SOMA’s worldwide ministry envisions, encourages and equips evangelism and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, releasing people into adventures and experiences of God beyond their wildest expectations. As a SOMA Abbey Church, SMB partners through sending out short-term teams, supporting SOMA’s vision to connect deeply to the nervous system of the body of Christ and join the Holy Spirit on his great mission to the world, whilst SOMA helps partner Churches be equipped for ministry at home.
My name is Tim and I am the Canterbury Staff Worker with UCCF. I am working to give every university student in Canterbury a chance to hear and respond to the Gospel. I work closely with students and local churches to enable effective mission and help raise the next generation of Christian leaders.
We’ve arrived in Canterbury after nine years of preparation, following Jesus’ leading to establish a long-term presence here. Seven of us have moved from different nations, with others awaiting visas. Please pray as we settle in and step into all God has for us. An outreach team has also joined us for six months in the UK before going overseas with our Discipleship Training School launching in July.
Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and love throughout this journey.
Georgie + Maged
As a church we support the work of Friends International, who work among the international student community in Canterbury. We also support the weekly Global Cafe, volleyball, English classes, Bible studies, trips and annual Canterbury Summer International Outreach (CSIO) run by Friends International. The staff worker here is Baiba Strause-Kalmere, who is supported by 3 Reach interns and Friends International Branch committee lead by Richard Barrett. If you have any questions or if you would like to get involved or support the international student ministry, please, contact Baiba.Strause-Kalmere@friendsinternational.uk
As a church we support the work of Friends International, who work among the international
student community in Canterbury. We also support the weekly Global Cafe, volleyball,
English classes, Bible studies, trips and annual Canterbury Summer International Outreach
(CSIO) run by Friends International. The staff worker here is Baiba Strause-Kalmere and a new staff worker Matthew Archer with a particular focus to work with refugee students and Muslim communities and intern Mai Honda (Japan) and Friends International Branch committee lead by Ka Lusk. If you have any questions or if you would like to get involved or support the
international student ministry, please, contact Baiba.Strause-Kalmere@friendsinternational.uk
Please pray for:
• Recruitment of more members for FI Branch development group – we need a rep from SMB to join the committee that meet once in 2-3 months, who has a passion for cross-cultural mission work;
• Recruitment of for Reach discipleship year students for next year!
• Pray for our weekly events and especially weekly evangelistic Bible study with a meal in a British home
• Planning for annual Canterbury Summer International Outreach based at SMB premises – dates TBC! We are currently recruiting local volunteers who could provide B & B for week or two for outreach team members, people to bake cakes, lend bikes, sponsor a team member.
Time Out is a local Christian charity at Spring Lane Neighbourhood Centre where it seeks to bless the Spring Lane housing estate and beyond.
10yrs ago a social enterprise was created in the form of a community cafe (Route 23) with a Baby & Toddler group and a Lunch Club, run on a Tuesday with subsidised prices and free meals where needed. Route 23 provides employment and volunteering opportunities for those wishing to gain confidence and experience, young people with special needs and others facing disadvantage or difficulty.
Come and visit our hub of hope!
