Mission
Nearby And Far Away
What is the Mission of St Barnabas?
As a stone church, St Barnabas looks rather solid and immovable! However the people of the parish have been on the move, following Jesus and being involved in His mission for over 100 years. Our mission is to get involved with whatever He is doing through His Spirit in the community – to discern what He’s up to and join in! We believe our mission grows out of and is established upon the mission of God to all the world – it’s big – very big – but it’s also very local – as local as every individual person in our streets and neighbourhoods.
And it’s a great privilege to be called to this task – it gives energy, purpose and lots of joy! Our parish exists to hear and understand about our loving God and His purpose for everyone, and then to use our local church as a kind of base camp for operations within our community. Not just inviting people to come – although that’s important, but summoning God’s people to go and connect up with people, show compassion and tell them about Jesus!
Supporting Overseas Mission Partners
The parish supports Nick and Tessa Laing – mission partners undertaking medical and community justice work in Uganda. Check out their blog at https://ugandapanda.com/
We also support Anne and Anthony McCormick who are mission partners in Cambodia. Check out their blog at https://anneandanthony.wordpress.com/
The parish also supports the parish of All Saints in Tonga. In 2016 a team traveled to Tonga to help build a new church for the parish and we have promised ongoing support with maintenance and in other ways.



Operation Christmas Child & Christmas Hamper Appeal
What better time of year to think about those in need around the world who desperately need our support than Christmas time? Operation Christmas Child involves parishioners filling a shoe box with Christmas gifts so that children from places like the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands can have a special Christmas present. Gifts include something to play with, a practical health gift and an educational gift. Each year the parish donates over 100 shoe boxes to this appeal – get involved and make a difference!
This appeal is for those in need on our own doorstep – the eastern side of our city. We donate frozen chickens, tinned goods and anything that can be used for a Christmas Day meal. The food goes over to a central parish to be distributed to families in time for Christmas Day. This is a great way to share the love of God in a practical way.