A six-strong delegation from one of the Diocese of Carlisle’s major mission partners is visiting Cumbria to see how their support is helping grow disciples in the county.

The group from the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS) is led by their General Secretary, the Rev Helge Gaard.

Their visit began today (Thursday 6 February) with a tour of a Lake District primary school, and they are set to meet church planters, Network Youth Church (NYC) leaders, interns and young people who will attend an NYC weekend at the Knock Christian centre near Appleby.

The Acting Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, said: “It’s always a delight to be able to welcome our Norwegian mission colleagues to the county.

“We greatly value this international partnership and very much look forward to spending time with our visitors in fellowship and faith whilst also showing them the wonderful ways in which their financial and prayerful support is helping grow God’s Kingdom here in Cumbria.”

The tour began with a trip to Threlkeld CE Primary School this morning before they met with the Rev John Freeman, who is currently planting a new church community – St Aidan’s - along the A66 corridor around Keswick. NMS has part-funded the church planting scheme as well as supporting the diocesan intern scheme and Network Youth Church leaders in the Brampton Deanery.

Their visit comes just 12 months after the Diocese and NMS further strengthened ties around mission and ministry, with each co-signing a new six-year partnership agreement, extending the international relationship which has been in place for more than 15 years.

The NMS representatives will also meet up with missionaries Samuel and Karla Coswig who, last August, travelled more than 6,000 miles from southern Brazil to begin ministry to young people in Carlisle and who are largely funded through NMS.

Rev Gaard said: “Having partnerships like this is very important to us and helps build mission with our European neighbours. As churches we need to stay together, and this is a great way to do that and to further God’s Kingdom.”

Haakon Kessel, leader of the NMS Global, added: “Our hope is to further develop the co-operation between both the Diocese and NMS. This is a mutually beneficial relationship through which we can learn from each other. We have so many things in common and we hope that this will develop into a new chapter for us both.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

NMS is a voluntary organisation, rooted in the Church of Norway. It is the first and oldest mission organisation in Norway and largely consists of voluntary involvement from people and congregations who pray, give and collect money for the work.

NMS will, together with organisations, churches, and individuals throughout the world, work actively to equip each other to share faith in Jesus, fight injustice and eradicate poverty. In addition to this, NMS strives to develop trustworthy leaders in its own organisation as well as in partner churches and organisations.

NMS is currently working in the following countries or regions: Estonia, United Kingdom, France, Cameroon, Mali, Ethiopia, South Africa, Madagascar, Brazil, Pakistan, China, Thailand, and Japan. The society also works in the Middle East through satellite television.

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.