09
Jun '20

COVID-19 Pandemic Response Fund (CPR)

Posted on Jun 9, 2020 in General | 85

09
Jun '20

COVID-19 Pandemic Response (CPR) Fund

UPDATE AS OF 06/08/20:
With thanksgiving, we are glad to report that the OPC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response (CPR) Fund has received over $20,000 in gifts. With the gifts, the Committee on Diaconal Ministries has already been able to respond to some requests for financial assistance. Last week, in response to their request, a gift was sent to our brothers and sisters in the Africa Evangelical Presbyterian Church (AEPC) in Kenya, a denomination with whom the OPC has fraternal ties, where they have been in coronavirus lockdown since mid-March. This week, the CDM is sending funds to OP missionaries laboring in Uganda to provide funds for food for some churches there. There have also been gifts dispersed to Ethiopia and Uruguay.
     A significant impact of the novel coronavirus lockdown in the developing world is hunger. While many in the West are accustomed to pantries loaded with weeks of food, many others in the world work each day to earn their daily bread. As such, being prohibited from working to earn food for the day brings tremendous suffering. As such, we are thankful to be able to play a small part in extending mercy in these difficult days, particularly to those who have the least.
The Committee on Diaconal Ministries recently opened up the COVID-19 Pandemic Response (CPR) Fund. This fund will be used to help churches and individuals especially hard-hit by the COVID-19 virus. We anticipate great needs locally and regionally. All those who are able ought to be encouraged to contribute generously to their local deacons’ fund and to their presbytery diaconal fund. (Soon, many will be receiving economic stimulus checks, despite having lost no income; could that be shared with those in need?) For those who are able to give above and beyond local and regional needs, we invite to give toward this fund to participate in meeting needs in the OPC or within our sister churches around the world.

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