Insecurity in Darfur Hinders Relief Work

Thursday, October 11, A.D. 2007

Increased insecurity continues to pose a major challenge for humanitarian work in Sudan’s strife-ridden Darfur region. As the situation has grown more unstable in recent days, the ACT-Caritas Darfur Emergency Response Operation (DERO) has temporarily relocated some of its international staff to Khartoum and suspended the most non-essential tasks. All essential life-saving activities are continuing, and ACT-Caritas hopes all staff will be able to return to the field later this month.

WOC Director Johnny Wray visited Darfur last month and has posted a ppt file on the WOC website. NOTE: the file is large and takes approximately 2 minutes to load by Broadband. Because of the strong support of Disciples congregations, members and friends, WOC has provided more than a quarter of a million dollars in support of the ACT-Caritas efforts to address what has been called the worst humanitarian crisis on the world.

Altogether, some 60 Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic churches and agencies are working together to provide one of the largest responses to the crisis in South and West Darfur.

One Church Responds to Darfur

WOC Associate Director Amy Gopp recently visited one of those congregations that is helping make our participation possible. Here is a reflection of her visit:

"This past Sunday I traveled to West Palm Beach, Florida. The moment I walked into First Christian Church, I noticed different colored footprints all over the walls. There were footprints in the narthex, the fellowship hall, and the hallways. I knew that the congregation had been raising money for the Sudan. Little did I know how truly engaged they had become in what they named their "Footprints in the Sands of the Sudan" campaign. Soon, the sanctuary will be decorated with footprints! Beyond the traditional fundraiser, the Footprints campaign allows each and every member of the church to become a contributor. Even more importantly, the campaign has educated the congregation on what exactly is happening in Darfur and what they, both as individuals and as a community, can do to respond to the crisis in Sudan.

During the worship service last Sunday, I was honored to preside at the Communion table. As I approached the altar where the Lord's supper had been prepared, I was handed a check made out to Week of Compassion for $5,036.01. Each person in the church has been encouraged to raise $58.40 -- the amount it costs to feed one person for a year (16 cents per day) in a Darfuri refugee camp. After hearing my impassioned plea on behalf of all those suffering in Sudan at the Florida Regional Assembly last October, Assistant Minister Trudy Betts kicked off this campaign. The church is still about $3000 shy of their overall goal, but to be handed a check for $5,000 for a part of the world about which I care so deeply, and to see the footprints they have placed all over their church...was absolutely overwhelming. Tears at the communion table were shed and joy was lifted up throughout the sanctuary. Most importantly, to see how they have been transformed by this was truly amazing. Praise God!

Giving is not only about giving. It is about receiving. It is believing that we can and do make a difference.

Where have you left your footprint?"

Long-Term Recovery Underway After Rash of Disasters

Response by church partners to the floods, hurricanes and other calamities across the world that made this past summer one of the most disaster-prone in decades has moved into long-term recovery and rehabilitation phases. So far in October, WOC has been able to make grants to support flood recovery in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh and hurricane recovery efforts in Jamaica, Haiti, and Nicaragua. We are now anticipating long-term earthquake recovery appeals from church partners in Peru and Indonesia. WOC is deeply grateful for the strong support from so many Disciples members and friends across the whole church that is enabling us to be part of so many life-saving and life-sustaining ministries throughout the world. Designated contributions to WOC are always welcomed and can be made online at the WOC website: www.weekofcompassion.org. Designated contributions are always used in their entirety as the donor has designated.

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.