Fancy a new challenge? A trip abroad?

There are two challenge opportunities for you

How about three weeks hands on experience as a steward at the World Council of Churches’ meeting in Korea. 150 young people from round the world are to be recruited. Travel costs will need to be met, but all other expenses are covered. Closing date for applications is 7th February 2013.

or fancy something more challenging?

How about joining CMS on a sponsored trek to Machu Picchu in our link diocese of Peru? 27 April – 9 May 2013 Journey along the world-famous Andean mountain trails to see astounding views over Machu Picchu, while raising much-needed money for mission.

This amazing trek will be led by professional tour company Discover Adventure, who will provide full training advice.

Plus, travel to Lima to meet our Mission Partners Paul and Sarah Tester as well as the disabled children being invited into life in all its fullness, and the children of a play project in a deprived area of the city.

Paul and Sarah say: "We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Diocese of Peru and having the chance to show you the many ways CMS is involved in God’s mission here. You will get the chance to visit parishes and missions, meet Peruvian Christians and see some of the projects through which the diocese serves others and shares the gospel through word and deed."

Hope Academies

I hope some of you may have heard about the Hope Revolution initiative to get churches of all denominations together to form Mission Academies for young people.

You can read more about it all here and a pdf booklet of information is downloadable here

In Worcestershire and Dudley, we’d like to gather together youth workers and church leaders from all the churches and Christian organizations to work towards establishing some Mission Academies for the area. Currently there are pilot schemes in places like Leicester, York and Rugby.

We’d probably be aiming to work towards Mission Academies in our area as part of the main initiative in 2014.

To help inspire us, Roy Crowne, Executive Director of Hope since March 2010, has generously offered to come and speak to local leaders in Worcestershire and Dudley on Saturday 2nd February from 10am-2pm at St Peter’s Baptist Church in Worcester

Join our facebook event for the meeting here

Roy will talk to us about Mission Academies and then over lunch we will work out how we might get things started in our area. PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH as we’d like to make as much funding available for young people’s mission not spend it on lunch for us!

If you would like to be part of this day, please let me know by emailing me via wdyou(at)cofe-worcester.org.uk as this will help us get an idea of numbers.

If you know someone in another church or Christian organisation nearby who might also be interested in working together on this ecumenical youth project, please do put them in touch with me