As part of the Diocesan mission strategy, every church in the Diocese is challenged to develop a relationship with another congregation or organization within the Anglican Communion.
You can’t fix our problems, nor do we want you to. But we all share in the same baptismal covenant … we are all called to the same mission … God’s mission. Come work beside us, joining together in mission. - The Most Rev. Martin Barahona, Primate of IARCA & Bishop of El Salvador
| Destination | Trip Dates | Sponsoring Group | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilahuin, Ecuador | August 15-25, 2008 | Mission Leadership Program | Jan 1 2008 |
| El Salvador | July 2008 | St. Andrew's Church, Marblehead | |
| Sabeel International Conference & Pilgrimage to Nazareth and Jerusalem | November 2008 | Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown | May 20 2008 |
All are welcome to participate in the work of the Global Partnership Task Force which is focused on developing resources for mission teams, and supporting church engagement in global partnerships. Membership is drawn from across the Diocese. The Task Force is already engaged in working on a number of projects.
If you or someone you know is inspired to join the Task Force, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact the Rev. Ted Gaiser at tgaiser [at] diomass [dot] org or 617-782-1577.
A church may not be in the position to send a mission team on its own, or may feel daunted by health concerns, travel arrangements, fundraising or other issues. The Mission Leadership Program is designed to enable churches to sponsor a missioner who will return with knowledge and contacts for leading future global mission activities.
Participants in the Mission Leadership Program can expect to learn about:
In 2007, a group of missioners participated in a Mission Leadership
trip to El Salvador. Those individuals are currently engaged in a
number of mission projects developing church-based mission trips,
leading fundraising efforts to support partners in El Salvador,
participating in global mission activities, developing language skills
and developing Sunday school materials in Spanish for a Salvadoran
church partner.
The Rev. Dr. Ted Gaiser, Deacon for Global Partnerships, is available to preach at your church, present on global mission in adult education classes, and consult with parish mission leaders. He can be contacted at tgaiser [at] diomass [dot] org or 617-782-1577.
To access mission resources and additional information about the global partnership mission goal go to www.missiongoal.org.
As we listened to the stories and learned about the growing AIDS epidemic in Honduras, most of us in the room struggled to fight back tears.... Valerie’s words to the room were direct and to the point: "come be with us." "Hold an orphaned baby, play games with a dying child, and demonstrate to all of the children that they are loved...just come." Many of us exclaimed,"We had no idea the situation was so bad!" It's difficult for us to know this information, and even more difficult to understand and internalize it...that is, until we've experienced it for ourselves. - The Rev. Ted Gaiser, Deacon, Global Partnerships
Emilie Hitron, M.D.
Image: Barbara Dennett
It’s tempting to see the hundreds of people waiting to see us at the beginning of every day, as well as the tremendous need around us as too overwhelming. However, Jesus taught us to see each individual and to care for each person as though he or she were the Christ. I have no hopes of making changes in Haiti- I just hope to provide good care and hopefully ease the suffering of the one person that I have before me. - Emilie Hitron, M.D., Christ Church, Needham
Christ Church, Cambridge mission trip to Honduras
Image: Courtesy Christ Church, Cambridge
I knew we were helping Hondurans on a construction project at a church and helping to build a schoolhouse in a remote village but I wasn't sure in what sense this constituted a mission.... After six days I think I have a better understanding of what our mission is.... Perhaps we are here to know them and to represent Christ Church of Cambridge and all those members of the community who supported this mission with funds and supplies. And to offer an alternative view of what America is and who Americans are. - Bernard Suhm, Christ Church, Cambridge