Many Christians, especially Anglicans, do not have the privilege of seeing the global Church in all her glory. SOMA helps make sure the nervous system of the body of Christ is functioning as it connects us to the world and breaks down those barriers.
SOMA Australia breaks down barriers through the power of the Holy Spirit, and this builds up the body of Christ. The current Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby has described SOMA as ‘part of the glue that says to us we belong to each other because we belong to Jesus.’ So we stand alongside our hurting brothers and sisters, as equal ‘heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,’ who ‘share in his sufferings’ and so also ‘share in his glory.’ Romans 8:17
We want the Anglican arm of Christ’s body to be emboldened and built up through teams witnessing and experiencing the global church on overseas missions, and back in Australia through sharing what God is doing abroad. This ‘reciprocity in mission’ is paramount to the SOMA vision. We are aware that the main function of the nervous system is to wake us up to danger and pain. As God connects the church through SOMA we all benefit. ‘SOMA Stories,’ often coming in the face of difficulties and suffering, can awaken parts of the church in danger of falling asleep and bring hope, joy and faith for the future that we face together.
