Action Teams return

“We went to a healing service in Kathmandu. There were 5,000 people there seeking God. The church in Nepal is a church full of hope.” Lisa on the São Paulo 2 Action Team spoke of Victor, pictured, aged only seven, who went to the PEPE where they served. “Whilst other children sought to bring alcohol into PEPE, because of their addiction at such an early age, Victor was different. He wanted to be pastor. When we asked him why, he said it was because he loved to pray.” Both Brazil Action Teams spoke of prayer being at the centre of life, and spoke of the incredible challenge to live out their faith fully when before a football match the teams would first pray.

Prayer is at the centre of mission, and mission is happening in the toughest of places. The Ecuador Action Team, serving in Guayaquil, spoke of Jacqui aged 14. Rachel said “It was a privilege to pray alongside Jacqui who we’d got to know well when Jacqui’s cousin was shot dead in a gang war. It was at this time that Jacqui told us that she had decided to give her life to Christ though she’d been afraid to tell many of those around her.”

The Kolkata team spoke of the incredible work that takes place in Freeset, BMS partners in Kolkata. Freeset are in the business of rescuing prostitutes in Kolkata from the sex trade, and giving them a living, making bags. It’s Freeset who have produced the jute bags that will be given to delegates at this year’s Baptist Assembly. Eli and Thom from the Action Team spoke of how Freeset now employs 180, up from 20 in 2001. They spoke of Freeset being “A fantastic place.  A place of prayer in a huge spiritual battleground”.