Would you like an unforgettable glimpse into the Global Anglican Communion?
For North Americans, it can be easy to forget how many of us are out there: Anglicanism is the world’s third largest Christian denomination with 85 million members in 165 countries. Now, we have the opportunity to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ from a different culture and context. In 2017 The Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) is inviting members of The Anglican Church in North America on a Transformational Vision Trip to Nepal.
It’s the first of a series of trips that ARDF plans to offer North American Anglicans to experience their church in action. Christine Jones, Director of Mobilization for ARDF, believes Nepal is a perfect destination for a first ARDF Transformational Vision Trip.
“This is an exciting time for the church in Nepal,” she says. “The massive 2015 earthquake created a huge challenge but also a huge opportunity, as the church has been able to offer hope to thousands of Nepalis though both spiritual and practical help. The soil is fertile in Nepal.”
The trip is a partnership between Coracle (a non-profit focused on spiritual formation for kingdom action), ARDF and the Diocese of Singapore. The Rev. Bill Haley, Executive Director of Coracle and Associate Rector at The Falls Church Anglican, visited Nepal in April to lay the groundwork for the trip.
“While members of the ACNA have been so generous with financial support for various projects around the world through our Anglican Communion family, we want to provide a way for people to see the Anglican church in action in such a way that those who go have a powerful, even transforming, spiritual experience, something like a ‘mission pilgrimage,’” Haley says.
Children in class at an Anglican church in the Jagaran Slum of Kathmandu
Participants will depart for Kathmandu on February 21, 2017. Once on the ground, they will learn about the history of the Anglican Church in Nepal. It will sound a lot like the book of Acts with stories of healings, prophecy and miracles. To learn the context of the dominant religions in Nepal, the group will visit historic Durbur Square and the Buddhist shrines of Swayambhunath Stupa. Those will be contrasted with visits to Christian churches in Kathmandu.
Participants will then travel to Dhading to spend four days in the mountains. This is the area of Nepal where the Anglican church was hardest hit by the 2015 earthquake. The group will have time to interact with those most affected and to offer encouragement and prayer.
The group will then return to join church services in Kathmandu before flying home. Upon returning, ARDF hopes participants will share with their local churches what they have seen and experienced.
ARDF is currently laying the groundwork for a 2017 trip to East Africa, focusing on social entrepreneurial activities. Archbishop Robert Duncan will lead the trip. Anyone is welcome to join.
“If these trips sound intriguing to you, please be in prayer asking God if he is calling you to come along,” Jones says. “
To learn more, contact Christine Jones at christine@ardf.org, or visit ARDF.org.
