News from the Mission Field

September 2023

Holy City

Contact Lynn Rogers for more information 843-442-1604

Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The College of Charleston

We welcome Will Kendrick as the youth ministry director at St. Michael’s. Will is also the director of FCA at The College of Charleston. He reports that the summer months were spent fundraising and bringing on a new hire Caitlin Watts who will work in fundraising and women’s ministry at FCA. They have a full fall ahead with retreats and fun weekend activities along with group meetings and Bible studies. We are looking forward to October 22, 2023 mission Sunday when Will Kendrick will be our speaker.

Charleston Classical School

Charleston Classical School, a Mission Partner, is a Christian classical school located in North Charleston for K- 5th grades, serving an under resourced and minority population. Although all students pay toward the tuition, 95 percent of tuition cost is covered by scholarships. Marie Owens is head of school.

We will be collecting food supplies for the CCS. Every school day, they prepare a hot meal for the students. Please look for a table set up in the Kinlock Room to place the items (see photo below). Some of the items on the list are canned chicken, canned tuna, baked beans, mixed fruit cups, pudding mix, apple sauce cups, canned mixed vegetables, dry macaroni and pasta sauce. Click here to see a complete wish list.

Appeal from Water Mission Regarding Morocco tragedy

Dear St. Michael’s Church:

We appreciate you and the team joining in and continuing to pray. Our team is on the ground as of two days ago. Here is the report as of this morning. 

On Friday, September 8, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near Marrakech, Morocco, killing more than 2,900 people and causing widespread devastation. The death toll is expected to rise. As you know, Water Mission’s vision is that all people have safe water and an opportunity to experience God’s love. As such, we are driven by faith to serve men, women, and children impacted by this tragic disaster.  

Morocco assessment from our team on the ground as of this morning, September 14, 2023

1.      Confirmed Impact:

a.        The magnitude 6.8 earthquake is the largest earthquake to hit the North African country in 120 years and devastated infrastructure including homes, buildings, and roads. The worst destruction has been in isolated mountain areas. The epicenter was in the High Atlas Mountains southwest of Marrakesh.

b.      The death toll is has risen above 2,900.

c.      300,000 people were directly affected by the earthquake.

d.       The needs that have been communicated are water, food, shelter, and medical. The epicenter was in the mountains, so there are many areas that have not been reached and will more than likely be underserved.

e.        The Moroccan government has not officially requested international help despite several nations, the UN, and organizations offering humanitarian help.

2.      Water Mission’s Response:

a.        Disaster Team engineer, Asher arrived on 9/12 to Marrakesh to evaluate the response.

b.      Disaster Team engineer, Wes arrived on 9/13 to Marrakesh to evaluate the response.

c.      A prayer has already been answered, as Asher and Wes were able to get their gear through customs.

d.      Asher and Wes are meeting with in-country partners, including a local church.

3.      Prayer Requests:

a.      Please pray for the people in the region as they are suffering, and many have lost their homes.

b.      Please be prayerful that our response can be fast and efficient, as there is concern about the upcoming winter and how it will affect the people in the region.

c.      Pray for the response team as they are working to build in-country partnerships so we can maximize our efforts.

d.      Please pray for Brock and his team as they work around the clock; pray for energy, decisiveness, and peace as they choose the best actions for our team.

e.      Pray for the hearts of our partners, that they will be softened and responsive to our message.

We are asking churches to prayerfully consider engaging your congregation to come alongside us and respond to people in need in Morocco. Together, we can be the Body of Christ, bring lifesaving resources to families in need, and help reassure those dealing with overwhelming loss that God is with them as they grieve and rebuild.

If you would like to arrange a donation from your church to help people in need in Morocco, I am available to chat through that with you. And, if you have any questions about these resources, please reach out to me. 

We are grateful for you and your partnership in this mission with us, for His Kingdom.

Larry Lundstrom

Director, Church Partnerships and Engagement

mobile (843) 998-1776

watermission.org | subscribe to our blog

Hurting Coast

Contact Sherrie Driver for more information 770-354-6471

Anglican Leadership Institute

The board of the Anglican Leadership Institute is happy to announce that the Rev. Canon Dr. Frog Orr-Ewing has been named as the next director of the Anglican Leadership Institute in the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. He will participate in the final week of the upcoming 11th gathering of the Institute, September 6-28, at the FOCUS Study Center on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts as one of several featured speakers. Near the end of this gathering, he will officially assume his new ministry as the director when Bishop Mark Lawrence, who has served as the interim director since late 2022, passes the leadership responsibilities to him.

Frog lives in England with his wife Amy and their three teenage sons. He is the rector of Latimer Minster at Stampwell Farm in Beaconsfield. He has been the canon theologian and postdoctoral teaching fellow of mission at the University of Winchester since 2018. He previously served as the chaplain and missioner at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA), vicar of All Saints, Peckham and a curate at St. Aldates, Oxford. He earned his B.A. in Theology at Oxford University, where he also gained an MTh in Applied Theology. He has a PhD in 19th Century Anglican Missiology from King’s College London, and since 2012 has enriched his passion for poetry, community and conservation through his stewardship of Stampwell Farm on the outskirts of London. He is also the co-author with his wife Amy of Holy Warriors, Deep and Millennials.

New Wineskins (led by Jenny Noyes) has a busy lineup of great events with the focus on learning more about being a Christian and equipping us to spread the Gospel around the world. Please check them out on their website https://newwineskins.org/events

Anglican Relief Development Fund Fundraiser Oct. 26

ARDF is hosting their 3rd Annual Oyster Roast on October 26 at Holy City Brewery in North Charleston, and we want to see you there! Join us for another great evening of food, fellowship, and live music as we promote Proven Partnership with ARDF. The event will be from 6-8 at 1021 Aragon Ave, N. Charleston.

Tickets are $30 per person and cover beverages and food. Live music provided by bluegrass band “The Good News.”

Hungering World

Contact Park Dougherty for more information 843-860-3950

Families with babies awaiting neurosurgery

Betsy and her children with the security guards, askaris, with whom she prayed.

KENYA

Betsy Henderson writes from Tenwick Hospital: “This week we had a full house for Thursday worship! We give thanks for the many babies staying at mustard seed house right now, particularly those scheduled for neurosurgical procedures this week, and also lift praise for adorable six-month-old twins, one of whom had internal bleeding after a fall and is making a strong recovery. Last week we were happy to provide chai and mandazis for a team meeting and pray with the security guards on duty that evening.

HONDURAS

On October 12, LAMB Institute will throw its Party with a Purpose to raise funds for its Children’s Home, which provides food, lodging and Christian education to more than 60 children (newborn to 18.) For further information e-mail margaret@lambinstitute.org. 

INDIA

Bishop Probal and Rita Dutta will be in Charleston from September 27 through October 3, staying with the Corbetts and the Rogers. The Corbetts are hosting a covered dish supper for the Duttas on Thursday, September 28.

GLOBAL IMPACT CELEBRATION (GIC)

Since our last report, GIC 2024 has continued to progress. More than 30 items have been pledged or donated for the Global Impact Celebration (GIC) 2024 Silent Auction thanks to the efforts of Duval Acker, Normandie Updyke, and Reiley Jacobs.

Items for Silent Auction include:

• Original Artwork painted by members of our congregation that are accomplished artists
• Jewelry
• Experiences – Hunting, Fishing, Boating
• Vacation Rentals
• Smaller items such as Carriage Rides

Bill Biggie is coordinating the publicity for GIC 2024.

Look for updates in these places:

• St. Michael’s Church website (St. Michael's Church: Charleston, SC > GIC 2024 (stmichaelschurch.net)
• Email – like this one
• Mission Bulletin Board – Belser Building (by St. Michael’s Alley door)
• Sunday Service Bulletin
• Handouts

More to come!

Blessings,

Bob and Ruth Bonelli

Co-Chairs, GIC 2024

Please Remember....

Your mission pledge allows the parishioners of St. Michael's Church to continue to be blessed to be a blessing unto others.

Thank you for your support.