Christian Conscience
Our Journey to âYESâ: Ross & Emily Jones
Tell me a little about how you first got involved with World Relief?
We first learned about World Relief through Park Street Church in Boston. They were running a series on global justice, with a real emphasis on mission work. It was great to learn about how we might expand our passion for justice globally through World Reliefâthey were one of the first organizations we heard about that was really involved in social justice issues overseas. And they kind of became a tutor for us in learning about the issues of the world.
Tell me about your own decision making process when it came to charitable giving? Why do you give?
Weâve always believed we should give back, with both our time and money. Both Ross and I are very aligned in that we agree we donât just want to keep stockpiling our resources and we want be good stewards of what weâve been given. But I would say it was really about a decade ago that we got to a point in our philanthropic journey where both of us had this strong sense we didnât want to keep living up to the standards that our finances would allow. We were concerned with the level of income and wealth inequality in the U.S., and I think we also believe thereâs only so much you can enjoy in life before you experience a sense of diminishing returns. So we decided what kind of lifestyle we wanted and how much we needed to live that way. Then we agreed that anything we made above that, weâd give away.
God calls us to generosity in many ways. We felt called to use our money to go after the injustices in the world, and our foundation, Imago Dei, has been our response to that call. Of course, people give in many ways. You just have to listen to God, discern and discover what is yours to do.
How did you decide what and who to give to? What was important for you?
We were particularly drawn to World Reliefâs focus on empowering and entrusting communities with their own change. When we went on a vision trip to Cambodia with World Relief, we saw small churches leading change in their communities, and it felt so much more empowering than just charity. It was the local church implementing the change that they wanted to see, not an outside intervention coming in and forcing something. In that sense, World Relief seemed to be navigating all the damaging colonialist undertones and aid dependence pitfalls very well. They really appeared to be catalyzing change from the inside out, delivering their work in and through the local church.
What’s been the most exciting thing you’ve seen or heard about as a result of your giving?
The sweet spot of our giving is to organizations (typically faith-based or faith-inspired) that are working to dismantle barriers for girls and women and helping them to become all God made them to be. Weâve been really inspired by the ways in which World Relief is working to integrate gender justice and reconciliation into their broader programming model, and entering into the gender struggles of our world. So many organizations tend to take a very specific programmatic approachâcreating clubs or programs just for women and girlsâbut we know that to really get into gender norms and work to change those, you need to take a more holistic approach. World Relief supports churches as they wrestle with contradictions in culture and gender stereotypes, and encourage a holistic theology of wholeness and wellâbeing, embodied in Imago Dei.
What motivates you to continue giving today?
World Relief is really like a big family that keeps growing. It feels like this exciting movementâthis amazing relational web, in which everyone truly believes in the organization. It really feels like a community. Sometimes when organizations are so big and bureaucratic, they lose their humanity. But we really feel like weâre part of something bigger at World Relief, part of a movement and a family. It feels very human.
We think they have that for many reasons. Probably most significant for us is that they help people and churches to embrace the liberating and holistic dimensions of the gospel. That is just so important in a world where there is a harmful use of religion for authoritarian purposes. World Relief really works to tap into the spiritual essence of the gospel, at a time when that is so needed. Weâve seen that play out this year in the U.S. in particular, where World Relief has shown so much moral courage in the face of the refugee and immigration crisis. As a family, itâs really touched us and weâve been so grateful to have a guide that can speak with such a clear moral voice in relation to all thatâs going on, especially when itâs really hard to know what on earth is happening. It really reminds you that this work of love, peace and justice can start right here in your backyard. You look out in the world and think about the world you want to create for your own children. Well, the answer is you start here and work outward.
How has your life been impacted or changed since you started giving to World Relief?
Weâve really enjoyed the shared solidarity and experience that comes with giving to an organization over the long haul. Weâve been able to learn so much about the world through World Relief. Weâve learned about what it takes to create change in a truly complex world. And weâve learned about the role of faith in these complexities, about how we can use it to move the needle forward. World Relief reminds us to keep growing and learning about the world. Itâs so easy to just go about your life, to be self absorbed, and sometimes the worldâs problems seem so big you want to run away and stick your head in the sand. But thereâs so much joy in doing your part, and doing it with others. Everyone weâve met at World Relief is so dedicated; they quietly and passionately go about this amazing work and it reminds us that thereâs always something you can do. Weâre grateful for that moral courage that they demonstrate so admirably.
What would you say to other families that are thinking about giving to World Relief or a similar organization? Any advice or encouragement?
You know, giving can often feel like this really big and daunting thing but a little money can go a long way globally. God calls us, really invites us, into faithful stewardship. And itâs often when you lean in and give generously that you discover the greatest blessings in life.
Weâd say start with your own humanity and your own heart. Allow yourself to feel the struggles of the world. Let them draw you in. You donât have to figure it all out at once. Just start somewhere where you feel a natural affinity and see how it expands. Find where your heart is drawn and, from that point, just enjoy the journey. When it becomes more than just writing checksâthatâs when you know itâs where your heart is.
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.
Our Fight to End Human Trafficking
Five years ago, UN member states came together to designate July 30th as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in an effort to âraise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and promote and protect their rights.â[1] As we acknowledge this day at World Relief, we encourage you to read on to learn more about our work to combat Human Trafficking.
Human Trafficking Around The World
Human trafficking is defined as âthe illegal trading, selling, and exploitation of people to use them for labor or sex. It is a process by which a personâs freedom is taken away, [and they] become enslaved by others.â[2] The International Labour Organization estimates that over 21 million people today are victims of forced labor and sex trafficking globally. Children make up almost a third of this devastating number, and women and girls account for 71% of all victims. [3]
While human trafficking and slavery are not new issues, a new law was passed by Congress in October of 2000, Â that authorizes protections for individuals who are victims of severe forms of trafficking. With passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), it became clear this was an issue that demanded World Reliefâs involvement. Fraud and exploitation were being used to control and enslave millions of people around the world – even right here in the United States. These trafficked victims were undoubtedly some of the most vulnerable around the world. And so, World Relief began exploring efforts to fight this horrific injustice.
In November 2003, World Relief met with a group of like-minded organizations to determine if and how we  could collaborate. It was out of these meetings that the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking was born.
The Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking
FAAST is a strategic alliance of Christian organizations working together to combat slavery and human trafficking. Our mission is to mobilize and equip communities to combat slavery and human trafficking and to restore survivors.[4] We do this because we believe that:
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Every human being is created in the image of God with inherent dignity, value and purpose.
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As followers of Jesus, we have a biblical mandate to care for the poor and the oppressed â those who are vulnerable and exploited.
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Slavery and human trafficking are forms of evil that seek to destroy Godâs image in people and corrupt His purposes for humanity.
FAAST provides a framework for collaboration between Christian churches, denominations, universities and communities around the world who are rising up to confront human trafficking. We connect Godâs people through the power of partnership and equip them through the creation of resources, facilitation of training events and development of anti-trafficking programs. Since its inception, FAAST has written the most widely used curriculum for the restoration of survivors of trafficking, held more than 120 trauma-informed trainings, hosted live-streamed nationwide prayer events and provided resources to thousands of practitioners and churches.
FAAST exists today because eradicating human trafficking reflects the heart of God. We believe there is hope, and we believe that the best agency of change and restoration is Godâs people, the Church.[5] At World Relief, our impact has been multiplied as our resources and efforts are combined with fellow FAAST members to form large-scale anti-trafficking projects. Â None of this would be possible through our individual efforts; it is only through working together, as the entire body of Christ, that we can fight this grave injustice and achieve impact.
Today, World Relief and FAAST are equipping Christ-followers around the globe to restore freedom to those held captive in exploitation and slavery. Our vision is to see a world of transformed communities, free of slavery and exploitation.
Support Us
If youâd like to support this work on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, weâre excited to announce our partnership with apparel brand, Sevenly. During the month of July, each purchase made will provide funding for anti-human trafficking services and education through World Relief.
You can also learn more about our work with FAAST at www.FAASTinternational.org
[1]Â UN Resolution A/RES/68/192
[2]Â UN.org
[3]Â United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Report on Trafficking in Persons
[4]Â FAAST
[5]Â FAAST
Ruth Famini is the Director of National Resettlement Programs at World Reliefâs home office in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been with World Relief for twenty-one years, and is responsible for overseeing the organizationâs refugee resettlement work. She is also passionate about anti-human trafficking, and represents World Relief at the Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST). Mrs. Famini holds a Bachelorâs degree from Nyack College. She and her husband, John, have four grown children, six grandchildren, and three cats.
Mandy Porter-Griffith, the Coordinator for FAAST, has a Master of Arts in Missional Leadership from Northwest University, is a Pastor through the Assemblies of God and a Chaplain at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Chesapeake Federal Detention Center. Mandy specializes in training trauma informed care. She believes in equipping the local church, to be not just aware of human trafficking but proactive in facilitating both prevention and aftercare in their own communities. In 2013 she received her certification as a facilitator of the Hands that Heal: International Curriculum for Caregivers of Sex Trafficking Survivors.
Imagine Love
Earlier this week, World Reliefâs CEO, Tim Breene, asked us not to turn a blind eye to the incredible suffering of refugees and asylees worldwide. Indifference to pain and suffering on this scale, he wrote, cannot be the answer. In this same piece, Tim asked, âWhat then are we to do in the face of a refugee crisis of unprecedented scale?â
There are no easy answers to these questions, and no quick fixes either. And though we may not have all the solutions, we do have hope. Because we know there is one thing we can do – with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds.
We can love.
âLove your neighbor as yourself,â Jesus taught us. So what does that mean for us here at World Relief? And what does it mean in the context of our work with refugees? Yes, as a Christian organization, we strive to live biblically and to embody compassionate, unconditional love through all that we do. But how do we really put that love into action? And does it really make a difference?
Last year I was in a meeting when my colleague, Emily Gray, expressed our desire to love at every step along the journey, âfrom social security cards to birthday cards,â she smiled.
That phrase has stuck with me ever since. Why? Because it so perfectly represents the ways in which I see World Relief staff go beyond both whatâs required and expected, in small (and often big) acts of love.
Iâd like you to do something for me. Iâd like you to imagine that you and your family have spent the last six years fleeing danger, with little more than the clothes on your back. Youâve lost friends, youâve lost family, perhaps youâve even lost hope. Imagine youâre finally given the opportunity to rebuild your life, yet upon arrival, as you try to read the airport signs in a foreign language, the realization dawns on you: This is only the beginning of the next struggle.
This realization could be devastating. It could be crippling. It could even be too much to bear. You had always imagined that once you found refuge, the pain, the loss, the hopelessness would be behind you. Yet suddenly the questions begin running through your mind⊠How will you learn a new language? How will you find a job and support your family? How will you get around? How will you pay your bills? How will you even know what questions to ask and who to ask? Imagine the overwhelming loss of control you might feel. The panic. The fear. The weight of responsibility.
Now, with this all running through your head, imagine a smile as you exit customs. Imagine a sign of welcome in your language. Imagine an embrace. Imagine a family, giving up their evening, to take you home in a warm car. Imagine that new home, well furnished, prepared for your arrival. Imagine your favorite food on the table. Imagine a community of other families like yours, coming together to welcome you on that first night. Imagine conversation in your native tongue â the answers to so many of your questions answered by those that have gone before you.
Now imagine the realization that you wonât have to do this alone. That from job placement, to English classes, to bus route training, to child care, to DMV lines and hospital appointments, someone will be with you. And that someone will show you love, compassion, and friendship at every step along the way. From social security card, to birthday card.
Has the fear subsided yet? Do you feel loved?
At World Relief, weâve welcomed and provided support to almost 300,000 refugees since 1979. We love these strangers as neighbors because Jesus calls us to love. But we also do it because we know thatâs what weâd all want for our own families. And we believe that every family deserves the opportunity to build a stable, secure life. Love is more than an organizational identity for us at World Relief. Itâs in the DNA of our leadership, our staff, our partners, and volunteers.
Now let us return to Timâs question: âWhat then are we to do in the face of a refugee crisis of unprecedented scale?â
There is much we cannot control. But that does not mean we have to stand idly by. We can continue to advocate, to love, and to speak out on behalf of vulnerable refugees all around the world. Because this, this we can control. This we can do.
We can love.
Francesca Albano currently serves as Product Development Lead 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.
VIDEO: Al’s Story
When violent extremists burned down his motherâs medical clinic and attempted to kidnap him, Al and his parents fled Iraq and were eventually resettled in the U.S. Watch his incredible journey and join us as we help immigrants and refugees rebuild their lives in the U.S.
Thanking God for A Motherâs Love
During a recent childrenâs sermon, our pastor asked a dozen elementary students: âWhat do you like best about your mom?â Their comments brought down the house! We heard how their mom, âput the head back on my Ninjago;â âscared away the monster under my bed;â âput my brother in timeout for hitting me;â âmade my favorite cake for my birthday.â Jumping in, our pastor then said, âThat is how God loves each of you. God is near when youâre frightened, or ill or afraid. God is always ready to listen to you and help you.â
Our children seemed convinced that God loves us like a mother, but the rest of us hesitated. How often do we consciously remind ourselves of Godâs nearness and intimate attentiveness to our hopes and fears? Or that God is above gender yet inclusive of all genderâthe source of what is true and good in humankind? That God created both male and female in Godâs image, and that Godâs fullness can only be expressed and fully appreciated in the fullness of genders, which God declared, is very good (Genesis 1:27, 31). While Motherâs Day can be painful for the childless and motherless alike, as well as the socially isolated, everyone can be comforted by Godâs love.
Like a mother, God patiently suffers beside us in our fears and failures, nurtures our hopes and sustains us through every trial. That is why Motherâs Day is not only a time to give thanks for our earthly mothers, but also to remember that our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, like a cheek-to-cheek mother, knows us intimately and willingly suffers any cost to comfort, strengthen and guide us.
While Scripture teaches that God is Spirit (John 4:25) and warns against creating earthly images of God (Exodus 20:4), it also teaches that âChrist is the visible image of the invisible Godâ (Colossians 1:15-21). Christ cooked for the disciples (John 21:9); washed their feet (John 13:8); healed the ill (Luke 8:40-48); and wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Despite the disapproval of his disciples, Christ also honored mothers and women by welcoming them as disciples, inviting them to sit at his feet and learn from Himâa privilege that was previously reserved for men only (Luke 10:38-42). Christ prepared women as evangelists and proclaimers of the Good News (John 20:17). And when a woman was caught in adultery, Jesus invited those without sin to cast the first stone (John 8:1-11). Womenâs dignity and leadership was implicit in Christâs teachings, practices and in his challenges to the marginalization of women.
Elevating mothers and women, Christ used motherly metaphors to illustrate and amplify Godâs nearness, providence and tenacious protection. In warning against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Jesus displayed a motherâs heart that longingly protects her children, but wisely allows them free choices despite the pain God suffers when they choose unwisely. Like a mother, God cried out: ââJerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing,â (Matt. 23:37b).
Just as the father waited for his prodigal son, God also searches for us, Godâs lost sheep, like the woman who lost a priceless coin. Unwilling to rest, she lights her lamp and furiously sweeps the house, searching in every corner until she finds her lost treasure. And, just like the father who celebrates when his prodigal son returns home, the woman also delights when she finds her priceless coin. She âcalls her friends and neighbors together and says, âRejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.â âIn the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents,â (Matthew 23: 9-10).
Godâs work is inseparable from the hands and feet of mothers, and of the women who proactively proclaim the gospel in word and deed. Because Scripture speaks of God in both fatherly and motherly terms, we recognize that both qualities are necessary to strengthen our lives and nurture our souls. In remembering our mothers, we celebrate God who created women and mothers, and loves us like a mother. Godâs motherly love is always ready to fight to the end, rather than be separated from her own flesh, just as a mother bear protects her cubs (Hosea 13:8).
On Motherâs Day we take comfort in knowing that, whatever our failures, hopes or fears, like a mother, God will move heaven and earth to reach us, heal us, lead us and comfort us.
God, thank you for loving me, and all of us, also as a mother.
Dr. Mimi Haddad is president of CBE International. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (Summa Cum Laude). She holds a PhD in historical theology from the University of Durham, England.
Responding to the AIDS Epidemic in Rwanda
April 7th is World Health Day. A significant day for the international community and the global population. Indeed, we have made great progress in the last few decades, yet today at least half of the worldâs population still lack access to essential health services. As the international community is reminded today of its commitment to achieve universal health coverage by 2030 (as part of the Sustainable Development Goals), we too reflect on our responsibility to this global health agenda, and the potential of our innovative grassroots programming to transform the lives of many more men, women and children across the globe.
HIV/AIDS in Rwanda
The history of World Relief in Rwanda is an inspirational case study which we often seek to learn from as we develop our health programming around the world.
In 1994, World Relief began working in Rwanda. Though initially providing immediate aid and relief after the genocide, our role in the nation quickly transitioned into sustainable development work.
As the nation of Rwanda began the slow process of rebuilding, healing and reconciliation, there were many issues that relief and development agencies needed to address. Following the genocide against the Tutsi, hundreds of thousands of survivors, mostly widows, were infected with HIV as a result of the systematic rape that took place. Estimates were that between 250,000 and 500,000 surviving women and girls were raped, and in 1994, the HIV prevalence rate was estimated at 13%. As HIV/AIDS became more prevalent across Rwanda, and more broadly, Africa, World Relief Rwanda (WRR) saw a critical need to raise awareness of the disease and work to reduce stigma towards those affected.
The Role of the Church
During the 1990s, the world was only just beginning to understand the causes and scope of the global AIDS pandemic. Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs were not yet developed for distribution and stigma was widespread in Rwanda. So, in 1998, WRR launched the beginnings of a program specifically to address the perspective of the church in Rwanda toward the AIDS pandemic, and to mobilize churches to serve persons living with AIDS. WRR began HIV/AIDS engagement through first conducting surveys, where they discovered the great need for awareness about the disease. Out of 40 church leaders surveyed, WRR found that only 4 were willing to respond to the crisis, and only one was actually serving those suffering with AIDS.
“Out of 40 church leaders surveyed, WRR found that only 4 were willing to respond to the crisis, and only one was actually serving those suffering with AIDS.”
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So, WRR sponsored the first gathering of over 50 denominational legal representatives, church leaders, ministry of health officials, relief organization leaders and members of the press to discuss the problem and the churchâs response. At the close, church leaders made a joint commitment to fight AIDS.
They stated, âwe the church leadersâŠtogether make a commitment to join hands with the government in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We acknowledge that we have the belief systems, moral authority and local presence necessary for effectiveness in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. We need training, guidance and advocacy to change belief to action and apathy to compassionâŠâ
This statement is what paved the way for WRRâs work to train church leaders across the country. Three to five-day training sessions were instituted across the country, where pastors could be educated about HIV/AIDS, and trained to counsel people living with AIDS. Pastoral counseling manuals were also translated into Kinyarwandan, and a curriculum was developed on the Biblical call to serve those affected by the disease.
Mobilizing for Life
Working with churches overtime turned into one of the best networks for raising both support and awareness. Demands began to quickly grow, but funding was often a barrier. Through this time, WRR began to work with larger grants, such as USAID, and also work locally with smaller NGOs. The relationship between church and government leaders was strengthened, leading to close collaboration during the years that would follow. As the context changed due to reduced stigma, increased church engagement, and the accessibility of ARV drugs, WRR moved toward a greater focus on mobilization of youth and abstinence training.
Mobilizing for Life (MFL) was launched in Rwanda in July, 1999. The MFL program provided general training to pastors and volunteers, and selected volunteers were trained in counseling and home-based care. By the fall of 1999, there were 7 staff working full-time with the MFL program, and by 2003, 1256 total church members had been trained in some capacity of the MFL program.
Then came PEPFAR.
Launched in 2004 as Americaâs commitment to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, US President George W. Bushâs program opened up significant programmatic funds for World Reliefâs work in Rwanda. With the beginning of the PEPFAR grant, WRRâs HIV/AIDS programs expanded from three provinces into all 12 provinces of Rwanda with 17 full-time staff members. The program goal of reaching 181,950 people in FY 2005 was far exceeded, reaching at least 403,560 people. By 2006, the Mobilizing for Life program was also launched in Kenya, Mozambique, and Haiti.
A Hopeful Future
For over a decade, World Relief Rwanda has now been mobilizing churches of all denominations to participate in a national multi-sector fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. WRRâs work with HIV/AIDS has had a tremendous impact in reducing stigma across the country, caring for persons living with AIDS, mobilizing youth to practice abstinence, encouraging faithfulness among couples, and training parents and church leaders to engage the fight against HIV/AIDS in their communities.
The situation in Rwanda has changed dramatically during the thirteen years that WRR has been engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The HIV infection rate has decreased significantly as a result of the combined efforts of the government, health care, churches and organizations including WRR. According to 2009 statistics, the updated estimated adult prevalence rate in Rwanda is 2.9%, with an estimated 170,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS. And the rates are continuing to decrease.
Today, World Relief Rwanda is continuing to replace stigmatization with love, care and a message of prevention and eternal hope through its programming across the nation.
*(Parts of this piece have been adapted from a 1999 article by Laura White)
Emmanuel Ngoga is the Director of Church Empowerment at World Relief Rwanda. Ngoga has been with World Relief Rwanda for over 20 years, serving in different capacities. He is a Medical Laboratory Technologist (Microbiology) and MBA with long-term experience in HIV/AIDS project management. Ngoga has been instrumental in establishing and developing the church’s role in combating HIV/AIDS by implementing programs in partnership with churches across denominations, networking and participating in government forums on the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. He has actively disseminated lessons learned to churches, PVOs, government officials and donors through presentations at national and international meetings. He is now charged with building, improving and maintaining relationships with churches in Rwanda, and mobilizing and empowering the local churches to serve the most vulnerable. Ngoga is married to Mary and they have a son named Barnabas.
How We Can Make Room for Women
In January, World Relief co-hosted a consultation on âDevelopment, Gender, and Christianityâ with Wheaton College and the Imago Dei Fund. Faith-based non-profit staff, church leaders, advocacy experts and academics gathered together to discern whyâdespite greater awareness that investing in women is good for global development*âthings arenât improving for so many women around the world.
The wise women and men present had decades of collective experience with human trafficking, sexual abuse, womenâs and childrenâs health and developing women as individuals and leaders[DN1] . Before we rolled up our sleeves and got to our important work, we allowed ourselves a moment to lament: âHow much longer before every woman, created in the image of God, is free to express the image God has placed in her?â
Realities speak to the shrinking spaces women occupy in countries and communities around the world, even in our churches. Violence against women occurs in countries and communities around the world, and even in our churches. The recent #churchtoo movement proved what statistics already showâthe rate of sexual and physical assaults in church communities isnât less than in the rest of society. Globally, 1 in 3 womenâchurched or notâhave a story to tell. White women in the US earn an average 82 cents to menâs dollar. But in many countries, the pay gap is even wider; women earn an average of only 60-75% of menâs wages despite the benefits a womanâs paycheck has to her family and community. Researchers estimate that this year 12 million girls and young women will marry before their 18th birthday, some as young as 10 years old.
Clearly, much work remains to be done.
As a little girl, my dad, a filmmaker, taught me about the âblue hour.â He would pine for this moment when, on a cloudless sky, the red of day and blue of night make room for one another, intersecting to create an irresistible quality of light.
Light is not at its most beautiful at midday or midnight, but rather, at the moment when one is making room for the other. The âblue hourâ echoes a lesson we find over and over in Scripture: we are to love and prefer one another; we are to make room for one another.
The woman with the issue of blood had no room among the crowd. Rejected by her communityâunclean and unwantedâshe had to work hard to get to Jesus, to reach out her hand and touch the hem of his garment. Without even turning, Jesus knew that this woman needed his help. He was her last and only hope. Jesus does not turn away from her need because of her status. Instead, Jesus makes room.
In Luke 22: 25 â 27, Jesus declared: âThe kings of the Gentiles rule over their subjects⊠But I am among you as one who serves.â The King of kings did not come to recline at the table, but to kneel and wash the feet of his disciples. Likewise, Jesus did not come to uphold hierarchies but to break down centuries of injustice.
Jesus comes to us today too, to break down power structures in our communities, to elevate those society overlooks, and to make room for women.
All around us, women are defying the odds. Like the woman who longed to be healed, theyâre pressing through crowds toward health and safety for themselves and their children, toward education and into board rooms and pulpits. Some are too tired to press through the crowds. Many donât see a way through anymore and it is our responsibility to press toward them.
Men and womenâworking side by sideâcan transform the role and experience of women in our societies. The idea of elevating women may be threatening, but men actually benefit when women are empowered to lead. When women and men collaborate in decision-making, households, communities, and institutions become more productive and inclusive. Menâs relationships with their wives, children, and communities become more fulfilling. And, men are able to be who God is calling them to be instead of conforming to what society wants them to be.
We are not all called to become activists. But we can all co-labor toward this transformation in our own communities. It begins with responding to the invitation to think deeply about how we can create more room for women in the spaces we are already in.
At World Relief, we are committed to crafting new spaces for women to flourish. We are doing this in simple, tangible, daily waysâin our programming and throughout the organization.
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As the most vulnerable in most communities, women are impacted by our programming. We are working increasingly around metrics that measure maximum impact on women and girls to guide our program design.
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We recently signed the #SilenceIsNotSpiritual Statement in recognition that churches and Christian communities are not exempt from putting women at risk of sexual abuse. Our entire staff and leadership are participating in non-harassment training to ensure that male and female staff work side by side in an equitable, non-threatening way.
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We are intentionally creating opportunities for women leaders at World Relief. Along with others, we recognize the lack of women in top tiers of leadership in the entire faith-based NGO sector as a problem, and are taking practical steps to correct it within our own organization.
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We are continuing to partner with the Wheaton consultation and other collaborations. Much remains to be learned about the important roles women must play at all levels of communities and organizations, and we welcome the opportunity to learn and grow with other development organizations.
We can each do one thing today to elevate a girl or woman. Perhaps this means stepping aside and giving some of our space to her. The question is: are we willing to make room?
* âAid programs that provide women opportunities to better their health, education, and well-being have effects far beyond a single individual. A woman multiplies the impact of an investment made in her future by extending benefits to the world around her, creating a better life for her family and building a strong community.â (USAID: https://www.usaid.gov/infographics/50th/why-invest-in-women )
Eeva Simard is the Project Director of Human Capital at World Relief. For the past ten years, she’s worked with multiple non-profits, where she has been committed to excellence in project management and communication, common sense leadership and the empowerment and training of colleagues, particularly helping women’s voices be heard at top levels of leadership.
For the Women (feat. Amena Brown)
It’s International Women’s Day!
This year, we say âThank God for Womenâ not only with our words but with our commitment to create a better world for womenâa world where every woman and girl has the dignity, opportunity and security she deserves.
Weâre incredibly grateful to author and spoken word poet Amena Brown, who wrote an original piece entitled For The Women. We invite you to watch and share this video as widely as possible, inviting others to join the dance and fight for justice.
17 Moments We Saw Love in Action in 2017
As we reflect on 2017, itâs impossible to deny that the past year brought a lot of pain, destruction, tension and misunderstanding to people in all corners of the world.
While itâs important to acknowledge the hardships faced in the last year, we find it even more crucial to focus on stories of hope, kindness, mercy and selflessness.
To celebrate the good we saw in each other, and in you, the World Relief community, here are 17 moments in 2017 we witnessed Love in Action.
Nine year-old boy pays for Irma evacueeâs lunch
Landon Routzong of Alabama, with the help of his mother, paid for the lunch of a man who had evacuated his Miami home and was traveling to stay with family. “I didnât want them to waste their money on food because theyâre trying to escape the hurricane,” Landon said.
Walmart Cashier Helps Nervous Elderly Man Count Change
Spring Herbison Bowlin observed a Walmart cashier patiently help an elderly customer as he nervously struggled to count change to pay for his items. âThis is not a problem, honey. We will do this together,â she told the man. The post was shared over 40,000 times on Facebook.
Over 500 evangelical leaders join World Relief in support of resettling refugees in the U.S.
A full-page ad published in the Washington Post signed by 500 evangelical pastors and 100 evangelical leaders expressed concern over the presidentâs executive order temporarily banning refugees. A wide range of leaders across many denominations, regions of the country and theological philosophies signed the letter in a strong support refugees, some of the most vulnerable people of our world.
Over 200,000 donors give $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief
On August 26th, J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans announced a goal of raising $200,000 for his Houston Flood Relief Fund. As word spread, the donations soared past his original goal and reached an astonishing $37,132,057 from 209,431 donors. âWhen times are the toughest, humanity stands at its strongest and you have all helped to prove that emphatically,” Watt said.
Washington Post publishes open letter of repentance written by World Relief President Scott Arbeiter
In response to the act of hatred and terrorism which took place in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017, World Relief President Scott Arbeiter penned a reflective open letter, grieving the affront of racism and committing to advocacy for just laws and rejection of unjust systems that perpetuate poverty, exclusion and bigotry.
Terminally ill woman writes dating ad for her husband in New York Times
Amy Krouse Rosenthal only had weeks to live, but she wanted the world to know how amazing her husband was in hopes that he could find love again. On Valentineâs Day, she wrote âYou May Want to Marry My Husband.â Amy passed away five days after the piece was published.
Tens of thousands of you stand publicly with Dreamers
In response to the presidentâs decision to rescind the DACA program, over 20,000 of you shared our Facebook post in support of the Dreamers who would be affected. We thank you for standing with our immigrant brothers and sisters!
Supermarket employee has âdinner dateâ with elderly man who has no friends or family
Ellie Walker, 22, invited widower Edwin Holmes, 86, to dinner after she heard he spends most days alone. âHe said it was his first âdateâ in 55 years and he was as nervous as a schoolboy. It made me cry because I could see how much it meant to him. For me itâs the most important part of my job to speak with customers and see how their day is going,â Walker said. Holmes showed up in his best suit and the two meet for coffee regularly.
Thousands of you advocate for refugees by calling your representatives
In response to the administrationâs decision to limit admission of refugees into the U.S., youâthousands of World Relief supporters and others around the countryâmade your voices heard to stand with the most vulnerable and marginalized. Bestselling author Ann Voskamp and others joined the effort.
Foster father chooses to only take in terminally ill children
Mohamed Bzeek cares for his six year-old foster daughter knowing her time with him will be short. “The key is, you have to love them like your own,” Bzeek said. “I know they are sick. I know they are going to die. I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God.”
NBA owner allows player to borrow team plane to fly relief supplies to Puerto Rico
Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, allowed Mavericks guard and Puerto Rico native J.J. Barea access to the team plane in order to fly supplies to those in need in the wake of Hurricane Maria. âI was really proud of J.J. and how quickly he got involved and how hard he worked to make all of this happen,â Cuban said.
Strangers on subway throw ceremony for student who misses graduation
When Jerich Marco Alcantaraâs train broke down and caused him to miss his graduation ceremony, passengers on the New York subway decided to celebrate him by throwing a mock ceremony in his honor.
Your donations aid those affected by the African food crisis
In response to the devastating food shortages across multiple countries in Africa, inviduals and churches from all across the U.S. have sprung into action, donating to provide food and water for those in desperate need of it. Your support also allows us to continue developing long term solutions to combat the factors that have led to the crisis. Thank you!
Heroic man protects others during Las Vegas shooting, survives bullet to the neck
Jonathan Smith risked his life to save others as bullets flew through the air during the October shooting in Las Vegas. A bullet caught him in the neck and doctors have decided to leave the bullet in his body fearing that removal may lead to more damage. Some estimate that Smith saved up to 30 people during the shooting.
Four year-old girl donates piggy bank money to police officer with cancer
A Colorado police officer battling Leukemia received a surprise donation from an unlikely source. Sidney Fahrenbruch, a local 4 year old girl who frequently visits police officers, decided it was âthe nice thing to doâ to give the money in her piggy bank to Officer Kyle Zulauf to help pay for surgery. Sidneyâs proud mother, Megan Fahrenbruch, said âShe wanted to save the money for a toy but decided someone needed it more than her.â
22 year old rapper and 81 year old woman form unlikely friendship
Spencer Sleyon of East Harlem, New York and Rosalind Guttman of Palm Beach, Florida struck up an unlikely friendship after chatting with each other through the Words With Friends app. Sleyon said âA lot of people I saw online said, âI needed a story like this, especially with the race relations in this country right now.ââ
Millions celebrate International Womenâs Day by sharing our short film, Proverbs 31
Last March, World Relief debuted the Proverbs 31 short film on Facebook to celebrate and honor International Womenâs Day. Viewers shared the film over 25,000 times and its message of strength, grace, grit and love of women has been viewed 1.6 million times.
For the past month, we’ve been featuring stories of individuals and communities putting Love in Actionâbringing hope to the hurting and shining light in the darkest hours.
Learn more and put your Love in Action today.
Love Hopes All Things
What happens when an affluent, conservative, and mostly white churchâs neighborhood is suddenly inundated with hundreds of international people?
Thatâs what happened to us.
In May of 2016, I was called as senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church, a prominent Oklahoma church with strong denominational ties to the Southern Baptist Convention. South Tulsa is well-known among the one million people in our metro area as the destination for Tulsaâs âwhite flight.â It is a relatively homogenous area, and our community boasts dozens of gated neighborhoods filled with luxurious homes. We are adjacent to the most popular retail stores, desirable restaurants and high-end gyms.
In the last few years South Tulsa has also become the temporary home of nearly 10,000 resettled refugees and immigrants. Families from all over the world now reside within blocks of our well-manicured church campus and first-generation children have begun attending our very best schools. Our community is no longer homogeneous.
And there is no doubt in my mind that we are better off because of it.
An Opportunity to Love
As I began to examine our changing community, it was obvious that there would be significant needs, as well as missional opportunities amidst the newly arrived families. Here in South Tulsa, God was bringing the nations to us, and the prospects of serving people from at least five different continents were promising.
The most glaring needs were among adult refugees and immigrants. At the time, new families were arriving weekly. Their children were thriving in South Tulsaâs local schools. Yet for many adults, integration was far more difficult. These families provided us with a unique opportunity to love and serve our most vulnerable neighbors, and to direct hope toward them in expectation and trust of Godâs plan.
Our church is constantly looking for ways to improve our ministries. Initially, I pursued help from many organizations who were ahead of us in the field, but ran into several roadblocks. Thatâs when I reached out to World Relief. Even though they have no office in our city, they graciously jumped into the fray with us and began to share information, strategies, personal support, invitations to refugee events, advocacy support and even overseas training to help us become educated and equipped for the growing challenges we were facing.
Soon after our relationship with World Relief began, however, our most formidable obstacle emerged.
Internal Conflict
As the presidential election was heating up last year, so was the topic of refugees. The rhetoric on both sides grew quickly intolerable, and any space for reasonable dialogue fell by the wayside. When the executive travel ban was announced in February, we went through several weeks of conflict and distraction. I heard phrases like, âwe are voting on whether or not ISIS gets a free pass into our country,â and I saw the difficult impact of those opinions on our ministry. One family organization who had been using our facility terminated the relationship with less than a weekâs notice because they felt we were putting children in danger by holding English classes and serving Muslim people in the building.
Of course with several families from the Middle East now connected to our church, tension was building rapidly inside our walls. It was in the midst of this that I chose to advocate for welcoming refugees publicly.
One Sunday morning, I asked the congregation to affirm with me, out loud, that we would not let this one issue distract us from our call to the Great Commission. I also asked them to agree that we not allow the current political climate to infect our congregational unity. In both services, there was a hearty âAmen.â
Becoming A Congregation of Hope
As more members of the congregation stepped out in faith and began to welcome refugee and immigrant families, loving relationships began to form. Our congregation and these families realized they could learn a lot from one other, that each of them had something unique to give. The depth of those connections surprised them. And we were reminded once again that God is constantly at work in changing all of us. After six weeks of very intentional reconciliation of church members, we emerged stronger than ever.
Today we are becoming a multi-cultural church. Our international families are involved in nearly every part of our church life. We translate sermon notes into four languages and our Scripture reading is done regularly in multiple languages. Several international adults and children have been baptized or have dedicated their families to the Lord. And the surprise exodus of that family organization mentioned earlier? Well, it opened up rooms for us to serve even more refugee and immigrant families in our church.
Through Godâs grace, hope is alive in South Tulsa. Our prayer is that God will continue working in and through us, and pull us forward, so that we might demonstrate His love and the hope of Jesus to those from the nations who are coming to us.
As I reflect on the changes in our church, I am amazed that all this has happened in less than a year. It is a testament to the fact that love always hopes, in all things.
For those who would prayerfully seek to take on similar endeavors in their own churches, I hope our story provides encouragement to you.
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
Through the end of the year, we’ll be featuring stories of individuals and communities putting Love in Actionâbringing hope to the hurting and shining light in the darkest hours.
Learn more and put your Love in Action today.
Eric Costanzo has served as Pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church since May 2016. Eric has a B.A. in Bible from Oklahoma Baptist University, and both a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2013, he published his first book entitled Harbor for the Poor. Eric is married to Rebecca (2001) and they have four incredible childrenâ\Adin, Noah, Abigail, and Kynzleigh. In his spare time he enjoys being run ragged by his four children and all of their activities (which includes coaching), traveling, reading, and collecting antique books.