Review 2009
Nigeria Appeal
2009 has seen many changes for our organization as Active Service Trust has responded to the awful attacks against the Christian community in Northern Nigeria.Active Service Trust founding Directors, David and Gwenyth Carling spent many years working in Northern Nigeria in hospitals in Maiduguri and later Vom near Jos. This personal connection made the disturbing news about the violence unleashed by an Islamic sect called Boko Haram in Maiduguri really hit home. Our partner organization in Nigeria, Stefanos Foundation reported that 39 churches had been burned down, and a number of Pastors had been beheaded due to their refusal to convert to Islam. The resulting violence left hundreds dead, and many more homeless.
The good news is that following our appeal, Active Service Trust have been able to send vital help to Stefanos Foundation as they provide practical help for those who were bereaved and made homeless.
During 2009 we sent £15,500 to Stefanos Foundation, who have used these resources to clothe, feed, and provide temporary shelter to many needy people, and in strategic ways to create awareness and work against future violence.
It is for this support that we would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to all our supporters for their generosity in helping us to help those in suffering.
Unfortunately, we receive news of disturbances and violence on an all-too-frequent basis. We have just received news of further killing and destruction in Jos (January 2010), so please consider whether our support of Stefanos Foundation is something you can consider for 2010. David and Gwenyth visited Nigeria again in January 2010.
Mission Directors
During 2009, David and Gwenyth Carling undertook 13 international journeys, visiting leaders of AST partner organizations, taking seminars for Christian leaders living and working in hostile environments, and encouraging and preparing Christians for mission in their communities. Their travels took them to Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, to impart something of their work experience and knowledge of a living God to young Christian leaders, hungry to know more and feed others who have, in many cases, few or no resources.
Some travel costs are funded by hosting groups or partner organizations, but this is not always feasible. The Mission Directors project provides funds enabling these strategic visits to take place.
Active Service Trust works to provide spiritual as well as practical aid to a needy world. David and Gwenyth have a lifetime of experience behind them, but continue to go ‘to the ends of the world' to proclaim the greatness of our God, to encourage, equip and serve those in great need.
You can help our Mission Directors continue this valuable work by supporting them through Active Service Trust.
Bloomin' Bishop
Two Active Service Trust trustees met with Bishop Elias in mid September as he visited the UK on a tour with Medic Assist to highlight the Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s Goli Hospital project. Bishop Elias explained that EPC felt it was right to push for a faster development for the agricultural project. He was very appreciative of the equipment AST had provided and shipped which helped to start the agricultural project in earnest. He is now beginning to attract commercial funding in order to grow a crop that has a commercial value in Sudan and Uganda. When the required investment funding is in place, the crop value will enable EPC to repay investors and in addition enough to further develop the farming project as a whole.
AST is therefore likely to be less involved now, but we congratulate Bishop Elias in his new venture, and trust that he will continue to 'bloom' in South Sudan, providing employment through the agricultural project, alongside education, healthcare, homes for orphans and the varied work of the Womens' Empowerment Programme, all of which make up the awesome work of EPC. We will be sending a further gift due to our supporters’ generosity.
Special Thanks