Love (Manaus, Brazil), Andy and Viv Birch (Palma, Mallorca), Andy and Judith Stovell (Sheffield) and Lise Dawson (South Africa). This means that we are committed to financial and prayer support as well as trying to build relationships between our church and other Chrisitans in different places. It's great to welcome our "missionaries" when they're in England and some of us have even been privileged to visit them as well.
As well as these more formal links we regularly support Samaritan's Purse, a Christian charity who send shoeboxes of presents at Christmas to children overseas. We also support the work of SASRA (Sailors and Airmen Scripture Readers Association) and have had several past missionary links in Nigeria, Argentina and Nepal in which we still maintain an interest. When members are moved by God to react to a particular need they can suggest that we make a gift at our church meeting. Each yeaer we use the "30 days of prayer" booklets and resources from The Barnabas Fund to help us support the Church in places where it's not easy to be a believer in Christ.
Palma
Andy and Viv Birch work in Palma on the island of Mallorca. Andy is the pastor of the Evangelical church and is involved with outreach and small groups all over the island. That church has an international ministry to those who have come to the island to seek work in tourism. With the economic downturn hitting Spain hard, there's also a valuable care ministry.
Brazil
The Love family (Andrew, Jennifer, Hannah, Maria, Sarah and Amy) are based in Manaus in northern Brazil. Andrew has been the pastor of a church until recently and now teaches in a seminary there and is engaged in developing, supporting and encouraging pastors and church leaders in the city and on the Amazon river. The family are involved with the Amazon Literature project which aims to get Christian books to people in inaccessible jungle areas. Jennifer teaches in an international school in the city.
UK
The Stovell family (Andrew, Judith, Anna, Isaac, Seth, Ryan and Josiah) are based in Sheffield with Crowded House. Andrew is an evangelist and works particularly amongst refugees and asylum seekers. He has a devloping passion for planting new churches where there aren't any (yet!).
South Africa
Lise Dawson is a teacher of junior-school aged children in Lilyvale, a multi-faceted project outside Durban. She teaches children from the Children's Village - a place for orpahaned children, those who can't be cared for at home, and others - many of whom ar HIV-positive. Lise's job is as Deputy Head of the school on-site which is growing in its scope as new teachers are appointed. She not only teaches a class of children but has responsibilities in training other teachers. She loves to teach the children about Jesus!