|
Home
Covenant World Relief for Kosovo
KOSOVO (June, 1999) - Covenant World Relief, working through a number of World Relief partners, is collecting gifts to benefit refugees in Kosovo.
"Cash gifts that we receive are currently being sent through our World Relief partner who is working with the Albanian Evangelical Council of Churches and other international relief agencies," said Tim Ek, Covenant World Relief director. Funds help provide emergency food, clothes, shelter, and medicine. Ek explained that the Covenant is not sending barrels of food or clothing as to do so would not be cost-efficient. Rather, cash gifts are being channeled through World Relief partners for that purpose. Ek also noted that no work teams have been requested at this time.
Checks should be made payable to Covenant World Relief, should be designated "for Kosovo relief," and should be mailed to Covenant World Relief at 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625.
There are some 160 evangelical churches in Albania attempting to aid the thousands of refugees pouring across the border with Yugoslavia. In Tirana, Albania's capital, churches are operating a transit center aiding more than 3,000 refugees inside an indoor sports stadium. Volunteers from 25 area churches are welcoming and registering the refugees, providing water, food, clothing and emotional support.
In one outdoor tent city of some 2,200 homeless refugees, churches are supplying volunteers to help with food preparation. A church in the southern community of Erseke is caring for 760 refugees and expecting another 300. In Durres, the churches are ministering to some 200 people in camps. In northern Albania, one small church is welcoming mothers with newborn babies into their homes.
"The Albanian government is stunned by what the churches are able to do," said Clive Calver, president of World Relief who recently visited the refugee centers. "They're gaining credibility in the eyes of the government." He shared the comment of one governmental official who said, "I just want to kiss the feet of the workers here. I've never seen anything like it."
Calver noted that the Albanian churches cannot keep up the pace without outside assistance. "What they are doing is a fantastic testimony to the Gospel, but they cannot cope with the quantity. We've got to get behind the church now, so they can build a hope, build a future for these people."
"We will continue to monitor the situation and keep the church informed about other opportunities to assist in the days ahead," Ek said. Regular updates will be posted on the Covenant website and provided to the Covenant Resource Center (1-800-338-IDEA).
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
|
|
|
