Home  News Articles Go Ye Into All The World |
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| Go Ye Into All The World |
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Go Ye Into All the World --Mark 16:15 The parish has been blessed by an active ministry in the area of international missions. In addition to a legacy of parish support to full-time missionaries, through dedication and a vision of sharing their time, talent and treasures parish members have supported regular trips to both the Bromley School in Liberia and El Hogar in Honduras. The next parish trip to El Hogar with 10 participants begins on February 28th. Not Your Grandfather’s Missionary? The classic view of Episcopal/Anglican missionaries was one where people dedicated years of their lives to live in distant lands. These people might be clergy, teachers or health care providers. They were often supported by ‘missionary societies’. The nearly forgotten history of Anglicanism in America has its roots in this tradition. A number of our colonial parishes were founded by missionaries from the King William chartered ‘Society for the Propagation of the Gospel’. Over 300 years later its descendant is still an active British missionary organization. This traditional view of international missionary work is not lost among the parish community. Members of the Bonifant family are active missionaries. Choir member, Mimi Miran, spent part of her young adulthood as a missionary in Japan’s Anglican Church, the Nippon Sei Ko Kai. Parish member David Weitzel’s parents were missionaries in Japan where he was born. The St. Davids community has honored its missionary legacy in its own style and manner. Both short term international mission activities are grounded in the leadership of our current and former clergy. Fr. Stephen McWhorter originally became aware of El Hogar and began a series of annual mission trips to the school. Those who have participated over the years speak of the building of the facilities into its now several campuses for different age boys. The work with the Bromley School is based on the background of our priest associate, Fr. Emmanuel Johnson. His Liberian roots have given us insight into the opportunity to help rebuild the Bromley School since its reopening in 2003 after the Liberian Civil War. The success of parishioners’ efforts at the Bromley School has been recognized in the Diocese of Virginia with trips by other parishes such as a youth trip by St. James, Leesburg, and now direct Diocesan support to the school. Why They Go Parish members active in the international mission feel a personal desire to reach out. They do it because they feel a tug to ‘give something back’. Yet they often speak of getting far more than they give and mission weeks that have touched and transformed them deeply. According to frequent mission trip volunteer Sharon Easley it enhances your relationship with God, with those you serve and those you serve alongside. Jeff Rubin calls it a wake up call to what should be most important in your life. He and Sharon agree that the trips help you ‘keep things real’. Allison Weitzel says her lasting impression is of the boys who are ‘poor but not poor’ because they feel so blessed for the opportunity that El Hogar has given them. Biblical Roots In Chapter 16 of the Gospel of Mark the risen Jesus appears before the disciples. In addressing them directly before his assumption into heaven he commands ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ For 2000 years these words have been taken seriously by certain Christian believers. The St. Davids community has some who have committed portions of their lives to a wide view of this passage and have not only brought Christ’s love to people who are not blessed by our material capabilities. To a person they tell stories of how this sharing has brought them joy, understanding and appreciation for the blessings they have. Perhaps the Bible tells us why: Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” |
