NEW MISSION COORDINATOR
SOMA UK and SOMA Ireland are joining forces to create a joint SOMA Mission Coordinator (UK and Ireland) role to help both organisations meet the demand for SOMA missions around the world.
The Revd Henry Blair has been appointed to the role. The role will be administered by SOMA UK and Henry will join the SOMA UK staff team. Henry is also the National Director for Ireland, currently a voluntary position, and is stepping out of parish ministry after 19 years as a parish priest to pursue this combined calling to SOMA ministry as Mission Coordinator and National Director.
This is a role that God has been speaking to Henry about over the past year and a big step of faith as he leaves the security of parish housing and stipend for a part-time role. We are praying that more finances will come in to enable his SOMA ministry to be funded full-time.
Henry writes: “I am excited about the challenges of this new chapter. The role of Mission Coordinator is an important aspect of the development of SOMA UK and SOMA International. I believe that the roles of Mission Coordinator and National Director of SOMA Ireland would combine effectively and enhance each other.”
Revd Richard Moy, National Director of SOMA UK, writes, “I am so grateful to God for calling Henry to this role. We have worked together at the Lambeth Conference, in Rwanda and in Ireland as well as through the National Directors network. Henry brings the skills of a trained accountant to the role, as well as many years of mission experience. It will be a tremendous help as we develop SOMA UK, SOMA Ireland and the International SOMAs to have someone with his attention to detail, self-motivation, and ability to complete tasks to the highest standard working with our emerging group of team members and team leaders. This is a real answer to prayer and I look forward to working even more closely together as a combined staff team.”
The panel included trustees from UK and Ireland.
The role will begin 1 October 2023 and one of the first tasks will be to develop the itinerary of missions for 2023-4 for teams under the SOMA UK and SOMA Ireland banner.
Endorsements:
Revd Andrew Quill, Chair of Trustees SOMA Ireland. “Henry Blair has a passion for Word-based and Spirit-filled ministry and a love for the Church locally and globally. This new role in SOMA will see his God-given gifts deployed in new ways in the service of the Kingdom, and we are very excited about what lies ahead."
Ven Kevin Roberts, Chair of Trustees SOMA UK. “I’m delighted that God has called Henry to the Mission Coordinator role. He has huge experience in ministry and with SOMA and is ideally equipped to help us grow our capacity to respond to the many invitations we are receiving for SOMA missions.”
Henry being prayed for by Most Revd Justin Badi (International Chair/patron of SOMA International) and members of the Rwanda team.
Henry leading a briefing for his mission team in Ireland.
Henry meeting with the Bishop of the Artic, Rt Revd David Parson and his suffragan Rt Revd Joey Royal at Lambeth 2022.
Henry addressing the Down and Dromore Clergy conference in Sligo 2023 alongside Rt Revd Bishop David McClay.
