Emergency Disaster Fund extends aid to organizations working in response to the Israel-Hamas war, in addition to other grants

Recent grants made from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) have been directed by Brethren Disaster Ministries to extend aid to organizations working in response to humanitarian needs created by the war between Israel and Hamas, with the violence now extended beyond Gaza into the West Bank and Lebanon.

After conversations at the October meeting of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, Brethren Disaster Ministries has developed a strategy for responding to this war by working with the following four partners: International Orthodox Christian Charities, relief programing in Gaza; Bethlehem Bible College Shepherd Society, relief programing in Gaza and with displaced Palestinians in the West Bank; Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, relief programing in Gaza and the West Bank; Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development, relief programing for families displaced by Israeli attacks on Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon.

To give financial support to this work, donate to the Emergency Disaster Fund at https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/bdm or by means of checks made out to the Emergency Disaster Fund and mailed to the Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

Bethlehem Bible College Shepherd Society

A grant of $25,000 supports the relief programing of Bethlehem Bible College Shepherd Society, the humanitarian outreach arm of Bethlehem Bible College located in the West Bank. The goal of the society is to provide a means for the global community to encourage and financially assist marginalized, needy, and low-income Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza. They have developed a proven network of trusted colleagues for common work including the Anglican Diocese in Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Church, and others inside Gaza.

This grant will support various current Shepherd Society projects including:
— Emergency food, water, fuel, and supplies for families and elderly residents in Gaza and the West Bank.
— Construction, supplying, and staffing of a medical clinic in the courtyard of St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza.
— Tutoring and support to approximately 100 kindergarten, elementary, and preparatory students living in and around the church shelters in Gaza City, incorporating psychosocial support activities, recreational activities, and physical activities.
— Winterization supplies including blankets, boots, pajamas, socks, pants, and shirts for 1,000 to 2,000 people in Gaza, where for those living in makeshift shelters winter presents yet another threat as disease spreads and many suffer from starvation.
— Trauma counseling training in partnership with Care4You (formerly Open Doors), the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Anar for Empowerment and Psychosocial Support. The training has been approved for a diploma with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, with 24 participants focused on children and 24 focused on women. It is currently being implemented in schools in the West Bank.

Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center

A grant of $25,000 supports the relief programing of Wi’am, which has the mission of fostering peace, justice, and reconciliation with a crucial focus on needs of the most vulnerable members of their community: the children. Every day, Wi’am staff see firsthand the profound impact that conflict, displacement, and loss have on these young lives. Children in Gaza and the West Bank are often the silent victims of conflict, enduring a war they did not choose and cannot escape. The trauma they experience–whether from the loss of loved ones, witnessing violence, or living in constant fear–can have devastating effects on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Many have been displaced from their homes, seen their schools destroyed, and lost access to basic services, leaving them with a sense of insecurity and helplessness. The trauma may inhibit their ability to learn, have healthy relationships, or have hope for a better future, and may result in anxiety, depression disorder, or PTSD.

Wi’am has developed programs designed to address the needs of children impacted by the war:

— Create Safe Spaces: Organize fun activities for children to air their stress and simply be kids, including games, storytelling, art workshops, and other activities that encourage laughter, creativity, and healing.
— Distribute Christmas Gifts: Provide gifts for children to bring some happiness into their lives including toys, books, and other items that can provide comfort and joy.
— Provide Food Packages: Support families in need by distributing food to help them through the holiday season.
— Psychosocial Support: Provide professional counseling and emotional support to help children process their experiences and begin the journey to healing.
— Trauma-Informed Care: Develop programs that specifically address the unique needs of children who have experienced the trauma of war, including therapeutic art and play activities designed to foster recovery.
— Educational Activities: Offer creative and educational programs that empower children to learn, play, and develop in a nurturing environment, and regain a sense of normalcy and joy.
— Community Engagement: Organize events and workshops that bring children together, fostering a sense of belonging and community in a safe and supportive environment.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

A grant of $10,000 for l’Eglise des Freres au Congo (Church of the Brethren in the DR Congo), will help implement an mpox prevention program designed to help reduce the spread of the current outbreak and prevent future outbreaks. Mpox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus. The DRC declared a national outbreak of mpox in Dec. 2022, and since Sept. 2023 the disease has continued to spread in North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces where most of the church’s congregations are located. The outbreak is worsened by deplorable conditions in the overcrowded camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) where almost a million displaced people are living. A genetic mutation that started in South Kivu has been causing uninterrupted human-to-human transmission of the virus for months. This new variant appears to be more transmissible, causes a more severe disease, and is harder to detect by doctors. More than 20,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported in the DRC this year.

The church is working on a targeted response to address poor hygiene among the most vulnerable populations including families with small children or with members with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses. The hygiene program is designed to help limit the spread of the disease in the short term and promote more sustainable hygiene practices to prevent future outbreaks. It includes distribution of information about mpox, distribution of handwashing kits, and providing handwashing in key public settings. The kits include water buckets with a spout to facilitate hand washing, hydroalcoholic gels, and antibacterial soap. The program will be coordinated with the DRC provincial Ministry of Health and local government leaders. At least 800 households (estimated at more than 6,500 people) and more than 20 public settings will receive the information and handwashing kits in South Kivu Province.

Dominican Republic (DR)

A grant of $5,000 supports the construction of a new home for retired pastor Jesús Ledesma and his wife, Celeste, who have been serving in Iglesia de los Hermanos (the Church of the Brethren in the DR). Their home was badly damaged in multiple storms over the last 10 years. The Dominican church leadership has requested support in rebuilding this home as a new concrete block structure with construction starting in early 2025.

Johnathan Bream, a Global Mission Country Advisory Team representative for Iglesia de los Hermanos, is working with the Church of the Brethren’s Southern Pennsylvania District to raise funds and recruit a mission group to finish building the home with painting and installation of electricity and plumbing during a Feb. 2025 mission trip.

To give financial support to this work

Donate to the Emergency Disaster Fund at https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/bdm or by means of checks made out to the Emergency Disaster Fund and mailed to the Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

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