God’s work
encompasses the entire universe. As Christians, we belong to a worldwide
family of believers and it is vital that we maintain this perspective in
all that we do. Westlake supports missions for the advancement of God’s
kingdom and its values: to build God’s church, to lead people to a
personal knowledge of Christ and to minister to people in need. A
minimum of 10% of our annual church budget goes towards supporting
mission work. At Westlake, mission work falls into two groups: direct
support to mission projects and missionaries from Westlake.
Mission Projects
Hope Now, Ukraine
Support to Hope Now focuses mainly on its
work in orphanages in Ukraine. The mission runs a number of cottage
homes which take in abandoned children, most of whom have been
discharged from state orphanages that are understaffed and overcrowded.
The children are clothed and provided with education and training,
giving them a better chance to join in society when they are older.
Nastya in Ukraine Nastya was a child in one of the orphanages in Ukraine for a number of years with Hope Now. Our Sunday school children at Westlake had supported her through special collections. She has since out grown the Sunday school and is doing an apprentice programme. The Mission Committee has taken over from the Sunday school to continue to support her until the end of this programme.
Sasha in Ukraine
Sasha is a child who is in one of the orphanages in Ukraine. The Sunday school children at Westlake have a special collection to support him.
India – Slum re-settlement
A project was founded in about 2000 after realising that reaching out to the underprivileged in a large New Delhi slum re-settlement required a practical approach as well as a spiritual one.
Since then, the work has expanded and now there is a school for over 200 pupils, sewing classes, micro-credit schemes as well as other ideas. A special class is held from 8 a.m. till 10 a.m. during the week for children who are rag pickers, this is between their working hours!
Westlake has been supporting this project and a few of the Westlakers have visited the work. Coming away from this enormous slum and the work that this project accomplishes, seeing this team of dedicated and faithful workers, we can be proud to be partners with them.
Pastor James with the Fishing Village Church of Lome in Togo
James Adoukpo Mensanh Kossi, an ex-marine engineer on fishing vessels, translated in 1995 from English to Ewe for the crew of the Mercy Ship, Anastasis, during the regular Bible Studies at the Fishing Village near the port of Lome. It was clear from the beginning that James was anointed by God to preach the Gospel of salvation to his people. God worked amazingly and several dozen souls were won into the Kingdom. When it was time for the crew of the Anastasis to leave Lome, they prayed over James and commissioned him to the Lord’s work and sponsored him (USD 400.-) to do a Disciple Training School at YWAM in Tema in Ghana. When he returned to Lome several months later, the young Church had dwindled and was left with 11 young souls. Saddened but with full of hope, James, started to preach the word of God with enthusiasm and great joy to the lost souls at the Fishing Village. Those who were saved were diligently discipled by James to be disciplers and the church grew. James attended a local Bible School from 1998 to 2000 and the Lord established His Church at the Fishing Village. They worship, preach and teach under open port workers’ shelter. James stood on the Lord’s word “teach them to obey everything I have commanded (taught) you” by discipling 20 capable men and women to become evangelists like him. By the grace of God, they have now planted 4 churches in the nearby villages in Togo. It is a great privilege for us in Westlake to partner with God and James.
Annual Missions Sunday Once a year, the Sunday service is dedicated to Westlake’s missions ministries. A guest speaker from one of the mission projects currently receiving regular support from Westlake is invited to give the sermon. Special activities are organized that focus on the importance of mission work.
Westlake Missionaries
Since 1999, Westlake has recognised the importance of supporting church members undertake mission-related work. Those supported have done mission work in the Central African Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, India, Sierra Leone, England and Belgium. Support has been through financial contributions by the congregation as well as through regular prayers.
Westlake has the unique privilege of having some full time Missionaries and Mission workers as members of our congregation. It is our desire to encourage, provide spiritual support and include them in this vital ministry.
Mission giving
The monthly collections of every 3rd Sunday service go to one of the above projects and Youth for Christ. We also partner with others on a non-regular basis by a special giving. Food for the Hungry, China, Pro-Life in Romania and the Belgian Evangelical Mission received so far this year these special gifts.
For more information about Westlake's involvement in mission’s projects, please email to missions@westlakechurch.com.
Church building: Rue Juste Olivier 6, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland. Office: Place de la Gare 9, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland. Tel: +41 22 990 2450, Fax: +41 22 990 2451, Emails: for Nyon - info@westlakechurch.com, for Lausanne - lausanne@westlakechurch.com Website: www.westlakechurch.com
