Licensed Lay Minister receives prestigious Lord Mayor’s Medal

First published 26th April 2023

The Lord Mayor’s MedalPhoto of Sue Farrance holding her medal and certificate

Last week, Sue Farrance, who works as LLM for Christ the Servant in Stockwood, was awarded the prestigious Lord Mayor’s Medal for her  work on Operation Christmas Child.

Each year, 12 to 15 medals are presented to people who have shown ‘outstanding and innovative unpaid service and support provided to others, especially selfless service to a voluntary body, or which brings distinction and quality to Bristol life.’

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a project run by Samaritan's Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian organisation. The project delivers gift-filled shoeboxes, filled with Christmas gifts and essential items, to children in difficult circumstances such as war or famine.

Sue has spent 10 years helping to fill and deliver an estimated 150,000 shoeboxes, which have been sent to hundreds of young people in need.

Sue tells the story of one orphaned girl who was delighted to receive a toothbrush in her shoebox:

”I can now clean my teeth without sharing my toothbrush with others!”

Many of our churches and church schools take part in Operation Christmas Child each year. If you would like to send a box this year, National Collection Week is from the 13th to the 20th of November.

Find your nearest collection centre here

Interested in becoming a Licensed Lay Minister?

Talk with your vicar or chaplain before coming along to one of our ‘Am I Called to Ministry?’ evenings, which are held twice a year for six weeks. Contact mindevadmin@bristoldiocese.org to find out more.

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