Compassion and Mercy Associates Newsletter

Your Hands to a Hurting World

August 2010

Dear Coworkers,

What is the world coming to? The year began with a devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, followed by earthquakes in Chili and Mexico, ongoing strife in Afghanistan and Iraq, and worldwide economic turmoil. Is the Lord’s Second Coming right around the corner?

Matthew 24:7-8 states, “‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.’” When you consider what has happened in 2010, it appears that the labor pains, in evidence for some decades, are intensifying. It’s a great time to be alive, right?

The answer is actually “YES!” We have an opportunity to be participants in the fulfillment of the prophecy that “‘this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’” (Matthew 24:14). Following are some of the ways you and CAMA have joined hands to reach a hurting world and bring back the King:

Haiti Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction

collapsed church in Haiti Thank you for giving to the Haiti Relief Fund. Your donations totaled nearly $1.7 million and are being invested as follows:

$141,300 for food, water, and shelter provided through sister agencies with infrastructure in Haiti
$43,715 for survey trips and direct aid to Haitian relatives of Alliance church members in the United States
$10,425 for short-term teams providing training in post-traumatic stress counseling, construction, and project management
$45,392 for project administration/travel
$43,713 for construction equipment and materials, food-for-work payments, and architectural plans

The balance of Haiti earthquake funds will be disbursed for additional church/home reconstruction, job creation, and agricultural projects. You can follow the progress through updates on the CAMA Web site.

Chile Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction

Thank you for giving $55,000 to the Chile Relief Fund, to which CAMA added $25,000 from undesignated funds. We have disbursed $79,495 to the C&MA of Chile to assist in the repair/reconstruction of 12 churches.

Moringa Offering

harvesting Moringa Thank you for giving to the CAMA Thanksgiving Moringa offering (2009). Your donations totaled more than $110,000 and are being invested as follows:

Burkina Faso: $20,900 to plant 10,000 trees; assist 1,000 families to supplement diet with Moringa products and establish businesses
Cambodia: $60,000 for support of CAMA workers involved in Moringa production in Cambodia; purchase land for plantation
Côte d’Ivoire: $5,000 to purchase equipment and storage facility

The balance of Moringa project funds will be used for work similar to the above.

Southeast Asia Tsunami

A CAMA couple has followed up the tsunami relief effort (December 26, 2004) by helping families with rice field irrigation projects. People once wary of foreigners are receiving assistance in rebuilding their livelihoods and are hearing how they can prepare for the life to come. This work will be featured in CAMA’s Thanksgiving Offering for 2010.

Mexico

CAMA has disbursed $25,000 to help rebuild homes and churches in Mexicali that were devastated by an earthquake. Our southern neighbors are experiencing God’s love in tangible ways and hearing the good news.

More could be said about initiatives in other countries where CAMA serves, but you get the picture. Despite challenges in the world around us, God’s Kingdom is advancing, and you are on the front lines! Your prayers for our staff and generous giving to the CAMA Advance Fund ($1.7 million) and relief/special project appeals ($2.6 million) have fueled this advance.

Thank you for all you have done, but don’t stop now! As we near the end of the race God has set for us, let us complete the Great Commission by living out the Great Commandment, thereby hastening Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:12).

With gratitude,

Phil Skellie
President, CAMA

CAMA Advance Fund

CAMA support is independent of the GCF. We invite you to support our CAMA staff who develop and implement training and projects that birth wholistic communities of faith. Donate now

Federal Employees

CAMA is part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), a United Way type organizaton which consolidates giving for Federal employees. Our destignation is #11918. Learn more

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Compassion and Mercy Associates, thru The Alliance, is a registered non-profit in the State of Colorado and is an exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

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