We are all aware of the rising cost of living in the UK. There are those in our communities who may be wondering how they will get through the Christmas period financially and there are families feeling the financial impact of the ongoing pandemic. But could you imagine if your wage was under $10 a month, your country was experiencing hyperinflation, there was a chronic shortage of fuel and the public healthcare system had totally collapsed? This is the situation for millions of Venezuelans, who have seen their communities plunged into even deeper poverty during the pandemic.

The Methodist Christian Community in Venezuela (CCMV), tells us the following:

“Our country is currently experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in its history. The economic situation is characterized by the constant devaluation of the currency, which results in hyperinflation in the basic basket of goods. The salary of a worker or a civil servant is less than $10 a month- hardly enough to sustain someone for three days. The public healthcare system is completely broken and does not have the capacity or the medication to serve the population. We live in a permanent state of survival and emergency. As always, the greatest impact is on children, who are eating very little. Similarly, the medication situation is extremely difficult due to high prices. Our Church has been affected this year by all of this aforementioned situation. Almost all of our ministers and pastors have had COVID, in some cases very severely, complicated by double pneumonia. This is having a negative impact on our mission.”

The CCMV has always been committed to the welfare of those most in need within their communities. In May this year, with the support of a solidarity grant from the World Mission Fund (WMF) the church was able to support 66 families.  

Another solidarity grant for £14,600 from the WMF has recently been approved to support the CCMV at a time when it continues to seek ways in which to support three vulnerable communities and the pastoral families who serve them in the north-eastern city of Maracaibo. They will continue offering humanitarian aid for the same 66 families by providing them with food items, including rice, pasta, corn, wheat flour and canned meats. They will also use their extensive experience in leading community health initiatives to purchase and distribute over the counter medicine for those with COVID symptoms and the malnourished who are in need of vitamins. The grant funding will also be used to purchase two oxygen concentrators that CCMV volunteers will offer to individuals who have COVID and are experiencing respiratory difficulties.

Please join us in praying for our partner church and for Venezuela.

Our Father who is in heaven,
We give you thanks and praise for the people of Venezuela.
We thank you that every life is precious and that you care especially for the downtrodden, the vulnerable and the broken hearted.
We pray that you would intervene in the dire economic, political and social situation in the country and raise up leaders after your own heart who will lead with compassion, godly wisdom and integrity.
We pray for an end to poverty and hunger in Venezuela and we pray for a better day when the Venezuelan people will not feel forced to leave their homeland and migrate in their millions.
We pray for the Methodist Christian Community and the communities they serve. Please strengthen them at this time and fill them with hope, joy and perseverance as they continue loving their communities.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.

Through World Mission Partnership, Irish Methodists make an annual contribution to the World Mission Fund.