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Week of Compassion invites Disciples seminarians to participate in a summer immersion program for 8-10 weeks in the the summer of 2027. Participant service will focus on short-term recovery, rehabilitation, and resilience projects responding to weather-related and human-caused disasters. The Immersion programs will take place in the Philippines and in Pakistan where participants will work alongside local humanitarian response partners with existing relationships with Week of Compassion.
Participants will go through orientation and travel procedures prior to arriving in the country. Week of Compassion will cover flight, accommodation and other logistical costs, plus a nominal stipend while in-country. Throughout the service period, each participant will have regular check-ins with Week of Compassion staff. After the program, participants will be asked to share their experience and learnings with Week of Compassion and the wider church, and participate in a program evaluation. This is a fully accompanied experience, from arrival to return. Requirements 21 years old or older Seeking ordination within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Enrolled in a seminary or theological school Week of Compassion will begin receiving applications in the fall of 2026 but interested seminarians may indicate their interest ahead of time by contacting Rev. Alexis Vaughan, Managing Director with Week of Compassion. Country Profiles Pakistan The Muslim-majority state of Pakistan was born out of the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, and has faced both domestic political upheavals and regional confrontations since. Pakistan has a history of natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, and heat waves. In 2010, record-breaking rains caused flooding that affected almost the entire country, destroying homes, crops, and infrastructure. This flood is considered one of the worst in Pakistan's history. Pakistan is one of the places most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Philippines The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Much of the country is mountainous and prone to earthquakes and eruptions from around 20 active volcanoes. The Philippines is considered one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of many of the natural hazards that the country faces. The Philippines is located in the typhoon belt of the Pacific Ocean and experiences an average of 20 typhoons per year. One of the most powerful typhoons in history, Super Typhoon Haiyan, struck the Philippines in 2013, killing over 8,000 people and damaging 1.1 million homes. Partner Sites Community World Service Asia (CWSA) CWSA is a humanitarian, development, advocacy, and capacity enhancement organization, registered and headquartered in Pakistan, and implementing capacity enhancement initiatives across the globe. CWSA aims to address factors that divide people by promoting inclusiveness, shared values, diversity, and interdependence. Marginalized communities are assisted irrespective of race, faith, color, age, sex, economic status, or political opinion. Respecting the right to choose how to live, they work with marginalized communities to overcome the impacts of inequalities and lead peaceful, dignified and resilient lives. National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) Founded in 1963, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) is an ecumenical fellowship of non-Roman Catholic denominations in the Philippines working for unity in faith and order. This includes providing opportunities to churches for common prophetic witness and service in responding to the people’s issues, specifically justice and peace, human dignity and rights, and the integrity of creation. NCCP compels the church to bring Christian hope into the realm of the possible in a society weighed down by systemic violence and degradation. |
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