Source: www.barnabasfund.org
Date: April 14, 2020
An announcement:
LAUNCH OF THE BARNABAS CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY NETWORK (BCEN)
The needs of the poor and persecuted church are urgent and must be met now. Coronavirus is creating a humanitarian disaster especially for persecuted Christians in many parts of the world.
And the reason for this disproportionate effect on the Christian community? Persecuted Christians are on the margins of society, discriminated against in daily life, and often discriminated against when general aid is distributed. Many are desperately poor already because of discrimination. They have no savings, and with lockdown they have lost their meagre incomes.
Many pastors and clergy have no means of support if their congregations cannot meet.
Barnabas Fund, the leading aid agency for persecuted Christians, has launched the Barnabas Coronavirus Emergency Network to urgently meet these needs. We are joined by over 85 partner organisations. These include global church denominations, representing thousands of congregations worldwide and some are theological institutions with close links to rural pastors caring for their vulnerable flock during this time. Associations such as GAFCON, EFAC, the Communion of Reformed Churches, and Pentecostal Networks, are all part of the Barnabas Coronavirus Emergency Network giving us direct access to our brothers and sisters at the grassroots. Our objectives are to monitor the effects of Covid 19 on persecuted Christians, and learn how to support those Christians better.
BCEN is obtaining reliable up-to-date information which Barnabas Fund will share with supporters to inform their prayers.
BCEN is guiding Barnabas Fund’s response in terms of practical support for coronavirus-affected Christians, thus ensuring that funds given are used as effectively as possible in this unprecedented and fast-changing global emergency.
Thus far, BCEN has already sent £425,305.73 GBP ($528.338.66 USD) to support vulnerable communities in Pakistan, China, Laos, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Armenia and Sri Lanka. We are inundated with requests for support and are committed to continue helping.
But we are only scratching the surface of the need. There is much to do and we need your support in the weeks ahead.
We invite you to visit us at www.barnabasfund.org/en/BCEN for news and prayer requests from the persecuted church, regularly updated. There you will also see a list of all our partner denominations and organisations. Please join us in praying for the persecuted Church during this difficult time.
Please help us to avert a humanitarian disaster for persecuted Christians.