Mission


Mission is part of who we are. We believe following Jesus means showing his love in practical ways — locally, nationally and globally. Over many years we have developed strong partnerships that reflect this commitment.

Daniel Bates

Serving with OM in Poland

Daniel grew up at Ashley Baptist Church and was baptised here before being sent out in 2018 to serve with OM (Operation Mobilisation). After completing mission training in the UK and serving on teams across Europe, he is now based in Warsaw, Poland.

Since 2022, Daniel has been part of the OM Poland team, serving in communications and refugee support. He manages team newsletters, writes ministry stories, and helps ensure OM’s work is clearly and effectively communicated. He also contributes through graphic design, photography and video production.

Alongside his communications role, Daniel is actively involved in outreach to people arriving in Poland from many different countries. Through visits to refugee centres and OM’s community centre, he seeks to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways — offering support with integration, building friendships, and providing opportunities for prayer, conversation and Bible study.

Matthew & Helen Skirton

Serving with OM (Operation Mobilisation)

Matthew and Helen joined OM in 1994, beginning their ministry in Eastern Europe. They pioneered OM’s work in Moldova and led the OM team there from 1995–2015. During the following decade, Matthew continued leading OM’s ministry in the country, while Helen served in personnel and hospitality roles.

From September 2025, Matthew serves as OM’s Associate International Director for Mobilisation. In this global role, he leads efforts to inspire and equip more people to engage in God’s mission, building partnerships and helping grow vibrant communities of Jesus-followers across different contexts.

Helen continues to serve alongside Matthew, supporting the ministry through administration, hospitality, and her wide experience in helping people become actively involved in God’s mission.

The Rigau Smyth Family – Málaga, Spain

Since August 2023, Paula and Matias Rigau Smyth and their family have been serving full-time in Málaga.

They work in partnership with Latin Link, serving in two key ministries.

Paula and Matias help lead the work at The Light Cultural Centre (Centro Cultural Luz), where they teach Spanish and English and provide support for refugees and migrants, helping them integrate into Spanish society and build stable new lives.

They also serve on the leadership team at Maranatha Baptist Church Málaga, with responsibilities including worship, children and youth ministry, and multimedia.

Through both church-based and community-focused work, they are sharing the love of Jesus in practical and relational ways.

We are grateful to support them prayerfully and financially as they serve in Spain.

Laura Gimeno

Serving God in Orihuela, Spain

Laura serves in Orihuela, Spain with Misión Vega Baja. Her ministry is focused on faithfully serving God in her local community and being part of gospel witness and outreach in the region.

Through church-based ministry and community engagement, Laura seeks to share the love of Christ and support the work of the local church in southern Spain.

Michael & Teija Greed

Serving with SIL Global and Wycliffe Bible Translators

Michael and Teija serve with SIL Global and Wycliffe Bible Translators, supporting the worldwide work of Bible translation.

Michael

  • General Editor of SIL’s book Language in the Mission of God
  • Leads the Communication team for SIL Eurasia (“From the Sahara to Siberia”)
  • Works with SIL groups in East Africa

Teija

Teija works as a translation consultant in the Russophone world. She supports Bible translation teams with complex questions relating to theology, Hebrew and Greek, and interpretation. She also helps review and approve translated Scriptures for publication.

Together, Michael and Teija are committed to seeing Scripture translated accurately and clearly so that people can encounter God’s Word in their own language.

The Leprosy Mission

We have supported The Leprosy Mission for decades, standing with people affected by leprosy — many of whom still face stigma, isolation and poverty.

Through this partnership, lives are being transformed. Medical treatment, reconstructive surgery, education and community advocacy are helping restore dignity and opportunity to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

Our support contributes towards practical care, long-term development and the sharing of hope with individuals and families whose lives have been deeply affected.

Plovdiv Baptist Church, Bulgaria

We are twinned with Plovdiv Baptist Church in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city.

This relationship began in the early 1990s following the fall of communism and has grown over the years into a genuine partnership marked by friendship, prayer and mutual encouragement.

There have been visits in both directions, and we continue to support the church practically and prayerfully. In recent years this has included helping purchase and develop part of their current church building, including space used for youth work, worship and community activities.

Each Christmas we also send a gift from our fellowship as a sign of our ongoing love and solidarity, helping them support those most in need in their local community.

Baptists Together – Home Mission

As part of Baptists Together, we contribute to Home Mission, which supports Baptist churches and ministries across the UK.

Through Home Mission:

  • Churches in challenging or changing communities receive financial support and encouragement.

  • Regional Ministers are funded to walk alongside churches and leaders, offering guidance and pastoral care.

  • Chaplains and mission workers serve in prisons, hospitals, schools and local communities.

  • New churches are planted and new expressions of church are developed where they may not yet be self-supporting.

Our giving helps strengthen gospel witness across the country and supports churches as they serve their local communities faithfully.

Hope Now – Ukraine

We also support Hope Now in their ongoing work in Ukraine, bringing practical help and Christian compassion to those affected by war.

Through their Ukraine office, teams and volunteers:

  • Distribute humanitarian aid including bedding, clothing and essential supplies.

  • Provide practical care and medical support.

  • Offer prayer, encouragement and pastoral support to displaced families.

  • Support churches as they continue to serve their communities during extremely difficult circumstances.

In the midst of uncertainty and loss, Hope Now brings both tangible assistance and the reassurance that people are not forgotten.

We continue to pray for peace and for the strengthening of local churches serving on the frontline.