When I began my role with CBM in early 2020, I had just two days in the office before the world shut down. The Church—here in Canada and around the world—was thrust into unfamiliar territory, navigating lockdowns, economic fallout, and sudden humanitarian need. But what emerged amid that crisis was a testimony to faith, resilience, and global partnership.
Our partners responded swiftly. From the Philippines to Lebanon, from DR Congo to Latin America, churches adapted their ministries almost overnight. One partner in Lebanon, who had to suspend an in-person refugee camp, created online programming that ended up reaching even more children than before. Others moved workshops and pastoral training online, distributed food and hygiene kits, and opened their doors as safe shelters for healthcare workers and displaced families.
In the early days, the requests for emergency support came in waves—more than we had ever seen at once. But even more powerful was the unity that emerged among our partners. Churches that had little prior experience with relief work learned from others who had spent years navigating crises like food insecurity or conflict. What began as emergency aid evolved into shared learning, capacity building, and renewed connection.
COVID-19 didn’t just create vulnerability—it exposed and intensified it. In many contexts, the pandemic worsened existing crises. Urban families in East Africa who relied on daily wages were especially hard hit. In places like South Sudan and Lebanon, COVID-19 layered itself on top of already fragile political and economic systems.
Yet even in those hardest moments, the Church stepped in. We heard from hospital staff in the Philippines who were sleeping in hallways, too afraid to go home and infect their families. CBM and our partners provided PPE and hot meals, and one nurse said, “Because of you, we could keep saving lives.”
I’m still struck by how the Body of Christ responded locally and globally—not just with compassion, but with creativity, faithfulness, and deep solidarity. This experience reshaped our partnerships and gave us a glimpse of what it means to be one global Church, walking together in mission.
