Church Mission Society (CMS) | Global Community

Helen and Patrick Mukholi

Helen and Patrick, with their son, Jonathan, are mission partners from Kenya. Since 2003 they have been working with Oxford Youth Works and the young people living on the Blackbird Leys estate in Oxford (one of the largest in Europe).

Helen and Patrick Mukholi and their son Jonathan are from Kenya. They previously served with the Ministry of Agriculture and after that as youth and development workers with the Anglican Church of Kenya (Mombasa Diocese).

Helen was a tutor at Bishop Hannigton’s Bible Institute and Patrick was a Diocesan Youth Adviser and chaplain of a local Preparatory School.

The Bishop of Mombasa released them to serve as CMS mission partners in July 2002 to work and walk alongside the young people of the Blackbird Leys Estate, one of the most deprived areas within Oxford.

They live and work on the estate and have become part of this community. Locally they serve with the relational based ministry of Oxford Youth Works, a Christian charity partnering with CMS.

They have since established various social and working relationships within the community and activities, aimed at reaching young people in order to share their lives and the gospel.

Patrick does regular lunchtime work at the local secondary school, takes assemblies from time to time and is part of the conversation between the various stakeholders in the proposal to turn the school into a Community Academy. Down the road he also runs an after school basketball club. He is also undertaking postgraduate studies in Ministry to the Urban World at the International Christian College in Glasgow, helping him to continuously assess the changing context of their work and then responding appropriately.

Helen is a regular at the Orchard Meadow School as a Reading Help Volunteer and supports families through Home-start. She relaxes by tending a thriving allotment nearby and has also enjoyed taking courses (DIY, digital photography, business and car mechanics) on offer within the community.

Together Patrick and Helen run the Tuesday club at the local ecumenical Church of the Holy Family of which they are active members. Their son Jonathan supports the project in various ways and is the designated Young Leader for the Youth First Project. Following his GCSEs, Jonathan is now undertaking a course in Graphic Design at the Oxford and Cherwell College.

Pray for

Pray for wisdom to manage our personal life and the expectations of Oxford Youth Works, CMS and Church of the Holy Family. We need to focus and not be derailed from what God has asked us to be and to do.
Pray for our family and for our colleagues, and for unity that will show the love of Christ to the estate.
Please pray for Jonathan and for him to find a healthy balance between family, work and college life.
Pray for relationships among the young people at Tuesday club, that they learn to respect and appreciate each other. Pray for Grace to embrace the difference they are making in our lives. Please pray that our lives would also be a credible witness to God's greatness and goodness.
Pray for sustainability of the Community Development Initiative, a crucial organ for youth work on Blackbird Leys, but now facing a huge funding shortfall.

Tags: "mission partner" oxford uk england britain "blackbird leys" youth "youth work"
Last updated: 02/05/2008 08:57