Partner Content
WorldShare may not be a name that you know yet, but since 1943 this mission organisation has enabled the Gospel to be revealed across the globe, often in some of the most difficult places.
WorldShare’s roots began following a crackdown on foreign missionaries in China, after Japan’s invasion. Duncan McRoberts, a young missionary from Bangor in Northern Ireland was able to escape to Seattle in the United States. There, he established the China Natives Evangelistic Crusade (CNEC), to raise funds to support Chinese Christians who continued to proclaim the Gospel, leading hundreds to find Christ. In 1946, CNEC set up a sister organisation in England to further support this work.
In the years that followed, many Chinese Christians fled to Hong Kong and beyond due to continued persecution from the Communist authorities. As they moved, the work also expanded. Further mission organisations were established in Singapore, Canada and Australia forming a worldwide alliance, with the sole purpose of enabling indigenous Christians to share the love of Jesus in their own communities. This included child sponsorship which at the time was groundbreaking.
In 1997, CNEC was renamed WorldShare in the UK, but although the name changed, its mission did not. Today, through its ChildAid programme, it continues to provide love and care for many orphaned and impoverished children through local churches and Christian organisations in Guatemala, Myanmar, Ghana and India.
Although the alleviation of poverty is an important part of WorldShare’s work, it is not the only focus. Its wide-ranging approach to holistic gospel ministry also includes; Community Building, Disaster Relief, Education, Evangelism, Healthcare and Tackling Injustice.
WorldShare currently works with local trusted partners in fifteen countries, including; Gaza, Türkiye, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, and North Macedonia. Current projects include support for a teenage pregnancy crisis centre, solar-powered MP3 players carrying the Gospel in local languages, an emergency response to the Ebola outbreak, and a new girls’ dormitory to replace one badly damaged by years of monsoon flooding.
CEO Andrew Yelland said, “We’re proud of the fact that WorldShare doesn’t impose programmes on our partners. Instead, we support the projects they know will have the most impact in their communities to reveal the transforming message of the Gospel of Jesus.”
As part of a wider campaign to raise the profile of its ministry, this month WorldShare will be exhibiting during the first week of the Keswick Convention. The staff team are working hard, preparing for the visit of their ministry partner leaders, Wendy Thiesson from Haiti and Vivian Kityo from Uganda who will both be speaking at specially arranged events during the week.
For those unable to attend the convention, the team will be recording special episodes of their new podcast, On Mission with WorldShare, with their overseas guests and with other keynote speakers.
To find out more about the work of WorldShare, visit worldshare.org.uk or search for ‘On Mission with WorldShare’ wherever you get your podcasts.
