Matthew 16:18b – (Jesus says) “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
As I come into the role of Director of FAIR, God has given me a burden to celebrate the centrality of the local church. With every FAIR project, we are working to make sure that it happens from the local church, to the local church, with the local church, and through the local church. For that we need you. Can I ask you to invite your local church to be praying about joining with FAIR projects through joyful and generous giving?
How does the centrality of the local church play out in real life? A great example of this is FAIR’s response to the horrific flooding that took place in Brazil in May. FAIR raised $19,000 from Fellowship churches and donors and funds were used by local churches in Brazil to provide immediate relief and rebuilding resources to those affected by the flooding. Then, when Caelan Flemming, a godly young man from Huntsville, ON, asked to serve with a FAIR project on a short-term mission trip this summer, we were able to partner him with one of the local churches in Brazil we had already been empowering to serve those in need. Caelan’s role while in Brazil was to train volunteers and provide a Jesus-centred camp for the children in the area. This started a children’s program that continues to grow and impact the surrounding community with the love of Christ. He then returned to Canada, sharing with and encouraging his own local church. FAIR’s heart is to see the Church love the poor and the needy to see Gospel transformation, from Canada, to the nations, and back again.
In Honduras, we see a great example of how the Lord is blessing children through the ministry at Casa Hogar through FAIR. The children living at Casa Hogar, who come from unimaginable circumstances of poverty and trauma, find hope, healing, and love in the name of Christ. This is made possible because of the faithful support of Canadian churches and donors for the missionaries, staff, and children there through giving, prayer, and short-term mission trips. The spiritual care the children receive at Casa Hogar goes hand-in-hand with the spiritual care of their local church in Siguatepeque, resulting in many of the children becoming disciples of Jesus and being baptized.
As part of the planning process for FAIR’s Stand by Me (Ukraine/Poland) appeal, in July I traveled to Poland and Ukraine and spent time with Fellowship International missionary Ben Taylor. While there, we visited with many pastors, chaplains, and ministry leaders who have benefited through FAIR’s response to the war in Ukraine. Because of the funds raised by local churches in Canada through FAIR’s emergency appeal in 2022, many displaced Ukrainians have been cared for by local churches in Poland and Ukraine. I was deeply impacted by the stories of two men in particular: Pastors Pietro and Volodymyr in the city of Chernihiv, Ukraine. These two men of God are so impacted by the Gospel that they stayed in their city, which was at one point completely surrounded by Russian forces. Although the Russian army retreated and the frontline has moved, many had fled the city of Chernihiv for safety. These pastors remained to care for those left behind. As they meet the needs of their community by providing food supports, community, spiritual instruction, and encouragement, people are coming to faith in Christ. These pastors find incredible encouragement in the fact that Canadians continue to care for them through prayer and financial support. FAIR hopes to deepen the relationship between Canadian and Ukrainian and Polish churches through the Stand by Me appeal, which will ultimately strengthen all participants. Will you ask your church family to join FAIR’s Pray for Ukraine digital prayer room?
Here are a few of the other ways in which FAIR had the opportunity to come alongside those in need through special and emergency appeals this past fiscal year.
- In September 2023, FAIR launched the Journey with a Child special appeal. The goal was to raise $200,000 to support sustainability projects for four of the Fellowship Child Sponsorship ministries in Honduras (Casa Hogar), Lebanon (Cedar Home and Clementia Life Centre), and the Dominican Republic (Joy Foundation). In addition to contributing to the financial goal of the special appeal, we invited donors to sponsor a child. Through this appeal, $115,226 was raised, and the number of donors to the Fellowship child sponsorship program by end of the fiscal year grew to 464 sponsors committed to 738 sponsorships.
- The winter 2024 special appeal, Catch the Vision, aimed to raise $160,000 and awareness of four FAIR projects in particular need of support. FAIR received $82,087 with funds being used to help train surgeons in Madagascar, care for prisoners in the MENA and Stan regions, provide vocational training in rural Pakistan, and repair a preschool building in Sri Lanka.
- In addition to the Brazil flood relief appeal, FAIR has also responded to three other emergencies. In January, a deadly earthquake struck Japan. Through the Japan Earthquake Relief appeal, $17,000 was raised to support the work of a local church partner serving among those most affected by the quake. In February, the Chile Wildfires Relief appeal was launched, raising $12,000 to empower local church networks to meet the physical and emotional needs of those affected by these disasters. In July the Indonesia Flood Relief appeal raised just over $3,000 to purchase and provide food, water, clothing, and other essential supplies, and to help rebuild and re-establish homes and livelihoods. In each of these cases, emotional and spiritual care is also provided to those impacted, with the local church at the centre of the action.
God is meeting needs in a tangible way, using FAIR as the channel between Canadian local churches and local churches all over the world. Would you pray for us as we continue to empower local churches? Pray to see needs met and doors opened for Gospel transformation happening all over the world.
For more information about FAIR fundraising-specifics, take a look at the 2023-2024 financial reports.
Norton Lages
FAIR Director