In this episode of Mission Matters, Chris Thompson (Director of Tearfund NI) sits down with Safa Hijazeen, Tearfund’s Regional Director for the Middle East. Recorded at the Church of Ireland General Synod, this conversation moves beyond the headlines to explore the reality of life in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.

Safa shares moving stories of local churches acting as sanctuaries for the displaced and explains the “Triple Nexus” approach—how humanitarian aid, long–term development, and peace–building must work hand–in–hand to break the cycle of poverty. Tune in to hear how faith is being lived out in some of the world’s most fragile contexts and how a Bishops’ Appeal gift is sustaining medical care for thousands.

For more information, or to donate directly to Tearfund’s work in the Middle East visit tearfund.org/middleeast

If you would like to find out more about the Bishops’ Appeal then visit: bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org

Mission Matters Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/missionmatters/episodes/6a071df8d98ee73f6325dac9

Download the episode directly here. 

With thanks to Jonny Sanlon for audio production.

In the latest episode of Mission Matters, we hear from Rev. Frank Bernardi, rector of St George’s Anglican Church in Tunis, who has witnessed extraordinary growth in the Church in Tunisia over the past 25 years.

From just a handful of believers in the 1990s to a vibrant and growing indigenous church today — this is a story of prayer, courage, restored families, and Gospel hope in North Africa.

“You can see Jesus in every member of this church. They are like a family to me.”

Be inspired. Be challenged. Let’s mission together.

If you would like to know more about Rev Frank Bernardi or St George’s Anglican Church in Tunis visit the church website www.stgeorgetunis.com/en

If you would like to lean more about Sat7 who our host Alan Cousins works with please visit

www.sat7uk.org

With thanks to Jonny Sanlon for audio production.

CMS Ireland have appointed Linda Abwa as their new Mission Director, following a rigorous recruitment process.

Linda has been a Partnership Co–ordinator with CMS Ireland for 11 years, focussed on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, and South Sudan. She joined CMS Ireland after a period of mission partner service in Nigeria with Mission Africa.

CMS Ireland are delighted that Linda has taken up the role as of Monday (16th February). She is married to the Revd Billy Abwa who was recently ordained and installed as the minister of Dunmurry Presbyterian Church. They have two children.

Part of the global CMS family, CMSI’s own story started in 1814, with the formation of the Hibernian Church Missionary Society. Since then, CMSI has developed a unique way of working across the global Church, forming strong missional bonds between parishes in Ireland and across the Church in Africa and Asia. The society facilitates churches wherever they are, to serve their local communities and support each other to express God’s love in the places where they live and worship.

The Chair of the Church of Ireland’s Council for Mission, the Revd Tim Wright, writes: “The Council for Mission are delighted to welcome Linda Abwa to her new role as Mission Director for CMS Ireland. Linda will build on the great work of her predecessor, Jenny Smyth in supporting churches as they engage in mission throughout this island and the wider world. Her passion and experience of the Church overseas as well as her love for the Church in Ireland mean that CMSI can confidently look to the future. I look forward to serving alongside her on the Council and the Association of Mission Societies as we seek to make known the God of mission.”

David Reynolds, CMSI’s Chair of Trustees, adds: “The Trustees look forward to working with Linda as she brings her expertise and enthusiasm to her new role. We are particularly grateful to Jenny Smyth, as she retires, for her contribution in making the transition as seamless as possible.”

Enquiries for the Press Office can be made through the contact details below or through the online contact form at the following link: www.churchofireland.org/contact

Church of Ireland Press Office

Tel: (028/048) 9082 8880
Duty mobile: +353 87 9484412

Mr Bernardi, the Rector of St George’s Church, Tunis, is visiting Ireland as the guest of the Council for Mission.  With growing congregations of English and Arabic speakers, St George’s forms part of the Anglican Province of Alexandria which takes in most of North Africa.  The Council is grateful to Mr Alan Cousins, from the broadcasting agency SAT–7, for his extensive work in organising the schedule for what has been a very encouraging time.

His first talk at the morning event took listeners through Scripture’s promises of personal blessing so that believers – from Abraham onwards – will bless others, as part of the covenant between God and his people.  He drew attention to biblical terms that can help the Church to better understand its mission today:

• ethnae – the Greek word for people groups with a distinct ethnicity and language (ethno–linguistic groups)
• goyem – the root word in Hebrew for Gentile which refers to all people ‘who are not’ similar to the person speaking or writing the word

It is significant that some of those listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus came from non–Israelite backgrounds and that the first people to encounter Jesus and his family in Matthew’s Gospel were outsiders – the shepherds and the Magi.

“The plan of redemption is not just to save the world from its sins,” he noted, “but it’s to bring redemption to every nation, every ethnic group, every family on Earth.”

In his second talk, he recalled the history of St George’s as a church planted by Anglicans in colonial times which is now becoming a “truly indigenous and authentic” church of North African for North Africans.

The early Church in North Africa persevered amid persecution, which recurred in phases in Roman times, and its leadership in Carthage included Tertullian and Cyprian.  It was known for taking a stand against believers who renounced their faith under persecution (known as lapsi), a willingness for martyrdom, and generous care for the poor and the sick.  However, after Christianity became tolerated in the Edict of Milan (310AD), the Church declined amid theological and cultural divisions – well before the region was mainly converted to Islam.

Tunisia benefits from greater religious freedom than surrounding countries and has been known as a trend–setter within the region from the times of the Phoenicians onwards.  Mr Bernardi commented: “For 1,500 years, the blessing of Carthage was dormant but God is starting to return that blessing.”

Tomorrow, a Middle East Prayer Walk will be displayed in St Mary and St John’s Cathedral, in Sligo, and Mr Bernardi will speak at the Cathedral’s morning service at the invitation of Bishop Ferran Glenfield.

Please read on to find out about an opportunity for everyone with an interest in mission and how we can learn about growth and reaching the nations from this encouraging narrative in North Africa.

Tunisia in your living room
Join us for a special online event on Tuesday evening

Readers who have not had the opportunity to attend in–person events with Frank organised by the Council for Mission and our dioceses are welcome to journey with us to North Africa and to enjoy the remarkable story of the Church today and to be surprised by God.

When? Tuesday, 17th February 2026, at 7.30pm

Please click on this Zoom link and enjoy, as we listen and pray together. 

Instructions for joining are available at this link.

If you have any questions, please contact the organiser – Alan Cousins (SAT–7) – by email at acousins@sat7uk.org

In the latest Mission Matters podcast from the Church of Ireland’s Council for Mission podcast, we welcome Dr Julie McKinley (from the Bible Society Ireland) and Dr Rhiannon McAleer (from the British and Foreign Bible Society, covering England and Wales) to unpack the ground–breaking findings of The Quiet Revival report.

Julie and Rhiannon discuss the surprising surge in church attendance and spiritual hunger among young adults, particularly young men, in England and Wales, which is grassroots, authentic, and driven by a search for meaning.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Gen Z is today’s most spiritually engaged generation
• The dramatic increase in church attendance and ethnic diversity in congregations
• The link between faith, well–being and community connection
• What this Quiet Revival means for the future of the Church

If you would like to know more about

The Quiet Revival and how its findings might relate to Ireland, please email info@nbsi.ie or visit www.biblesocietyireland.ie

For a free download of The Quiet Revival report, visit www.biblesociety.org.uk

With thanks to Jonny Sanlon for audio production.

“What happens when people have to move home in a hurry?” Bishop Hassan Osman, who is Assistant Bishop of Kadugli and Nuba Mountains in the Episcopal Church of Sudan, answers this and many other questions about the often–forgotten conflict in his region of the country in this Mission Matters podcast.

The Nuba Mountain region is a land that is rich in mineral resources and diversity of people groups. Since the early 1980s, this area has been volatile – air bombardments and land offensives continue as the Sudanese Government tries to control the region. It is here that Bishop Hassan chooses to stay.

His ministry, shared in this 12–minute interview, is characterised by being present with the people of the Nuba Mountains, working towards peace as he tries to mitigate the impact of conflict on the communities he serves.

If you wish to support this vital ministry in Sudan, please get in touch with CMS Ireland on 028 9077 5020 from Northern Ireland or 048 9077 5020 from the Republic of Ireland, or email info@cmsireland.org

With thanks to Jonny Sanlon for audio production.

The Council for Mission reports to the General Synod and has the following objectives:

• stimulate within the Church of Ireland a sense of the priority and urgency of mission
• advocate the equality and complementary nature of mission at home and throughout the world
• maintain close relationships with other bodies concerned with mission and in particular with Diocesan Boards of Mission, the Association of Mission Societies, and mission and overseas development agencies
• promote effective models of mission and evangelism
• encourage programmes of renewal
• initiate and encourage enterprises which will further the mission of the Church
• allocate funds from St Patrick’s Memorial Fund and other funds at its disposal
• foster interest in members of the Church of Ireland serving in other parts of the world
• facilitate mission interchange visits to and from Ireland
• encourage reflection on the theology of mission

The Council reports annually to the Church of Ireland’s General Synod.

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 ]]> https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13227/proclaiming-the-gospel-through-suffering https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13142/living-faith-thriving-church-views Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:38:00 +0000

The Church of Ireland’s Council for Mission is pleased to announce a visit from the Revd Frank Bernardi, Rector of St George’s Anglican Church in Tunis, between Saturday, 7th February, and Monday, 23rd February.  Frank – an Associate Mission Partner of the Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) and SAT–7 – shepherds both an English–speaking expatriate community and a local Arab–speaking congregation, mostly from a Muslim background.

His ministry is driven by a twin passion to foster contextualised and culturally authentic expressions of worship, and to develop indigenous leaders.  A profile of its work is found here on the church’s website: www.stgeorgetunis.com/en

The Revd Canon Tim Wright, Chair of the Council of Mission, remarks: “Frank’s visit is a wonderful an opportunity for the Church of Ireland to learn about Christian life and witness today in a country that has deep Christian roots but where today the Christian community is small. We look forward to learning about life in Tunis and are grateful to Frank for making time to visit us.”

Before moving overseas, Frank served in urban ministry and church planting in the inner city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He and his wife, Anne, are married with four children and have committed their lives to sharing the Gospel in North Africa.  Anne leads an economic empowerment initiative, addressing one of the region’s most pressing needs – access to employment and job training.

This is the latest part of a Council for Mission scheme to foster global church relationships across the Anglican Communion, which helps to advocate the equality and complementary nature of mission at home and throughout the world.  Many members of the Church will remember the visit by the Revd Arsène Mafurebe, from the Church of Burundi, in 2024, which commenced this initiative.

Frank will be available for visits to parishes and cathedrals, and speaking opportunities, in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.  His favourite areas of interest (as well as topics on which to teach) are:

• The history of the Christian Church in Ancient Carthage
• God’s heart for the nations throughout all of Scripture
• The ministry of healing for reaching the nations
• The ministry of inner healing for effective discipleship
• Biblical leadership and developing leaders as a strategy for multiplying churches

If you wish to invite Frank to an event in your local setting, please get in touch with Linda Abwa at lindaabwa@cmsireland.org or by phone on (028/048) 9077 5020.

 

]]> https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13142/living-faith-thriving-church-views https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13085/bishop-from-south-sudan-on Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:19:00 +0000 Bishop Wilson Kamani from Ibba Diocese in South Sudan has a real vision for peace–building, which he shares in the latest Mission Matters podcast from the Church of Ireland Council for Mission.

Over the past 10 years, Bishop Wilson has worked to bring community representatives and politicians together in Ibba for one week each January to engage in peace and reconciliation discussions and activities, culminating in a strategy and commitments from every sector of society. This all runs alongside a peace football tournament.

A summary of CMS Ireland’s work with Ibba Diocese can be found at www.cmsireland.org/ibba

If you wish to support this vital ministry of peace–building in Ibba Diocese, please get in touch with CMS Ireland on 028 9077 5020 from Northern Ireland or 048 9077 5020 from the Republic of Ireland, or email info@cmsireland.org

With thanks to Jonny Sanlon for audio production.

The Council for Mission reports to the General Synod and has the following objectives:

• stimulate within the Church of Ireland a sense of the priority and urgency of mission
• advocate the equality and complementary nature of mission at home and throughout the world
• maintain close relationships with other bodies concerned with mission and in particular with Diocesan Boards of Mission, the Association of Mission Societies, and mission and overseas development agencies
• promote effective models of mission and evangelism
• encourage programmes of renewal
• initiate and encourage enterprises which will further the mission of the Church
• allocate funds from St Patrick’s Memorial Fund and other funds at its disposal
• foster interest in members of the Church of Ireland serving in other parts of the world
• facilitate mission interchange visits to and from Ireland
• encourage reflection on the theology of mission

The Council reports annually to the Church of Ireland’s General Synod.

 

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]]> https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13085/bishop-from-south-sudan-on https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13039/cmsi-mission-director-jenny-smyth Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Delegates at the annual Ignite Conference for Church Mission Society Ireland (CMSI) supporters, which took place in Dromantine Retreat and Conference centre near Newry on Saturday 13th September, were among the first to hear the news that the Society’s Mission Director Jenny Smyth plans to retire from the role in the coming months. 

In her remarks Jenny spoke of her history with the Society, having served for 11 years as Mission Director, 2 years as a Partnership co–ordinator and 20 years as a Mission Partner alongside her husband, Billy. Jenny said, “I now feel that someone with fresh energy, complementary skills and new vision would benefit the Society. We’re really blessed with a very supportive Board of Trustees and a strong, stable staff team…and I am sure that they are well able to ensure continuity for the Society and keep things on track during the change of leadership.” 

Jenny concluded with words of gratitude: “I would like to thank you all and our global partners for the ongoing prayerful support that you’ve given and the practical ways in which you support the Society. Please do pray that God will direct and guide the process of recruitment and for the person that God has already appointed for this role.” 

CMSI Chair of Trustees David Reynolds led the gathering of over 120 CMSI members and friends in a time of prayer following the announcement which resulted in an outpouring of affection for Jenny demonstrated by a standing ovation and through many valedictory words offered across the day. 

It is hoped that a new Mission Director will be in post in time for the Society’s Annual General Meeting in March 2026. In due course, there are plans for an event to celebrate Jenny’s ministry in CMSI as well as online prayer meetings which will focus on the process of recruiting a new Mission Director. 

The Chair of the Church of Ireland’s Council for Mission, the Revd Tim Wright, remarked: “On behalf of the Council of Mission I want to thank Jenny for her outstanding service to the Church through the Church Mission Society Ireland. She has been a passionate advocate for a global engagement with a local church whether serving overseas or at home. 

“She has successfully led a popular and well supported Society and interacted with other like–minded organisations on the Association of Mission Societies and the Council for Mission. We will miss her enthusiasm, leadership and godly wisdom. We wish Jenny and Billy God’s blessing as they leave this sphere of ministry and seek to serve him in new pastures.”

]]> https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/13039/cmsi-mission-director-jenny-smyth https://www.ireland.anglican.org/news/12994/summer-madness-special Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:30:00 +0000 Luke Hawkins – our Youth Ministry Development Officer for the Southern Region – chats to some of the young people that attended Summer Madness in July and asks them some questions about their experience, and what it is that makes them want to go back each year. He also chats with a few of the leaders that have been involved for many years and just keep serving.  Oh, and there is a talk from Dan Blythe which you will enjoy!

This is the latest in the Council for Mission’s Mission Matters podcast series.  Keep following us for more positive stories about how God is moving and working in the lives of people in Ireland today.

The Council for Mission reports to the General Synod and has the following objectives:

• stimulate within the Church of Ireland a sense of the priority and urgency of mission
• advocate the equality and complementary nature of mission at home and throughout the world
• maintain close relationships with other bodies concerned with mission and in particular with Diocesan Boards of Mission, the Association of Mission Societies, and mission and overseas development agencies
• promote effective models of mission and evangelism
• encourage programmes of renewal
• initiate and encourage enterprises which will further the mission of the Church
• allocate funds from St Patrick’s Memorial Fund and other funds at its disposal
• foster interest in members of the Church of Ireland serving in other parts of the world
• facilitate mission interchange visits to and from Ireland
• encourage reflection on the theology of mission

The Council reports annually to the Church of Ireland’s General Synod.

 

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