SOMA works for the transformation of individuals and churches and the healing ofcommunities and their lands through the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. This isthrough intercession and sending and receiving short-term mission teams across theAnglican Communion.

2015 No. 2

PO Box 69MerriottTA18 9AP, UKCHARITY NO. 279759

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All wrong?That’s alright!WHEN “everything is going wrong” in the

run-up to a SOMA mission, it has theopposite effect to what would be generallyanticipated.

Faith – and experience – lead SOMAteams to conclude they are doing exactlywhat God wants them to do. The enemy maybe going all out to prevent a mission, butprayer and determination triumph.

Bishop Isesomo’s invitation for SOMA tolead two conferences in the Diocese of NordKivu finally came to fruition in March, havingbeen postponed from December due to thesecurity situation in DR Congo. However, thenew date meant three team members couldnow no longer participate, all for medicalreasons. “It was an indication of the intensityof the spiritual battle we were going to face,”said team leader Don.

Prayer brought forward equally giftedpeople to take their places, and then therewere the usual struggles to line uppaperwork, visas and complex travel plansfor the two-stage mission. The firstconference was in Beni, the second inButembo, a fast-expanding city withnumerous unemployed young men readilyattracted by the militias.

Travel began well but Ugandaimmigration officers at the DRC borderwanted copies of letters from team members’bishops responding to Bishop Isesomo. “This was the first time in 20 years I hadbeen asked about this,” said Don.

Then officials stopped Michael andEtienne leaving Uganda, as they had

God ‘just keepsturning up’SEEK and you shall find, according to

Matthew’s Gospel, which also reminds us:“Ask and it shall be given.”

For newly retired parish priest Steve, thiswas demonstrated beautifully during theSOMA mission to Tanzania in March, whererural poverty and great needs and challengesface a church with scarce resources.

“I was reminded once again that He istotally dependable and faithful; He just keepson ‘turning up’ and doing the wonderfulthings He loves to do for His people,” thisexperienced team member said. “I never stopbeing surprised and full of wonder at this. Weshould think that it’s normal, without beingpresumptuous.”

This mission built on the previous 2012mission, and had two members of that teamtaking part. Not only were they able to pre-brief this cross-cultural team, but also theirestablished relationship with the delegateshelped to quickly re-establish rapport.

Rorya is a poverty-stricken, under-developed diocese with clergy eager fortraining and fresh vision. Challenges includesubsistence farming, little water, poorinfrastructure, and low levels of literacy

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Welcome to this issue of Sharing, looking at the way in which the Lordblesses people through SOMA in the least visited places, from Tanzaniato South Sudan by way of DR Congo. There are features on three missions which took place simultaneously in March, plus an article on the implications of such a challenge for the intercessors.

Thank you for your prayer, intercession, financial support, willingness to join a team or invite and receive a mission. With every blessing,

Stephen Dinsmore, National Director SOMA UK

previously acceptable identity cards but notpassports. Etienne was participating only inthe first stage of the mission so sadlyreturned home, but Michael found anotherroute, and joined the team in Beni two dayslater. The loss of Etienne was a blow and Donsaid: “This is the first time in my experiencethat a team member has been refusedpermission to cross a border.”

The rest of the team were eventuallyallowed to drive on, but heavy rain made theroad very slippery. “Then a snake crossed theroad in front of us,” Don recalled. “It was abeautiful creature, a silver back with diamondshapes. We could not avoid it, and ran overit. I then sensed this was a symbol of thevictory that the Lord wanted to achieve onthis mission, and I prayed silently that thiswould be the case. Straightaway the rainbegan to ease off, and the road became drierand much more manageable.”

Then, when the cars reached aroadblock, they were refused permission tocross as it was “too late”, so two vehicleswere sent from Beni to fetch the team.

And so the mission began. The theme for both conferences, Marriage and FamilyLife in an African Context, opened updiscussion, examining the particularchallenges faced by clergy families. There was time too for worship, ministry andencouraging churches in the area, and afterthe close of the conference in Butembo theteam had a fruitful debrief with the bishopand staff.

IN THIS EDITION

Joyous worship by delegates in Rorya, Tanzania

continued on page 2

continued on page 2

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affecting church staff, including parish treasurersand secretaries.

The water shortage proved a challenge for bothteam and hosts, and team communicator Joannatexted intercessors: “No rain means lack of water.Water has to be fetched by car as the local welldried up. Pray for rain.”

Bishop John had to draw on scarce funds totransport water to the conference, and saidafterwards: “I think drought which resulted to lack ofwater increased the cost so much because we wereto carry water using our Toyota Hilux pick-up fourtimes a day which needed a lot of fuel while the fuelcost was too high. Originally, we thought there wouldhave been rains at that particular period of the year.”

Training sought

Ahead of the conference, team leader Stephenasked the bishop to outline the needs of his clergy.He replied: “Most of our pastors are not well trainedbecause my diocese is young, hence lacking skillsin church planting, so that the following shouldappear in the training: steps towards planting of achurch; how to manage a young church so that itgrows and multiply; training of new leaders in ayoung church.”

Advice was also requested as to how to fundnew leaders when the church has so little money,inhibiting the establishment of new churches.

Each team member prepared specialistteaching for the conference, covering topicsincluding church planting, financial management,renewal, repentance and reconciliation.

Asked whether the mission met his expectation,Bishop John replied: “I expected revival andrenewal of spiritual lives of the delegates plus the delegates getting new spiritual insights, whichthey got because they have testified to me.

Wanted – TrusteesSOMA UK is seeking to appoint new trustees. To find out more, visit the website at www.somauk.org and click on the Get Involved button at the top of the homepage, then go to the right-hand column and click on Become a trustee.

for their biblical training without their wives.So this has been a good opportunity for themto learn together about how the church startsin the family and especially in pastor’s family.

“I was expecting to receive a team ofvery respectful people and my fear wasabout how to accommodate them and whatkind of food could they eat. When the teamarrived, I saw very simple people and we’revery happy for whatever we have shared with them.”

Team member Eva reflected: “The Lorduses us in ways we cannot imagine and weshould always allow Him to lead and guideus. Nothing should be taken for granted,hence prayer and intercession is very, veryimportant.”

Team member John said: “God is soconcerned about His people, in that He isever ready to do anything to save them. Our presence with the Lord in prayer bendsall circumstances to cooperate with His will.Wars in this country have not hinderedpeople from rejoicing in the Lord andearnestly searching Him, as I had thought.”

Intercessor Georgia most enjoyed“knowing that I am a part of the mission,though not physically in the field, and seeingGod’s faithfulness in answering prayer andHis work through the prayers of His saints.The ministry of intercession is not for thefaint-hearted, it is a full-time job,” she said.

Team: Leader Revd Don Brewin, UK; Michael Asaba, Revd Capt John Musaasizi,Revd Canon Benon Semmambo, Revd Canon Edith Semmambo, Uganda;Capt Janice Maina, Ms Eva Mdachi, Kenya;intercessor coordinator Kate Brankin.

All wrong? That’s alright! God ‘just keepcontinued from page 1

continued from page 1

With the journey home now to tackle,Michael once again came under particularpressure following news that his grandmotherhad died.

The rest of the team travelled to Kasindi,optimistic they would cross the bordersmoothly, but the DRC police fined theUgandans $150 each for outstaying their one-week visas. Don said: “We remain unsurewhether this was a genuine mistake when thevisas were granted.” Then the team’s DRCvehicle was refused travel across the border,so another was hired for this short journey,followed by a further long delay before thedriver arrived to take the team to Fort Portalfor a now-rushed lunch with Etienne beforeheading on to Kampala.

Spiritual oppositionDon said of the mission: “I think it was

clear that God wanted us there, otherwisethere would not have been so much spiritualopposition. We had a sense that the Church inDRC is facing a challenge to address the callto act together as a force for peace andreconciliation in the country. The UN peace-keeping forces are not achieving this, nor arethe politicians – peace must come from thepeople themselves, and the Christiancommunity needs to mobilise them.

“SOMA will remain in discussion withBishop Isesomo and his team to discern howwe can continue to work in partnership withthis strategic diocese.”

Bishop Isesomo was present throughoutthe Butembo conference and told the teamafterwards: “SOMA visit has been a blessedtime to our pastors and their wives, includedmyself, because many of our pastors go alone

Team members Edith, John and Benon, on the left, with Don, Eva and Janice on the right, together with Nord Kivuclergy and the Mayor of Beni

Surrounded by pray-ers in Rorya, Tanzania

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Coordinating prayers, scriptures andmessages for a SOMA team member in

Tanzania proved a real highlight of oneintercessor’s year.

It was Joanna’s second mission topoverty-stricken Rorya, and she asked Tim Dto coordinate messages to and from her 24personal intercessors, relaying them tomission intercessor coordinator Kate Brankinto forward to the team.

“We were in touch at least once,sometimes twice a day. So, as challengescame to pray over, we prayed, and then hadfeedback of answers to prayer,” said Tim.

“Rarely do folk have the privilege of day-by-day evidence with prayer. This wasvery helpful, not least because the teamleader told us that the texts that we sent,Bible texts, prophetic words were reallyhelping the team.

“There was a time I felt that I came underspiritual attack as an intercessor. This mademe more vigilant in protecting myself inJesus and praying for all the intercessors forprotection. We really were in one sense onthe front line!

“The 12 days of praying for and with themission were a highlight in my year. I reallyfelt we were part of the whole mission,learning from one another as we listened tothe Lord and prayed. By the end of themission, with the team back home, there wasa sense of loss.”

While Tim liaised with Joanna’s personalintercessors, Kate also juggled prayer andmessages for a further two missionssimultaneously in South Sudan and DRCongo. SOMA UK National Director StephenDinsmore asked her if she was ready forsuch a challenge, and Kate had prayed:‘That’ll be interesting, but at least I won’t beco-ordinating all three… will I, Lord?’

“Of course, I did co-ordinate all threeand, as happens when we’re pushed outsideour comfort zone I was blessed throughoutthe time the teams were away,” she said.

“I found myself wondering in awe how theLord manages with us all putting our individualdemands and requests to Him – He has muchmore than three SOMA missions to juggle allof the time, not just for three weeks! So,nothing is impossible when we trust Him.”

IF you would like to be pushed,challenged and blessed by becoming anintercessor co-ordinator, please call StephenDinsmore on 01460 279737.

ps turning up’

Delegates went back spiritually enriched andknowledgeably and skilfully fed.

“Spiritual renewal plus some church-plantingskills and youth ministry teaching are going tohelp delegates have a new beginning in theirdaily service to the Lord. Youth ministry, which has not been strong, will begin a new face and develop in every parish.

“Lasting benefits of the visit are:Delegates who got spiritual renewal are now carrying out/reaching out tocongregations and people are gettinghealed/knowing Christ as their personalsaviour. Some pastors who were notstrong in delivering the services/preaching and teaching have changed.”

There were the not-unusualdifficulties with language, but team members valued each other’s translation efforts and working as an international team.

Praying on thefront line

For those who had been in Rorya threeyears earlier, there was the added pleasure of reunion and building on previousachievements. One of those was Joanna, who said she gained in confidence. “I’ve hadexperiences that others will never have and will never understand,” she said.

Intercessor Timothy M said: “I waschallenged by the seriousness attached tointercession for mission, that a chain of prayeris established throughout the mission period.This is another way of saying that missionersare entirely helpless without God’s interventionin mission work. Where this dependency isdemonstrated, God never disowns it.”

Team: Leader Revd Stephen Dinsmore, Joanna Bound, Rev Steve Holmes, Fran Huff, UK; Diana Adhiambo, Revd Capt Livingstone Nyanje CA, Kenya;James Arinda, Uganda; Bishop John Adiema;intercessor coordinator Kate Brankin.

Discussion group in Rorya

Bishop John reflects in Rorya, Tanzania

Deep in thought

Praise be! Delegates in Rorya

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CHARITY NO. 279759

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SOMA UKUK Registered Charity No. 279759. UK National Director: Revd Stephen Dinsmore

Finance Administrator: Mr Steve Fincher; Administrator: Mrs Zena Durrant; Patron: Rt Revd Graham Cray

sharing is published by SOMA UK4

Members of the team which travelled to theDiocese of Wau, South Sudan, returned

home with renewed zest, eager to engagemore fully with church and community.

Team member Liz said: “Many of the homecongregation have taken an active interest inthe mission. Finding ways of talking about theexperience has helped me to benefit and focuson what happened and what I learnt.

“The faith and sacrifices made by ChristiansI met on this mission has encouraged me to takea fresh hold of God’s promises in my own life.”

Bishop Moses invited the team to Kaujokwith the brief: “We would like to have a youthprogramme focusing on Christian marriage andfamily. We really want to move our people frommarriage based on bride price to a biblicalmarriage based on mutual love andunderstanding, and we want to start withyoung people.”

Each day was split into two, teaching-wise,with Christian Marriage and Family Life in anAfrican Context in the morning and Renewalfor Life in the afternoon, both SOMA resourcematerials. Team leader Richard said: “Thematerial was delivered with humour and drama and interactive discussion.”

Team member Jackie paid particular tribute to her Kenyan teammates. “Martha and Kennedy were a huge plus for the groupbecause of their previous experience in SouthSudan and their African perspective,” she said.“I hugely rated their experience and wisdom.”

By the second day, most delegates cameforward for prayer and anointing. “This felt likea turning point in the mission as the delegateswere touched by and filled with the Holy Spirit,and we could sense a new freedom and joy intheir worship and sense of commitment toGod’s purposes and intentions for their lives,”said Richard.

Some delegates were members of otherchurches, including Catholic and Pentecostal,and the local Muslim leader sat in on manysessions. He gave positive feedback on theteaching. On the last day of the conference,the local Pentecostal pastor invited the team to speak at his church. “Bishop Moses clearlyhas a good and well-respected relationshipwith local community leaders and others,”Richard noted.

The team opted to stay in the almost-complete office in the cathedral compound,with meals prepared by displaced Christiansstaying there. Richard said: “Bishop Mosesexpressed his appreciation that we stayed onsite, giving the displaced people some work todo and food to eat.”

In the evenings, the team explored thelocality, including an irrigation scheme whichshowed what is possible when a country isstable and people can settle and farm. South

Sudan remains politically insecure, but teamleader Richard said: “As a team we did not feelin any personal danger, and felt able towalk/move about without any fear of being atarget. People were friendly towards us andwe felt particularly welcome in the church.”

He paid tribute to all those who had keptprayer uppermost before, during and after themission. “We must put on record how wellsupported by intercessors we felt, both on apersonal level by friends from supporting

GET INVOLVEDINVITE To invite a SOMA team, emailstephen.dinsmore@somauk.org

PRAY Find today’s live prayer nugget on our website home page; find our full DailyPrayer Diary via the button there; or receive a “new each morning” prayer request fromSOMA via Twitter or Facebook. It is uponIntercession that SOMA’s ministry andmission is founded. SOMA Intercessors are supported by regular, extensive PrayerBriefings and with live, two-way emailswhen Teams are on mission. Read more on our website: click on ‘Prayer andIntercession’; or contact Kate Brankin at intercession@somauk.org

GIVE We really value financial gifts. To resource SOMA’s ministry go to ourwebsite: click on ‘Get Involved’ then‘Support Us’; click on the ‘Donate’ button on the top right of any web page; or email steve.fincher@somauk.org

PARTNER A SOMA Parish MissionPartnership builds a live, active relationshipbetween your parish and SOMA, inspiringyour congregations for Holy Spirit ministryand mission at home as well as abroad.Partners receive: Sharing newsletters,‘Update’ with news and information, a SOMA speaker about once a year;

encouragement to participate ineverything from SOMA missions to ourIntercessors’ network. For their part, ourpartners encourage prayer for SOMA;regularly communicate our news to theircongregations; encourage individuals toget involved in Teams, as Intercessorsand supporters; and seek to supportSOMA financially, when they can. Visitour website – click on ‘Get Involved’then ‘Parish Mission Partners’ – emailstephen.dinsmore@somauk.org or call01460 279737.

TEAM For an ‘application to beconsidered for a SOMA Team’, simplycontact SOMA via email, Facebook,Twitter, phone or post. Read more onour website: click on ‘Join a Team’. We look forward to hearing from you!

FUTURE MISSIONS include:

South Sudan Awerial YouthSouth India NandyalSouth Sudan Ibba & EzoZimbabwe HarareKenya Machakos YouthSierra Leone FreetownDR Congo Nord KivuUganda Bunyoro KitaraSouth Sudan Twic East

churches, and through the SOMAintercession network. Kate did an excellentjob in circulating messages and sharingwords, pictures, prophecies and scriptures.”

Team: Leader Revd Richard Suffern, SOMA UK Patron the Rt Revd Graham Cray, Revd Jackie Cray, Liz Crichton, Kay Hunter-Johnston, UK; Revd KennedyWando, Mrs Martha Osamba, Kenya; Bishop Moses Deng Bol; intercessorcoordinator Kate Brankin.

Fresh focus on marriage

JOIN SOMA intercessors, team members, Parish Mission Partners, supporters and staffas we gather on Saturday 7 November near Milton Keynes.This free conference will feature team members and intercessors sharing their

experience and insight from recent missions, and there will be time for fellowship, to pray,worship, share, learn, reflect, be refreshed by the Spirit and meet others involved with thevision, mission and ministry of SOMA.

Venue: Hosted by SOMA Parish Mission Partner St Mary’s Church, Church GreenRoad, Bletchley MK3 6DZ. The day begins at 10am, ends at 4pm, refreshments provided,bring your own lunch. There is no charge but a collection will be taken. For travel details,visit the church website at www.stmarysbletchley.org

If you expect to attend, it will help us if you call the SOMA office on 01460 279737 oremail zena.durrant@somauk.org

SOMA UK Day ConferenceSaturday 7 November 2015 at Bletchley, Milton Keynes