A Legacy of Presence
Reflections on Crisis Response
Wordeed is the convergence of two seemingly distinct but indissociable dimensions of God’s mission.
Wordeed Magazine is a compilation of voices, sharing written stories of how we are called to be the heart, hands, and voice of God in the world.
Wordeed Magazine is published twice a year by Canadian Baptist Ministries. Copies are distributed free of charge and available digitally at cbmin.org/ wordeed. Bulk quantities available by request.
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Special Contributor
Lauren Wallace Shirani
Partner Development Lead, Thimar-LSESD
Based in Birmingham, Alabama, Lauren serves as Partner Development Lead with the humanitarian arm of CBM partner Thimar-LSESD. A former Program Officer in Beirut, she brings a background in education and child protection. Lauren holds a BA and MPA from James Madison University and is recently married.
Reflection on page 4
What Lies Before Us
Embracing Opportunities to Share Hope 4 A Legacy of Presence
Reflections from CBM Staff and Partners During Times of Crisis 9 Indian Ocean Tsunami 10 Haiti Earthquake 12
Coronavirus Outbreak 14 COVID-19 Relief 15 Beirut Explosion 16 War in Ukraine 18 Türkiye Earthquake 20 Myanmar Earthquake 21 Conclusion: Crisis Calls Us Beyond Borders 22 Call to Respond 24
A Way with Words with Jennifer Lau
In his 1945 novel The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis imagines hell as a place where people drift further apart, choosing isolation over reconciliation. “It’s easy here,” one character says. “You’ve only to think a house and there it is. That’s how the town keeps on growing. Leaving more and more empty streets.”
What begins as a choice for convenience becomes a kind of exile. The more people quarrel, the farther they move from each other — until they are alone, focused inward, afraid or unwilling to reconnect.
Sound familiar?
Rising nationalism and deep cuts to humanitarian aid are reshaping how we respond to crises. In many parts of the world, essential programs have vanished overnight. Clinics have closed. Families have lost access to food and clean water. Children no longer have schools to attend. Dedicated aid workers have found themselves suddenly unemployed. Closer to home, communities have become more insular and distrustful, existing in echo-chambers, defined by confirmation bias.
Our world is quickly becoming more fragmented and isolated. But that’s not the end of the story.
As followers of Christ, we are called to bear witness to a better way — by showing up, by reaching out, by choosing community over the illusion of comfort. The glimpses of heaven breaking through happen when we work alongside our partners, responding with presence and love.
This issue of Wordeed highlights stories of Canadian Baptists doing just that. For generations, we have responded to crisis not out of fear or pity, but out of love rooted in Christ’s peace — his shalom.
Jesus said, “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). Crisis response is more than compassion in action; it is participation in the very life and mission of God.
When the local church reaches out in love, at home and beyond our borders, we do not just serve the hands and feet of Jesus — we encounter him. In crisis, Christ is both the giver and the one in need. And in reaching across those borders, we are all transformed.
Jennifer Lau Executive Director, CBM
by Lauren Wallace Shirani Partner Development Lead, Thimar-LSESD
What Lies Before Us
Embracing Opportunities to Share Hope
For more than a decade, the layered humanitarian crises in Lebanon seemed to go from bad to worse, plummeting to detrimental most recently with the war between Hezbollah and Israel. But the November 2024 ceasefire and the nomination of a new government brought people in Lebanon some hope at last.
Unfortunately, this newfound hope was quickly thwarted by increased displacement caused by airstrikes and crossfire that shattered the fragile peace of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, as global political trends continue to shift away from international humanitarian policies, UNICEF1 estimates that an additional 500,000 children and their families in Lebanon lost critical cash support from UN agencies. These abrupt funding cuts come on top of previous UN cuts across the region, which in one instance alone, affected 5.5 million food insecure families in a neighbouring country.
Millions of people around the world who had been helped even minimally by foreign humanitarian assistance now have no help at all, but the reasons they needed humanitarian aid keep expanding. Simple math paints a dire picture for us:
Expanded causes of suffering minus assistance while suffering equals increased suffering
It is in contexts like these that affected people live without hope for a better future for themselves or a better life for their children. What lies before us are dark circumstances for those who suffer and for those who seek to help.
“To be the beacon of God’s love is not just an opportunity; it is an obligation for all who call themselves Christ-followers.”
God’s Church is not bound by borders
Within the darkness, the global Church has an opportunity to shine its brightest. As members of a global body of believers, we can show up for and support our brothers and sisters in crisis wherever they are in the world, despite shifting global politics. While UN agencies and other NGOs increasingly suffer from cuts in foreign aid, local churches sometimes remain the only assistance providers in their communities. One of our local church partners explains it this way:
“We need your prayers, because nothing is getting easier around us. We face many challenges when it comes to safety or education for our children and youth. But mostly, humanitarian needs continue to increase, and overall support has been drastically decreasing. Last year, the UN stopped all their food assistance, and many NGOs had to close. Not one day passes without people coming to us to beg for help, because we are the only ones still helping. Despite the many challenges, we feel blessed to be able to continue serving. When they receive the food boxes, the people feel it is a gift from God himself. It is encouraging to see that our help results in thanksgiving to God. People really see the hand of God and the love of Jesus through this.”
To be the beacon of God’s love is not just an opportunity; it is an obligation for all who call themselves Christ-followers. God’s Church is one we are united in our common faith and mission in the world (Ephesians 4:1-5), and “having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”, we are to look to others’ interests, not just our own (Philippians 2:1-4).
God’s commission extends of the ends of the earth
As Christ-followers, we are all called to love the world as Jesus does, even if modern politics preaches something else. God’s Great Commission extends to the ends of the earth, not the ends of our national map. The first Bible verse many of us likely ever learned affirms the truth of God’s global love:
“For God so loved the world , that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Throughout his ministry on Earth, Jesus tells us that God’s love for the world is impartial, merciful, and unconditional. We see examples of these values throughout Scripture f rom the Old Testament to the New but we clearly see all three of these in Jesus’ seminal teaching to us on how we are meant to demonstrate our love for God: by loving our neighbours as ourselves.
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:3037), Jesus taught his followers to love our neighbours as ourselves, wherever we find ourselves and wherever our neighbours are from (impartiality). This is juxtaposed in the story, with a Jewish man in need who was first passed by along the road by two Jewish “neighbours” (religious leaders, at that), but ultimately was helped by the travelling Samaritan man, who would have been considered the Jewish man’s enemy.
Unlike the ways of our world, Jesus never defined neighbour by proximity; he defined “neighbourliness” by helping people in need (mercy), especially those in highly vulnerable situations. In this parable, Jesus also illustrates for us what the material love of God looks like: the Good Samaritan bandaged the man’s wounds, put him up on his own donkey, cared for him overnight at an inn, and covered all the man’s expenses even promising to come back and cover any extra costs incurred, without any expectation of anything in return (unconditionality)
At the end of Jesus’ teaching on how we should love as God loves, Jesus commands us to “Go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37) This is what it means to be a Christ-follower: that as we go about our lives, we do as Jesus did.
God’s call is for us to love as we have been loved
At THIMAR, we and our partner churches believe this, and we work out our faith accordingly. As they go about their ministries, our local church partners show mercy t hey help their neighbours in need out of a recognition of their own need for God’s merciful love, and as an expression of their own love for God. Our values as an organization are undergirded by the foundation set by Jesus’ example of the Good Samaritan: we and our local church partners help our neighbours in need by operating through impartiality (Matthew 5:45), dignity (Genesis 1:27), and stewardship (Genesis 12:3).
We believe that God calls us to love and serve all, even our enemies. Thus, we seek to work unconditionally, for the benefit of the most vulnerable irrespective of colour, creed, gender or race, and without placing any obligations on those whom we serve.
We believe in the intrinsic worth of humanity as creatures created in the image of God. Thus, we seek to uphold human dignity through a holistic approach that prioritizes the emotional and spiritual needs of human beings as well as the material.
We believe that the skills and resources we have are gifts from God to be stewarded on behalf of humanity. Thus, we seek to empower local faith communities to invest their financial, spiritual, and social capital in the service of the vulnerable and oppressed.
Through these biblically based values, our guiding principles direct us to love our neighbours in these ways:
• Relief assistance should only be from love of God and his love for people
• We must seek out those most in need within communities
• We must push ourselves into our communities to serve the whole community without expectation of return
If we were in desperate need of help a s so many of our neighbours in Lebanon and our region are we would want to be helped in this way. We would want a helper who sought us out, offered us mercy, and did not base their help on any conditions that we must first fulfill. This is a reflection of God’s unconditional love for us through Jesus: that in our greatest need, Christ sought us out and offered us mercy that we cannot earn (Romans 8:10). If we do not recognize our own need for mercy, it is difficult for us to be merciful towards our neighbours.
As Christians, we are harbingers of hope
We have an obligation, as Christ-followers, to love our neighbours as ourselves. While boundaries on a map may cause us to ask, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus teaches us that if we love God, we must show mercy to our neighbours, to our enemies, and to the least of these. Full stop. The parable of the Good Samaritan exemplifies that for us.
While global political systems around us may shift to isolationism, God’s Church remains a global body of believers called to love the world impartially, mercifully, and unconditionally. The reduction of international humanitarian aid funding does not and should not affect the way we, as followers of Jesus, live out God’s call to love our neighbours in need.
Local churches are best-suited and best-positioned to show the love of Christ to their communities in times of crisis and ongoing need. Their shared context, language, and history make local approaches to humanitarian ministries highly effective. Local churches' commitment to and presence within their communities also make their ministries sustainable a poignant reality in humanitarian or crisis contexts. While international agencies might pull out of a country in times of war, or while changing political priorities reduce humanitarian aid funding altogether, local churches remain. Local church-based humanitarian ministry is a viable and powerful approach that brings long-lasting hope to long-suffering people.
What really lies before us
The resurrection of God from the darkest of circumstances even from death enables us to have and to share a hope that is not in vain. We can boldly hold onto this hope even amid suffering.
While regional crises continue to cause displacement within and across borders, and while global funding crises increase human suffering in our midst, THIMAR will continue to serve displaced families unconditionally through local church partners, thanks to the generosity of faithful worldwide supporters. While global funding crises increase human suffering in our midst, THIMAR continues to meet people’s basic needs with dignity as we provide educational, vocational, health, and emergency assistance. And while current circumstances threaten to thwart all hope, we continue to embrace opportunities to share the hope that lies before us with people who desperately need it.
1
“Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us . This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” (Hebrews 6:18-19)
GANDHI HUNGER STRIKE
ANGOLA’S WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
Legacy of Presence Note
Our long-standing readers may recognize some of the content in this issue of Wordeed. Back in 2020, we produced what would be our final Mosaic Magazine, focused on Crisis Response, but it was only released digitally due to the financial uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of that issue explored the timeline of the Canadian Baptist response to global crises. Today, we are revisiting that “Legacy of Presence” timeline, alongside fresh content to remind us of our call to love all our neighbours as we participate in God’s mission.
A Legacy of Presence
Reflections from CBM Staff and Partners During Times of Crisis
Each year, disasters make news headline across the globe but there are some crises that the world will never forget. From the Gandhi Hunger Strike in 1929 to the Angola War of Independence in 1972, and the Rwandan genocide in 1994, Canadian Baptists have been responding to global crises for decades. The following reflections share the unique perspectives of CBM staff and partners who witnessed these disasters and others unfold.
ANGOLAN REFUGEES DR Congo
CREATION OF THE FOODGRAINS BANK
“Everyone in the community had a story; listening was something we could do.”
Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004
by Bill & Janice Dyck
Janice and I were in Indonesia when the tsunami struck. It was Boxing Day, 2004. The media kept playing and replaying a video of debris, cars and houses being washed into the city. We knew immediately that this was a tragedy of great magnitude.
As the day progressed, the victim count kept rising. Then came the reports of casualties from around the world. We heard reports of tourists being washed into the sea from a hotel next to our children’s boarding school in Malaysia. We were thankful they were home for the Christmas holiday in a safe part of the country.
I had an overwhelming sense that I needed to do something. But I didn’t know what could be done. It wasn’t until a month later that I was able to visit the affected areas of Nias and Aceh. I wanted to survey the damage to determine how CBM could partner with churches to support rebuilding efforts. But seeing whole communities wiped out did not immediately support this process. It was too overwhelming. Our denominational leader was speechless. The smell of death gave one of our members, a Vietnam War vet, flashbacks.
Everyone in the community had a story; listening was something we could do. On the island of Nias, we met baby Jeffry. Although his parents drowned, he was later found at the top of a palm tree. His grieving grandparents were now caring for him.
In another village, we found a man named Aposko sitting alone in front of his ruined church. His village was now empty. On the way in, we passed a mass grave where 70 people had been buried. Aposko showed us the window bars he had hung on to as the wave swept over the village. A pastor and a group of young people had also fled the same house. They made a run for the church, but were sadly washed away.
From Nias, we went to the city of Banda Aceh. We encountered scenes of destruction at every turn. Whole sub-divisions leveled. A huge ship washed three kilometres into the city. Cars were crunched and hardly recognizable. Flags were planted where suspected victims were buried in rubble. There were so many stories, but so few people to listen to them.
CBM was able to work with the Convention of Indonesian Baptist Churches, our national partner at the time, to help rebuild 170 homes on Nias. Community members
RWANDAN
GENOCIDE Rwanda 1994
contributed materials and the labour needed to rebuild their own homes, which helped to reduce costs. To support the psychological needs of the community, our seminary students and surviving local leaders were trained in post-trauma counselling. CBM also helped to fund a clinic for a time, aided the construction of roads and bridges to get materials to where they were needed, and supported the reconstruction of a school.
On one of our trips to Nias, a local leader said to our denominational leader, Ronny Welong, “Pastor, the people all want to become Baptists.” I waited with bated breath for Ronny’s response.
He replied, “We’re not interested in seeing them become Baptists. We want to see them become orang Kristen yang sungguh-sungguh.”
That translates as “real, genuine, committed Christians.”
After the houses were built, the community organized a commissioning ceremony in which people were given the keys to their new homes. The equivalent of the governor of the island, who had been very appreciative of the help, attended the event. Pastor Alex Tairas, an elderly statesman in the denomination, was invited to speak. The topic of his sermon was, “What is an ‘orang Kristen yang sungguh-sungguh?’”
At the end of the service, Pastor Alex asked all who wanted to be real, genuine, committed Christians to stand up. The first person to stand was the “governor” leader. When he stood up, so did everyone else.
Who knows what the eternal results will be of the tsunami and subsequent earthquake on Nias, and the response of CBM and our national partner a g reat example of integral mission. The tsunami had a devastating impact, but the merciful response also had a redemptive impact that goes on to this day.
Bill and Janice Dyck are CBM Global Staff focusing on discipleship and theological education initiatives in Latin America from their home base in Canada. Prior to this role, they served alongside CBM’s partners in Indonesia and Bolivia.
“The tsunami had a devastating impact, but the merciful response also had a redemptive impact that goes on to this day.”
INDIAN OCEAN
Note: This reflection was written in 2010.
Haiti Earthquake 2010
by Pastor Voltaire
When children of my generation prepared for their final primary exams they used to expect the following question: What happened on ________ (a particular date)? Such a question demands a lot from 11- and 12-year-olds.
Why are dates important? In part because memorable dates and places evoke our country’s rich history, heroic deeds and revolts led by slaves and former slaves during 100 years of French colonization (1697-1804). In part because today’s younger generation is so far removed from the reality of these important events in time and place. My home region in the north of Haiti has the richest history of the entire country: What does November 18, 1803, bring to your mind? (Battle of Vertières, the decisive defeat of French.) What about August 14, 1791? (Great slave uprising.) Such dates and the imposing monuments erected in their honour la Citadelle, the ruins of Palais Sans-Souci, the forts and fortresses pique the interest of visitors as well as the pride of Haitians, reminding all of the historical events that have shaped our country.
“We have witnessed a solidarity among believers from home and abroad.”
Even given this rich history, one date in Haiti’s history takes precedence over all others: January 12, 2010. This date, and the monument erected in its memory at Titanyen (the northern entrance to Port-au-Prince), mark the day a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti. It’s the date the government rolled heavy equipment in to begin digging common graves for over 100,000 of the 230,000 who would ultimately succumb to the devastating natural disaster.
* Urbanus-Cap: An organization of First Baptist Church, Cap-Haitien, based on the model of Urbanus-Canada (Christian Direction Inc.), and working in various areas of ministry.
As pastor of First Baptist Church of Cap-Haïtien, I saw individuals and families destroyed by this earthquake. Myrgie Lucien, 21 years old, and Yvon Vérilus, 22, two young students in our church, were among the hundreds of victims who had just returned to university in Port-au-Prince. I can still picture Yvon singing in our church with the young mens’ group, “Spirit Stars,” only the day before. And Myrgie, my own daughter’s schoolmate for 14 years, greeted me warmly that Sunday: “Hi Pastor, I’m off to university until Easter vacation!” These two precious lives were among the bodies that were never found.
SYRIAN REFUGEE
CRISIS
(ONGOING ) Lebanon
EARTHQUAKE
How do we as a congregation remember January 12, 2010? How does all of Haiti remember it? We remember the suffering, the regret. We remember how it assaulted our faith in God.
But 10 years later, even though emotional scars are still visible, it is time to refocus our attention as a congregation to what we learned and how we benefited from what took place in just a few seconds on that fateful day.
• The first and most important blessing for our congregation has been a new spiritual openness and awareness. People, especially youth, have turned to God by the thousands. One might think that conversion under these circumstances could be driven by emotion and be superficial. However, 10 years later, the lives of a great number who witnessed the earthquake have changed for good.
• We have witnessed a solidarity among believers from home and abroad. After the earthquake which caused some 230,000 deaths and displaced 1.6 million people from Port-au-Prince, cities like Cap-Haïtien saw an influx of thousands of homeless people fleeing the disaster. Food and lodging were scarce. Families from our church got involved with Urbanus-Cap,* generously and joyfully helping those coming out of Port-au-Prince. People in need received food and shelter, and also post-trauma support and counselling. Canadian staff from Christian Direction was particularly helpful in this area, training primary and secondary school teachers in post-trauma care, and meeting with many parents who lost loved ones in the earthquake.
• On one anniversary of the 2010 earthquake, I shared a pulpit with the archbishop of the city’s Catholic cathedral. Previously such a collaboration would have been unthinkable. In January of 2020 all Christian denominations, and even the Vodou sect, joined for an ecumenical service of remembrance.
• We recognize that it was not the earthquake that caused 230,000 deaths in 2010 7.0 on the Richter scale is not unique to Haiti but rather the fact that Haiti’s buildings had not been built for such a natural disaster. So with the help of Canadian Baptist Ministries and some U.S. churches, our congregation has since made vast improvements to our Siloé Centre education complex, and has built new dwellings for single mothers in our three centres that will withstand earthquakes of 7.0 magnitude.
Haiti will remember January 12, 2010, for a long time. Who can forget the terrible catastrophe that befell us, leaving in its wake a country poorer than ever, a ton of bodies mothers, fathers, children, pastors, and leaders! Yet January 12, 2010 is also remembered by First Baptist Church Cap-Haïtien with gratitude for those who helped us in our time of great need.
Haiti Earthquake Addendum
On August 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake created widespread damage, once again causing hundreds of families in remote villages to lose their homes. In partnership with the Baptist World Alliance, and through the support of Canadian Baptists, CBM was able to provide funds for emergency food, emergency supplies, personal hygiene kits, supplies to build temporary shelters, and general medical supplies to approximately 7000 people.
Pastor Voltaire , Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Cap-Haïtien, and Director of the Centre Siloé.
Coronavirus Outbreak
by Ella T.
*Pseudonym
Ella T. serves as CBM Global Staff in East Asia where she trains and equips Christians in cross-cultural ministries.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)
Many politicians have described the coronavirus outbreak as an invisible enemy. Yes, indeed, the world is fighting against it at the moment. The war with this enemy is fierce and the death toll is high.
In the midst of this crisis, I am touched by Psalm 23. Through the valley of the shadow of death, in the midst of enemies, the psalmist is still at peace. He is confident that he can eat peacefully because of God’s providence. This is also true among the people in Hubei, China.
When the outbreak began, I contacted many pastors and church leaders for their perspective. I encountered different attitudes: Some felt that they could not do anything to help. Some tried their best to learn to do something at home. Some asked God bravely to open doors to help others.
I began to see God miraculously answering our prayers. First, God opened a door of opportunity for Pastor C*. He was granted permission to travel around and visit people in a small city near Wuhan. Second, God moved in the hearts of people in Canada and Hong Kong to give generously to support families affected by the crisis.
Through this support from churches, more than 180 families had food on their tables during the most difficult time in the outbreak. This reminded me of when God sent manna to support the Israelites as they wandered in the desert.
A person who received fresh vegetables delivered by Pastor C said, “In such times, only Christianity shows real love.” Then, the manager of that residential area urged him to go to church and accept Jesus after the outbreak. The love demonstrated by many Christians risking their own lives to help others, sacrificing their comfort, demonstrated the love of God.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall I dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
I think this is how faith works. It keeps us from fear as we trust in the guidance of God.
COVID-19 Relief 2020
by Julia Wall-Bowering
When I began my role with CBM in early 2020, I had just two days in the office before the world shut down. The Church here in Canada and around the world was thrust into unfamiliar territory, navigating lockdowns, economic fallout, and sudden humanitarian need. But what emerged amid that crisis was a testimony to faith, resilience, and global partnership.
Our partners responded swiftly. From the Philippines to Lebanon, from DR Congo to Latin America, churches adapted their ministries almost overnight. One partner in Lebanon, who had to suspend an in-person refugee camp, created online programming that ended up reaching even more children than before. Others moved workshops and pastoral training online, distributed food and hygiene kits, and opened their doors as safe shelters for healthcare workers and displaced families.
In the early days, the requests for emergency support came in waves more than we had ever seen at once. But even more powerful was the unity that emerged among our partners. Churches that had little prior experience with relief work learned from others who had spent years navigating crises like food insecurity or conflict. What began as emergency aid evolved into shared learning, capacity building, and renewed connection.
COVID-19 didn’t just create vulnerability it exposed and intensified it. In many contexts, the pandemic worsened existing crises. Urban families in East Africa who relied on daily wages were especially hard hit. In places like South Sudan and Lebanon, COVID-19 layered itself on top of already fragile political and economic systems.
Yet even in those hardest moments, the Church stepped in. We heard from hospital staff in the Philippines who were sleeping in hallways, too afraid to go home and infect their families. CBM and our partners provided PPE and hot meals, and one nurse said, “Because of you, we could keep saving lives.”
I’m still struck by how the Body of Christ responded locally and globally not just with compassion, but with creativity, faithfulness, and deep solidarity. This experience reshaped our partnerships and gave us a glimpse of what it means to be one global Church, walking together in mission.
Content adapted from Q&A for Mosaic Fall 2020 Digital and Julia's “Local Church and Global Relief” paper written for the Baptist World Alliance in November 2020
Julia Wall-Bowering serves as Team Lead, International Programs, overseeing a team of Program Officers as they work alongside CBM’s Global Staff and partners to provide support for all international programming.
COVID-19 RELIEF
BEIRUT EXPLOSION
Beirut Explosion 2020
by Elie Haddad
Our students were finally able to return home. They had been stuck on campus since March due to airport closures. We had been concerned about their safety with the pandemic, so we were happy to see them get back home. We were eager to shut down our dorm building because it had gotten old and had become a drain on our budget. With our new strategy of moving away from full-time residential education, we no longer needed to pour money into this old building. Little did we know that, within ten days, we would be giving the building a deep-clean and a fresh paint job in order to house families whose homes were destroyed in the Beirut explosion. This cataclysmic event changed everything, again.
The question that keeps lingering in our minds is: Where is God in all of this? Where is God in this senseless pain and preventable suffering? Where is God when the people of Lebanon have been enduring for decades the rule of political leaders who are marked by corruption, greed, incompetence, and indifference? Where is God within the multiple layers of crises, from refugee crisis to economic crisis to political crisis to social crisis to health crisis, and now, add to that an explosion that destroyed a good portion of Beirut? “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?”
“I can see God in the response of His people … God has transformed His Church to become a wonderful expression of His love for people.”
Part of the wonder of God is that, not only does He listen, His heart no doubt bleeds for Beirut and its people with unconditional compassion and love, and He reveals Himself in fresh new ways in the middle of our anguish. There isn’t enough space here to record all that God is doing, nor can we comprehend the vastness of God’s actions. Nevertheless, let me highlight briefly where I see God in the midst of this explosion.
I can see God in the goodness of countless Lebanese who took to the streets to clean, help, feed, and comfort the distressed. It’s easy for us to identify the evil in people who are away from God. However, we are now learning to see and recognize glimpses of the image of God in people all over the streets of Beirut.
I can see God in the response of His people. I grew up during the Lebanese civil war when the Church was mostly silent and in hiding. Not today. God has transformed His Church to become a wonderful expression of His love for people. So many churches and ministries immediately sprang into action. If you go to Beirut today, you don’t have to look far to see the hands and feet of Jesus.
I can see God working through our ABTS community. We spend a lot of time in discernment as we steer the ministry where we believe God wants to take it. But not in response to the explosion. We didn’t need to stop and ask God what to do.
We immediately knew what He wanted. Opening up our facilities to house newly homeless people was the most natural thing to do. This is a testimony of God’s work in our hearts for years and years.
I can see God through our partners. The amount of care, concern, and prayers that we are receiving is moving and inspiring. We did not need to raise funds to care for families. Unsolicited, our partners are sending us generous portions of God’s love in monetary form to provide the care that is needed.
“Where is God in the midst of the calamity? All around us. We just have to look for His fingerprints.”
“Where is God in the midst of the calamity? All around us. We just have to look for His fingerprints.”
Elie and Mireille Haddad serve as CBM Regional Team Leaders for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Based in Lebanon, the Haddads have served with CBM since 2005. Elie has served as the President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Beirut, while Mireille has worked primarily with female refugees in Lebanon who have fled from Syria and other war-affected countries. Both Elie and Mireille grew up in Lebanon and immigrated to Canada near the end of a 15-year civil war.
WAR IN UKRAINE
Content adapted from CBM Responding Spring 2022 Issue https://www.cbmin. org/resource/cbm-responding-spring-2022-06/, a Prayerline video from March 2022 https://www. cbmin.org/prayerline/praywith-adrian-gardner/, and a blog post from the European Baptist Federation https://www.ebf.org/post/ three-years-of-resistancestruggle-and-hope
War in Ukraine 2022
by Adrian Gardner
In February 2022, the global community was shocked and shaken by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Not long after, I travelled to Romania to witness the work of our church partners on the ground.
I remember standing in Tulcea on t he border between Romania and Ukraine fi lming an update and urgent invitation for prayer. I watched as a flood of Ukrainians crossed the border, fleeing their homes in search of safety.
And in the midst of a rapidly growing crisis, the Church became a nd continues to be t he hands and feet of Jesus.
Baptist churches in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Georgia opened their churches to refugees, providing beds, food and clothing to those in need.
Well over 330,000 refugees fled to Moldova alone, many of whom later moved on to Romania. Moldovians provided emergency shelter in churches and Baptist camps. These shelters offered space to sleep, meals, and personal hygiene supplies. The Moldova Baptist Union also provided care at a medical clinic and offered transportation to those who wished to travel onwards from Moldova to another destination.
The Ukrainian Baptist Union set up 600 emergency shelters in Baptist churches all across the country. As food access within Ukraine became increasingly difficult, the Baptist Union established channels for transporting food into Ukraine and eligible people out of Ukraine. A logistical centre was established and included a warehouse for storing goods and food before transporting it to shelters around the country.
“It was a privilege to personally see God’s people respond in practical ways, to see them care for hurting people in practical ways and bring hope and healing to a hurting world. ”
It was a privilege to personally see God’s people respond in practical ways, to see them care for hurting people and bring hope and healing to a broken world.
The war in Ukraine is far from over, and the challenges continue to mount. But through faith, resilience, and the unwavering support of the global Church, the people of Ukraine continue to press on. Their journey is one of struggle, yet it is also one of remarkable faith a faith that continues to inspire the world.
Three years into the war in Ukraine, devastation and displacement continue, yet the Ukrainian Church remains a beacon of hope, resilience, and faith. Amid shelling, loss, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure, the Ukrainian Baptist Union has grown — planting 86 new churches, baptizing over 10,000 people, and training new leaders to meet immense spiritual and practical needs. Churches have become lifelines, providing food, shelter, winter aid, and emotional and spiritual care to thousands, including displaced families, grieving communities, and returning veterans. In cities scarred by conflict, mobile kitchens serve meals, counselling offers comfort, and the Gospel is shared with compassion. Even as the future remains uncertain, the Church continues to embody Christ’s presence, helping to rebuild lives and communities’ hope.
Adrian Gardner serves as the Director of Partnerships for the Americas and Asia. He is passionate about holistic ministry and fostering mutual partnerships across the Americas and Asia. Formerly a pastor and ministry leader in Atlantic Canada, he holds degrees in science, education, and divinity. Adrian and his wife, Nicole, are active members of Kings Community Church in Milton, ON.
The European Baptist Federation reflects on Three Years of Conflict
Joe Bridi serves as CBM’s Regional Representative for Central Canada. With a heart for mission, Joe is committed to strengthening existing partnerships, creating new connections, and empowering churches to embrace Integral Mission wholeheartedly.
CONFLICT IN LEBANON
Lebanon
2024
Türkiye Earthquake 2023
by Joe Bridi
On February 6, 2023, at around 4:00 a.m., I woke to the sensation of someone shaking the bed, followed by my wife’s voice telling me that there was an earthquake. Lebanon hadn’t had a significant earthquake in years, so I wasn’t worried and told her to go back to sleep. A few hours later, we discovered that a major earthquake had struck northern and central Türkiye, as well as northern and western Syria. The TV coverage was devastating; hundreds of buildings were leveled, and thousands of people were left homeless on one of the coldest nights our region had ever experienced. The faces of the people revealed a sense of hopelessness and despair; they had lost everything, including their loved ones, homes, and jobs. What can I do in a situation like this? How can I support these people? These were the questions that struck me directly.
CBM stepped in to support the relief work of our partners in Lebanon. Through local churches in the affected areas, they were able to provide mattresses, blankets, food, and hygiene assistance to thousands of people in need. However, the significance of the work being done on the ground wasn’t solely about the quantity of aid delivered; it was about demonstrating the unity of the body of Christ, as churches and individuals in Canada selflessly contributed to the efforts of the churches in the impacted areas. It was about showcasing solidarity, as the church in Canada prayed for those who were affected. Moreover, it was an opportunity for the churches working in these regions to demonstrate and share the gospel with hundreds of individuals who had never heard about Jesus. Churches opened their doors to host and provide shelter, and held prayer and evangelistic meetings that resulted in many coming to faith. This had never been seen before, and it sent a clear message to the communities that the house of God is truly a shelter in times of need.
As I visited some of the regions where our partner was involved in the relief efforts, I had the opportunity to meet with pastors engaged in the work; they appeared exhausted and drained but remained hopeful and encouraged by the practical display of love that was shown to them and their people from churches in Canada and around the world.
Watch this video to find out how Canadian Baptists were able to tangibly serve those in Lebanon in their time of need by joining the Humanitarian Coalition’s Emergency Appeal through our partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Myanmar Earthquake 2025
by Lilian Yang
In recent years, Myanmar has experienced a rising number of conflicts. Amid this ongoing suffering, a powerful earthquake struck, shaking an already wounded country.
My husband and I landed in Yangon during a heatwave. The poor and restricted internet connection further isolated us from the outside world. This trip had been planned to visit our project sites and conduct mission workshops, but it quickly became a mission of compassion to those affected by the earthquake, too.
The epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake was in Sagaing State, severely affecting the Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw regions. Roads and bridges were destroyed, buildings collapsed, and countless lives were lost. Survivors faced the overwhelming grief of losing loved ones and homes. With the slow and restricted flow of information, rescue efforts were delayed. People watched critical hours slip away, feeling helpless and abandoned.
We travelled to Nay Pyi Taw, one of the hardest-hit areas. Although reports attempted to capture the scale of the disaster, it was the personal stories of survivors that truly revealed the heartache. Standing among them, listening to their pain, and weeping with them, we were deeply reminded of how vulnerable and fragile we are in the face of disaster — and how suffering makes us all equal.
Alongside our partner, Hope Baptist Church in Yangon, we connected with local pastors in the affected areas. Together, we identified victims who had the least access to relief efforts and provided them with temporary shelters and food supplies. As we reached out to these families, our partners’ care and relief efforts brought some smiles back to their faces, offering even a small measure of comfort.
This tragedy unfolded during the season of Lent, a time when we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. In this season of sorrow, we found ourselves embraced by the wounded hands of our Savior, comforted once again by the One through whose wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
May this wounded country find peace in our wounded Lord Jesus Christ.
Lilian Yang serves as Global Staff, collaborating closely with our local partners in the Golden Triangle region. She serves by supporting local ministries, particularly theological education.
MYANMAR EARTHQUAKE Myanmar 2025
Crisis Calls Us Beyond Borders
by Catherine Cole
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by crisis. Many of us limit, or avoid altogether, our news consumption as it can feel like the weight of the world is pressing in on us with every additional story of desperate need. Some days it can feel endless and so often we can ask ourselves, “what could I possibly do to help?” Add to that the increasing narrative to “take care of our own first” and it can lead to feeling like we should simply worry about what’s immediately around us.
But Jesus invites us into a bigger story.
From the very beginning, God’s people have responded to crisis by showing up for others not just those geographically closest to us, but those beyond our borders, too. When famine struck ancient lands, God gave wisdom to save whole regions. When communities were displaced, he called people to build gardens, not walls. When Jesus came, he didn’t stick to one place or one group of people he healed, fed, and welcomed people from everywhere.
“It’s not about rebuilding homes, but rebuilding hope. People who have never seen Christians work together across traditions or borders suddenly saw what the Church could, and should, be.”
This legacy didn’t stop at the cross. It grew into a global movement of believers caring for one another across every kind of line the world draws. And it’s still happening today. But now the rhetoric that “our” country comes first no matter what is on the rise. This way of thinking tells us to tighten the circle. To focus only on our problems. To ignore the suffering of others far away. But that's not what Jesus did. That's not who he called us to be.
As CBM responded globally throughout decades on behalf of Canadian Baptists, it’s never simply been about sending aid. It’s been about a belief that the gospel can tranform lives. We stand with people and embrace the brokenness of the world through our words and actions, as a demonstration of God’s love. It’s not about rebuilding homes, but rebuilding hope. People who have never seen Christians work together across traditions or borders suddenly saw what the Church could, and should, be.
Paul dreamed of this kind of unity too. In his time, he gathered support from believers all over the Roman world to help struggling Christians in Jerusalem. Not because it was politically convenient, but because that’s what love does.
So, I ask the question: What kind of Church do we want to be?
One that draws tighter circles? Or one that breaks down barriers?
In every crisis, we have a choice.
To shrink into fear or to step out in faith.
To protect what’s “ours” or to live like everything we have is God’s.
I pray we are a Church that chooses love every time.
“We stand with people and embrace the brokenness of the world through our words and actions, as a demonstration of God’s love.”
Catherine Cole serves as Team Lead, Communications and has a passion for authentic storytelling — where every voice is valued, providing space for people to share their own unique narratives. She endeavours to continue reflecting the diversity of perspectives and richness of human experiences that exist in how CBM serves globally.
Call to Respond
We live in a broken world — all around us, people are hurting and in need. As followers of Jesus, the Church is called to respond in love. But we cannot do it alone.
As political landscapes shift, we urge you to advocate for continued care both within and beyond our Canadian borders.
Jesus didn’t ask where someone was from before helping them. He didn’t check passports before healing. And he didn’t draw lines — he crossed them.
Now it’s our turn:
• Contact your Member of Parliament: Visit their office, call them, send a letter or email. Let them know that you believe in the impactof international aid and the importance of Canada’s support.
• Engage with Advocacy Groups: Look for organizations focused on humanitarian work that you believe in. Get involved!
• Continue Learning: Educate yourself on what is being done locally and globally to help those in need.
• Pray: Pray for our world as a whole, that we would seek and bring about God’s shalom.
• Give Financially: As evidenced throughout this issue of Wordeed, CBM is able to respond quickly when emergencies strike because of your generous financial contributions. By giving to Crisis Response, you enable us to work with our partners to provide immediate assistance and long-term support to those who most need it.
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