CMS says 'Thank you'
CMS celebrates the Anglican Book Room.
Two hundred and nine years ago the Church Missionary Society began with the vision of seeing lives around the world transformed by Christ. Twenty five years ago the Anglican Bookroom began in Hobart.
That's one eighth of CMS history that people here have been partnering in God's mission with CMS.
This reminds us of a passage from Romans 10:
'Whoever prays in the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can people pray to him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard his message? How can they hear if no-one tells the Good News? How can people tell the Good News if no-one sends them? How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News.' (God's Word)
Not everyone is able to go and tell the good news but everyone in Hobart can be a sender.
Senders are as much involved in mission as those who go. People cannot go unless there is a team of senders at home to support them. People in Hobart have been helping the beautiful feet of those who go.
Your partnering this way through your prayers and your gifts has enabled lives around the world to be transformed by Christ.
Lives like 'B' in Slovenia who had joined a Bible enquirers group. After reading John's Gospel through three times in a week he came to a CMS missionary to ask for prayer and help.
Or in DR Congo in an isolated area that has little access to power and running water, poor health and nutrition and where transport is by canoe, CMS missionary Sue is training adult students in children's ministry, encouraging a church to maturity.
It is with thanks to the Lord that CMS says thank you to all those who diligently not only made Christian literature available in Hobart but had the vision to partner in God's mission around the world.