STORIES
Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh // photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
Mahalo Nui4/24/2025 a new partnership with the Lahaina Community Land Trust In early March, Week of Compassion provided a long-term recovery grant to the Lahaina Community Land Trust, supporting recovery for households affected by the 2023 wildfires, and efforts to protect and generate affordable and sustainable housing. Celebrating this partnership, LCLT shared their generous thanks with Disciples. Their words of gratitude carry a blessing for all of us: "On behalf of the Lahaina Community Land Trust and as a fire survivor myself, I extend a heartfelt mahalo to Week of Compassion for their generosity and shared vision. Together, we are not only rebuilding homes but also nurturing the soul of our community, ensuring that Lahaina remains a place where its people can thrive for generations to come." - Mikey Burke, President of the Board of Directors
Working to bring Lahaina lands into community ownership and create volunteer opportunities for rebuilding alongside local professional contractors, LCLT is dedicated to the preservation of community land for long-term benefit. Deborah Mader, VP of Operations, goes on to say: “Our deepest aloha and mahalo for your generous gift to Lahaina Community Land Trust. For centuries across the pae ʻāina (the Hawaiian island chain), when a loko iʻa (fishpond), loʻi kalo (taro patch), or auwai (irrigation ditch) needed to be built, the kāhea (call) would go out and the community would come together to help create it. Each person doing their part — standing side by side, passing stones hand to hand. And in the end, a powerful new thing was born, something that would feed and benefit the people for generations to come. Mahalo so much for answering the kāhea, to stand side by side with us. Please know that your gift will be a part of Lahaina's legacy for generations. Mahalo piha for helping us nurture a future where everyone in Lahaina, from keiki (child) to kupuna (honored elder), thrives.” LEARN MORE about the Lahaina Community Land Trust by following them on social media and at their website. "a place for all to discover community, acceptance, and purpose" In September 2024, Hurricane Helene swept upward from Florida’s Big Bend, devastating communities throughout the southeastern United States. It hit the Blue Ridge particularly hard, triggering historic flooding throughout Western North Carolina.
At Christmount, the national retreat center of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains is still marred by the scars of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The Christmount staff doesn’t dwell on the damage wrought by the storm, though; there’s just too much work to do. Long-Term Recovery on the Eastern Shore3/11/2025 staff and volunteers get affordable housing off the ground (literally!) photo: Week of Compassion On October 29, 2021, Somerset and Dorchester counties experienced Maryland’s worst tidal flooding in 50 years — in many places, water levels were at or higher than Hurricane Sandy (2012). This kind of massive flooding creates immediate and long-term health threats to flood survivors and to their homes. The influx of bay water carried contaminants and wreaked havoc on plumbing and electrical systems, and left homes susceptible to the growth of mold and mildew.
The 2021 storm was unnamed and undeclared by federal agencies, and received minimal media coverage. Few people knew the storm even happened, let alone the resources and networks needed to help survivors move toward recovery. 2024 Year in Review2/5/2025 responding with compassion around the world Dear Church,
During the month of February, many congregations across the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will take up a special offering, joining in the mission and ministry of Week of Compassion. For over 80 years, Week of Compassion has been the Church’s relief, refugee, and sustainable development ministry, working with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. As your church participates in this offering, I also invite you to join in prayer for our partners and the people we serve across the globe. Now more than ever, the work of Week of Compassion is urgently needed. Special Offering 2025 : HEARD AND SEEN1/14/2025  For more than a week, massive wildfires have been burning in Southern California, scarring thousands of acres, destroying thousands of homes and structures, and displacing hundreds of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Week of Compassion remains in frequent contact with pastors and regional leaders, responding as needs emerge and joining partners in conversation about the long-term recovery ahead.
This disaster is just one of many – including hurricanes, war, and famine – to which Week of Compassion is still responding. Increasingly severe and frequent weather-related and human-caused disasters continue to fragment communities around the world. Adding to the destructive impact of disasters in these regions, political unrest and climate change continue to increase the number of displaced persons worldwide and complicate the work of recovery. updates on impact & how you can helpMultiple fast-moving fires continue to burn and spread in Southern California, with extensive drought and significant Santa Ana winds combining to expand fires rapidly, with little-to-no containment. We will not know the full impact until the fires are under control and extinguished. In the meantime, Week of Compassion is in close contact with Regional leadership in the Pacific Southwest Region, the regional Disaster Response Team, state and county VOADs, and local pastors in the area.
Week of Compassion is launching a Summer Immersion program for seminarians (age 21+) currently enrolled in theological institutions and seeking ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Disciples will spend six to eight weeks in the Philippines or in Pakistan, working alongside local faith-based organizations providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. |
