India is the country with the second highest number of COVID-19 cases, behind only the United States. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 100 families in Kolkata and Maharashtra have received aid for basic foodstuffs.

During the first phase of AWF’s Global Response to COVID-19, three African countries have had many fruits and blessings. Our brothers and sisters from Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Mali ask us to continue praying for them. May God bless many more lives through them.

In Phase One of the AWF Global Response to COVID-19, we were able to allocate over US $100,000 in grants to assist with immediate relief needs of congregations and communities. More than 170,000 people from vulnerable communities received food and hygiene products from volunteers of local Alliance churches.

Addressing the needs of the communities we serve is part of our mandate to proclaim Christ to all nations. With AWF's Global Response to COVID-19 entering its second phase (development projects), we realized that food insecurity has been intensified by this pandemic and may have a lasting impact on vulnerable communities. Please read this article and let us pray together with clarity of purpose as we move forward to fulfill our mandate to witness to our faith in Christ with words and deeds.

Since 2018 the Alliance World Fellowship has been publishing short videos on its website and social media to strengthen the idea that each one of us is not just a local Alliance church member, but we are part of a global family. Reinforcing this connection, we would like to invite you to be part of this campaign.

The Global Alliance Family has been serving thousands of vulnerable communities in more than 50 countries since the pandemic started. The local churches are distributing food, masks, soups and medicines and are creating awareness of proper hygiene habits and the use of protective measures. The AWF Global Response to COVID-19 will help those local churches with more funding to reach an additional 170,000 people who will experience the love and mercy of God through the hands of His servants.

As part of the AWF Global Response to COVID-19, we ask the pastors of local Alliance churches that sponsor Relief Projects to answer the Relief Project Questionnaire by May 31, 2020. We are praying that the information we receive will help AWF to strengthen the hands of those at work in ways that are meaningful, productive, and sow seeds of witness to the love of God in Christ.

This was what the president of an African national church said during one of four meetings this week to organize a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It summarizes our leaders’ understanding that the challenge before us is beyond our capacity, but God has given the necessary provision to His people, and we have the resolve to share it with those most in need in the communities we serve.

AWF and CAMA Services (Alliance Missions – USA) are working together to mobilize a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jesus is a compassionate savior calling us to action. As we prayed together, we felt compelled to seek a fast and effective response to the needs of the most vulnerable people among those served by Alliance churches worldwide. A donation link to the project is already in place on the AWF website.

As the pandemic grows, we are planning webinars to share experiences of how churches are facing the challenges posed by this pandemic.