Dear friends,
I was talking this week with one of our domestic partners (a friend in the United States who supports our work with gifts, skills, and time). She attended one of our program updates and commented on how our work often continues on in areas of conflict.
We generally refer to the areas we work in as post-conflict, but the reality is where there has been violence, it doesn’t just stop all at once. And once we are committed to support the poor in these areas, we don’t stop if violence returns.
We do intentionally work in some of the poorest parts of the world, and that often means areas that are scarred by violence. But we also take seriously the safety of trainers and other workers, so it’s a balancing act.
Fortunately, we rely on local leaders in each country who are members of the church. Local bishops, who have tremendous respect even among parties in conflict, and their staff lead these programs where it would be impossible for workers from Western countries to go.
One of the bishops where we work told us recently, “I am so grateful that Five Talents continues to support us here in these difficult times. We don’t see the other larger international groups in our area. We feel how you are working alongside us.”
Until next Monday morning,
Dale Stanton-Hoyle
Executive Director
P.S. Click here to learn more about how Five Talents works in fragile states and post-conflict areas like South Sudan.