Pictured right (centre) is Mazen, who works at the distribution centre of his church in the Bekaa Valley, he says:

“The people we serve are in desperate need of help. They suffer from the terrible economic situation and the lack of work, and they can’t even provide food for their children to eat. Many families cannot buy milk for their young children, they tell us they mix water with corn flour or bread instead. These families are not used to being taken care of with unconditional love. It makes a huge difference when we are able to help them in a way that reflects the unconditional love Jesus showed us. It is amazing to them – and to us – that people who don’t even know them and are living very far away, as far as Canada, are thinking about them and have on their heart to help them without asking anything in return. This thought alone fills their hearts with joy and hope. Through our help, you are reminding them that they are not alone, but that we are one family in which we are all brothers and sisters in humanity.”

Heifa* is a beneficiary of the food packages Mazen helps distribute. She shares her story of how you have helped women and families like her own by giving and doubling your impact.

“We were in a difficult situation in Syria. Our house was damaged after being hit by a bomb. Thankfully, we had fled to my brother-in-law’s house at the time. Life was not safe there.

I came to Lebanon with my husband, two kids, my parents and two brothers, and rented a house near the church. I was told that my children can join the school and that the church offers some assistance. We have seen a big difference in our children’s education…they were able to catch up with the rest of the class due to the help and extra effort of their teachers…they get along very well and that makes me happy. They learn hymns and Bible stories.

The church doors are open to all. This is the humanitarian message, to help each other, even though we come from different religions and backgrounds. Once a month, my parents and I get a box of food aid which makes a big difference in our situation. The church also provided us with mattresses and blankets upon our arrival. Our God is a good God. We were all welcomed in the church, although we had no relatives or acquaintances here, we feel a part of this community.

I never expected this kind of help. At Christmas, the church gave us a gift of 20 litres of diesel (for heating), biscuits, chips, chocolate, walnuts, and milk for the children. They were enough for two months. It is costly to provide diesel for heating.

The church is home to us, we attend the meetings and feel comfortable here. My biggest dream was running away from Syria, and now my husband and my children are safe, this is what counts.”

*Name changed for privacy and security purposes.

The CBWC has a committee known as the Justice and Mercy Network (JMN). This committee picked up from where the broader CBWC community left off after a successful summer of raising funds for CBM’s Active in Mission initiative in partnership with our sister conventions: We ended up with 21 churches applying for assistance with local food security programming…it was a real challenge…but so encouraging to know how many of our churches are currently involved in food security programs. There is talk of forming an affinity group moving forward so they can network together. We are hopeful that this initiative continues and are grateful for the chance to participate! (Louanne Haugen, Director of Communications & Development, CBWC)

Approximately 350 volunteers for Mission Nouvelle Generation in Brossard, Quebec feed about 1,500 families each week of the year. They also offered a variety of important services and initiatives to serve the community such as practical services at low costs and a community garden allowing families access to freshly picked fruits and vegetables. They have a dehydration project to maximize donations and minimize waste by taking the oversupply of fruits and vegetables and transforming them into long-lasting products while preserving their nutritional value. Mission Nouvelle Generation has helped new immigrants and those on the margins of society get back on their feet. Many of them come back as volunteers to give back to society. During the holiday season, Christmas Food baskets were distributed to 2000 families.

In Nairobi, Kenya, Stephen lost his job when his company had to downsize. He decided to move back to his hometown and become a farmer to support his family. He followed the farming practices of his neighbours, but they all experienced crop failure due to the lack of precipitation in the region. He received training in conservation agriculture from CBM’s partner, the ACC&S, alongside several other farmers who were experiencing the same challenges. They all learned how to mitigate the effects of changing weather patterns. Stephen has had a successful harvest from implementing these new measures. His youngest son has also shown interest in conservation agriculture by joining his school’s 4K Club and taking care of his very own plot of land. We’d love to hear your story of how your church community is addressing local food security through Active in Mission. Feel free to post your own stories using #AIM2023, #AEM2023, or #ActiveInMission2023.