Take up Rachel’s Lent Challenge
Rachel Hanna, a PhD student originally from Christ Church, Kilkeel, is part of Tearfund’s current Emerging Influencers Programme for 18–25 year olds in the UK. The year–long commitment is a combination of teaching, training, coaching and mentoring in order to equip Rachel to make a significant difference to people’s lives.
Working in partnership with the charity, she has devised a project to mobilise people to take action on behalf of those who live in poverty. The result, #40DaysintheValley can be found on the Tearfund Rhythms site.
Explaining her inspiration for the project Rachel says, ”As a Christian, when I look at the Bible narrative the issue of finding a home runs right through it. Then when the refugee crisis hit the news last year I found people asking me what they could do to help. I realised how little I knew and I wanted to change that.”
#40DaysintheValley ties in with some of Tearfund’s current priorities and also Rachel’s PhD programme which is looking at how asylum seekers in NI tell their stories and how people here respond.
Take part!
During Lent 2016 (10 February–27 March), we are going to take time to reflect on some big questions by finding out about life in the Bekaa valley on the Syria/Lebanon border. It is the biggest refugee camp in the Middle East and Tearfund is working there to support refugees.
We will be thinking about how small daily actions, prayers and generosity can help us to bridge the gap between “us and them” – and help us to love as Jesus loves.
Each day you’ll be sent an email with an action, article or prayer to reflect on and together we’ll commit to giving sacrificially. As we choose to give up something over Lent we can set aside £1 each day. This money will then be donated to Tearfund’s Middle East appeal, which will support the ongoing relief work in the region.
This journey begins on 10th February when you’ll receive your first email.
This Lent will you take up the challenge? What will you give up? What will you give?