Projects in 2022
The Christian Emergency Alliance has done a range of projects since its inception in 2020. Much of that work has not been discussed extensively in public. One reason for this is security concerns. There are some projects we cannot share much about because it could jeopardize the safety of partners and friends. We are content to stay quiet on those initiatives.
However, there are other projects that don’t fall into that category, or at least not fully. Yet even here we have not shared too much. In these cases, our reasons are less noble. We have simply been busy!
Did you know that those assisting with the Alliance all do so voluntarily? This is a great blessing. It’s a major reason we have so little overhead expense - we have neither salaries or rent to chew up our budget. What funds we receive can largely be directed into projects.
But this set up is also a curse of sorts. We are all essentially tentmakers. But this means we have to spend much of our time tending to our full-time work commitments. There is only so much room at the margins. But this is where we look to the Lord to take the little we have to offer and multiply it into outsized Kingdom impact. And sharing about our exciting projects is important, especially for those of you who have sacrificially partnered with us in this work. So without further ado, we want to do a brief overview of our work in 2022.
Ukraine. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was an inflection point for much of the world. For Christians inside Ukraine, their world turned upside down in a day. They struggled to process all that was descending upon them, their families and their neighbors. In the early, frothy days of the war, chaos reigned. Some Ukrainian believers quickly set to work delivering practical aid and spiritual encouragement to fellow Christians, as well as the lost struggling for answers. In short order, resources ran dry. It was hard to get help to where it was most needed.
Fortunately, through our network of friends, the Christian Emergency Alliance was able to quickly direct assistance to meet these needs. The churches we partnered with were relatively small and not connected to larger networks. They were ministering in the gaps, and it was a joy to be able to help in the small ways we could.
Afghanistan. The conflict in Ukraine is tragic for many reasons. One reason that most don’t realize involves Afghanistan. When Ukraine went hot, support for Christians in Afghanistan turned cold. The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan was nightmarish. As soon as the world’s attention pivoted to Ukraine, the Christian community in Afghanistan - along with the countless others - drifted from global narratives.
It is important that we remember our spiritual family in Afghanistan. In 2022, the Alliance worked to demonstrate our love these believers, though supporting them became even more challenging. Christians went into hiding and some had to flee to distant cities after the Taliban tracked them down. The Alliance supported Afghan Christians by providing them shelter, basic necessities and even some fun items for their kiddos.
Safe house for Afghan Christians sponsored by the Christian Emergency Alliance.
The Afghan families we were able to assist represent a small fraction of the Christians struggling in the country. But it is also a reminder that even small efforts - supported by ordinary Christians - can make outsized impacts in the lives of total strangers.
Middle East. The Christian Emergency Alliance also undertook projects in the Middle East. This work sought to encourage and support believers who faced hardships because of their faith. Christians who converted from Islam paid an especially high price. The Alliance undertook small projects to help them during their times of trial.
Indigenous Pastors. The Christian Emergency Alliance helped another ministry by adopting some of the indigenous pastors they supported. These local Christian leaders served in rural areas in countries across Asia. Sadly, the other ministry had to transfer this work after the two men leading the work both passed away. Onboarding was not easy. The work essentially required us to reverse engineer how the projects had been carried out. We also had to pray that we would be able to actually connect with the teams. Fortunately for us, God delivered.
Other Projects. In addition to the projects mentioned above, the Christian Emergency Alliance carried out several additional efforts over 2022. We sponsored Bibles for remote regions of south Asia. We also supported medical projects and aid efforts for Christians displaced by military action in Myanmar.
Onward into 2023. As the new year is well under way, the Christian Emergency Alliance is looking to continue some of 2022’s projects, while also looking to expand as the Lord leads. We will work to keep you in the loop as developments happen, so you can rejoice with us in all the Lord is doing.
If you would like to join us in our projects, we would be honored to partner with you. And if you invested in our work in 2022, we cannot thank you enough.