The Story of Tearfund

For more than fifty years Tearfund has helped to transform lives and to release people from poverty. BRBC has been supporting Tearfund for many of those years and, as representative for our church, I felt it would be good to share a little of the story of the charity.

Over decades millions of people have been helped when they have been hit by disaster. The charity has supported them in their darkest hour with food and shelter and rebuilding homes.

In 1968 The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund Committee met for the first time to form a vision for a new organisation which would become Tearfund. Its aim was to combine Christian compassion with practical action around the world. They wanted a new understanding of the gospel as a message that truly was 'good news to the poor', as Jesus originally described it. The new emphasis was on caring for people's physical and spiritual needs. The vision is to see people freed from extreme poverty, to transform lives and to achieve their God-given potential.

There are four main focuses:-

- Meeting emergency needs when disaster hits vulnerable communities.

- Mobilising churches by equipping them to play their part in development and transformation of their communities in poorer countries.

- Supporting communities to become more able to cope with shocks and stresses, and to work towards a better future for themselves and others.

- Changing society by seeking to influence social, political and economic systems so that the poorest communities can get the services and opportunities they need to thrive.

Tearfund Values:

As Christians, they follow Jesus' example. They seek to be Christ-centred, compassionate, courageous, truthful in all that they do.

Tearfund Mission:

The mission is to follow Jesus where the need is greatest, responding to crises and partnering with local churches and organisations to help people lift themselves out of poverty.

Our church support:-

Members of BRBC have been very generous in their support. A few months back we were able to send £1,000 towards the Gaza humanitarian crisis to help innocent victims of the fighting, and PMA recently donated £100. The church always includes a donation in the annual budget.

All this we see as part of the example of Jesus and His command that we should treat our neighbour as ourselves.

Jessica Farquhar