A sizzle of anticipation flows through the Anglican Missions Board offices in Wellington when Lenten Appeal projects are chosen. 

Since 2011 the Church has been offered three Lenten projects instead of the more general appeal for Jerusalem and the Middle East.

This year Bishop Mouneer has asked that the Church in NZ link with the Church of the Epiphany in Port Said, Egypt.

Port Said is a vibrant, noisy and colourful city in a part of Egypt that has been haunted by journalists, travellers, artists, engineers, merchants and armies for centuries. So it is not unusual to hear European and Occidental languages as well as Arabic on the streets.

In the middle of this colourful melange of languages and religions stands the Church of the Epiphany, quietly testifying to the life of Christ and sharing the Christian message of love and service.

The church has the wonderful problem of being too small for its congregation, so services and teaching aimed at young people take place outdoors where summer temperatures can exceed 44 deg C.

Bishop Mouneer has asked that our Lenten offering this year goes to help the Church of the Epiphany build classrooms in a proposed Ministry Centre. This will provide a permanent home for children and youth when they attend church and have Sunday School.

The Diocese of Jerusalem also has asked us to support the healing ministry of St Luke’s Hospital in Nablus. This 60-bed hospital caters for the wide community in and around Nablus (over 360,000), offering general surgery and specialist services in obstetrics, paediatrics, neonatology and emergency care.

St Luke’s employs 126 people who treat 8940 inpatients a year, regardless of religion, social status or ability to pay.

The hospital wants to improve intensive care by buying another patient monitor in the ICU. This will also boost the hospital's income.

The third Lenten project is in a remote area of Tanzania, on the border with Kenya and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, where Bishop Mwita Akiri has been training priests and senior clergy for the Diocese of Tarime, formed in 2011.

Many congregations have no access to public transport, so Bishop Mwita wants to give his senior clergy wheels.

This year’s Lenten Appeal will help buy three motor-cycles for archdeacons.

For more information or resources connected to the AMB Lenten Appeal, email info@angmissions.org.nz