Tearfund

Tearfund was founded forty years ago in response to the floods and famine in Bihar, India and the suffering caused by the war between Nigeria and the breakaway state of Biafra. This was and is a specifically evangelical, Christ-centred response to poverty, suffering and injustice: to put the biblical challenge of God’s compassion into practical action.

Today Tearfund works in 64 countries with over 500 church based organisations to combat global

poverty. As they celebrate their 40^th anniversary they have a ten year vision to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches. Aid is given regardless of race, creed or nationality and is never used to further a particular religious or political viewpoint.

There is insufficient space here to detail all the projects that Tearfund is involved in around the world but a glance through the most recent Teartimes gives us a snapshot. Food, medical supplies and materials for shelter have been provided for survivors of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the most vulnerable affected by the food crisis in the horn of Africa are receiving food and alternative farming and irrigation methods are being taught to farmers in Burkina Faso. Mobile eye surgery clinics have been provided in Sudan, local volunteers trained to support patients with HIV in Mozambique and children orphaned by the 20 year war in Northern Uganda are receiving support and trauma counselling.

Here at St. Martin’s we support Tearfund not only with our prayers but practically through our yearly mission giving and I will shortly be sending them your cheque for £600.

‘Let us not love in words or in speech but in deed and in truth’ (1 John 3:18)

God bless.

Lilian.