As we begin a new year, our mission partners and projects which we support had a busy end to the year with much to give thanks for. With 2023 now under way they continue to face the challenge of cost of living increases and finding ways to support ministries and communities who are finding these extreme times hard.

Our mission partners and projects reach so many communities around the world and their impact and work also travels far and wide around the globe as mission teams visit them and bring news of their work back to churches, schools and other groups.

On Sunday 11 December 2022, we interviewed Devin Scobie who is part of the Balerno congregation and also the Chair of the UK Board of Starfish Asia.

Our mission partners and projects continue to live out their vision to bring hope and light to the different nations and communities that they serve in

Our mission partners and projects have been responding to a number of challenging situations around the world recently which we have been able to help respond to financially.

Our mission partners and projects continue to do amazing things locally and internationally despite some of the challenges they each face in the countries where they are based and are reaching out.

Challenge Ministries Swaziland were one of our Christmas Gift recipients earlier this year, with our gift of £13,660 going towards a Solar Powered Borehole for a community in need of clean water. After a positive survey and drilling, water was found at a place called Sigcaweni in Eswatini.

Over the summer we’ve received a few updates from the Mission Partners and Projects we support through the year. Please do read the newsletters from the various organisations as they continue to do remarkable work in difficult conditions and challenging environments:

Starfish Asia’s latest newsletter shares news of students who have gone on to further education which enables them to have a hope for the future and where schools are benefitting from financial support to be able to offer children a safe place to learn.

CMS have been celebrating a number of students across their ministries obtaining high pass marks in their recent school exams; a wedding; conferences; baptisms and training events. You can read more about these events in their most recent newsletter.

Starfish Asia were one of our Christmas Gift 2021 recipients and received £13,660 towards renovation work at Star Shine School. See how the funds have impacted the teachers and pupils and their gratitude for the generosity of St Mungo’s - watch here.

Starfish Asia’s latest Prayer Bulletin shares prayer requests for the political situation in Pakistan; recent UK Board Meeting and the massive undertaking of training 379 teachers from Starfish Schools through June.

Gavin & Heather featured this month on Reach Beyond’s PrayerZone Live all the way from Ecuador. If you are interested to hear what each of them are doing, this 15 minute interview is a great insight and can be watched on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQuQapB74cY.

It’s been a busy first quarter in Eswatini and many highlights to read in the latest newsletter from CMS, including giving thanks for answered prayer.

Starfish Asia have just recently received 50% of our Christmas Gift Collection. If you are unsure of what Starfish Asia do, why not read their March newsletter for more details on this amazing ministry of schools in Pakistan.

Gavin & Heather have arrived safely in Ecuador and have been busy in those first few weeks. Read all about what they’ve been up to and prayer points for the coming week via their first newsletter.

We loved the opportunity to pray for Comfort International in our recent evening service as we showcased one of our mission partners.

A thank you and some photo highlights from Challenge Ministries Swaziland, celebrating some of their celebrations through December.

Comfort International are so grateful for all the financial and prayer support over the last year and have sent St Mungo’s a letter of thanks here from Callum Henderson and a video thank you from the Comfort team.

In September we were able to give a further £5,000 to the Afghan Crisis appeal through OM's partner, Nicodemus Trust, who are supporting Afghan Refugees arriving into North India. The situation in Afghanistan remains critical, with millions on the edge of famine.