Give Generously 

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,”
but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
(James 2:15–17 NIV)

Religious discrimination, persecution and conflict are on the rise globally leaving hundreds of thousands of religious- and ethnic-minority Christians impoverished, traumatised, displaced, and destitute.

Having fled Islamic jihad, military campaigns, ethnic cleanings, sectarian pogroms, and violent persecution these Christians have lost their homes, their ancestral lands, their savings, their livelihoods, and often even their loved ones. In fact, many have lost everything but the clothes on their backs.

To avoid further discrimination and persecution, displaced persecuted Christians tend not to seek sanctuary in United Nations (UN) camps where they are not only persecuted, but trapped. Rather they prefer to find refuge amongst fellow Christians with whom they know they will be safe. Consequently, the burden of care falls not to the UN but to monasteries, churches and church-run camps and charitable organisations.

Today, in Syria, Turkey and Iraq; Nigeria, Central Africa and Mozambique; Pakistan, India and Bangladesh; Burma, Armenia and West Papua – along with others – Christians are in desperate need.

Amidst the suffering and insecurity local Christians are providing displaced and persecuted Christians with warm clothes, shelter, food, infant milk formula, clean water, sanitation, pharmaceuticals, medical care, education, and legal aid.

These courageous servants depend on funds from God’s generous givers.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me . . .
Truly, I say to you, as you did it
to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,
you did it to me [Jesus].”
(Matthew 25:35–46 ESV)