UnitingWorld have joined with the Micah Australia coalition to urge the Australian Government to provide vital support to vulnerable nations during the COVID-19 crisis. UnitingWorld believes the government can achieve this by protecting the world’s most vulnerable people, strengthening health systems, and kick-starting economic recovery.
A toolkit for churches is available on the UnitingWorld website containing links to video content, sermon notes, facts and statistics, ideas and resources for how to share the campaign with your church, and a letter template and instructions to write to your MP.
Back in May this year, Rev Steve Francis, Moderator of the Uniting Church WA, and Kerry Povey, Chair of the International Partnerships and Development Commission, wrote to members of the church, encouraging them to support the church’s international partners as they deal with the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“As much as this pandemic has been a challenge for us to deal with here in Australia, our hearts also go out to our friends in our partner churches around the region. We are hearing worrying reports from our partner churches in countries like Indonesia and Timor Leste where they have limited capacity in their health systems to respond to this crisis,” the letter reads. “Our partners need assistance to make sure hygiene and sanitation can be improved, appropriate protective equipment can be purchased and the most vulnerable communities can be protected against COVID-19.
“We are appealing to you, our Uniting Church family, to help our sisters and brothers in other countries that lack the safety nets we have in Australia by providing a direct donation.”
Members are encouraged to donate financially to UnitingWorld or other various appeals supporting churches in Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, West Timor and West Papua.
For more details on how you can support these programs, head here.
Get involved with the End COVID for all campaign
Top image: Children in Kanagipuram, Northern Sri Lanka, learning about colours and numbers with fruit.