Soon, you will have an opportunity to offer your gift to Week of Compassion. Week of Compassion (which you can give to year-round) is a fund that empowers Disciples’ relief, refugee and development funding and efforts around the world. Week of Compassion seeks to meet basic needs in Christ’s name throughout the world, sharing resources that strengthen people to improve their own life and communities. During our upcoming Week of Compassion giving campaign, each of us will decide how to respond to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” that he posed to his Disciples after his resurrection.

The members of the family of God – from those we know to distant sisters, brothers and cousins in parts of the world we may never visit – are all part of God’s flock, the sheep of God’s pasture (Ezekiel 34:31). Yet, God’s flock is often forcefully scattered and stalked, as people are chased from their homes and livelihoods by brutal expressions of war, as communities and futures are blasted by natural disasters and as societies and countries are ground down by unrelenting hunger, disease and poverty.

Jesus calls us to tend his sheep caught in these situations of deep need. And with love and energy, the Church responds! Through giving to Week of Compassion you are enabling:

• Disaster victims to quickly receive shelter, food, water and medical supplies
• Local communities develop secure sources of food and clean water.
• Minds and bodies around the globe to grow stronger with new schools and medical clinics
• Refugees to receive housing and long-term help to construct new lives.

The current economic situation is challenging for many of us. For many others, it has simply pushed them beyond their abilities to cope. Life is not simply challenged by the economic climate, it has become literally life-threatened. By sharing your resources through Week of Compassion, you WILL change lives – including your own. If you wish to give, you can mail a check or money order to the Church office – make sure to include a note that the donation is to go to Week of Compassion.