Then your light will break forth like the dawn
“Our God is a God who cares for the suffering, the needy, and the abandoned. He models what we, His followers, need to be and covers His instructions with a promise of blessing.
Tucked away in Isaiah 58 is this promise: “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will appear quickly; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.” (vss. 8, 9).
Wonderful promise, isn't it?
But these promises come surrounded by the call from God to engage in acts of compassion and justice in the world where such things seem, at times, in short supply. Isaiah addresses the issues of hunger, homelessness and nakedness (vs. 7) and writes: “If you spend yourself on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, THEN your light will rise in the darkness...” (vs. 10).”
Dan Shurr, FAIR Director
FAIR’s vision is to alleviate human suffering and social injustice in the name of Christ. Through long-term and short-term projects around the world, FAIR seeks to provide opportunities to join with God in meeting the needs of the suffering, the lost, and the abandoned. This is the vision and purpose behind the Love Extended FAIR Catalogue of Projects. With over 40 different projects contained in the catalogue, we take this opportunity to highlight a few.
Medical Ministry International in the Amazon
MMI Amazon has been providing spiritual and compassionate health care in the Amazon region for nine years through the work of a local team and regular trips of volunteers from Canada and the United States. The MMI Amazon team is passionately fulfilling the commandment of Jesus, as described in Luke 9:2, “He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” The consistent work and presence of MMI Amazon over the years has created an openness for the team to share the Gospel in two regions: Igara Parana River communities and Leticia Region communities.
Love Trust Ministry in Sri Lanka
High in the mountains of Sri Lanka are tea plantations where thousands of the poor (mainly women) work every day. Many of these workers are single mothers who work hard but barely earn enough to provide food and a home for their children. Education is often not possible since accessing publicly funded schools is impossible due to the distance and lack of infrastructure. FAIR supports the work of local churches in three rural villages to provide holistic care to the children of these women through Love Trust, which is one of five Fellowship Child Sponsorship programs. Pre-school aged children are provided education (including English), meals, and emotional and spiritual support. As part of the holistic care of these children, the mothers are given access to vocational training, food packages, and spiritual guidance to help them better provide for their children while also finding their hope in a relationship with Jesus amongst a strong community of Christians.
Bread for All in Lebanon
Lebanon has experienced one of the worst economic collapses of the last 200 years. The Beirut port explosion in August 2020 was certainly a catalyst but the economy has fallen apart because of extreme inflation, loss of jobs, political instability, and the ongoing challenge of supporting millions of refugees fleeing the war in Syria. Initiated by Fellowship International missionaries Bechara and Roula Karkafi, the Bread for All project is providing regular food distribution through local churches so that families can access the food they need, while also being introduced to Jesus, the Bread of Life!