’Follow one Church this Christmas’ says Bishop Harold
Bishop Harold Miller has invited Church of Ireland churches to follow one church in the developing world this Christmas and see how it’s transforming its local community. The invitation came at a reception for Church of Ireland Clergy at the See House, hosted by Bishop Harold in his role as Tearfund Vice President.
One of the churches which people in Northern Ireland can follow is Shivnagar in Nepal which is featured in Tearfund’s Christmas resource, First Christmas. This Christmas, the church in Shivnagar is hosting an incredible 900 people for Christmas lunch, many of them former slaves whose lives have been transformed by the prayer and practical support of local Christians.
‘A gift of £240 through our new ‘See for Yourself’ or ‘Connected Church’ programmes can help churches like Shivnagar to lift an incredible 200 people out of poverty’ says Tim Magowan, Northern Ireland Director. ‘We hope that the regular feedback which we can now provide will help us see how God is working globally, whilst challenging us to think through how we are being called to live out the Kingdom locally.’
First Christmas includes a three–minute festive film, an easy to perform Nativity play script, a PowerPoint presentation, children’s craft activity and an eye–catching editable poster.
Through Tearfund’s Connected Church programme, Northern Irish Churches can financially and prayerfully support the Christian partner in Nepal which is enabling the Shivnagar church to reach out. Alternatively, individuals can directly follow the church by praying and giving to Tearfund’s See for Yourself programme. Both programmes provide regular updates to help supporters keep up to date with developments and pray specifically.
Bishop Harold is pictured above with Deepak Mahtani, a Tearfund Board member.