Coronavirus CRISIS CARE
Physical and spiritual help in this time of special need
We live in unusual times, with much of the world in fear and turmoil. As of this writing, the new coronavirus (COVID-19) that originated in Wuhan, China, is spreading quickly. The virus has now appeared in all the Canadian provinces, all 50 states of the USA and 169 countries and territories, killing thousands of people. Nearly every day brings new announcements from our government, some resulting in shocking changes. What really is this coronavirus scare? Is it just another Y2K where the world was afraid but not much happened? Or is it truly a cataclysmic 9/11-type event where a large number of people died?
Government authorities everywhere are feverishly working under the assumption of the worst since they dare not do otherwise. This is resulting in fear and uncertainty for millions of people in Canada and many other countries. However, as God’s children we have a steadfast hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”(2 Timothy 1:7)
Impoverished countries with minimal healthcare provisions will no doubt experience the worst effects. Our contacts in Egypt have grave concerns about the impact of the virus, which has already started to spread in the country. “If and when the virus reaches the poor villages, it will be a disaster,” they shared. “This is due to the lack of awareness on how to conduct themselves during this pandemic . . . and the lack of basic needs such as clean water. Impoverished people are working on a daily wage basis and cannot afford to stay home. More than once, I heard people say they’d rather die from the virus infection than from starvation!”
In Haiti, several people have recently been diagnosed with coronavirus. President Moise has instructed people to stay home and ordered most businesses, including outdoor food markets, to shut down. Haitians were already in a desperate situation from the recent political upheaval. Now they will no doubt face even greater hardships as most of them do not have a supply of food on hand for hard times. If they lose their jobs, it will be hard for many to even hope for a steady income in the near future.
While the coronavirus outbreak came suddenly and caught the world by surprise, we can be confident God was not caught off guard. God is as faithful and powerful as always. We also know that He can make good things out of bad. Is He maybe allowing this to give millions of people another chance to think and hear about God and prepare to meet Him? Most people will likely escape the coronavirus, but no one will miss their appointment with God.
As Christians, we are Jesus’ hands and feet on this earth. Instead of cowering in fear, let us seize this moment to think and pray about how we can use this special time of opportunity to point others to the Savior. He is in control, not only of the coronavirus, but of the whole world.
CAM is introducing a CORONAVIRUS CRISIS CARE project. This is to respond to the increasing number of physical and spiritual needs and opportunities coming to our attention from the poorer areas of the world as a result of this pandemic. We are also interested in being prepared to meet local needs in our communities across Canada. These opportunities include Christian literature programs to fearful people seeking for Biblical answers in these times of uncertainty and sharing resources of food, clothing and other essentials. Pray for us as we seek to show Christ during this time of trouble. So far, some of these needs are:
• Medicines, medical supplies, and medical care in places of the world where health systems are often woefully inadequate due to poverty and conflict.
• Emergency food aid to needy people in places like Haiti, Egypt, and Bethlehem who have lost their jobs or are quarantined.
• Soap, disinfectant, and other preventive supplies for war-torn Yemen and refugee camps in the Middle East.
• Christian literature in various languages with a message of hope that points people to Jesus.
The plans in this list are still in development, and undoubtedly many more needs and opportunities will surface in the coming weeks. If you wish to help during this time of special need and opportunity, your gift will be a great blessing.
