Situation: At least 7 people died and over 50 sustained injuries as a severe storm and rain hit various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northern Pakistan on Thursday (June 13). This occurred as flash floods have stranded some 700,000 persons in the region, as the Swat River’s raging waters have overflowed. Other floods elsewhere in the region are also …
“Don’t Deport My Dad” – Speak Out This Father’s Day
As we celebrate Father’s Day on June 16, too many American families will have an empty seat at the table. Church World Service and its partners are working together to raise the voices of these families and to call Americans to action through the online Father’s Day campaign: #DontDeportMyDad. Every day, the U.S. government deports an average of 1,100 people. …
Immigration Reform Amendments – Call TODAY
June 13, 2013
Call the Senate Thursday, June 13, and protect the immigration bill from amendments that would delay or narrow the path to citizenship. Call 1-866-940-2439 to be connected with your Senators. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or find Senators’ direct lines at www.senate.gov. Feel free to use this sample script. “I am from [City, State, Congregation], and I support …
Today’s Humanitarianism Reflects a World in Flux
Chris Herlinger | June 12, 2013
When you hear the term “faith-based humanitarianism” (admittedly, a mouthful), what do you think of? Do you think it means trying to promote a certain religious faith? Does it mean passing out religious tracts along with blankets and cleanup buckets during an emergency? Or does it mean that, if you work for a faith-based organization, the foundation on which your …
Feeding Hungry Little Minds and Bodies in Serbia
Amy Bobbette | June 10, 2013
The Naša Radost school is an inclusive pre-school in Smederevo that serves the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in Serbia. Children from Roma settlements and children with developmental and other disabilities attend the school. They are not only being prepared to enter primary school but, along with their parents and teachers, are learning to grow food. The school ground has …
Rev. John L. McCullough Addresses 2013 Bread Gathering
CWS President and CEO, the Rev. John L. McCullough, was asked to address a joint gathering of Bread for the World and Scaling Up Nutrition June 10. Download a PDF copy or read his full remarks below. In the days of “Leave It to Beaver” a couple of common expressions were that children are made to be seen and not …
Volunteers Keep Us Walking
Amy Porter | June 8, 2013
My first meeting with volunteers after starting with CWS eleven years ago was a post-Walk celebration for the Southwick/Granville CROP Hunger Walk at the Roma Restaurant in Southwick. I was a bit nervous, but so warmly welcomed by co-coordinators Clayton Cigal, Sr. and Carolyn Mills – who was stepping down after many years and to whom we were presenting a …
Service is Worship: Church Stocks CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets
Kathryn Goldsmith, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church | June 7, 2013
One year ago, Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas launched a concept called “Micro Mission Trip.” The idea was simple – engage more members in service by offering short service opportunities during the typical Sunday worship time slot four times a year. The idea of worshipping and serving simultaneously was born in a Community Outreach Council meeting. “Since Saturdays are …
Appeal Update #1: 2013 U.S. Tornadoes, Storms and Floods
June 6, 2013
Revised Appeal Goal: $100,000 (Up from $55,000) Received to Date: $27,000 Situation: Severe springtime weather continues to adversely affect much of the United States. In recent weeks, storms, floods and tornadoes have hit many states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. On May 15, the EF-4 tornado that hit Granbury, Texas, killed six persons and …
UMC Church Engages Neighborhood to Raise Support for Refugees
June 5, 2013
Inman Park United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Ga., sets a great example of how a small church can make a big difference in the lives of refugees, do so with imagination – and in the process get its neighborhood and a lot of other churches involved. Every year, the 130-member congregation completely furnishes an apartment for a newly arriving refugee …