Ronnie Briggs Commissioned as CMSI Mission Director
St Paul's Parish Church, Lisburn hosted the Commissioning of Ronnie Briggs as CMS Ireland's Mission Director on Tuesday 7th December.
Despite the snow and -8C conditions outside, a warm and cosy group of members, supporters, local clergy and family joined together for a significant evening as they looked to the future of CMS Ireland.
The Most Revd Alan Harper and the Rt Revd Jeremiah Taama, Bishop of Kajiado Diocese, Kenya, assisted the Revd James Carson in bringing the CMSI supporters together for a special time of worship, prayer and an Act of Commissioning where 'partnership’ was a major theme throughout the evening.
Archbishop Harper called Christians all over Ireland to work together in mission. 'We’re in it together!' he said, and commented that 'mission agencies were a vital part of the Church', acting as a reminder to be involved in mission, showing the best practice methods and offering support to mission efforts.
Bishop Taama challenged the congregation on their understanding of mission, saying, 'Sometimes our view is narrow. Mission is more than money, mission is more than the CMS Ireland offices, mission is more than Mission Partners – it is about sharing, coming together – in partnership.'
Ronnie Briggs addressed the congregation of familiar faces as the new Mission Director for the first time and urged them to stand with the Society through this next chapter. He called them to ‘own’ the society and feel that they have a part to play in mission.