USPG and MATABELELAND
This month our Parish is supporting USPG (The United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) and the Diocese of Matabeleland in Zimbabwe.
Formed in 1965, when The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (founded in 1701) and the Universities Mission to Central Africa (founded 1858) joined forces, USPG now has "Five Marks of Mission" which are:
- To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- To respond to human need by living service
- To seek to transform the unjust structures of society
- To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and renew the life of the earth.
A year ago, I wrote about how the Kingston Area, of which we are a part, was seeking the best way to help Matabeleland Diocese, our link diocese. Their inflation was running at 200%, now it is 600%, which means that prices double every two months. It does not require much imagination to realise how difficult day-to-day life must be.
Clergy stipends are very poor, and clergy often have problems raising money to pay their children's school fees. The Anglican run Cyrene school, however, is faring better than most, thanks to income generated by a farming enterprise that the school set up with assistance from USPG, among others. I think that you and I may be counted "among others" because it was Kingston Area's intention to get a 200 hectare farm up and running, although I did not know last year where it was.
Everyone, apart from the rich, is struggling to cope financially, including the Anglican Church which has little money to pay their clergy. One missionary, who spent 36 years in Zimbabwe, ended up with a pension capable of buying no more than two loaves of bread a month. The funds that USPG sends to Zimbabwe are invaluable in enabling the church to carry on. By giving to USPG, we can be part of that support network. By giving to the Matabeleland Diocese through our Kingston Link we can show people in Zimbabwe that we know about them and care about them.
The Bishop of Kingston, the Right Reverend Richard Cheetham and Bill Warren, chair, Kingston - Matabeleland Link, visited Zimbabwe in the summer to strengthen the link between the church in South West London (you and me) and the church in Matableland. Bill writes, "Christians are still in good heart inspite of the mounting problems. A recent statement from the dioceses said, 'we are living in the fastest declining economy in the world, yet God continues to bless us!'. Their Faith continues to be an inspiration."
May we be inspired to give and to pray.
Valerie Baxter
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