The United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was founded in 1701. It is a major voluntary mission agency of the Anglican Church in Britain and Ireland. The Society is committed to the Five Marks Of Mission as defined by the Anglican Consultative Council:
To proclaim the good news of the kingdom.
To teach baptise and nurture new believers.
To respond to human need by loving service.
To seek to transform the unjust structures of society.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
U.S.P.G. works in more than fifty countries worldwide. Work includes the international exchange and placement of people, interchurch aid and provision of training and resources. Missionary service is still at the heart of the Society's work and the Society tries to meet the requests of provinces and dioceses around the world.
In Britain, the Society's residential training centre is the United College of the Ascension which is shared with the Methodist Church. This is one of the component Colleges of the ecumenical Selly Oak, affiliated to Birmingham University. It may be remembered that in early 1995, we were delighted to welcome Nellie Ampier to the Parish. Nellie was studying at the College Of The Ascension whilst over here. (Nellie is pictured here with Jennefer Higginbottom at a Coffee Morning).
Each year U.S.P.G. runs a Health Appeal and this year's is entitled, Take The First Step... and make a difference. It is focused upon children who have a disability. Life is difficult for anyone who is disabled but for people in the developing countries, it is so much harder with lack of basic resources. Children with disabilities are often left in the care of elderly relatives who are unable to cope. The children then consequently feel lonely and abandoned.
You may be interested in the following facts: -
There are 508 million people who are disabled in the world. 60% of these live in Developing Countries.
90% of children with disabilities live in Developing Countries.
70% of people with disabilities in the Developing Countries have become disabled through malnutrition, disease, accidents, violence and lack of health service.
Nine out of ten children who are physically disabled in the Developing Countries die by the age of 20 years.
50% of disabled children in South Africa have never been to School.
It is a sobering fact too that although research shows that immunisation programmes are progressing, 110,000 children are still being crippled by polio each year.
U.S.P.G.: 'Many of the physical and mental disabilities found in poor communities are directly related to poverty. In its turn disability will virtually guarantee the poverty of any victim'.
The Society invites, through their Appeal, people to 'take the first step' in giving a donation to help to pay for physiotherapy, artificial limbs, corrective surgery, mobility aids, education, training for employment and so much more.
If anyone would like further information, I have placed some leaflets at the back of the Church on the Bookstall.
written by Lynn Winter
Facts and information supplied by U.S.P.G.
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page last updated 6 DECEMBER 1998