Posts by worldrelief
World Relief Urges Bipartisan Immigration Compromise, End to Shutdown
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
January 19, 2019
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
carl@pinkstongroup.com
703-388-6734
World Relief Urges Bipartisan Immigration Compromise, End to Shutdown
Baltimore, Md. â Today, President Trump addressed the nation to propose a compromise to end the month-plus long shutdown. The president proposed a number of possible changes, including $5.7 billion in border security funding to include new physical barriers, legislation that would provide a temporary extension of legal protections for some Dreamers, an extension of Temporary Protected Status for individuals from whom the administration had previously planned to remove these protections and various other proposals.
World Relief President Scott Arbeiter commented, âOur leaders have the unique opportunity to cut through partisan differences and come to a solution that aïŹrms the dignity of and extends compassion to those seeking refuge while improving security for our borders. While we believe we ultimately need solutions that go beyond what was proposed today, we are glad the president has opened the door to compromise.
âWe encourage President Trump not to stop at merely extending protections, but also to oïŹer a pathway to permanent legal status and eventual citizenship for those stuck in limbo in Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,â urged World Relief SVP of U.S. Ministries Emily Gray.âIt is contradictory to our heritage as a nation of immigrants and legacy of Christian hospitality to keep these long-time residents from the chance to become citizens of the country they consider their home.â
The legislative details of any such deal are very important. Given World Reliefâs particular concern for the plight of individuals ïŹeeing persecution, we are particularly concerned about any changes that would limit the ability of those with a well-founded fear of persecution to ïŹnd refuge in the U.S.
âUltimately, our country desperately needs broader immigration reform, including both secure borders and the opportunity for immigrants in the country unlawfully to earn permanent legal status,â added Arbeiter. âWe urge Congressional leaders to return to the table and work together on a bipartisan basis to ïŹnd a broader solution including both improved border security and an earned legalization process for the undocumented, which we then urge the president to sign.â
World Relief invites others to join World Relief leadership in urging Congress and the president to act on a bipartisan basis by adding their names to this letter.
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the worldâs most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, weâve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
World Relief Press Statement on President Trump’s Comments
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
January 8, 2019
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
carl@pinkstongroup.com
703-388-6734
World Relief Press Statement on President Trump’s Comments
Baltimore, Md. â BALTIMORE, MD â Following President Trumpâs Oval Office address, World Relief calls for bipartisan immigration reforms that will both improve border security and improve the process by which immigrants can earn permanent legal status and eventually citizenship.
âThe President defined the situation at the border a humanitarian problem. He’s correct â it’s a humanitarian crisis for those that take on the dangerous trek to the border,â said Jenny Yang, VP of Policy and Advocacy at World Relief.
It’s important that both the President and Congress recognize why they embark on this dangerous journey. For the vast majority, it’s because they are fleeing persecution and severe hardships in their home countries. Erecting a wall will not disincentivize people from fleeing crises in their countries of origin to seek out a better life. The true humanitarian crisis is the global refugee crisis, which is one which the U.S. is well equipped to meet.
âThe U.S. can be both secure and compassionate,â added Yang. âIt is entirely right that our government invest in smart border security, restricting anyone who would harm our country while also keeping the U.S. open to those who qualify under our laws to enter including those with a credible fear of persecution.â
âItâs also important that our response to the situation at the border is fueled by facts, not by misguided fear.â said World Relief CEO Tim Breene. Breene noted that while a small number of immigrants in the country unlawfully have committed serious crimes â for which they should face appropriate justice â overall immigrants, regardless of legal status, commit crime at significantly lower rates than native-born U.S. citizens. And the overall number of apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border for Fiscal Year 2018 were down roughly 45 percent from the average number of annual apprehensions since Fiscal Year 2000.
World Relief re-affirms its call for bipartisan immigration reforms that would both improve border security and provide an earned process by which immigrants who are unlawfully present in the country could earn permanent legal status and eventually citizenship. We are particularly concerned for individuals â such as those currently authorized to work and protected from deportation by Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals â whose legal protections could be removed very soon, pending court decisions.
âPresident Trump and Congressional leaders of both parties have the opportunity to come together for the good of our country,â said Breene. âIf each side gives a bit, they can secure our border, establish an earned legalization process for undocumented immigrants who want to get right with the law and eventually become Americans, and resolve this partial government shutdown.â
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the worldâs most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, weâve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
The Gift of ‘YES’
Godâs âYesâ
In the beginning God said, âYes.â
Lest we forget, before creation âthe earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deepâ (Genesis 1:2). The world was marked by darkness and chaosâand God always challenges darkness and chaos.
So he overtook it. Transformed it. And he did so with light and creative splendor beyond our understanding. The unspeakable beauty of light, color, fragrance, taste, sound and order filled the new creation. Every part of creation, mountains and seas, insects, birds and mammalsâand especially the crown of creation, woman and manâcelebrated the radical grace of Godâs gift of âYesâ.
And yet after receiving this gift, women and men despoiled the beauty of creation and ruptured their relationships with violence, injustice and greed. So God, once again, overcame the power of darkness and chaos, offering his great âYesâ to humankind in the form of his son, Jesus. Darkness was rolled back, and chaos surrendered to order wherever Jesus went.
This Christmas, as with every Christmas, we celebrate this gift. That God has promised us he will always offer his âYes,â and that even amidst the darkness and chaos, God remains, steadfast and unchanging, ready to intercede for us.
Our Response
Godâs âYesâ to humankind brings incredible peace, humility and encouragement. Yet, it also brings with it a great responsibility.
You see, it is precisely because we were created in the image of God that there is also a âYesâ planted deep within our souls, waiting to find its expression. But finding our âYesâ can feel daunting. The world is so broken that the weight of it often easily overwhelms our finite minds, suffocates our weary souls and steals our courage. But rest assured, God does not ask you to meet every need. Far from it, in fact. Jesus tells us âwhatsoever you do for one of the least of these, you have done for me.â (Matthew 25:40). God in his love and sovereignty takes responsibility for the world. His invitation is for us to add our Yes to his, not to replace it.
Over the past few weeks, we have sought to help you discover your âYesâ by listening for Godâs voice (click here if you missed it). Our hope is that by taking this journey, youâve found that it is in connection to God that your life finds power and purpose. We hope youâve also discovered that God wants us to find our âYesâ not as a way of getting something from us but as a way of giving something to us.
You see, âYesâ opens the door to an entirely new way of life. Fear gives way to courage, self-love bows to a new Master, the tentacles of greed are severed and the vine of radical generosity flowers in our lives. We discover that darkness and chaos, the ever-present enemies of our world, can in fact be defeatedâas we become not just bearers of the light, but the light itself. This is why Jesus declared to those who follow him, âYou are the light of the world.â
At World Relief, we have been saying âYesâ to the marginalized and forgotten of the world who for much of their lives have heard âNo.â It is our gift of âYesâ back to God and outward to others. It is expressed in meeting critical needs for the homeless and hungry enduring natural disasters at home or around the world. It rises up to offer a warm welcome to the displaced and refugee fleeing persecution and war in the Middle East, Africa or, most recently, Myanmar. In partnership with local churches, we are seeing our âYes âbring transformation to entire communities. Whether in agriculture, savings programs, health and nutrition, trauma counseling or through battling the ravages of gender-based violence, we are seeing our âYesâ impact the lives of millions of others.
The gift of âYesâ is a life changing force. It moves powerfully from one heart to another. It gathers strength and dispels hopelessness and fear wherever it takes root. God, once again, confronts darkness and chaos with peace and loveâand we are the grateful agents of his lavish grace.
Are you ready to find your âYESâ?
Whether you feel called to add your âYesâ to ours at World Relief or express it in some other fashion, we celebrate your journey towards the heart of God.
Scott Arbeiterâs proven marketplace skills, pastoral experience, passion for mission and history with World Relief uniquely equip him for his role as President of World Relief. Scott was a partner at Arthur Andersen serving in a variety of functions over his seventeen-year marketplace career. In 2001, Scott resigned from the partnership to serve at Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, where he became Lead Pastor. Scott has also served on World Reliefâs Board of Directors for nearly a decade, including three years as Chairman. After finishing his term on the board in 2015, Scott became a consultant and advisor to World Relief Leadership. Scott has been married to Jewel for thirty-three years and together they have raised three daughters, Kelsey, Jacquelyn and Karisâall of whom have grown to love and serve Christ in their own remarkable ways.
Our Journey to âYESâ: Terri & Tim Traudt
Tell me a little about how you first got involved with World Relief?
TIM: I havenât always been this way. In fact, I first got involved with this work through colleagues. At the time, I worked with a few individuals whose hearts had been moved in very significant ways by serving the vulnerable around the world. Back then, I didnât know that much about the issues of our world or the magnitude of the need, but I had a friend recommend the book The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs. In the book, there was a foreword written by Bono and I remember being so inspired by how he used his celebrity status to help expose the needs of the vulnerable around the world. It was really then that I became acutely aware of the magnitude of need and wanted to help. So, I did some research and came across World Relief. Long story short, I got personally involved, and then six years ago I joined the board myself.
Tell me about your own decision making process when it came to charitable giving? Why do you give?
TIM: Our view of charitable giving has really evolved over the years. I think weâve always been generous people but we werenât always intentional with our giving. Today, thatâs changedâwe are very intentional. We truly believe that all we have has been given to us by God and that weâre responsible for stewarding it. So now, Terri and I sit down each year, before the beginning of the year, and we pledge out what our commitment back to God will be. We break it down by organization and we have conversations about each of them. We are always trying to think about how we can be great stewards of what God has given to us over our lifetime.
TERRI: I think, too, that something really changed for us when we stopped seeing âvulnerable peopleâ as a label and started understanding it as a circumstance. When we recognized that being vulnerable is not a fixed status, and that any one of us can and will be vulnerable at one point or another in our lives, that really created a strong sense of solidarity. You know you share a common humanity with the vulnerable when you stop seeing them as âless thanâ, knowing they are equal in Godâs eyes and as human beings. When you see your suffering neighbor as your equal, it changes everything. Itâs not about pity. It becomes about wanting to be a part of raising up humanity and honoring God.
What drew you to World Relief in particular?
TIM: We went on a vision trip and saw firsthand how World Relief is impacting and transforming lives around the world. It wasnât until we experienced what World Relief does in a tangible way that our hearts were really moved. Before that, intellectually, we were certainly supportive of the organization but, to quote an old African proverb, âIt was when our hearts were moved that our feet also moved.â
TERRI: Of course the fact that it was faith-based was important to us. But more than that, I think, was that as we began to learn more about humanitarian and development work, we both became aware that sustainability was key. We knew we didnât want to support a hand-out organization but an organization that honors the dignity of the vulnerable and creates programs that are sustainable. We really witnessed that in reality with World Relief. When we saw the power of that, and the impact we could have, thatâs what really moved our hearts.
What’s been the most exciting thing you’ve seen or heard about as a result of your giving?
TIM: Thatâs hardâthere have been just so many moments that have really validated why weâre committed to World Relief. In any one of the Savings for Life sessions that weâve witnessed, or in meeting with some of the bravest women weâve ever met in Congo, or in hearing government officials in Rwanda affirm our work, or in seeing the strength of churches unified by World Relief in Malawiâthe list goes on. Over and over and over we see stories of the fruit that has been born from the seeds that were planted.
TERRI: Itâs true. And I think meeting with the women in Congo was really an amazing experience for me, personally. Here was this group of women who had gone through incredible amounts of suffering and distress in Congo, yet still standing tall, reclaiming their experiences and their narrative, realizing theyâre not responsible for what happened to them, realizing they didnât do anything wrong. And to watch them be moved to tears, exclaiming they still had joy in their hearts âbecause Jesus loves them,â that was just amazing. Â âHe sees we are clean,â they said. And World Relief was the one who started that repair and healing in them.
What motivates you to continue giving today?
TIM: The Church Empowerment Zone model World Relief has implemented is really incredible. The return on investment is just amazing. You touch thousands, if not millions, of lives. It works with churches that really know their communities and are able to bring people of greatest need into the programs. And of course, itâs those church networks that will remain as long as weâre on this earth, and longer, and that really proves just how sustainable this model is.
TERRI: I think, too, weâve seen how World Relief is teaching and equipping communities in such a tangible way. We really saw that when we were in Malawi and one of the program beneficiaries articulated the transformation curriculum to us. We understood it more through him than we did even through reading about it! And that was incredible. Here was this man, once so down and outâan abusive husband, absent father and alcoholic, articulating a transformation curriculum. It was incredible to see it really at work.
TIM: Yea, it was amazing. As an investment guy, I can tell you itâs a fabulous place to put your money. When you overlay that kind of impact and sustainability with the call from God to stand with and for the most vulnerable, it just meshes beautifully with our vision of how we want to use the resources God has blessed us with to steward.
How has your life been impacted or changed since you started giving to World Relief?
TIM: I think World Relief has had a tremendous impact on how we view the world and how we view our role in the world. We are so honored to be partners with World Relief and play a small part in impacting peopleâs livesâeven if theyâre people weâll never meet here on earth. Itâs hard to describe how much our relationship with World Relief has impacted us. Itâs opened our eyes and matured our hearts to the vulnerable.
Thereâs another amazing story, too. I think in many ways World Relief helped open our eyes and hearts to pray and think on who God might be calling us to love. A few years ago, weâd been in prayer that God would reveal our âvulnerable neighborâ to us. Well, God literally brought her to our driveway. She crashed into our mailbox! She was a refugee and single mother who lived in our neighborhood, yet weâd never met. Today, sheâs one of our closest friends and her son is our Godson. Itâs a very special relationship.
What would you say to other families that are thinking about giving to World Relief or another organization like World Relief? Do you have any advice or encouragement?
TIM: I would first just encourage you to do the research to learn. Whether, like me, itâs reading The End of Poverty, or something elseâjust become aware of the need. I think thatâs incredibly important. There is so much great need out there. Secondly, I would say that I think if you prayerfully read the scriptures and ask God what heâs calling you to do around the vulnerable, he will reveal it, however unexpected. 10 years ago I never would have thought that Iâd be giving to World Relief. But then I saw. And I understood.
There are so many great organizations from which you could choose. But make sure you do choose. Invest in them. Because when you do, youâre really investing in Godâs kingdom. And as Christians, this is where we belong. This is what we should be doing. Itâs an eternal and tremendous return-on-investment. It changes lives.
Are you ready to find your âYESâ?
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
Winter Cup 2018
Saturday, December 8th, we hosted our first refugee youth soccer tournamentâThe Winter Cup 2018âat the San Juan Soccer Club Futsal facility in Rancho Cordova. Registration opened at 8:30 a.m., but by 8:00 a.m. a large queue had already formed. Players were eager to know which team they were on and to meet their coaches. Before the tournament officially began, the eight competing teams gathered to hear rules and words of welcome from organizer, Luke Voight.
Part of Sports Friends International, Luke and his wife, Becca, joined World Relief this summer to launch The Welcome Club, an after-school refugee youth program serving children in the Arden Arcade and Carmichael area. For the past several months, they have organized weekly soccer games and activities for Afghan refugee children. While Luke ran the tournament, Becca oversaw a carnival for the players and their siblings.
The teams were divided into two divisionsâfour under 10âs teams (U10) and four under 14âs (U14). After pool play finished, players and spectators broke for lunch from a halal pizza grill. Two of the four semifinal matches ended in penalty kicks. In both instances, the courts erupted into celebration. Parents snapped photos and videos, and players hoisted the goalkeeper and final scorer onto their shoulders. Ultimately, the blue team also known as the Afghan Kings won the U10 division, and the yellow team known as Team Motahid from Starting Point for Refugee Children (another local nonprofit) won the U14 division.
Organizing The Winter Cup was a massive community effort. San Juan Soccer Club not only donated their space but also water coolers, canopies, and even providing last minute apparel. One of their board members noticed several of the players in jeans and gave their coaches shorts for the finals, saying he didnât want the players feeling left out. River City Christian Church provided a shuttle transporting many of the tournament participants. Twenty plus volunteers donated their time coaching, reffing, setting up, or helping with the carnival. Of volunteer efforts, Luke said, âI was really impressed by our coaches and refs who made everything go so smoothly and kept the kids âin itâ even if they were on a losing team. [They] were so encouraging to the players and parents…Watching the volunteers connect deeper with the Afghan community was wonderful!â Volunteer assistant coach, Mary Ann Wyatt, observed, âI could see how much joy this event brought the children and parents involved. It was exciting to see how everything came together so perfectly.â More than 75 players and their families were in attendance. Starting Point for Refugee Children brought dozens of supporters to cheer on their team. Members from San Juan school district and Starr King Elementary Schoolâs principal came to support.
Events like The Winter Cup are new for World Relief Sacramento. For most of our history, we have served families through traditional resettlement services. This past year, however, we have shifted our focus, taken a step back, and reevaluated what it means to empower the local church and community to serve the most vulnerable. We are developing Children and Youth Services that support the entire family as they move from feeling stable to fully integrated in their new city. We look forward to what 2019 holds as we deepen our commitment to coming alongside and celebrating with our refugee neighbors.
Our Journey to âYESâ: Jill & Jason Hwang
Tell me a little about how you first got involved with World Relief?
JASON: I made my first donation to World Relief in 2005, as a graduate student. At the time, a big focus of my church was financial discipleship and Iâd sat through many sermons and scriptural teachings on generosity. In seeking out opportunities to hear people talk about stewardship, I learned about World Relief. It seemed like a great opportunity to begin giving in a small way.
JILL: Before Jason and I met, Iâd been in the midst of a season where I was thinking a lot about loving the âleast of theseâ and feeling a calling in this area. I was an immigration attorney at the time but I wanted to grow in serving the most vulnerable in different ways. After Jason and I got married in 2008, we started making joint financial decisions, and it was amazing to see how God had really been preparing both of our hearts to come together in partnership around this calling to give. World Relief was an area where both of our passions and callings, Jasonâs to financial stewardship and mine to service, merged together. That was 10 years ago and weâve been giving ever since.
Tell me about your own decision making process when it came to charitable giving? Why do you give?
JASON: Over the last decade, Iâve really grown in my conviction that our life is not our own and that we are stewards of the time that God gives usâas well as of our resources and opportunities. Thatâs something I want to be reminded of often. Itâs easy to feel that life is just about us and our three kids, but it really isnât. And I find that going beyond our own needs and giving with joy is a tangible way in which I experience Godâs grace.
JILL: For me, itâs a way for my heart to grow. I want to invest my heart in the things that God cares about and financial giving is one way of doing that.
How did you decide what and where to give? What was important for you?
JILL: Iâm an immigration attorney. And a lot of what World Relief does, and where they work, well thatâs where my clients are often coming from. So being able to engage in that area, know the backgrounds and stories of my clients, it helps me to view them more fully. Itâs easy to lose sight of what our everyday work is all about, but having the bigger picture, a fuller picture, is a good reminder of the realities of what is happening in the world and the things that are on Godâs heart.
What drew you to World Relief in particular?
JASON: After we got married, we started attending a few World Relief events. And there was one that really struck a chord with us, where we heard from Pastor Marcel from Congo. He talked about violence against women in Congo and how many of the women in his church were victims of physical and sexual violence. The consequences he spoke about, both physical and emotional, were just devastating. We also became deeply aware of the challenges of ministering in that environment and how difficult it must be. And we wanted to support that.
JILL: We knew we wanted to support work in areas where the need was great, and we also wanted to support churches and pastors. World Relief gave us the opportunity to do both of those things. We love that thereâs a focus on the local church; that thereâs intentionality on empowering local people, and local communities, to seek out transformation and lead it themselves. It feels good to know weâre investing in local institutions that, when the work of an NGO comes to an end, will still be there.
What motivates you to continue giving today?
JILL: Itâs really a response, and a step, of faith for us. I think often when we think about giving, itâs easy to think ahead to results, and what the financial giving can accomplish. But over the years I think the biggest realization for us has been that our giving really does feel like a step of faithfulness, regardless of what God will do with it. Maybe itâs something big, maybe itâs something small and maybe itâs something we may never see or know aboutâbut whenever and however the results come about, itâs ultimately in Godâs hands. The giving itself is a response of faith, an opportunity to trust God and grow our hearts.
JASON: We try to make our financial decisions based on the idea that being a follower of Jesus is a serious thing, so wanting to be an authentic Christian is a powerful part of my motivation. And I also find that giving to support the needs of others ultimately helps me overcome my own anxieties about the future.
How has your life been impacted or changed since you started giving to World Relief?
JILL: Iâd say the world feels a little bit closer. Specifically, what God is doing in the world feels a little bit closer to us. Itâs grown our hearts toward the suffering of vulnerable people. And toward those that find themselves as refugees in different parts of the world. We feel invested in these areas and communities that weâre learning about. And itâs also a way for us to invite our children into this journey and learning as they get older.
What would you say to other families that are thinking about giving to World Relief or another organization like World Relief? What advice or encouragement would you give?
JILL: Iâd say, if you feel a nudge, follow it. Take a step of faith. So much of this is about our response. If we learn to leave our fears and expectations with God and just take a small step of faith, giving however little or much he calls us to, thatâs a process of growing our hearts and growing in faithfulnessâthatâs worthwhile.
JASON: Iâd say, you should learn more. The needs of the world often sound so overwhelming and itâs easy to think, âWhat difference can I actually make?â in a totally different part of the world. But World Relief offers so many resources and opportunities to overcome that barrier. Those resources were really what moved me beyond the mental distance.
Iâd also add that itâs so helpful to connect with other people and take this journey together. You know, sometimes financial giving can feel private, but having a community and culture of giving with people around you who are willing to take the same risks, support one another and remind one another of the importance of it has been really helpful. Itâs so much easier to be give faithfully when you have friends who are doing the same thing, who have caught the same vision of discipleship and who want to do this together. So Iâd say if youâre thinking about giving, see if you can find a small group of friends through church or another context who might want to share in the journey.
Are you ready to find your âYESâ?
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
We Need Renewed Attention to AIDS
Last week, to mark the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, the vice president announced a historic investment of $100 million of new resources to expand its engagement with faith-based organizations and communities of faith that are serving on the front lines of our fight against HIV/AIDS through PEPFAR, the Presidentâs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Over the past 30 years there has been remarkable progress in slowing the rate of infection across the globe. But with this progress, public attention to this epidemic, especially among Americans, has declined in recent years. And yet millions of people around the world are still desperately in need of education, resources and advocacy for testing and treatment. With increased awareness of the work that still needs to be done, we can make HIV/AIDS a thing of the past.
More than 36 million people worldwide â including 1.8 million children â are still living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 5,000 new cases are contracted every day, and 1 million lives are lost each year. Over âŻtwo-thirds of people âŻliving⯠with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa, where three in four new infections are among adolescent girls aged 15-19.⯠Significant and lasting change can be accomplished by mobilizing churches and communities. The church has a critical role in helping to get people tested and treated. These efforts can prevent the transmission of HIV between couples, mothers and their unborn or newly born infants and youth. Additionally, delaying the age of sexual debut can be an important tactic in HIV prevention among youth.
Through our Mobilizing for Life campaign, which began in Rwanda almost twenty years ago, World Relief staff and volunteers have trained church leaders on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and counseling in 14 countries. Our work with HIV/AIDS has had a tremendous impact in reducing stigma, caring for people living with AIDS, mobilizing youth to make wise choices about sex, encouraging mutual faithfulness in marriages, testing and treatment among couples, and training parents and church leaders to engage in advocacy and education to fight against the HIV virus in their communities. World Relief is working at root concerns of family and couple protection and is strengthening families in a program known as Families for Life. The goals are to enhance the value of women and girls, reduce partner violence, and support behaviors among couples that reduce HIV transmission. World Reliefâs efforts have reached over three million people with HIV and AIDS prevention and care.
Much of this progress has been catalyzed by Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D., and her team at PEPFAR. Through medical advances in testing and treatment, and by bringing skill and scale to this global issue, PEPFAR has already saved a remarkable 17 million lives and in 15 years has made the United States the worldâs leader in responding to the global HIV/AIDS crisis.
In addition, as a result of the PEPFAR program, over 2 million babies have been born HIV-free to mothers living with HIV. And this year, for the first time, the latest PEPFAR data also show significant declines in new HIV diagnoses among adolescent girls and young women.âŻ
The compassion of the American people is extended and amplified through the engagement of faith-based organizations, which can mobilize others with efficiency and compassion in enduring ways. PEPFARâs work has demonstrated the substantive effect that public-private partnerships can have where public resources are leveraged with local actors who have the relationships and capacity on the ground to deliver quality care.
Ultimately, local communities are the answer to enduring and sustainable change. We need to encourage local populations and governments to take ownership of any investment in the health of their communities. Our goal should be for this ownership to be increasingly and principally local and national in each country. As Mark Green, the administrator of USAID, has said, âthe âŻpurpose of foreign assistance⯠should⯠be ending âŻits âŻneed to exist.â
Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump have provided leadership in the global fight against HIV, and eight successive Congresses have approved funding. We urge Congress and the administration to continue to support HIV/AIDS advocacy, prevention and treatment funding. The progress has been substantial, but growing populations present a growing risk of HIV prevalence around the world.
We should honor those who have lost their lives to AIDS by carrying a message of hope and prevention across the globe. And we canât let up our efforts until all needing help receive it, and there is not one more new infection.
Scott Arbeiterâs proven marketplace skills, pastoral experience, passion for mission and history with World Relief uniquely equip him for his role as President of World Relief. Scott was a partner at Arthur Andersen serving in a variety of functions over his seventeen-year marketplace career. In 2001, Scott resigned from the partnership to serve at Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, where he became Lead Pastor. Scott has also served on World Reliefâs Board of Directors for nearly a decade, including three years as Chairman. After finishing his term on the board in 2015 Scott became a consultant and advisor to World Relief Leadership. Scott has been married to Jewel for thirty-three years and together they have raised three daughters, Kelsey, Jacquelyn, and Karis, all of whom have grown to love and serve Christ in their own remarkable ways.
Our Journey to âYESâ: Fellowship Missionary Church
Fourteen years ago, a partnership between Fellowship Missionary Church (FMC) in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and World Relief began. In 2005, no one could have predicted the transformational power this relationship would have. Today, it couldnât be clearer that God was at work in majestic ways.
In 2005, FMC was spending time intentionally reflecting on the ways they could live âas everyday missionariesâ in their communities, looking for an opportunity to say âYESâ to something bigger than their imaginations. An answer to prayer, it wasnât long before that opportunity came in the form of a man named Pastor Marcel. At a meeting of church partners, Pastor Marcel shared about the plight of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sadly, the instability of the region and sheer scale of suffering made it a high-risk choice for sustainable partnerships and Congo was frequently passed over again and again in favor of more stable African nations. As FMCâs now Senior Pastor Joe John listened to Marcel, his heart broke for this fragile nation and the intensity of its suffering. And in the familiar stirring of his heart, he recognized his churchâs calling and said âYESâ.
Fourteen years ago, no one could have predicted the power of that small three letter word and yet God grew the power of that âYESâ from mustard seed to mountain. Through 24-hour prayer vigils, an annual âRace for Peace: Congoâ and a cross-country bike ride, FMC transformed its congregation, engaging and mobilizing their church family in passionate, sacrificial acts of generosity year after year after year. With the support of FMC, World Relief launched its peacebuilding program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2009, which now consists of over 1000 village peace committees across the country.
But this was just the beginning.
As the relationship between World Relief and FMC flourished, so did the churchâs desire to do more. In October of 2017, a small team traveled to Congo alongside Pastor Marcel to learn about World Reliefâs work with victims of sexual and gender-based violence and the trauma healing program. Deeply moved by what they saw, the team began to wrestle with how God might be calling them to respond. Four months later, Steps4Healing was bornâto the incredible tune of an $80,000 Christmas offering.
The following summer on June 4, 2018, FMC launched a 14-week summer campaign for trauma healing in Congo called Steps4Healing. The goal? For the congregation to take a cumulative 100 million steps between June and September. Everyone who signed up to participate was given a t-shirt, step counters and instructions on how they could log their steps online. They were also given toolkits with sample fundraising letters and ideas to help them raise money. Every week FMC published a new devotional to think and pray on, including stories from Congo, as well as publishing a Steps4Healing prayer guide that asked God to restore communities suffering from traumaâwith an emphasis on Congo and Ft. Wayne itself. Over 400 members of the congregation signed up.
On Sunday, Sept 9, 2018, the campaign culminated in a 5k prayer walk with police escort through downtown Ft. Wayne. It was a cold, rainy day but that did not stop them. As they walked, they distributed flyers to let neighbors know what was going on and what Steps4Healing was all aboutâraising awareness of the suffering in Congo and inviting neighbors and community members to church. Following the walk, a vibrant festival of food, music and prayer continued. A wall of photos of beneficiaries and their stories from World Reliefâs trauma healing program was on display, as well as a gallery with artist contributions for purchase. World Reliefâs Country Director from Congo, Jean, spent time speaking to the congregation and answering questions about the trauma healing program in Congo. He thanked people for their vision of what could beâfor their sacrifice, generosity and hope.
Here, Director of Care and Social Services, Becky Baker, answers some questions about FMCâs journey with World Relief:
Tell us about your goals and hopes for your church and community?
Our community is really special. Itâs got so much to offer many people, and yes, itâs beautiful. But itâs also a really hard community to live in. We live on a side of town that lots of people have left. Thereâs a lot going on here, a lot of violence. And our church is very diverseâracially, culturally and economically. When we first got involved with peacebuilding, we wanted people to be praying for peace for communities both here, on the south side of town in Ft. Wayne and there, in Congo. Then when we started engaging in trauma healing, well that was just as relevant. Thereâs been a lot of trauma here in our community. One of our staff had a daughter murdered and, of course, it became very personal very quickly. We did a sermon series in the spring on healing the wounds of our own traumas. We prayed for personal healing for our church and for God to connect people to one another along their journey.
Steps4Healing was an amazing extension of our healing journey as a church and as a community. God used it really uniquely for everyone and the stories that came out of peopleâs engagement were amazing. We had so many new people come to church. It became a great on-ramp for them. On the final day we walked through the south side of town to pray for Congo and our community, and it was an incredible opportunity for witness.
What was the most powerful part of this experience for you?
I was amazed at how God awakened our church to start interceding for Congo in such a physical way. The way in which so many people were willing to really practice the sacrifice of their bodiesâessentially laying down their lives in a small way to connect their struggles to the plight of those in Congo. When we heard about rebels using rape as a weapon of war, for example, we learned that most of the victims were women who were fetching firewood to carry back home. We started walking and running with a stick, as an image of solidarity. And countless people around town started asking us what the stick was for, paving the way for us to share stories and explain what was happening in Congo.
The way that God raised up so many intercessors for Congo, and provided so many opportunities for witness, was just incredible. We setup the program and the environment as much as we could, and were faithful to what he was calling us to, but God did the rest. Seeing people finish something they thought they could never do, seeing God answer our prayers, seeing Him move, over and above again and again. Well, only God could do that.
How did your congregation transform as a result of your engagement with World Relief and Congo?
Thereâs an incredible sense of unity in our congregation. Weâve had this great common purpose thatâs included representatives from our whole bodyârunners, moms, artists, the disabledâthe list goes on. Weâve given our congregation an invitation to be a part of something bigger than themselves. And God has really grown peopleâs faith through that. As weâve sacrificed individually for something together, our culture of discipleship has also grown. We work hard at celebrating what God is doing and weâve learned to see value in the process, recognizing that itâs just as important as the destination itself. Itâs never been just about walking or running a race, itâs been about running THE RACE together.
When we said âYESâ, we issued an invitation for the supernatural to be seenâand boy did we see it. In Congo, we witnessed the fall of the M23 rebel group. And here in Ft. Wayne, we had congregants who discovered life-threatening health issues just because they started running. God has moved in this partnership in such powerful ways. Ways we never could have expected.
What would you say to other churches considering a partnership with World Relief?âš
You know, for most of us, the call to sacrifice comes before the passion. And we have to be faithful in following that calling before we can discover what God might do with it. So I would just encourage you to ask the Lord what you can uniquely give yourself to. Then listen and persevere. Weâre so grateful to World Relief and the team in Congo, probably more so than they are for us. We followed Godâs call to that partnership and itâs really transformed our church community.
Are you ready to find your âYESâ?
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
World Relief to Be Featured on the Hallmark Channelâs Amy Grantâs Tennessee Christmas
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
November 30, 2018
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
carl@pinkstongroup.com
703-388-6734
World Relief to Be Featured on the Hallmark Channelâs Amy Grantâs Tennessee Christmas
Baltimore, Md. â World Relief Memphis will be featured this Monday, December 3, on âAmy Grantâs Tennessee Christmas â Presented by Hallmark Channel,â a part of the networkâs #1-rated programming event, COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS.
The one-hour musical special will air nationwide at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT and will feature performances by multi-platinum-selling singer, songwriter Amy Grant, her husband and fellow GRAMMY winner Vince Gill, EMMY-nominated television star Kellie Pickler and long-time friend, GRAMMY winner Michael W. Smith. The artists will shine a light on the true spirit of Christmas with heartfelt stories, favorite family holiday memories, unforgettable musical performances and features on special charities in Tennessee. The special is Executive Produced and Directed by Tom Forrest of Taillight TV, a Nashville-based production company that has worked with some of the biggest names in music. This year’s COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS marks the largest slate of holiday programming ever.
The charities featured represent East, Middle and West Tennessee and include Song for Veterans, Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation, Appalachian Relief Fund and Barefoot Republic, Grantâs own camp for kids. World Relief, a global organization with offices around the country, including Memphis, will be the final charity highlighted, representing West Tennessee. The feature will direct viewers to a website to learn more about World Relief and how they can get involved in helping immigrants and refugees.
World Reliefâs offices across the United States have welcomed 300,000 refugees over the past 40 years and have resettled over 1,300 refugees in Tennessee over last six years. More than 68 million people are displaced worldwide, and World Relief works in 20 countries in the areas of refugee assistance, disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding.
World Relief offers refugees in the United States a variety of services and programs, including housing, medical care, legal services, and education and career counseling. World Relief begins its work with a warm welcome at the airport by a Good Neighbor team of volunteers.
Help us thank Amy Grant for supporting refugees by sharing this graphic on social media!
Don’t forget to tune in and watch her one-hour musical special â A Tennessee Christmas Monday, December 3, 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT on Hallmark Channel.
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the worldâs most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, weâve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
World Relief Calls for Renewed Attention to AIDS on PEPFAR 15th Anniversary, World AIDS Day
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
November 29, 2018
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
carl@pinkstongroup.com
703-388-6734
World Relief Calls for Renewed Attention to AIDS on PEPFAR 15th Anniversary, World AIDS Day
Baltimore, Md. â World Relief commends President Trump and Vice President Penceâs commitment to combat HIV/AIDS, which was reflected today in the promise of $100 million in new funding to address key gaps in controlling and preventing the disease. This commitment is critical given a huge need for testing and treatment for those living with HIV. Itâs estimated that more than 36.9 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV, 1.8 million of whom are children. Approximately 5,000 new HIV infections are contracted every single day and 1 million lives are lost each year to AIDS-related illness. The announcement coincides with the 15th anniversary of Presidentâs Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and World AIDS Day on Saturday, December 1.
We celebrate that PEPFAR has saved over 17 million lives, with a record 14.6 million people currently receiving life-saving antiretroviral treatment through PEPFAR funding. Testing and treatment for HIV not only prolong life and enable infected individuals to live normal lives, but they may be able to reduce transmission to others to almost zero.
The church has a critical role in helping to get people tested and treated, and World Relief is pleased to catalyze church mobilization efforts in many countries. We do so as we believe it is absolutely crucial that efforts are focused on preventing the transmission of HIV from ever occurring between couples, mothers and their unborn or newly born infants and youth.
Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump have provided leadership in the global fight against HIV and eight successive Congresses have approved funding. We are grateful for this historic commitment and urge Congress and the Administration to continue to support HIV/AIDS advocacy, prevention and treatment funding. The progress has been substantial but growing populations present growing risk of HIV prevalence around the world.
We are proud of the contribution churches are making in this global effort. World Relief will continue to work with churches on the front lines throughout Africa and across the globe. We are resolved to continue our efforts until all needing help receive it, and there is not one more new infection.
Download the PDF version of this press release.
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About World Relief:
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to overcome violence, poverty and injustice. Through love in action, we bring hope, healing and restoration to millions of the worldâs most vulnerable women, men and children through vital and sustainable programs in disaster response, health and child development, economic development and peacebuilding, as well as refugee and immigration services in the U.S. For 75 years, weâve partnered with churches and communities, currently across more than 20 countries, to provide relief from suffering and help people rebuild their lives.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
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