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SOMA - Sharing of Ministries Abroad.Welcome to Sharing of Ministries Abroad SOMA is dedicated to fostering the renewal of the Church world-wide, with a view to enabling and equipping the Church to fulfill the "Great Commission" of Jesus Christ given in Matthew 28:19-20. While the ministry of SOMA is primarily to the Anglican Church it is not limited to that and there is involvement by and with other churches. SOMA's ministry is mainly exercised through short term missions of 1-3-weeks duration. The focus of SOMA's ministry is to diocesan, national or provincial leadership. These leaders are encouraged to and equipped to work in the same way with local congregations. In most cases SOMA's involvement in a particular province or diocese comes as the result of an invitation from the Archbishop or Bishop or their delegate. Ministry is always carried out under the authority of the Bishop. The initial visit to a country/diocese is considered an exploratory mission. The purpose of such exploratory missions is threefold:-
Exploratory missions are normally led by one of the National Directors. All subsequent ministry flows out of this foundation. A SOMA mission usually includes team training and orientation before ministry begins - although this is not always possible! Ministry will involve one or more renewal conferences/seminars and joint ministry with national or diocesan leaders to local congregations. Conferences, etc. involve both clergy and lay leaders. Often expatriate career missionaries attend. They are always encouraged in their own ministry. SOMA Ministry teams comprise of clergy and lay people. Teams are normally selected from congregations that have become partners in SOMA's ministry and mission and which support the work financially and in prayer. Team members are selected on the basis of their discerned spiritual maturity and gifts and the needs that have been communicated by the host diocese. Generally speaking, an initial SOMA teaching seminar may begin with an overview of Renewal movements in the history of the Church. This will often be followed by a session to establish that the authority of the Bible as the Word of God and the basis of our teaching. Subjects covered in an initial seminar usually includes the following:-
Teaching on subsequent missions will include:-
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