[Church Mission Society] The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby, has called Asia: Prayer and Aware, a new campaign by the Church Mission Society [CMS], a "gift to the church" and pledged his involvement.

The campaign, which was launched at Lambeth Palace, is designed to encourage mission to and from Asia – and to focus on mission among, and by, the Asian community in the UK.

In a special message for the launch, the Archbishop said: “This initiative combines my stated priorities for my ministry whilst Archbishop; prayer, reconciliation and evangelism and witness. I have been moved, inspired and challenged by the costly commitment of Asian brothers and sisters to witness to the love of God for all in Christ. We stand together recognising our need for the Spirit’s empowering presence in this. This initiative is a gift to the church. Count me in."

The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, Canon Philip Mounstephen, the executive leader of CMS, and Professor Harald Suermann of the Institute of Missiology, Missio Aachen, joined together to launch the campaign.

Endorsing the Asia: Prayer and Aware campaign, Philip Mounstephen told an invited audience: "The re-evangelisation of Europe will only come about through the release of the gifts of the global church back into this continent."

Professor Suermann, representing a Roman Catholic perspective, spoke urgently of the need for true ecumenical cooperation in mission.

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali pointed to many examples from Christian history of the huge missionary contributions of the Asian church, saying, "Mission 'from everywhere to everywhere' is not a new idea!" He also emphasised the importance of long-term commitment in mission, saying, "Mission is not hit and run. You have to be committed to presence - to identify with people through dialogue."

The Asia: Prayer and Aware campaign has been widely supported by representatives from various churches including the United Reformed Church, the Mar Thoma Church, as well as free churches, those working with asylum seekers and a mixture of Asian and British clergy.

The Rev Rana Khan, the inspiration behind this initiative, said, "People of Asian heritage can be hugely helpful for the local church, because they have substantial experience of living the gospel of Jesus Christ in multi-religious contexts."

The importance of non-Asians being involved was emphasised by Raj Patel of CMS: "Western and White Christians need to be at the forefront of changing paternalistic and colonial notions of mission – and prove that people from different ethnic backgrounds can do mission together.”

Asia: Prayer and Aware is being characterised as an evolving, grassroots movement and momentum is building with further events now booked in Bradford and London.

Learn more on the CMS website.