2013 Update

Unfortunately Darrell Johnston will not able to speak at this year's convention due to him suffering a heart attack in August.  Although he is making a good recovery, there have been some complications, that are being addressed.

In consultation with his ministry team, he has had to back out of some speaking engagments. It seemed right to him and his team that he should wait one year before taking on extra ministry outside the life of the church in Vancouver, unless such ministry was close at hand. In particular, it seemed wise to back out of any commitment that involved long travel by air. 

The committee of Worldwide wish Darrell a speedy recovery and we hope to have him with us in the near future.

Worldwide Stories - Jean Garland

In our continuing series of Worldwide Stories, we talk to Jean Garland (Mission Africa).

A message from Canon Andrew White on the New Archbishop of Canterbury

Dear Friends,

What do you say when your friend and former colleague, the one who reopened St George's Baghdad with me, is announced as Archbishop of Canterbury? What you say is thank you Lord, thank you Lord! Bishop Justin Welby is a great and wonderful man of G-d. I count it as a great privilege to have had him as my closest colleague ever. Working together in some of the most difficult places in the world, from Israel, to Nigeria, to Iraq we have been together. The Anglican Communion is in for a very exciting time.

Yesterday I came back to my beloved Baghdad. I had to leave my treatment early in the Netherlands because there was a terrible explosion the day before yesterday killing over 60 people including several people very close to me. Just yesterday scores of more people were killed. Then to make things worse yesterday morning I had the terrible news that a dear, dear friend had died of Cystic Fibrosis in Jerusalem. For many years we had supported him and now in his early 20's he has gone to heaven. So I am back to funerals.

So today despite the tragedies we give great thanks for Bishop Justin. When I came to be based in Baghdad he took over for me. I will never forget the day when we reopened St George's Baghdad together. Today is a day of rejoicing.

Prayer Points

1. In the light of the understandable decision by Darrel Johnston to cancel his outside engagements for the next 12 months, our major prayer request is for the committee to be guided to a suitable replacement to take the Bible Readings at the 2013 Convention. We believe that God is in control of this situation and that our role is to ask that He reveals His will to us.
    
2. Please pray for our Finance Committee  and main Committee meetings which will be held in the next couple of weeks and that the right decisions will be made on our programme for 2013, for the future upgrade of our website, and for the wise dispersal of the funds which have been entrusted to us.
    
3. Give thanks that plans for our publicity launch at the beginning of May are progressing well.
    
4. Give thanks for our Secretary’s safe return, with the team, from their recent mission trip to Moldova.