The Diocese of Carlisle has strengthened ties with the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS) to further support mission and ministry activities across Cumbria.

For more than 15 years, the Diocese has collaborated with the NMS, particularly with its Network Youth Church initiative. This engages hundreds of young people in the county and provides an introduction to international missionaries.

This week, the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, signed a new six-year partnership agreement with the NMS.

This guarantees the continuation of a joint mission, resourcing local ministry, and shared education.

From 2024 to 2026, the NMS is set to fund a new Children's and Families worker role to help nurture new church communities, whilst also supporting the Diocesan interns' scheme and Network Youth Church.

On Monday, NMS representatives, along with Brazilian mission partners who are also supported by the Norwegian team, came together with the Diocesan staff at Carlisle Cathedral to hold a special Eucharist ceremony, celebrating the ongoing partnership.

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Bishop Rob said: "We are thrilled to be able to extend this working agreement with our Norwegian partners.

"We are truly thankful for the considerable financial commitment they continue to offer each year as together we look to grow disciples across Cumbria and strengthen our international bonds.

"It was a huge blessing to be able to gather together at Carlisle Cathedral – members of NMS, a group of Brazilian mission partners and friends from our link Diocese in Northern Argentina, who happen to be visiting Cumbria at the moment – to celebrate God’s goodness across all nations."

Currently, NMS is working alongside Brazilian mission partners in France and is seeking opportunities to further enhance its support to the Diocese of Carlisle.

According to Sandra Bischler, the NMS section leader for Europe and Brazil, the strengthened partnership brings a lot of excitement and positivity as it signals the start of a new era for them.

She said: "We are very excited to be able to strengthen this partnership further.

"We have new projects that we are going to support and together we will also look at the possibility of new missionary placements with our Brazilian friends.

"This new partnership agreement is taking us into a new era.

"It is hugely positive."

Samuel and Karla Treptow Coswig, missionaries in southern Brazil, flew over to Cumbria to meet with NMS and Diocesan representatives.

They are exploring possible mission opportunities in Cumbria in the approaching years.

Mr Treptow Coswig said: "We feel that we would learn a lot here and it may also be useful to pass on some of the things that we have learned from our churches in Brazil and from what God has taught us.

“There are also some things which are similar about Cumbria and Brazil; the winter is similar to that in my home town, although I admit that it is a little colder here!”