The Church Missionary Society (CMS)

The Church Missionary Society was formed in London in 1799. Not long after its inception CMS was responsible for sending chaplains to work in the colonies, including Australia. One of the first of these chaplains was the much misunderstood, Samuel Marsden. It was Marsden who was responsible for establishing the first CMS auxiliary in Australia in 1825, primarily to engage in work among the Aboriginal people.

The Church Missionary Society of Australia was established in 1916. It now has nearly 100 serving missionaries in around 35 countries.

The history of CMS is fundamentally about people. People with vision, who first grasped the opportunities to make the gospel known around the world; people with commitment, who prayed for God's blessing on CMS; people with courage, who went out and who continue to go out to take the gosple to those who haven't heard. People like Jono and Amy Vink.

Jono, Amy, Isaac, Lili, Brie & Abe Vink in Tanzania

The Vinks are based in Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria, near Kenya. Jono & Amy and their kids have been link missionaries with Gerringong Anglican since they first went to Tanzania in 2004. Jono is helping to train church leaders, grounding them in biblical theology and practical exegetical skills to help them teach the bible and to pastor God's people. Amy home schools Lili and Isaac and leads Girl's Brigade and Sunday School at the local church.