Jenny Smyth appointed CMS Ireland Mission Director

Friday January 30th 2015

Jenny Smyth.

Jenny Smyth has been appointed Mission Director of CMS Ireland.

Jenny will take over from Ronnie Briggs, who steps down from the post on February 6 as he and his wife Maggie prepare to return to Kenya as CMS Ireland Mission Partners.

Jenny brings with her a vast and varied experience of global mission and of CMS. She served as a CMS Britain Mission Partner in Uganda for eight years before joining the CMS Ireland family in 1996, when she married Billy.

Jenny and Billy then served together as Mission Partners in Uganda (first in Kampala, then in Arua) and in Connor’s partner diocese of Yei, South Sudan.

They returned to Ireland with their children Abigail and Caleb in 2006.

Jenny served as a Trustee on the CMS Ireland Board for five years before joining the staff team in November 2013 as Partnership Coordinator for DR Congo, Egypt, South Sudan and Zambia.

Speaking about her new appointment, Jenny said: “It is a wonderful privilege to be called to serve in the capacity of Mission Director as we go forward from our bicentenary thanksgiving year. I pray for the Lord’s enabling as the society continues to develop Partnership Links between our Global Partners and churches throughout Ireland.

“Many of our Global Partners are facing huge new challenges as they seek to share the good news of Jesus in their communities and demonstrate His transforming love. In CMS Ireland, we will continue to facilitate these links, challenge Christians to step out in service, to share our time, skills and resources as we support one another prayerfully and practically within God’s worldwide family.”

Ronnie Briggs has been CMS Ireland’s Mission Director since November 2010 and has also been acting as Partnership Coordinator for Kenya and Nepal. He and Maggie are due to return to Kenya at the end of February to begin a new term of Mission Partner service.

Ronnie said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Jenny as the new Mission Director for CMS Ireland. This role requires a clear call from God and I know that Jenny has expressed that call over the whole process. She brings with her a breadth of experience of both the church here in Ireland and with many of our Global Partners.

“Please uphold Jenny and her family in prayer over the next few weeks and months, as she takes CMS Ireland into its next phase of ministry.”