Overseas Mission
How we support mission
10% of general fund giving is allocated to mission overseas. This enables us to contribute regularly towards the support of our partners and agencies, such as Open Doors UK. Depending on our financial position there may be additional funds for discretionary giving.
Richard and Frances are self- financing but appreciate our prayer and interest.
Prayer requests are included in our monthly Prayer Diary, and individuals are encouraged to “adopt” a partner to pray for regularly.
Ruth and Izaias - Latin Link (Brazil)
Ruth first went to Brazil in 1992 to work with street children. In 1997 she married Brazilian pastor Izaias, and they set up Mission Ver ‘Life and Hope Restored’ in the city of Belo Horizonte. Here they set up a school to serve a deprived area of the city. The school is run by Brazilian staff and in 2025 responsibility for management was transferred to another organisation.
In 2009 they moved north to Ceara which is a less well- developed area of Brazil where they planted Proclamation Church which more recently has formed a link with a larger church network and is now known as Peace Church. With outreach in the locality, cell groups, and individual mentoring as fundamental to their programme the church has grown steadily. Leaders are being trained towards taking full responsibility when the time is right for Izaias and Ruth to move on. There are 2 additional churches under their umbrella, one that meets at the school in Belo and another in a city, founded by a former member of the church in Ceara. To raise funds and meet local needs, they are developing a small business making inexpensive eco bricks for house building, and are starting to build flats for local people to live in.
Graham and Nicola - Interserve
Graham and Nicola spent 15 years working in Mongolia. Graham’s focus was Bible teaching at various levels, while Nicola had a variety of roles, juggling home schooling with activities which supported Graham’s work. Following a year-long course at All Nations College, they relocated to Malaysia where they lived for 2 Years. During this time, Graham joined the Executive of Increase Asia - an international umbrella organisation which promotes, co-ordinates, supports, and resources church and home–based Bible learning.
Graham and Nicola returned to the UK in 2016 to continue working from home, and moved to Northampton and St Giles in 2017. Graham became General Secretary of Increase in 2021, and in October 2026 ended his term in this role and became Partnerships Co-ordinator. Nicola was on the staff team here at St.Giles as a part-time Associate Vicar, and continues to help with ministry on a voluntary basis. She has a particular interest in leading small groups and training small-group leaders, and is involved in editing and revising course materials. Currently she is a facilitator of Journey Deeper, a retreat-based course for cross-cultural workers.
Gill and Peter - YWAM (Thailand)
Gill and Peter served with YWAM initially in Hawaii, then in Malaysia for 6 years where they pioneered work in counselling, prayer ministry, and training others in this work. They ran YWAM ‘Foundations for Counselling Ministry’ course - an intensive full-time 12-week course, followed by a field assignment, seeking in particular to enable the trainees to minister God’s healing love and power to others.
In 2013, they relocated to Chiang Mai in Thailand. Peter has used his business skills to manage the finances of several Christian Agencies based in Chiang Mai and currently is with SIL an international organisation involved in Bible Translation. Gill is a trainer, counsellor, and leader with Living Wholeness Asia which seeks to resource and equip people from a variety of countries to minister Bible-based counselling to their own people; this has included writing a training curriculum on trauma counselling.
Vera - St Petersburg
We have been supporting Vera for over 20 years, being moved and inspired by her story and ministry. Until the last few years, as circumstances would allow she would visit us, speak in services, and visit house groups.
Vera lives in a city for most of the year and oversees a centre where people can come together for fellowship. Much of her time is also taken up with her pastoral ministry - drawing alongside people, hearing their concerns and worries, and praying with them.
In the summer months, Vera runs residential camps for families and young adults from the city at a base in the countryside. Where possible, she and team members visit some of the villagers here as many live in poverty and have social problems including alcoholism.
Richard and Frances - Hungary
In 2018, in response to a call from God, Richard and Frances moved to live in Hungary and seek mission opportunities there. They have grappled with learning a difficult language, bought a house, made friends, and are supporting the work of 2 different churches. They now offer a prayer ministry in their local church, which has been well received. Richard has been using his ability as a teacher of English as a second language, including teaching a group of businessmen, and at a summer camp for young people.
Lent Projects
Each year, during Lent, we aim to raise money for a need arising out of mission overseas. Many such projects have been connected to one of our mission partners and have included cycles, vehicles, buildings, and equipment. The money raised is never for personal support or for mission sending agencies, but always for a tangible practical need. Some projects have supported Christians living in difficult circumstances due to persecution.
The church has been giving faithfully in this way since 1979, with over £180k donated to projects including Bible Society, Scripture Union, and Church Mission Society, among others.
2025 - Tuum town, Chad, with Africa Inland Mission. A new church building.