A Christian Organisation Providing Housing for Returning Missionaries
Working to provide housing for long serving Christian workers
Imagine …
… coming to the end of many years of service, saying goodbye to your life’s work and adopted family, with nowhere to go next. To some it is no relief to come ‘home’ – it marks the beginning of financial heartache.
Imagine …
… the difference a comfortable flat or house waiting for you would make. Imagine the worry lifted from your shoulders during your last assignment.
The mission partners choose the location – and the Trust do the rest. We either buy a property in the name of the WCT and rent it to them or help them to buy it on the basis of shared equity.
Who runs the Whitefield Christian Trust?
The Trust is administered by the following trustees:
Peter Hellawell FCA, ATII - Peter is a retired accountant and is involved with his local church.
Roger Snowdon LLB (Hons) - Roger is a solicitor in practice in Somerset and involved with his local church.
Mary Grimes-Boyum MSc - Mary served in Nepal for 23 years and is now retired. She is is an active member of her local church in Lewes.
Mike Frith - Mike is a former missionary pilot with MAF and is the founding director of OSCAR - the UK Information Service for World Mission.
Richard Kane - Having worked in property and for various charities Richard is the driving force behind the development of National Marriage Week in 28 nations. Married to Maria for 29 years they have 3 grown up children and live in West Dorset.
Catherine Mezaour - Catherine's experience in the charity sector spans twenty five years, including fourteen years in France. Head of Finance in a local charity, she enjoys a challenge and finding financial solutions.
Catherine was drawn to WCT because of her strong conviction that the provision of suitable housing is vital, especially for those returning from abroad after years in service."
The Trustees do not receive any financial benefit from the Trust. All donations go to help applicants.
Case Studies
Peter and Sally worked in several African countries over a period of 30 years. They wanted to retire to a home near their home church in the edge of London. WCT was able to supplement their resources to make this possible. Now for the first time in their lives, they own their own home. Excitingly, since moving in they have helped re-establish a local church.
Angela worked with AIM in Kenya for over 30 years. Her final work with AIM was in their UK office, using mission housing. On retirement, she was helped by WCT and is now living in the Nottingham area, where she uses her home in the service of her church. She continues to take a special interest in AIM and in supporting retired missionaries.
Ann Lycett went to work in Nepal as a teacher in the 1960’s with Interserve. She enabled missionary families to continue their work as she was able to teach their children. Her work in both Kathmandu and Tansen spanned many years. When she eventually returned to England in 2006, she was without a home. Now with help from WCT she enjoys her home in Essex. Read her full story in News.