St. John's World Team
St. John's supports several important projects overseas with its prayers and its annual giving. This work is coordinated by the World Team.
The current list of projects is below, with links to their websites where available.
The Mar Elias Educational Institutions set up by Archbishop Em. Elias Chacour in Ibillin, Galilee, Israel with the aim of interfaith peacebuilding through education. Archbishop Em. Elias Chacour has recently chaired a conference for peace. The UK Charity supporting this is Ashray.
Due to the oustanding work he has done promoting peace with justice, in December Elias Chacour was asked to host an Interfaith Conference on Peace with Justice at Mar Elias Educational Institutions, to which all faiths, Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze, were invited.
Please click here to read the January 2025 prayer letter.
The Michael Project in Harare, Zimbabwe, established by David and Helen Hobbs. The Michael Project is a ministry of River of Life Church in Harare (Zimbabwe), and has been established as a result of the needs of children at risk in Zimbabwe. Simba and Barbara Pfupajena now head a management team that draws on the gifting and experience of key individuals who have a passion for taking on the challenge of addressing the plight of children at risk. It was lovely to see David and Helen Hobbs who visited St. John's in May 2024. In October 2024, we had a very successful coffee morning to raise funds for them.
Pannai Family Village Farm at Kasam, Katpadi, Vellore in South India, founded by Dr. Pauline E. King in 1969. The Family Village Farm is a living community for orphans who are supported until they finish their education. They are cared for by house mothers who when they retire continue to live there as honoured elders.
Shanthigramam – the leprosy village at Karigiri in South India. Shanthigramam – literally "village of peace“ is a haven for aged, destitute persons who have been damaged by leprosy.
Shanthigramam Easter 2024
We have received warm Easter greetings from Valsa Augustine at Shanthigramam conveying their love and gratitude to the congregation at St. John’s for its continued support. Valsa has shared some photos of the residents on Palm Sunday.
Valsa Augustine (Psychologist) wrote in November 2023:
We have seen God's Grace in sustaining and helping to take care of the needs at Shanthigramam. It has been possible only through friends like you. I have forwarded a video, which gives an update on the residents. I am also forwarding the new buildings and cottages which are so very comfortable for the residents.
A few of the long term residents have passed on and new ones
have joined, each with a story of rejection because of Leprosy. 
Please find attached the photos. Will send more.
Love to all of you at church.
Love & Prayers
Valsa
The work of The Church Mission Society. Simon and Sarah Cawdell are based in Gulu, working alongside the Diocese of Northern Uganda (DNU) to help local Christians grow in their faith, teaching theology to local leaders and building sustainability.
Our most recent letter from our CMS friends, Simon and Sarah (February 2026):
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continued encouragement and prayers. We are just back from two days on holiday with our youngest and her fiancee in the nearby Murchison Falls Park. We were very grateful to be able to enjoy time with them, and to receive the 70plus books and journals which they carried with them for the college library. Being in the Park, where nature in the form of beautiful wildlife contends with nature's provision of crude oil, now being extracted from under the Park, reminded me of the careful balance required to live in the creation God has entrusted to our stewardship. We read of many of you experiencing extreme weather conditions and the constant need to adapt farming methods and habits of living. We pray that we will be able to be mindful of our place in creation, and not be overwhelmed by anxiety, to be careful for the needs of all, and still rejoice in whatever we have been given.
May God bless you as spring progresses
Love and prayers, Simon and Sarah
Also, please find here their Prayer Letter from January 2026.
The work of the Mothers’ Union in the Literacy Project in East Africa. Mothers’ Union is a Christian organisation that has been supporting families worldwide for over 140 years. Started by our founder Mary Sumner in 1876 at St. Mary's in Old Alresford, we have grown into an international charity with over 4 million members in 84 countries.
The work of Christian Aid. Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. Churches Together in Alresford organises the annual collection.
St. John's is a Fairtrade Church, which means all of our refreshments are sourced from fairtrade organisations. Fairtrade is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the things we love.