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CHANGEMAKERSVOL. 19

DEAR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS,In a world grappling with wave upon wave of crises, I am reminded that we walk on water. Wedo so every day at World Relief — only because we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Through him, we continue to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises, inpartnership with the church.To us, the church is a missional andstrategic partner because it is at the heart of God’s plan to redeem the world. We believe each expression of the worldwide church has a unique and interdependent role in bringing peace, love and justice to abrokenworld. Our distinct calling is to partner with local churches as we contribute synergistically to God’s work of restoration in local communities.In this newsletter, you’ll hear from Je Walser, our Vice President of Strategic Engagement, about the transformational work of the local church in Turkana, Kenya. Speaking of transformation — you’ll see how an environmental cleanup project and a sports ministry led to 100 baptisms in a community in Cambodia! Learn how we’re partnering with churches to boldly engage the mental health crisis in Ukraine. And hear from Bri Stensrud about her passion to create bridge-building opportunities for Christian women not to feel alone and discontent with the national narrative.We are grateful for your support as we continue to witness transformation around the world and submit ourselves as willing instruments of change. Please pray that we continue treading on water as we work towards our vision of thriving, welcoming communities where families flourish and people experience restorative relationships with God, their neighbors, themselves and all of creation.Together,MYAL GREENE PRESIDENT & CEOPRAYER REQUESTS• Pray for the children in Sudan. Pray that their needs are met and that they experience safety, peace and hope in a situation that has been declared the worst humanitarian crisis in the world for children. • Pray for DRC and other neighboring countries that are experiencing high cases of the mpox outbreak. Please pray for the protection of our sta, their families and the communities we serve, and for concerted eorts to curb the spread of the disease.• Pray for churches we partner with around the world. Pray that more churches in the U.S. will extend their arms in welcome to refugees and forcibly displaced immigrants in their communities, and that churches across the globe would find strength together to take on challenges in their spheres of influence.• Pray for our country: for peace, love and mercy to prevail as we navigate a post-election season.

$120,345TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES WITH REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS, AND WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES OR FORCED INTO REFUGEE LIFE.These gifts reach women, men and children indisplaced person and refugee camps around the world and when they arrive in the United States. They provide comfort and essential needs, restore faith, reunite families, build welcoming communities and provide vital services for brighter futures.$490,107 TO SPECIAL EFFORTS AND SPECIFICCOUNTRIES.These gifts reach programs in various countries in an eort to end human tracking, promote economic security, improve child nutrition; support victims of gang violence in Haiti, the earthquake in Morocco and those impacted by crises in Israel/Gaza and across the Middle East; and support our ongoing response to crises inSudan and Ukraine.$1,459,144TO OUR STAND WITH THE VULNERABLE FUND (WHERENEEDED MOST).These gifts reach people in their most vulnerable moments where and when they need it most. In times of unforeseen emergency or crisis, these gifts allow WorldRelief to respond without a moment’s hesitation.CHANGEMAKERS MAKING A DIFFERENCEOCTOBER 1, 2023 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2024*QUESTIONS? We want you to know exactly what your gifts are doing. If you have any questions or wish to make a new gift please be in touch with Jill Eggemeyer, Changemakers Community Manager.C: 618.401.8121 jeggemeyer@wr.org*Values reflected are indicative of gifts documented by September 30, 2024. Additional gifts are in process and final audited financials may vary.1,165 ACTIVE CHANGEMAKERSOVER $2 MILLION TO TRANSFORM LIVES3,639 TOTAL GIFTSWhen war broke out in Ukraine in 2022, Lyubov and her husband fled with their five children. They didn’t know where to go for help — until Lyubov found the Life Center, operated with support from World Relief.Scan the QR code to read what happened next!

DO WE STILL BELIEVE THE CHURCH CANCHANGE THE WORLD FOR GOOD?I can’t believe it’s been six years since my orientation days at World Relief. I remember feeling like I was drinking from the proverbial fire hydrant. Just learning the acronyms we use across our programs is only slightly easier than getting a master’s degree in ancient Hebrew. But as someone responsible for communicating to partners and prospective partners about our good work across the United States and around the world, I was a motivated learner.Reflecting back on those early days, I remember a document that felt deeply inspiring. The title was and is straightforward — Seven Reasons Why We Believe the Church Can Change the World. It spoke so well to World Relief’s deep historical commitment to the local church and her theological conviction that God’s plan A (with no plan B in sight) is the church. It called me to a bold and unwavering belief, grounded in God’s Word, that he will put his manifold wisdom and eternal purpose on display through his church.But that was 2018 and this is 2024 … and a lot has happened since then. Between that inspiring moment and this particular historical period of uncertainty here in the fall of 2024, we all know there is an ocean of pain and grief, chaos and loss, disease and disaster, discontent and disunity. Those days and months and years in between rocked us. We saw and heard and experienced things that left us at turns angry, sad and despairing.Truthfully, these years have been challenging and sometimes even devastating for the church. There were moral failures and leadership feuds. There were great resignations. There was rising and falling. There were allegations and disputations and so many broken and divided congregations.Maybe you’ve wondered — do we still believe the church can change the world for the better? If I am honest, I’ve struggled with my own questions. Like so many others, this led to sadness, to deep need, then to prayer and a search for answers. For me, one of those answers came in the form of a visit to Turkana County, Kenya, where World Relief has been working with the local church for almost 15 years.I first traveled to Turkana in 2013 as the executive pastor at Wheaton Bible Church during the early stages of our partnership with World Relief. On one of those days in the far northeastern reaches of Kenya, I sat around a table at St. Patrick’s Guest House with pastors from churches across several denominations. They discussed significant challenges in their community and how World Relief could help them navigate a pathway to resilience and even flourishing in the face of periodic cycles of severe drought and vulnerability.They were just coming o one of the worst drought periods in recent history and their By Je Walser, Vice President of Strategic Engagement

MAKE AN IMPACTFOR GENERATIONS TOCOMEcommunities were in a fragile state. The odds against a collaborative solution were pretty high. There wasn’t much trust built between churches, and the scarcity of resources was daunting. The fact that they were meeting and had begun working together at all was encouraging, and I left committed to praying for these precious people, their community and the church.In a story I could never have imagined back in 2013, I was invited to return to Turkana this past January, representing World Relief and traveling with the new senior pastor of Wheaton Bible Church. Wow. Eleven years later I found myself standing outside that same guest house completely overwhelmed at what had happened in the intervening years.Traveling from site to site, we witnessed where bore holes had been drilled and water was abundant where there had been none. We saw community gardens flourishing where there had only been dust and dry land. We spent time with families and children that were thriving where there had been vulnerability and languishing. We found the churches from that first meeting at St. Patrick’s celebrating a new school, multiple new churches and new followers of Jesus flourishing where there was once hopelessness and despair.The answer was there in the faces of those amazing people and the lives of those precious communities. Yes, I still believe the church can change the world because I have seen it.As we walk together through another divisive time in the U.S., I find great hope in the testimony of my brothers and sisters in Turkana — testimony that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can come together even across great dierences to create change that not only lasts in our lifetime but also has eternal value. That, together, the global church truly still can change the world for the better.Thank you for walking with us and with our global Christian family to deliver the transformative love, hope and peace of Christ in the midst of the world’s greatest crises. Are you interested in turning your charitable giving into a legacy that impacts future generations? Through strategic estate planning, you can use your non-cash assets to enhance your gift. We are dedicated to providing you with the resources and tools necessary to create a lasting dierence.For more information, scan the QR code or visit worldrelief.org/planned-giving tolearn more.

JESUS IS FOUND IN HARD PLACESQ&A WITH BRI STENSRUD OF WOMEN OF WELCOMEWe sat with Bri Stensrud, Director of Women of Welcome (WOW) to discuss the WOW community, her struggles advocating for refugees and immigrants and her new book, “Start with Welcome: The Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation.”CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW WOMEN OF WELCOME CAME TO BE?Absolutely. I grew up an evangelical pastor’s kid in Iowa, deeply involved in my church and with a strong love for Jesus. In 2015, when divisive rhetoric about immigrants and refugees was rising, I noticed Christians were struggling to reconcile their pro-life beliefs with the dehumanizing language around these vulnerable people. As someone with a background in the pro-life movement, I embarked on a journey of becoming a “whole life pro-lifer.” I went to the southern border with World Relief and saw firsthand how the situation was dierent from media portrayals.At that time, many churches were disengaging from serving refugees due to fear. In 2016, Lifeway Research and the National Immigration Forum conducted a study showing that many evangelical Christians feared refugees, but it also revealed hope among Christian women who had compassion but didn’t know how to act. World Relief and NIF asked me to help educate these women, leading to the formation of Women of Welcome (WOW). Now, WOW has grown to over 135,000 women working to educate and mobilize the church in advocacy for immigrants and refugees.WHAT WERE THE REACTIONS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY WHEN YOU BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE EXPERIENCING THOSE REACTIONS NOW?It was a mix. Some women at my church were curious and supportive, while others, including family and friends, were fearful and uncertain. It’s easy to get frustrated with people who don’t understand the image of God in refugees and immigrants. However, the way you want others to react to immigrants — with grace and humility — is the way you should react to those who disagree with you. Stay curious about their fears and misunderstandings, and meet them where they are. Oering calm and charitable conversations can open up new perspectives.WHAT HURDLES DID YOU ENCOUNTER AS YOU GREW YOUR PROXIMITY TO REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, AND HOW DID YOU ADDRESS THOSE?Proximity is powerful. It makes the issue personal and helps you use your voice well. However, one hurdle is our busy lives. We’ve become consumers of the church, focused on our own lives, rather than engaging with the complex margins of our communities. We must make space for each other.Another hurdle is comfort. God models a life of selfless service, and Jesus is found in hard places, not in comfort zones. After visiting the border with WOW several times, I realized it’s not about bringing God to those places but recognizing that God is already there. We must step out of our comfort zones, asking, “What is God doing, and how am I called to partner with him?”To read more, check out Bri’s book “Start with Welcome: TheJourney toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation” by scanning this QR code.

World Relief has been responding in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and Egypt alongside local partners since October 2023. Over the last year, thanks to the generosity of people like you, we’ve been able to do the following through our partners on the ground:• Provide food and clothing to more than 5,200 Palestinians and Israelis in Bethlehem and the West Bank• Deliver medicine and essential supplies including insulin needles, water purification tablets, cancer medication and mental health support to 471,000 people in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon• Bring spiritual, emotional and physical care to nearly 12,000 displaced Palestinians through a local Egyptian church partner. Church volunteers distributed food and clothing, supplied transportation to those crossing the border from Gaza to Egypt to seek medical attention, and provided emotional support to those aected by war and displacement• Installed 50 latrines throughout Gaza, providing safe sanitation facilities to more than 2,500 people daily• Installed three solar-powered filtration systems, giving 1,950 Gazans access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation• Delivered ready-to-eat meals, food parcels and household items to 28,000people in GazaWe continue to provide temporary shelter, medical supplies, clothing and bedding to families seeking refuge amid this terrible crisis. We need your help. Join us in praying for peace and mercy, and give today to support World Relief’s emergency response in the Middle East.RUSH AID TO THE MIDDLE EASTScan to give today!Photo ©ZOAHave you heard of Bentiu? It's the site of South Sudan's largest displacement camp, home to over 144,000 people. During climate emergencies and periods of conflict, the population can rise to about 300,000 as more people are forced to leave their homes. World Relief is on the ground in Bentiu, oering health and nutrition support to both adults and children, including nine-month-old Chudier. We're thankful to our South Sudan team for delivering essential care and services. HOPE AND HEALTH IN DISPLACEMENT

Fall 2024PARTNERING WITH CHURCHES TO BOLDLY ENGAGE THEMENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN UKRAINEWhen Jesus appeared to Simon Peter after his resurrection, he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times, Peter answered yes. And three times, Jesus responded with a command: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).Like Peter, today’s church leaders and pastors have a special calling — to channel their love for God into care for those in their congregations, neighborhoods and communities. Yet, in the face of large-scale traumatic events like the war in Ukraine, providing pastoral care can feel daunting.Marina, a church leader from Ukraine, explained, “We are all in a state of trauma, we are going through a war and everyone needs to heal.”The World Health Organization estimated in March 2024 that 9.6 million people were at risk of or living with a mental health condition in Ukraine. In a survey conducted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 83% of people aected by the conflict in Ukraine said they or their family members had faced stressful or traumatic events.That need lies at the heart of Pathways to Renewal, one of our newest programs in Ukraine. The program aims to equip church leaders like Marina to provide mental health support in their communities.Over the summer, we held our first conferences for church leaders, chaplains and community volunteers in Dnipro and Poltava, Ukraine. The conferences focused on debunking common mental health myths and training participants on basic psychological first aid. Participants then had the opportunity to attend additional four-day, intensive training workshops on creating and leading peer support groups at churches.Marina reflected, “These training sessions were very important … we had very good trainers who guided us [to be] able to work with our own traumas, and now we can and do have the tools togo and help other people.”Thanks to support from partners like you, 118 participants were able to attend the conferences and intensive workshops, representing multiple churches and denominations. As a result, three local groups have already launched, providing safe, supportive spaces where Ukrainians can healtrauma and process the emotions of war.This year, World Relief Ukraine plans to expand mental health care programming into regions closer to the frontlines, reaching hundreds of individuals deeply impacted by the daily realitiesof war. JILL EGGEMEYER CHANGEMAKERS PARTNERSHIP MANAGERDEAR CHANGEMAKERS,The world is filled with chaos and crises. It’s easy to be distractedby political tensions, wars and economic struggles. It’s real, and yet exhausting and disheartening. Real people are living this reality. But withyou, a Changemaker, and others partnering together, you are leading with responsible actions to remove the impossible into so many possibilities. Thank you for being a leader and changing lives. Will you continue to be the light for God’s people this year-end and be bold in doing so? Yourgenerosity is seen and together we will go farther and deeper to do the impossible. Visit worldrelief.org/give-hopeLEADING TOGETHER,Scan to give today!