News
Global Fellowship Headlines 2008
The Arcot lutheran church, 30th Anniversary camp celebrations Sept '09
GF Chief Executive Officer Moving on
60 Seconds that Mattered in Global Fellowship in March
60 Seconds that Mattered in Global Fellowship in February
60 Seconds that Mattered in Global Fellowship in January
GF Executive Committee Meeting – Felden Lodge
Posted: Nov 2008
BGB Uganda National Camp 2009
BGB Uganda will be holding a National Camp in the North Western part of the country in Arua in the third week of August 2009 and invites representatives from member organisations to come and share with the fun and experiences.
Please contact the GF office for further information.
Posted: Oct 2008
Invitation from the Arcot lutheran church junior ministry India - 30th anniversary camp celebrations invitation – Sept 09
Greetings to you in His name from the Arcot Lutheran Church Junior Ministry India.
Praise be to God the Almighty! It is indeed a great joy and happiness that the ALC Junior Ministry – India has completed its service among the children and young people of diverse faiths in the past 30 years and is entering into its 31st year in 2009.
The ALC Junior Ministry has seen overwhelming success in its chosen field of endeavour. Children and young people have been nurtured in faith, good character, and religious knowledge. Remarkable leadership qualities have also been encouraged. These gifts have been quite apparent to many elders and officials of the church. In a nutshell, Junior Ministry has proved to be an important asset to the Arcot Lutheran Church for its operation in the realm of evangelism. It is simply a great and powerful organization for the rearing of children in the right kind of Christian nurture and atmosphere to last for their lifetimes.
The year 2009 will be the 30th ANNIVERSARY for the ALC Junior Ministry India and we plan these celebrations to be feted in a benefiting manner. One among the many highlights of this 30th anniversary season will be a camp with international participation.
We are immensely happy to invite you to the:
30th ANNIVERSARY CAMP, OF THE ALC JUNIOR MINISTRY – INDIA
Every fifth year a Camp with international participation is organized by us. This kind of global participation would not only stimulate us but also pave the way for establishing and maintaining a closer bond of relationship with our sister bodies abroad and other related organizations. We look forward once again to such an experience and excitement in SEPTEMBER of 2009. The overseas participants may stay over for an additional week should they so desire. Indeed, we are very happy in organizing other exposure visits in the ALC during your stay in our midst. There is a lot to see and experience with us!
This is only a preliminary invitation with general information just to let you know the plan and encourage you to think about joining us. However, more information and an exact date and time will be communicated soon and on a periodic basis.
We welcome you to have a camp experience in beautiful Tamil Nadu, India and share the joy and happiness of the 30th anniversary with us. Your early reply is very much solicited and we are looking forward to hearing from you.
For further details, please contact:
S. Vijayaruben, General Secretary
Junior Ministry – ALC Central Office
9 ALC Campus, Cuddalore – 607 001
Tamil Nadu, South India
Phone: + 91 4142 220353 | Fax: + 91 4142 230668
E-mail: followthestar@sancharnet.in
Posted: Jun 2008
GF Chief Executive Officer Moving on
After almost four years in post, Tim Pratt has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Development Consultant to GF. GF wishes to record its thanks to Tim for his hard work during his time with us.
Tim will cease working on 27 July 2008 and arrangements are already in hand to recruit his successor. We wish Tim and his family well in their future and hope to stay in touch with them.
Posted: Apr 2008
60 Seconds That Mattered to Global Fellowship in March
- Canada
Rita Burrows has been in the Arctic once again conducting training sessions to advance Brigade. During training in Cape Dorset the local minister and his wife excused themselves to go hunting. Rita reports “15 minutes from the settlement they stopped at the floe edge. There Peetooleesee (the minister) left his wife and skidoo and set off along the ice edge, Rebecca (his wife) was looking about when a polar bear came up onto the ice and still dripping water, started sniffing and shuffling side to side. He was very large. Rebecca called her husband and dodged down behind the skidoo, then she lifted her head a little to see more clearly and he was ambling in her direction. She lifted the rifle and shot the bear. It took five shots to drop him. He was 10 feet long so quickly they came back for help The bear was skinned and brought back and we lived with him for several days as he was cut up and cooked for a community feast,. His skin was scraped and cleaned time and again. He was really huge and took up a great deal of space. It was a lot of work for Rebecca. She is a very brave woman. This happened on International Women's Day.” - BB UK Gazette
It was encouraging to see the international focus in the April edition of the BB UK Gazette which is available to download Here. It contained a number of trans national items of interest beyond that of the regular GF slot which profiles one of our member organisations. It would be great to see “The Fellowship” and interest in our sister organisations built up in this way through all national organisations' magazines. All articles and picture contained in the GF Update magazines are available for this purpose and if members would like to receive periodic member profiles, these too are available on request. - Kenya
Mr. Stephen Lane who serves as one of our consultant/ mentors has been in Kenya recently and took the opportunity to meet with the BB whilst there. The long standing Secretary Mr. William Kithara, has decided to retire effective 30th April 2008 and will initially visit his family in the United States for six months. We wish you all the very best William! Do pray for BBK as they search for a successor. - SKS in Bangladesh
Has just hosted a Jamboree for their children. It was held from the 27th to 30th March at Christ's Church, Karpasdanga, Chuadanga. - BB Tanzania
Ernest Ndiege, the Secretary, has been in touch by email. He is recovering well and is now back at work after having been shot in the shoulder as a result of the robbery at his home. - Gambia
Following the visit of Mr. Bill Bates (GF consultant/ mentor with West Africa) to Gambia in January, BB leadership along with the Bishop there have expressed enthusiasm for training. GF hopes to provide this assistance through BB trainers in East Africa. - Junior Ministry India (ALC)
The Arcot Lutheran Church elections have concluded and Rev Gideon Devanesan has once again been re-elected as Bishop. This will no doubt assist in providing ongoing consolidation and stability for the church. As an early benefit, Junior Ministry officials have met this week to process the future of the organisation and consider how they might become self funding though the support of GF. - Swaziland
While development with their GF supported extension programme has been slower than they had hoped for, Swaziland report that progress is being made. The current goal is to establish another six companies, which will double their current capacity. - Company Exchange Programmes
Periodically I receive requests from companies desiring to twin with a counterpart in a different part of the world. If you are interested in this concept, please do let me know.
Do send in your organisations news or ideas for inclusion to admin@globalfellowshhip.net
Posted: Mar 2008
60 Seconds That Mattered to Global Fellowship in February
- Tanzania
I have recently learnt that Ernest Ndiege the BB Secretary in Tanzania had his house robbed and was shot in the shoulder. Please remember him and pray for a speedy recovery. - East Africa Regional Fellowship and Kenya
The EARF meeting has been postponed until the political conflict settles in Kenya. This is undoubtedly the worst crisis Kenya has suffered for many years. With the peace accord in place, it is hoped that the unrest will settle within the next couple of months however yet again there has been more unrest over the weekend. The Brigade Secretary, William Kithara, has expressed concern for the children who have no hope of understanding the cause of the conflict. Despite this he writes: "Trusting in God we will march forward and re-build again." - Nigeria
BB Nigeria is to hold its 100 year celebrations later this year through an international camp to be held from 31st August 2008. It will be held in Badagry Lagos. For more information please contact the Secretary, Mr. Arastus Mbamoh at arastusmbamoh@yahoo.com or try out their website http://www.bbnigeria.org/ - Zimbabwe
GF recently sent some funding to BB in Zimbabwe. The amount was 100 GBP, which was the equivalent of 1.15 billion Zimbabwean dollars. In the last two weeks inflation within the country has continued to soar so that 100 GBP is now worth over 1.35 billion Zimbabwean dollars. - Cameroon
BB Cameroon has purchased four motorcycles which they are renting out as a project to earn income for the organisation. The early indicators are that the income stream is positive. Rev Joseph Kindefu writes "Our prayer is that in the near future we should be able to have more motorcycles".
Steve Dickinson of the BB UK has recently visited the palm oil farm which has also been established to raise income for the organisation. He informs of healthy progress in this the early stage of the project. Cameroon now await the rainy season before planting can get underway.
Training of trainers took place from the 17th to the 21st December with 21 participants attending. These trainers will now take back to their regions what they have learnt and will hold workshops for BB officers. Topics addressed included "Farming, Bee Farming, Stewardship, How To Organize Bible Study, First Aid, Project Management, Fund Raising, Leadership, Drill, Communication/Evangelism, and Vegetable Crops". This sounds like an excellent programme! - Gambia
Mr Bill Bates who is one of our honorary mentor/consultants has recently visited BB in Gambia.
Whilst the organisation has had a strong history in the past, it has recently suffered a decline due to the strength of the Muslim population (93%). Currently there are two companies in existence, both led by Mr Sam Ojo who is paid by the Anglican Church as Director of Music and Youth. Both the Bishop of the Anglican Church and Moderator of the Methodist Church have expressed enthusiasm to see the ministry develop once again. With the enthusiasm of the church leaders assured, the greatest need now is for training of officers.
Do send in your organisations news or ideas for inclusion to admin@globalfellowshhip.net
Posted: Feb 2008
60 Seconds that Mattered in Global Fellowship in January
- It has been positive to receive an email of notification from BB South Africa stating that they intend to rejoin GF. Pray with me that the application follows.
- We continue to receive a number of enquiries from organisations seeking to join the Fellowship. Most are not appropriate and so we are left to inform them that they do not qualify for a variety of reasons. Most are solely seeking funding rather than to be part of the wider community of Christian Youth Organisations.
- Due to the political unrest in Kenya, the Secretary there, Mr William Kithara has advised that it is no longer safe for the East African Regional Fellowship meeting to be held in Nairobi in the middle of March. A new venue is yet to be advised.
- There has been some very positive progress in the Central and Southern African Region over the last 12 months. Pray with us as we consider how to best invest in the next stage of the development there.
- Training Projects in both Zimbabwe and Burundi have recently been funded.
- The Chairman of BGB Uganda, Mr Evatt Mugarura has expressed considerable enthusiasm that the GF ExCo has targeted his organisation as one we would like to explore self sufficiency with. GF consultant/mentors will meet with their Executive in March to further discuss the possibilities.
- An earth quake has struck Rwanda causing a number of fatalities. I have not heard from Mr David Nzungize, the BGB Secretary there to confirm all the Brigade people are all okay.
- The Church in Ireland has now forwarded £7000 which they collected last year through their BB International Fund. This was tagged for work in East Africa. This year’s collection will go to support the re establishment of BB in Malawi.
- We have recently applied to the Bergstrom Fund for assistance in support of the second year of a Vocational Skills School that is underway in Congo.
- Awareness and profile building has been extended through the release of a 12 month prayer calendar. It should arrive in the mail by the end of either this or next week. Should you like a copy but it is not forthcoming, please email admin@globalfellowship.net and we will get one mailed out.
- We have now completed the signing of fresh contracts for both the roles of Chief Executive and Development Consultant for the 2008 year. Mr Tim Pratt will hold both positions.
- Mr Fraser Runciman has offered to upgrade of the look and feel of the website during the coming year. www.globalfellowship.net watch this space.
Posted: Jan 2008
GF Executive Committee Meeting – Felden Lodge
The Global Fellowship Executive Committee (ExCo) recently met at the BB UK National Headquarters, Felden Lodge. This was our first full weekend meeting since the triennial GF Council meeting held in the UK earlier in the year.
The meeting was attended by the four elected trustees: Morten Skrubbeltrang (EF; FDF), Edward Smithson (EF; BB UK), Rev'd Canon Patrick Tugume (EARF; BGB Uganda) and Henry Curry II (WCRF, BB Bahamas). The Chief Executive Rev'd Tim Pratt and the Hon. Treasurer Matthew Smith were also present.
One key item of business was to adopt a new policy: Investing in Organisations. The aim of this policy is to support organisations from their conception through to complete independence through not only financially supporting projects but also through the provision of consultation and mentoring services. It is envisaged such services will be provided through the Chief Executive in partnership with key volunteers.
A second key item was to meet with Bill Bates (BB UK) who had undertaken a fact finding and pastoral visit to the West African RF. He found a strong organisation in BB Ghana which could potentially drive forward the small scale work in neighbouring Togo and Benin. Mr Bates will be returning to the region in the New Year when he will visit Gambia.
The meeting also approved funding applications for training in BB Burundi and BB Zimbabwe.
At our next meeting in May 2008 we will consider, amongst other things, how best to resource the ministry plan that was agreed by the Council in 2007 and the resultant polices.
