February Partner Update

We believe that prayer has the power to bring about change, and as we continue the work of George Müller, we are continually reminded that 'God is faithful still and hears prayers still.' Thank you so much for your continued prayer support for us and our partners. By praying through the Partner Update, you are actively supporting the work of those sharing the Gospel and caring for the vulnerable around the world.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

1st-3rd February: Müllers Bristol, UK

  • Müllers seeks to honour God, following in the footsteps of George Müller, by strengthening the Church to meet the needs of the vulnerable. We do this by freeing children from poverty, focusing people on Jesus, and fuelling leaders for mission and evangelism.

  • In January, our Scripture, Theology and Culture Course students started the new term where they’ll be looking at the Doctrine, the Incarnation, Paul’s life and his letters to the Galatians and Romans. Last month we hosted a Y&C Retreat where over 20 youth and children’s workers gathered for a day to pause, reflect, and spend time with God. Our museum team had a busy month preparing for and carrying out a Collections Care Week. During this week our Heritage Lead alongside a team of volunteers went through our wonderful and extensive collection of heritage items from the beginning of the orphan homes. We are so excited to share some of the exciting items they found!

    • Our team as they plan and prepare for the third annual Y&C Conference taking place on Saturday 22nd March.

    • The first Y&C Prayer Gathering on Wednesday 26th February where individuals from across the Bristol region will be gathering to pray for under 18s.

4th-5th January: Shared Hope, International

  • Shared Hope is committed to fulfilling the command to “love your neighbour as yourself” through three key approaches: expressing mercy, promoting justice, and upholding dignity. The organisation works to meet the social, medical, educational and economic needs of underserved communities, while advocating for social and economic justice. Each initiative also shares the message of Jesus Christ, often in partnership with local Christian churches.

  • This year, Shared Hope’s projects in Congo are going through a big transition due to the resident missionary, Rachel retiring in April after serving there for the past 40 years. Rachel has been a huge blessing to Shared Hope especially with her knowledge and experience in looking after the accounting and finances for the six projects in Congo. Another member of the Shared Hope team Tshinyama is also looking to retire after faithfully serving as project leader for the deaf schools in Congo for the last 40 years.

    • Rachel as she prepares for retirement in April.

    • The projects and team members in Congo during the transition process.

    • Tshinyama as he looks to his future retirement

6th-7th January: Oli and Jo Davis, Spain

  • Oli and Jo live in Granada, Spain where they lead local student mission, and work to establish Fusion across the country. Fusion believes every student should have the opportunity to find hope in Jesus and a home in a local church during their time at university.

  • In 2024 the Oli and Jo saw breakthrough in their local church, getting to baptise two students and mobilise others in sharing faith. The Lord has opened work with new churches in Madrid and Barcelona for those who have been part of the online learning communities. This year they’ll be hosting a Fusion retreat where students and student workers will gather to explore what God wants for the student generation in Spain.

    • The Fusion Retreat Weekend in February.

    • The first student alpha hosted through the local church which will begin in February. Specifically for the right venue and for it to be a space that God uses for people to come

8th-10th February: Ruben Zaroussian, UK

  • As a Christian missionary and a Sports pastor in the East Midlands, Ruben uses Biblical preaching to proclaim the Christian gospel message, including utilising sport based coaching activity as a means of relational engagement within and outside the Church.

  • Recently Ruben has been able to travel to Malaga, where he had the opportunity to preach in churches and carry out football coaching with young people. Ruben was also able to visit several towns, cities, and villages in Switzerland where he visited friends, evangelised and had opportunities to evangelise at meetings in a coffee shop.

    • The football coaches Ruben joined in Malaga, that they would come to know the Lord and would find a church they can settle in within the city.

    • More opportunities for Ruben to share the Gospel this year.

11th- 14th January: Josh and Nina Cleaver, UK

  • Nina works to provide free mental health support in their community as well as serving with the East to West Hospital Project, offering crisis support to children and teens in A&E. Josh works in church ministry and has recently completed ordination.

  • Josh continues his church ministry, and following training and curacy will begin his first stipendiary role as the vicar of Burnham. Nina is continuing her full-time ministry in mental healthcare, supporting children attending A&E in crisis. Nina has recently joined a national Church of England advisory group to contribute a professional mental health perspective to policy-making discussions within the Church.

    • Josh, Nina, and their family as they make their next move and adjust to their new home.

    • Josh as he begins his new role.

    • Nina, that the Lord would provide someone who can help create a website as she expands her therapy provision.

15th-17th January: The Hiding Place, Albania

  • The Hiding Place is a children’s home in Albania. It was set up with the aim to give a home to babies, who otherwise would have been aborted by their desperate mothers, and children whose parents can not provide for them.

  • Almost a year ago one of the boys, Ramadan, finished standard education and therefore came to the end of his time at the home. He left to a new Christian centre for 16–18-year-olds in the capital and attends high school and church there, where he was recently baptised. Adela’s reintegration to her biological family is slowly making progress and is nearing the point where she can live with them. This is a huge answer to prayer given that initially her mother was unable to take her home.

    • Each of the children’s growth in knowing Christ in their hearts.

    • Provision for The Hiding Place’s future needs, specifically including repairs and furniture at the children’s home.

18th-20th February: TCF Mercy, Mozambique

  • TCF Mercy support the indigenous Mozambican ACPO program, a Church-Family-Based-Orphan-Care program based in Dondo, Mozambique. The focus of the program is to care for orphans, vulnerable children and elderly widows.

  • Macani came to the ACPO children’s community in 2017 along with his two older sisters after they were no longer able to live with their father. During his time at the ACPO children’s community he has become actively involved in helping with the overall mission, particularly with leading the children’s choir and teaching Bible stories at the local church.

    • Peace in Mozambique which has seen lots of unrest and violence due to presidential elections.

    • The funds needed for the TCF Mercy mission and for the orphans under their care.

21st-22nd February: Jubilee Society, Mongolia

  • Jubilee Society reach out to the poorest of the poor and help improve their health, education and food security. They also assist individuals in obtaining a regular income for their families.

  • Jubilee Society are currently supporting more than 30 children in homework clubs where they’re also given a warm meal. Over the past year they have seen the children grow in confidence and develop in their studies. Jubilee Society have seen growth within their work with widows. One lady they support comes weekly to their seniors’ fellowship and says that she waits for Wednesdays to come to be able to talk and have fellowship with others. Over the last year, Jubilee Society have seen a reduction in their finances meaning they may have to close several of their projects and groups.

    • Banjuu and the Jubilee Society leadership team as they plan and restructure the organisation due to a lack of finances.

    • The Lord to provide the funding needed for the work of the organisation to continue. Particularly for staff salaries and maintenance and utility costs.

23rd-25th February: Five Talents, International

  • Five Talents provides savings schemes, business training and literacy & numeracy training to communities in East Africa, Bolivia and Myanmar. It uses microfinance that relies on community partners, enterprising members, and innovative use of technology.

  • In 2024 Five Talents were able to serve more community savings group members. Here is a story from one member, Taraja from Kenya which is illustrative of their work.

    Taraja is 40 years old, with four children, and has a strong desire to change her family’s living standards. Her kiosk served as a beacon of hope for her family, providing enough to meet their basic needs, but Taraja wanted more for her family. Her eldest child completed high school and hoped to further her education at college. Taraja was keen to support her but needed a larger income. Taraja joined her local Savings Group and took a loan through them enabling her daughter’s enrolment in college as well as investment in her kiosk, leading to increased profits.

    The Savings Group training sessions also helped her to develop invaluable business skills. Now, Taraja has the opportunity for sustained growth for her business and family and her daughter is continuing college education – another significant future investment.

    • New programmes and partnerships Five Talents hope to begin in 2025.

    • Wisdom, discernment, and financial resources to be unlocked in the UK.

    • The staff teams and supporters in the UK, and for the partners and teams in the beneficiary communities.

26th-28th February: Africas Children of Purpose

  • ACP is an international humanitarian and development organisation. It aims to bring opportunity and hope to some of the most abused children in Africa, offering a hand-up, rather than a hand-out, to Africans caring for orphans through orphanages and home-based care.

  • Many of the children ACP support at the Christian Outreach for Community Empowerment and Development (COCED) project in Kenya live in communities with high rates of alcoholism and few opportunities for education. This creates difficulties for students to have job opportunities post-secondary school where they have received no practical trade skills as part of the curriculum. ACP are looking at ways they can support secondary school graduates and are currently supporting one student in her post-secondary education to become a Laboratory Science Technician.

    • All the students to continue the new school year dedicated to their studies.

    • Wisdom for the use of the COCED plot of land that ACP UK have funded.

    • The children supported by ACP to come to know the Lord.

    • Those who have graduated secondary school to find employment or for there to be open doors to receive advanced training.

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