Dear Church Family,
About a month ago I received an email communication from the Rev. Ben Sharpe, Rector of Christ Church in Winston Salem. I met Ben 12 years ago when we first moved to North Carolina. Ben informed me that one of his congregants, John Craig, would be reaching out to communicate his call to Rwanda as a full time missionary and raise support for the same.
Please remember that as of now, my ordination vows remain in the house of Rwanda and our Church resides under the ultimate authority of Archbishop Rwaje of Rwanda. Rwanda is an orthodox Anglican Province that since 2001 (don’t quote on that) has offered spiritual oversight to clergy and churches who would not continue with the revisionist
province of the Episcopal Church.
John Craig is going to Rwanda to help with the ‘Walk with Rwanda’ initiative. This is a movement to help Rwanda become a self-sustaining Church financially. There is positive momentum for this initiative but much help is needed. Thanks to a responsive Vestry and a growing heart for missions, we are sending a check to John’s mission agency (Global Outreach) to give him the final push in raising all of his support. John is en route to Rwanda as you read this!
I’m thankful for our Vestry’s response to this request. Helping John, in ways big or small, connects us relationally to Rwanda. I look forward to sharing updates from John and hope to have him visit SJM when on furlough. In time he will be making other needs in Rwanda known to us, such as funding requests to sponsor meals for children in Rwandan mission schools.
Above all, please add John to your regular discipline of prayer.
To a holy Lent,
Clay
