Lots of smiling faces at our Church Mission Society conference last week – and my new variation on a group photo… Hey, why all stand in a long boring line when you can do oh so much more?

The conference was held at the King’s Park Conference Centre in Northampton…

And it was great!  Great to meet so many old friends and make so many new ones, catch up with what’s what and who’s who, and listen and share and learn and enjoy.  And be inspired too.  The Bible studies were led by Rev. Anita Smith, former CMS mission partner in Nairobi, and they were brilliant.  All on Jonah, and all really I.N.S.P.I.R.I.N.G. Lots of other worship and prayer times and sessions relevant to everyone and everything as well.  And tons of good food.  And some rest time in the afternoons for exercise in the parks at the back – where the snow and ice were oh so beautiful!

Thanks to all at CMS Oxford for their hard work, time and energy in organizing the conference.  Being very modest, and very English, they all run away if I take out a camera, so you’ll just have to imagine what they all look like.  But I did get one photo of the most wonderful couple, Tanas and Anne.  Anne is our CMS personnel person for Asia and she does such a great job encouraging us all; emails from her always brighten my day, and make me smile.  Thanks Anne – she’s one in a million!

While at the conference, CMS announced the appointment of the new CMS CEO, replacing Philip Mounstephen who left to become the new Bishop of Truro a few months ago.   Please pray for Alistair Bateman, his family and CMS – the link is here.

Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve, and Taiwan is celebrating for the whole of this week.  Your prayers are appreciated as I finish my time in the UK, say goodbye to family and friends, and prepare to leave the UK on Wednesday February 6, first for Dubai, then Sabah, Malaysia and finally arriving in Taiwan on Friday February 15.  Hoping to write a CMS Link Letter somewhere en route.  Watch this space, and thank you all!