Judy Acheson MBE

Many congratulations to Judy Acheson, our CMS mission partner from St John's Seven Kings working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who's been awarded the MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Stephen Burgess, CMS transcultural manager for Africa, said of the award that, "It's a fitting tribute to her 30 years' mission partner service in DRC," and we would fully agree as Judy, through her willingness to serve God, has enabled young people across the country to fulfil their God-given potential, recovery and healing for those traumatised by acts committed in the Civil War, and reconciliation combined with forgiveness between those who fought each other in the conflicts.

The award - for services to young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo - comes as Judy prepares to retire next year. For many years she was the youth coordinator for the Anglican Church in Congo, a role which she has now handed over to Congolese colleagues. She now acts as a consultant at a new youth ministry training centre in Mahagi. Over the years she has helped developed a vibrant youth movement in the church, which among many other intiatives has been active in peace and reconciliation work.

Judy has also co-authored a series of manual for young people now being used in schools across the country as well as in churches.

Judy has written that having been in the Congo 30 years, she has had the privilege of seeing part of their history worked out. She has watched God empower new leaders who will continue to help young people to find the Saviour and to take them further in their service to the church and to their country for the glory of God. As Westerners, she says:

"what we do is always important to who we are and where we find our identity. But to the Congolese, it is through relationships, sharing oneself with others, even the vulnerable, weak parts that one discovers who one truly is. To them relationships are more important than the work done."

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Gael - Eh Yahwe.