On May 15th I’m hoping to run in the Chester Half Marathon – a race I’ve enjoyed taking part in for many years.
This year I am hoping to collect sponsorship for the work of Christian Aid (a charity who last year celebrated 70 years of international aid work). Their experience over many years means that they are very good at making sure that funds raised are wisely used and carefully deployed. Christian Aid’s hallmark is to work alongside local partners in the places most affected by poverty and disaster.
May 15th is also the start of Christian Aid Week when churches up and down the country will roll up their sleeves and get involved in the biggest national house-to-house collection – it raises vital money for the poorest people in the world. In this parish we don’t have one of these which is why I’m inviting you to sponsor me.
Jesus gave us two great commandments: to love God AND to love our neighbours – even those who we don’t know.
People sometimes say: “charity begins at home” but when you take into account how much we have in this country in comparison with Syrian refugees or Nepali earthquake survivors then I believe there is a compulsion for those of us who have to give to those who don’t.
This year’s Christian Aid campaign focuses on flood victims in Bangladesh – a country which permanently lives with the prospect of flooding. In our village last year, one family got flooded out and had first hand experience of the traumas of that. I’m glad to say that that family are now safely back in their home. Imagine living in daily fear of rising waters and losing all your possessions. That is the experience of thousands of people living in Bangladesh. Christian Aid partners are helping families to adapt and to find new ways to live with this ever present threat of flooding. Any donation you are able to make will help families like this to find new hope.
Jesus said: “Whatever you do for the least of these my children – you do it for me” – may God encourage us all to be generous with what He has given to us.
Peter Chantry
