COVID-19 Appeal Brazil

We recently received the following letter from Reva. Ana Isaura Lima de Souza, National Secretary of Diaconal of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB):

MANÁ PROJECT

"I will rain down bread from heaven for you." Exodus 16:4

The enslaved people who, through the hands of the Lord, came out of Egypt's clutches, had a slow march towards the promised land. It was 40 years of difficulty, learning about trust, solidarity, and perseverance, concepts that are not easy to learn. It took a long time for Yahweh to "tattoo" these and other words over the scars left by Pharaoh's whip. But in due course, the slaves of the “Empire of the Sun” became free people.

Many men and women of our nation have been thrown into slavery. According to data from the World Bank, almost 15 million men and women will be living below the poverty line in 2021. The majority of those suffering are women who serve as heads of their households and remain unemployed. We even see a large number of service providers who are suffering.

The IPIB, through our Diaconal office, heard the cry of the people, the cry of the excluded. We understand that God calls us to lead the destitute to a place of safety and we have been doing this since the beginning of the year 2020.

The IPIB office for Social Action and the Diaconal helped those displaced by the rains in the Southeast and Northeast (Amor em Ação Campaign) and is supporting churches in the North of the country during the public health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic (Manaus and Acre Campaigns).

Now we want to help combat the hunger that is plaguing the lower classes of Brazilian society in the five regions of our nation with basic food baskets (for members of the IPIB) and ready-made meals (for the homeless population). Funds will be collected from April 15th to May 15th and the distribution will be made on Sunday, May 23 which is Pentecost Sunday.

Therefore on Pentecost, we will all eat and drink happily at the only table where no one is eating crumbs. Let's eat at the “Lamb's Table” and celebrate the Lord together!

Reva. Ana Isaura Lima de Souza
National Secretary of Diaconal of IPIB