Mission Giving
For some, Christian mission focusses on evangelism - “making disciples of all nations”, as Jesus said (Matthew 28.19).
An alternative view understands mission as engaging in social justice - the climate and ecological emergency, and redressing economic disparity, oppression, racial inequality and other societal ills. The Old Testament prophet Micah put it like this: “Do justice, love mercy.” (Micah 6. 8)
Both are an expression of love.
10% of St Andrew’s planned giving is allocated for mission giving, supporting charities locally and globally.
It is distributed by the Mission Giving Committee, which has the remit to make decisions about allocating money to charities with a Christian ethos, working predominantly abroad and to a lesser extent at home.
Globally in recent years, we have supported multi-faceted projects working to alleviate the impact of poverty in Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and south east Asia and providing:
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Emergency relief after disasters and other crises
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Food and water
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Healthcare, medicine/ health supplies and substance abuse recovery
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Life skills, e.g. agricultural training
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Human trafficking awareness, intervention and aftercare
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Engagement with prisoners’ children and families and restorative justice
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Advocacy for freedom of religion and belief
Locally in recent years, we have supported projects and organisations seeking to:
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Support and work with young people
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Assist refugee settlement and asylum seekers in Hertfordshire
Here are the projects and organisations we supported in 2024...
St Andrew’s allocated a total of £8,352 to the following organisations / people:
Christians Against Poverty
Christians Against Poverty have been advocating for and supporting people experiencing debt and poverty since 1996 and they have seen change happen, but there’s so much still to achieve. Families are struggling to put food on the table and growing numbers cannot afford to turn on the heating. More and more people are living under the all-consuming pressure of financial hardship. That’s why CAP is working hard to shape and influence policy, using their expertise to take steps towards an end to UK poverty.
Christian Aid
Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty: 'We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.' For over 75 years, this truth has inspired Christian Aid to stand together in solidarity with our most marginalised global neighbours, of all faiths and none.
Dinipro Hope Mission
Dinipro Hope Mission stands with the people of Ukraine to restore hope and dignity to those impacted by poverty, disease and war. Through our mission partners in Ukraine, DHP offer compassionate care for all people in need, such as the sick, disabled, refugees and orphans. They adhere to the principle of enabling dignity, not dependence, for the people they serve and equip. With a particular focus on Eastern Ukraine, DHM provide services, funding and resources to their partners who are providing life-saving and life-enhancing help and support to suffering Ukrainians, including in the war-ravaged regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhe and Kherson.
Ella's
Ella’s is a London-based organisation working with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. Their vision is to see people free from slavery and exploitation. Their mission is to ensure survivors of trafficking and exploitation have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free. To achieve this, they offer: safe house accommodation for women when they are most vulnerable; care to help them recover and move forward; and long-term community-based support to help survivors build safe, independent lives. Their work currently benefits around 70 women and 65 children a year.
Embrace the Middle East
Embrace the Middle East is a Christian development charity, partnering with Christians in the Middle East as they work to transform lives and restore the dignity of the most excluded and marginalised communities. Where there is a need – for refuge, a home, for health care, for education, for justice and human rights – Embrace the Middle East, with their partners, respond. Their goal is to contribute to a culture of human flourishing in a troubled region.
FUTUREhope
FUTUREhope Hertford and Ware is a free, confidential service working holistically with young people aged 11-19 in the local area. Their primary goal is to empower young people to have hope for their future and reach their full potential through four key areas of work: Outreach (a mobile youth centre and purposeful detached work, aiming to meet young people where they are at); Education (working with schools - assemblies and tutor sessions - and through delivery of a range of small group work activities); Support (provision of one-to-one work - long term relationships - through mentoring); and Drop-in (the youth café is a weekly after-school space for young people in school years 7 to 13, to hang out with friends, grab a milkshake and play games).
Herts Welcomes Refugees
Herts Welcomes Refugees provides a range of assistance and support to refugees and asylum seekers across the county to complement that provided by local councils and the Refugee Council's Hertfordshire Resettlement Project. HWR also help some refugees and asylum seekers who are not supported by either the Refugee Council or local councils.
Inscape Animations presents Roots, a story of human migration and connection through time and distance...
International Health Partners
International Health Partners is a global health NGO, supporting people in disaster-hit and vulnerable communities to get vital medicines. They strive for a world where suffering due to a lack of healthcare is eradicated. Whether responding to a natural disaster, conflict or coordinating long-term health programmes, since 2004, IHP has delivered quality, long-dated medicines to those who are most in need - regardless of location, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality.
Julie Noble / Latin Link
Latin Link is an international 'community with a calling' to love and serve God and our neighbour, through multi-directional mission work. They have 140 mission workers (members), from around 20 nations, serving across Latin America and Europe. Latin Link comprises 12 Country Teams, of which Latin Link Britain and Ireland are one. Julie Noble works with Prison Fellowship International in Oruro. She supports the Árbol del Ángel (Angel Tree) Centre programme, which works with prisoners’ children and their families, and is part of the Restoring Hope programme, which implements discipleship and restorative justice initiatives with prisoners and young offenders. Julie works with Quechua ladies at church and serves on the PRADOS (drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre) board.
Tearfund
Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. They tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters, and challenging injustice. They believe an end to extreme poverty is possible.
Young Life International: Hertford
Young Life International: Hertford's mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. They do this by building friendships with young people in their world, earning the right to be heard, and inviting them to hear about God's love for them. Young Life International in Hertford began in 2000 and continues to make a difference in the lives of young people. They offer after school clubs, evening activities, mentorship, leadership opportunities, a summer camp, and more.
The least of these...
Jesus’ benchmark was ‘the least of these’. Therefore, a minimum of 60% of the giving is allocated to overseas projects. The impact of the climate and coronavirus emergencies is greater on families in poorer countries who are not able to earn enough to feed their children. In places where malnutrition is already a problem, even more people are going hungry and risk starvation. Those living in vulnerable communities may get very ill and have no access to healthcare.
Tearfund Action: Sign the Climate Coalition's Declaration
Andrew Goodman, St Andrew's Mission Giving Committee