Disaster Relief
Relief efforts led by local churches are incredibly potent because of the immediate and ongoing gospel presence and proclamation—through the local church—for which Acts 29 is known. In 2020, our COVID Relief Fund and our Beirut Relief Fund demonstrated the gospel impact of supporting local churches to respond to local crises.
COVID Relief
“Though this is all very uncertain, God is not a God of uncertainty, and God wins. . . . Social distancing and self-isolating reveals that we are meant for community with one another, and with God.”
― Harrison Kwok
When COVID-19 began spreading across the globe, we knew that our most impoverished churches would be the most badly affected. Read stories from local Acts 29 pastors and apprentices about how the global pandemic impacted their communities here.
In light of this need, we hoped to raise $50,000 for a targeted Disaster Relief Fund. Praise God that we were able to raise nearly $80,000! Churches and individuals in 19 countries received help from 180 donors (including 78 churches) in 11 countries.
Through aid distributions to five church planters in Brazil, 173 families were helped—mostly with food. These church plants serve fishing colonies, slums, and descendants of slaves. Many of these families live in a state of extreme poverty.
In the Philippines, rice was bought and distributed (via carts pulled by water buffalo!) to isolated mountain-dwelling indigenous tribes on the island of Mindoro. In this poverty-stricken area, an Acts 29 apprentice is hoping to plant a church.
In Liberia, bags of rice (enough for one or two weeks depending on family size) were distributed to 15 families.
In the Dominican Republic, food packages were created and distributed to 20 families living in the impoverished community of El Peje.
In South Africa, 30 families and seven local pastors (some of whom have lost income due to COVID-19) have been provided with food packages, care, and prayer. While many of these packages have been delivered to suffering believers, their unbelieving family members are hearing the gospel and seeing it in action.
Beirut Relief
“Beirut’s greatest hope isn’t a stable economy or honest politicians, but blood-bought believers who carry with them the hope and power of the gospel. So, we’re praying and trusting that the church of Jesus Christ in Lebanon will be a shining light amid all the darkness and destruction.”
― Marwan Aboul-Zelof
On August 4, a devastating explosion rocked the port of Beirut in Lebanon. Acts 29 church planter Marwan Aboul-Zelof, pastor of City Bible Church in Beirut, explained that Lebanon was in distress before the explosion with an economic crisis, social upheaval, government corruption, famine, major wildfires, and COVID-19. "Now," Marwan wrote, "this explosion has taken out the primary port of a country that desperately depends on imports for survival." City Bible Church’s building was destroyed in the explosion.
We praise God that together we raised more than $265,000 in aid!
Marwan describes how this money has impacted City Bible Church's relief efforts in Beirut in this video. CBC has used the funds to:
Repair their building
Care for individuals in need through the provision of water, cleaning supplies, lights, face masks, and even medical care (including counseling)
Provide food to many families and individuals, delivering 300–500 hot meals daily and several one-month food supply boxes
Along with serving their neighbors' practical needs, CBC has worked to meet spiritual needs through the distribution of nearly 800 Arabic and French New Testaments.
Looking forward, Marwan and his team will support more than two dozen households for 6–12 months, helping with rent, food, and other essential supplies. They also hope to assist in rebuilding some of the many homes destroyed by the blast.