Although church buildings have stood empty in many countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Church is very much active! We’ve been extremely encouraged by reports from many of the countries on which we work of church communities coming to the assistance of others – despite the difficulties and threats they are facing. We’re giving thanks and celebrating these acts of service and love this week.

‘The pandemic knows no race, ethnicity, religion, social class or group. But it’s important that we [people of different religions] do something to help other people.’ Archbishop Agustinus Agus of Pontianak, Indonesia

We give thanks for:

• The love and kindness shown by the Christian community in Kaduna state, Nigeria (some of whom live with the daily threat of violence, kidnapping and attacks on their homes and churches) which gathered and distributed food and other essentials to over 1,000 households in need during the state’s COVID-19 lockdown.
• CSW’s local partners, Patsy, Laxmi and their teams in Uttar Pradesh and Telangana States in India, who have been delivering aid to some of the 100 million people left stranded during India’s nationwide lockdown.
• Teams of human rights activists in India, who defend persecuted Christians and who have responded to the unfolding humanitarian crisis by delivering aid and essential items to those in need.
• Catholic dioceses across Indonesia, which have been providing food, hygiene supplies and protective equipment to the most marginalised in society, as well as regularly disinfecting schools and houses.
• CSW friend and partner Michelle Chaudhry and her team in Pakistan, who have been providing aid to families in need for six months since the end of March.

Lord, we thank you that your Church is alive and active in the midst of this global crisis. Thank you that churches and communities which are under threat of persecution or violence themselves, are nonetheless choosing to show love to their neighbours. May these acts of kindness build longlasting bridges between faith communities.

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25: 35-36

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