Bishop urges churches to mark Christian Blind Mission Sunday

The Bishop of Basingstoke has urged churches to get involved in Christian Blind Mission Sunday this October.  

Launched this year, Christian Blind Mission Sunday is a new initiative to help churches learn, pray and fundraise to prevent blindness and help people who struggle to see  in the world’s poorest places. Bishop David says:

“Having been brought up in East Africa, and visited the region many times since, I have seen how communities can be transformed when people experience God’s love and are released from poverty. Conversely, it is not unknown for people living with disabilities to experience stigma and exclusion. Christian Blind Mission, through its Partners, works towards a world when all people are included and are set free from the cycle of poverty and disability in order to fulfil their potential and enjoy their God-given human rights. I therefore commend Christian Blind Mission to you and your church and encourage you to get involved.”

The Rt Rev David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke, grew up in Uganda, East Africa, where CBM has several programmes to prevent blindness and support people living with disabilities.

Order your free Christian Blind Mission Sunday resources today (open link in new tab).

Christian leaders endorse new initiative

Other leading Christian figures have also expressed their support for Christian Blind Mission Sunday, including Paul Harcourt, National Leader of New Wine England and vicar of All Saints’ Woodford Wells:

“At New Wine, we’re committed to ensuring that every person is valued and included.  So I’m delighted to support this new initiative from CBM to help children with disabilities in Kenya fulfil their God-given potential.  I hope churches will take the opportunity to come together on Christian Blind Mission Sunday to learn about the challenges faced by those who struggle to see in the world’s poorest places and to pray and fundraise to transform lives”.

As a father of a child with a disability, Rev Mark Poulson, who is Secretary for Inter-Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and National Inter-Religious Affairs Adviser for the Church of England, also added his voice to the campaign. Speaking in a personal capacity, he explained his reasons for backing Christian Blind Mission Sunday:

“I highly recommend Christian Blind Mission Sunday to all churches and individuals who share Christ’s heart for people whose circumstances mean that they are all too often pushed to the margins. As a Dad to a child with disabilities, I know only too well some of the challenges and disadvantages that are imposed on people who are at the centre of God’s Kingdom. This is brought into even sharper focus in low-income countries where poverty, stigma and the resulting lack of prospects entraps the lives of millions. By engaging with Christian Blind Mission Sunday we have the opportunity to release, in Christ’s name, those held captive by the cycle of poverty and disability,”

Christian Blind Mission Sunday is a new initiative to enable churches to learn, pray and fundraise to give the precious gift of sight.  A series of inspiring free resources are available to help churches take part on or around 15th October. Order your free resources today (open link in new tab).