Darfur: Tents of Hope

The humanitarian relief effort in Darfur is the world’s largest. More than two million people are estimated to be displaced by the ongoing conflicts there, and they are beginning to lose hope

Tents of Hope, an outgrowth of relief efforts from the Disciples of Christ, the United Church of Christ, and Dear Sudan, aims to change that. Groups of people - schools, churches, seminaries, communities - purchase and decorate tents like those the Darfuri refugees live in. The tents are erected as a reminder of the crisis in Darfur.

 Read more about Tents of Hope here; visit the official website; or watch a YouTube video.

Week of Compassion to provide relief to Buckeye Fans

DisciplesWorld received this news release today. If you’re a Buckeye Fan, you’ll appreciate this!

Week of Compassion sets up operations base in Columbus

Week of Compassion, the relief, refugee, and development ministry fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will be setting up disaster relief operations at Ohio Stadium, aka The Horseshoe,” to assist Ohioans devastated by back-to-back losses in the BCS Championship Game.

“After the loss to Florida last year, we saw a marked increase in suffering and taunting of Ohio State fans,” said Amy Gopp, Associate Director of Week of Compassion, “and being humiliated by LSU last night will just make the situation worse. We know the next few months in the Buckeye State are going to be difficult, but with faith, compassion, and increased security  along the Ohio-Michigan border, the recovery will be faster. It will take a while, but it will happen.”

Following last year’s blowout loss to Florida, Gopp relocated to Kent, Ohio, to provide a quicker response to distressed Buckeye fans. In Monday night’s return to the National Championship state, Ohio State jumped out to a 10-0 lead only to watch LSU reel off 31 straight points. The Bayou Bengals won 38-24. “It was one of the best strategic moves Week of Compassion has made,” Gopp said. “Given Ohio State’s recent history, it appears there will be a long-term need for disaster assistance.”

For more information on relief efforts in Ohio, visit WOC’s web site, www.weekofcompassion.org.