Holy Trinity Church, Claygate

Introduction

Holy Trinity Claygate supports a number of individuals, families and organisations working in a variety of places outside of Claygate. We support them through prayer, giving, visiting and in other practical ways. We encourage all members of Holy Trinity to become more involved with God’s work outside Claygate.

Please check this week's prayer diary for current prayer requests for our World Focus partners.

Meg Merrifield

Holy Trinity Claygate has supported Meg Merrifield through the CMS since 1980, initially as a lecturer in theological colleges in Bida, Zaria and then in Awka in  Nigeria, but since 1999 in Mombasa, Kenya, where she has been a lecturer and since 2004 the Principal of ACK Bishop Hannington Theological Institute. The Institute was named after the first Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, James Hannington, who was martyred on his way to Uganda in 1885.

Between 1985 and 1991, students were trained at certificate level, but from 1992 education has been geared towards the St. Paul's Diploma in Theology. Some students have gone on from Diploma level to proceed for a degree at St Paul's Theological College in Limuru.  Bishop Hannington has a capacity of 62 students, half of them residential full time and mostly self-sponsored. There are plans to run a school chaplain course at the Institute and to make the Limuru degree available by distance learning, opening it up to more students.

Besides her teaching responsibilities, Meg completely catalogued and organised the library to bring it up to a very high standard.  She oversees the staff, the bursar, the food purchase and the buildings development and maintenance. The Institute has recently, under Meg’s leadership, added another floor to the accommodation block and built a dining room which doubles up as a meeting hall to accommodate 300 people.  The Institute organises a week each Easter for the students to evangelise in villages.

Gerard and Sarah Charles

Holy Trinity Claygate have supported Gerard and Sarah Charles and their children working with Friends of China since 2001.

Originally from Scotland, Gerard and Sarah lived in Xian for the first 4 years of their time in China. They spent most of their time in language study and also developed very positive relationships with the local Chinese people.

They have recently moved to Xining in the North West province of Qinghai. Gerard is now working as a forestry development consultant, as part of a small team acting as project consultants for local people involved in development work. Sarah will be making friends among the local Muslim Hui people as well as looking after the children.

Jonas Centre

Former members of Holy Trinity Claygate, Simon and Jo-Ann Eastwood moved to Redmire near Leyburn in North Yorkshire with their two sons in 2002. During their nine years at Holy Trinity Simon and Jo-Ann were Pathfinder leaders and Simon was churchwarden for five years during the building project. Jo-Ann was also responsible for setting up the Jigsaw playgroup. Before the move Simon was working for the Church Commissioners in London and Jo-Ann taught part-time at Esher Church school.

Simon now manages the Jonas Centre, a Christian conference and Holiday venue administered by the Jonas Trust. Jo-Ann, is currently teaching full-time at Leyburn Primary School.

The Jonas Trust has been operating as the Jonas Centre in Wensleydale since 1996.  It provides a location suitable for children’s holidays, conferences and training events. The Centre seeks to offer residential respite and recreation for carers and disadvantaged families. Links have been established with Social Services, local hospices and Christians Against Poverty who refer families in hardship or crisis for a break at the Centre.

During the week the site is available for use by schools, organisations requiring conference facilities and by those seeking a quiet country break. Accommodation at The Jonas Centre is also available for private, family holidays as well as for groups.

Members of  Holy Trinity have stayed at The Jonas Centre for holidays, and in 2004 a working party went to help with decorating and other tasks around the centre. A similar working party went again in April, 2009.

The cabins at the Jonas Centre have been well used at weekends by church groups and it is possible to accommodate groups of up to 80 people.  With good bookings at weekends, emphasis is also being placed on ways of encouraging greater mid-week use by disadvantaged people in particular need of a break and to provide a resource for the local community and other users. 

The trustees have considered the building of extra cabins with a new hall so that a group of about 120 (or two smaller groups) could be accommodated. This needs the cooperation of the owner of the adjacent Elm House – it is hoped that he will buy some land and buildings from the Jonas Trust to help with the financing of this expansion. A formal planning application is being prepared so that this vision can become a reality.

www.jonascentre.org

Email: Simon Eastwood

CPAS

The Church Pastoral Aid Society exists to inspire and enable churches to reach everyone in their communities with the good news of Jesus Christ.

www.cpas.org.uk

OMF

OMF serves the church and brings the gospel to some 12 countries in East Asia and has a pioneering ministry in others. They help place Christians to share the love of Christ with East Asians worldwide.

www.omf.org/uk

Tearfund

Holy Trinity regularly supports Tearfund and often gives to their special appeals in response to natural disasters. Relieving suffering and offering hope is at the heart of Tearfund’s vision.

www.tearfund.org

Young People

Young people from Holy Trinity regularly embark on short term projects.

• In 2006 Ele Steeds was teaching English in Uganda with Crosslink
• Katherine Shine worked with the Cambodian Hope Organisation (CHO), in Poipet, a town on the Cambodian/Thailand border. She has been sent there, with three other young people, as part of Tearfund's Transform programme for Gap Year students. The team helped complete the first phase of the building of a Safe Haven for children rescued from people trafficking (largely into the sex industry) at the border, which was officially opened in early May. Katherine was involved with teaching English to CHO staff, as well as children in 20 surrounding villages with 'school-on-a-mat'. Along with another team member, Katherine undertook basic Bible studies with a teenage girls' sewing group, who are very interested in exploring the Christian faith. The team were also involved in playing music and singing at the Sunday services, and helping the local musicians expand their repertoire and skills.