TWINNING REPORT

Good can come out of difficult circumstances. Despite many links already existing, the concept of 'twinning' between congregations and presbyteries really began in 2005, when budget cuts meant that the World Mission Council could no longer fund all it had been doing. It became clear that a local-to-local emphasis was a likely way ahead. Since then, over 100 congregations and 12 presbyteries have developed twinning with churches in places as diverse as Ghana, the Czech Republic, Lebanon, Korea, Sri Lanka, Malawi and India

Twinning is not easily forged; means of communication can be unreliable, and much listening learning and humility are required. It takes time for people from very different backgrounds and cultures to get to know and trust one another. However, the rewards are great. Members of The Church of Scotland speak of discovering the gift of receiving as well as of giving, of how much a twinning with a church elsewhere can draw people from the margins of a congregation into the centre of its life, and of how the wider community, including schools and local government, become involved, as never before, in what their local church is doing. Moreover it gives congregations a deep sense of being what they truly are as part of the worldwide Body of Christ.

After attending a Presbytery World Mission conference, and hearing first hand of the experiences of Churches with a twinning, Kirk Elders, David Wishart and Sheila Bishop approached the Kirk Session with a proposal that we too look towards twinning with an overseas parish. A parish profile was completed, and forwarded to World Mission Council, and in return, we received a number of profiles from overseas parishes.

A decision was taken look at the possibility of twinning with a parish in Nigeria

The Presbyter ian Church of Nigeria is a partner Church of the Church of Scotland, and has a strong affinity with Scotland through the work of the missionary Mary Slessor (1848 – 1915) however, as yet, there is no twinning in place with an individual parish.

We have had valuable support from local ministers. Rev David Bartholomew, has recently, in his capacity as a member of the World Mission Council, visited parishes in South East Nigeria and gave us first hand information of his experiences. Additionally, Rev Christine Sime, spoke with us on her congregations experiences of twinning with a parish in Zambia , and much insight was gained into the challenges faced and how to work through them.

Our parish profile has been sent to the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria for their consideration and we look forward to future developments.

The person we are corresponding with is Vincent Oko Obinna. Vincent is an elder and minute clerk of the parish session, and works as a lecturer in the Department of Food Science at a nearby Federal Polytechnic.

Vincent has a younger brother, Elijah, an ordained minister with the Presbyter ian Church of Nigeria. Elijah is presently doing doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh, and we are delighted that, along with his wife Favour and son Finlay (born in Edinburgh 8 November 2008), he will be visiting us in Kirkpatrick Durham for morning worship on Sunday 28^th February. He will tell us about life in Amasiri, and share ideas and points of interest with particular regard to our way forward in fellowship.

Vincent Obinna, Session Clerk of our twinned church of St. Peter in Amasiri Junction Parish, Eboyi State , Nigeria , has emailed to tell us of changes being made there. The Minister, Revd. Anthony, will be transferring from 1 September and the church will be giving him a send off on Sunday 22 August. So much has been achieved in the building and development of St. Peter's church under his aegis. Our dear friends are in our thoughts at the time of their fond farewells and as they wait prayerfully to hear news of a new Minister.

Vincent is Session Clerk and works as a lecturer in the Department of Food Science at the Federal Polytechnic, nearby to Amasiri. He is married to Pauline, and has a young family. He is Elijah's older brother.

News from Elijah is that Favour give birth to a baby girl, Elspeth Ezine Obinna, on 1st October.

" Our minister Patrick Mnachi was inducted last Sunday in a Presbytery service held at Amasiri Junction Parish. I missed the event having just left the hospital after a surgery. I gathered that the event was a well attended . Work on the building has reached lintel level. We covet your prayers"

We have had some news from the congregation at St Peter’s, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Amasiri Junction Parish, with whom we are twinned. A new minister has taken over, a young man by the name of Revd. Nmaju Chijioke Amos, known as Pastor Ceejay. He is helping to expand the parish, and is particularly keen to get the youth involved. They have recently concluded one of their revival programmes which was very well attended, even by non-Presbyterians, and was a truly refreshing time for them all.

They will be holding their annual harvest thanksgiving service on Sunday 18 December and they ask us to pray along with them for a successful harvest season. And new windows are being installed in the church building.

A copy of the recent Guild dedication service has been sent for sharing with the Guild at St Peter’s.