Mission 

In the Bible we see how God cares for everyone, and our response as Christians is to reflect this care, and support others doing likewise. This is part of what we call mission, in this case responding to human need by loving service; and it takes many forms, starting with our neighbours and spanning the world. It is practical and spiritual, showing care for the whole person, and especially for the weak and vulnerable. It is core to our witness to God’s Kingdom, as proclaimed by Jesus Christ. We support, both financially and with our prayers, Christians working in key areas and in difficult circumstances overseas and in the UK.

The Bethesda Project (Burundi) 

The Bethesda Project in Muyinga Diocese in Burundi is sponsored by The Kepplewray Trust UK, a Christian-based charity. The team at the Project, which is supported by the Bishop of Muyinga and led enthusiastically by Meduc with Fiacre the physiotherapist, Divine and others, are training disabled and disadvantaged local people in physical and life-affirming skills. Through all they do, which includes the supply of wheelchairs, crutches and other equipment when possible, giving nutrition advice for malnourished cases, they are making a huge impact on the lives of many disabled young people. More information can be found here www.kepplewray.org.uk/bethesda-burundi 

Middle East Concern 

Our Church Mission Society mission partner works in partnership with Middle East Concern, using his legal skills to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East and North Africa. His work includes drafting reports for parliamentarian and UN officials, travelling to meet contacts who can help with relocating believers and approving grants to help with such relocations.

Great Lakes Outreach (Burundi) 

Great Lakes Outreach works with visionary local leaders to transform Burundi through education, sport, business, healthcare and more, bringing hope to thousands of the most vulnerable. The charity was founded by Simon Guillebaud who lived in Burundi at the time, and who is a relative of Phillipa and Rosalind Guillebaud, sisters who worshipped at St John’s for many years. Find out more here www.greatlakesoutreach.org  

World Wildlife Fund

In 2023 the Mission Committee agreed to donate funding to a new organisation.  They felt it right to support environmental causes as well as the needs of humans in our world, and therefore to combine its efforts with those of the Eco-Church group by choosing an eco-charity which would have a broad appeal to the congregation.  They decided on the WWF with the final decision about which featured species to support left to Children’s Church: they chose the snow leopard.  The support is for a fixed term of one year, after which a new charity will be chosen.

Mary's Meals 

Mary’s Meals is the charity nominated by the Toddle Along group as the recipient of their weekly donations. Mary’s Meals provides one meal a day to children in their place of education and currently feeds over two million children a day. There is more information here www.marysmeals.org.uk    



Fairtrade

St John's is a certificated Fairtrade Church where we use Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar in all our catering.  We have been supporting Fairtrade for over 40 years by selling a range of crafts and groceries from Traidcraft as people gather over coffee after the Sunday morning services.
Following the demise of Traidcraft early in 2023 we have been unable to continue this on a monthly basis, but have maintained a presence at church events by selling Fairtrade items obtained from other sources. Any profits are given to Transform Trade, the charity which campaigns for fairness in trade between small-time producers and high street chains.
St John's continues to support the Transform Trade www.transform-trade.org  through the annual Big Brew Coffee Morning.  

The Children's Society

Throughout the year, we work at filling collection boxes for The Children's Society www.childrenssociety.org.uk with cash and cheques, enabling this charity to provide help and support to children and young people in the UK.

Other charities supported include Christian Aid, Transform Trade and Queen Edith's Community Food Hub.

Giving in Lent

Each year we select one local and one national/international charity which, during Lent, we will support prayerfully and through our own personal donations. In 2023 we chose The Besom in Cambridge and UNICEF’s Horn of Africa Appeal, and in 2024 The Blue Smile Cambridge and Friends of the Holy Land.