Israel – Gaza Conflict

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israel gaza conflict tearfund

To the EFCC Family!

I write to you with a heavy and burdened heart. As you are well aware, on October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, causing more than 1,400 casualties and taking 200 hostages (including elderly and children). In response, Israel declared war and launched numerous airstrikes and attacks in Gaza.

Although the situation is rapidly changing, to date, over 5,000 people in Gaza have been killed and 15,000 injured since then. The conflict has caused significant damage to residential areas and infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water, and communication networks. More than one million people have been forced to leave their homes to escape the fighting. Hospitals in Gaza have been badly damaged, leaving many with no electrical service and facing shortages of critical medical supplies.

What Tearfund is Doing

As a Christian international relief and development organization, we are deeply grieved by the devastating escalation in the conflict in Israel and Gaza and how it is impacting the most vulnerable. Right now, the situation is extremely volatile and the ability to send humanitarian aid is very limited. We are vigilantly monitoring the situation and working with our partners at the Foodgrains Bank and Tearfund Family to determine if and how we can respond.

How you can help

“…but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” – Mark 9:22-23

While we wait for more clarity on the situation we must fall to our knees in prayer. We know that nothing is too big or too impossible for our God to change; his righteous purposes will be accomplished. Please join us in praying for the conflict in Israel and Gaza. You can use the prayer points below.

  • Pray for all those grieving and devasted by the violence, including children, older people and people with disabilities.
  • Pray for a breakthrough to bring an end to this recent escalation and ask God to bring peace to the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • Pray for churches, Christian communities and faith leaders across the region to help others and bridge divides.
  • Pray for an immediate ceasefire and an end to hostilities, and for urgent humanitarian access.
  • Pray for all those who are terrified, in mourning, and suffering, and for the protection of innocent civilians.
  • Pray for us and our partners, that God would grand us wisdom and discernment to help navigate this incredibly complex situation and how best to respond.
Click here to receive updates on the Conflict in Israel and Gaza

God Bless,

Wayne Johnson
Executive Director

tearfund

Development Strategies for Long-term Poverty Alleviation

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la semilla ministries

I want to take you to the village of Berlin of Diriamba, Nicaragua. In a clearing in the lush tropical forest is an area of crop production – beans mostly, the staple food source for Nicaragua’s poor. Backbreaking labor of preparing the land with machete and axe, oxen plowing certain fields, threshing of mature crops with wooden poles…..it’s like being transported back to an ancient time.

In 2014 La Semilla Ministries began working with one producer, Juan Manuel in his production of 1.5 acres of beans. His yield on average was eight sacks. Sustainable change takes time and investment but through the diligence of our agronomist for that area, over a period of 3 years Juan’s yields grew to an average twenty-eight sacks from that same 1.5 acres. Juan was very encouraged and shared his successes. He shared with his family by making improvements to their home. He joined the village church and helped put a roof on their modest structure. He encouraged his neighbors to get involved with La Semilla and implement new agricultural technologies. He hosted bible studies in his home. Now in 2023, everyone of the eighteen farmers in the community of Berlin are active participants in La Semilla agriculture programs. Juan himself has expanded is now growing seven acres of mixed crops for a diversified, stable income.

My wife Leslee and I have been working as EFCC missionaries in Nicaragua since 2010, leading La Semilla Ministries which focuses on integrated agriculture development. Wow, that’s a mouthful, right?! Sounds technical, difficult. Well yes, it’s both of those things, but also a bit logical and practical. Here is our ministry vision in a nutshell: Attending to the practical financial needs of rural Nicaraguan families, we use a technical agriculture program (led and taught by our Nicaraguan agronomist team) of quality seed, proper nutrition, and crop care products to help increase yields and family incomes. Each of our five agronomists have about eighty producers to attend to and form a bond, a relationship with. As much as each agronomist teaches about agriculture, they teach as clearly about faith – how we can apply Biblical principles to everyday life and situations. This relationship is used to encourage attendance at workshops, bible studies and seminars led by our two pastoral couples on staff to lead each farmer and their family into faith in God through Jesus, or to grow in their faith.

La Semilla Ministries is encouraging spiritual growth through practical interactions leading farmers and their families to local churches local churches get involved with La Semilla to reach more of their communities through targeted ag-related evangelism strategies.

So, can agriculture development lead to poverty alleviation? YES! God has a plan and purpose for each of our lives! Poverty exists as material but there is also poverty of relationships, of faith in God, of low self-esteem. Our development strategies touch on each of these issues. God is using our team to grow His Kingdom! God is using our team to share the Love of Jesus in practical ways!

In Berlin of Diriamba we’ve made a difference! Ag production has increased. Incomes have improved and stabilized. Young people see a future in agriculture. We’ve hosted numerous workshops and Bible studies, where many farmers and their families are engaged for their spiritual growth. Imagine: Juan, Alicia, Jose, Leonardo, Isabela, Melvis, Abraham, Carolina…….and hundreds more farmers experiencing the love and grace of Jesus through expanded crop production! Amazing God, how you draw people to yourself!

oudmans

 

Rob & Leslee Oudman
ServeBeyond Mission Associates in Nicaragua

La Semilla Ministries - Planting for today & for eternity!