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Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
Special Offering 2023: Mission Moment2/21/2023 Ukraine“I was living a normal life,” eighteen-year-old Dmitry recalled. “I was studying logistics and marketing and playing football. I wanted to be a professional footballer, and had a contract with the Mariupol junior football team.” Anna, also 18, is from Donetsk, and had already moved because of the earlier war (2014, when Russia annexed Crimea). Now in Mariupol with Dmitry, “I was studying law, wanting to become a lawyer.” The young couple’s dreams of football and law were interrupted when they woke to a call from Dmitry’s parents telling them that the war had started. Special Offering 2023 : Mission Moment2/14/2023 Afghan Refugee ResponseIn the fall of 2021, as the government of Afghanistan collapsed and families were rapidly evacuated, Week of Compassion reaffirmed refugee response as an ongoing priority and employed increased resources, including the Afghan Welcome congregational grants, to support local churches. Dozens of congregations, across multiple regions of the Disciples church, helped Afghan families to establish a new life in an entirely new place under deeply stressful circumstances. Out of the desperation and disconnect of this crisis, opportunity and community thrived. At every step, Disciples saw hope RISE UP ANEW. update: Turkey & Syria2/10/2023 a letter and update from the Executive DirectorDear Church,
All of us continue to pray for the people in Turkey and Syria as we hear and watch the impact of the 7.8 earthquake that has devastated so many lives. The death toll numbers continue to rise daily - as of this writing, over 22,000 - and this number is expected to rise with each day. Like many of you this week, my heart has been aching for the people in Syria and Turkey as thousands of families are searching for their loved ones. The winter cold continues to make the recovery efforts even more difficult. “A crisis within a crisis” is how many of our partners on the ground are describing the devastating earthquake. Turkey & Syria2/7/2023 supporting partners in earthquake responseEarly Monday morning, February 6, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. At least 78 aftershocks have been reported, and a second earthquake nearly as large (7.5) rocked central Turkey not long after. Early analysis shows that the quake was not only quite strong, but also very shallow, which is often more damaging than deeper ones. Week of Compassion is in close contact with our partners in the region, including colleagues who were coincidentally traveling in the affected area. 2023 Volunteer Opportunities2/3/2023 Week of Compassion is grateful for all the ways Disciples are at work. This ministry is only possible because of relationships, generosity, and commitment to each other and to the call of Christ to care for our neighbors. Here are just a few ways you can connect with volunteer opportunities, trainings, and events over the next several months. Special Offering 2023: Mission Moment1/31/2023 Sunny Day CampOn a dark night in early December 2021, entirely out of season, tornadoes tore across eight states, killing more than 80 people and devastating many communities. Just eight months later, on a warm Saturday in July, two Disciples churches and several community organizations made sure that dozens of children impacted by those winter storms in western Kentucky spent time outside with friends and caregivers, reveling in a bright and sunny day. WELCOME1/24/2023 stories of refugee & immigrant response (part 3)More Than They ImaginedWELCOME: stories from Week of Compassion’s Refugee and Immigrant Response
In this four-part series, over the course of a year, we are in conversation with some California Disciples and their ecumenical collaborators, as they welcome an Afghan family into their community, offering radical hospitality and welcome to new neighbors in their midst. We also include a few brief check-ins with other Disciples who are doing similar work in their own communities. |
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