Anglican Missions

13/05/2026

“Rats are attacking babies.”

A devastating call from my friend Sawsan Batato from the Diocese of Jerusalem reveals a crisis in Gaza which is still unfolding beyond the headlines.

Read our latest Substack piece by our Humanitarian and Development Manager Mark Mitchell here.

“Rats are attacking babies.” A devastating call from my friend Sawsan Batato from the Diocese of Jerusalem reveals a crisis still unfolding beyond the headlines.

07/05/2026

Pray the News has a new home!

Our latest edition (and our first on Substack) looks at Iran, energy, and the hidden humanitarian impact of rising fuel costs.

When energy prices rise, the pressure is not only felt at petrol pumps or in weekly shopping bills. For vulnerable communities, it can affect food security, livelihoods, transport, electricity, and the cost of getting humanitarian aid to those who need it most.

In this edition, we pause to pray for those most exposed to these rising pressures, for communities already living with conflict and instability, and for those working to provide practical support in increasingly difficult conditions.

Read the latest edition of Pray the News now!

If you haven’t already, consider subscribing on Substack so future editions arrive directly in your inbox.

The conflict involving Iran is driving up energy costs and disrupting supply chains, with the heaviest burden falling on vulnerable communities already facing insecurity.

06/05/2026

Our Anglican Missions team was grateful to spend time in Fiji in April for ORAC 2026, the Oceania Regional Advisory Committee conference.

ORAC brings together Anglican development agencies and church partners from across Oceania and the wider Anglican Communion. For us, it was a wonderful opportunity to listen, learn, share stories, and spend time with partners and friends from across the region.

The week held rich conversations around disaster preparedness, climate resilience, safeguarding, gender justice, water and sanitation, oceans and plastics, and ethical development practice. We were also pleased to contribute to the programme, with Kris leading a workshop on artificial intelligence and what it may mean for church, mission and development work.

Gatherings like ORAC remind us that mission is never just about projects or programmes. It is about people, relationships, trust, and the work we do together over time.

We give thanks for the faithful work already happening across Oceania, and for the partnerships that continue to shape and strengthen our shared mission.

19/04/2026

As we watch the impact of flooding across Wellington today, we're reminded that while we can’t control the weather, we can control how we stay connected.

We're seeing incredible examples of local coordination right now, with communities using platforms like WhatsApp to check in on neighbours, organise local clean-ups, and share real-time updates.

Our National Director, Michael, has been seeing this first-hand with his own congregation at St Hilda’s, using digital groups to ensure the drains are kept clean and people affected have dry bedding and towels.

Is your community ready to communicate?

When a weather event starts, having a pre-established group chat or phone tree can be the difference between a rapid response and a missed opportunity to help. We encourage all parishes and community groups to:

🟢 Establish your channel now: Don't wait for the event to happen to set up your WhatsApp or messenger groups.

🟢 Assign roles: Who is checking on the elderly? Who is monitoring the church drains?

🟢 Use our resources: We have developed a suite of disaster preparedness guides to help you navigate these moments safely and effectively.

Explore our preparedness resources here:
👉 https://anglicanmissions.org.nz/emergency-preparedness/

Our thoughts are with everyone currently dealing with water damage and local clean-ups. Stay safe, stay connected, and keep looking out for one another.

Faith Communities have always served in times of disaster and cared for those in need. Churches and marae already have significant strengths that can be incredibly effective in supporting communities before, during and after disasters. These strengths include familiar buildings, established connecti...

10/04/2026

It's completely normal to feel a bit anxious or powerless in the face of a major weather event like Cyclone Vaianu. While we can't control the storm arriving, we can control how we prepare and look out for one another.

We've already been in touch with Bishops to offer support in potentially affected Diocese, and Anglican Missions is standing by, ready to launch an appeal if an urgent response is needed.

Right now, the best thing our parishes and communities can do is focus on practical preparedness.

Here's a checklist for our parish leaders and community members to help everyone stay safe:

Before the Storm Hits:

🟢 Reach out: Contact elderly and isolated members of your parish.

🟢 Power up: Charge all phones and power banks.

🟢 Plan ahead: Identify anyone who might need emergency medicines or transport.

🟢 Tie it down: Secure outdoor furniture, church signage, and loose items.

🟢 Clear the way: Check and clear drains and gutters around your home and church property.

🟢 Check access: Confirm who holds the church keys and alarm access.

🟢 Stay informed: Note and follow all local Civil Defence updates.

After the Storm Passes

🔴 Safety first: Avoid all unnecessary travel.

🟢 Check in: Conduct rapid welfare checks on vulnerable people in your network.

🟢 Assess: Safely report any building or property damage.

🟢 Open doors: Advise whether your church can be safely used as a community support point.

🟢 Communicate: Share any immediate community needs directly with your Diocese or Anglican Missions.

For more detailed guidance, you can review our emergency preparedness resources here:

👉 https://anglicanmissions.org.nz/emergency-preparedness/

Stay safe, look after your neighbours, and keep each other in your prayers.

Faith Communities have always served in times of disaster and cared for those in need. Churches and marae already have significant strengths that can be incredibly effective in supporting communities before, during and after disasters. These strengths include familiar buildings, established connecti...