Three Permian Basin churches that are part of a Christian denomination with a mission of witnessing, loving and serving Jesus Christ joined together in October to gather supplies for Afghan refugees in Abilene.
Connection Christian Church, located at 4241 Tanglewood Lane in Odessa; Bethany Christian Church, 4522 N. Everglade, Odessa; and First Christian, 1301 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland, met on Oct. 24 to collect supplies for Afghan refugees. The three churches belong to the Disciples of Christ denomination, which has a mission of sharing “the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps ‘to the ends of the earth,’” the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) site said.
The three churches collected hygiene and cleaning items to support at least 100 Afghan refugees that the International Rescue Committee in Abilene was receiving in October, the Connection Christian Church October newsletter said.
“Thank you to all who brought donations for the Afghani refugees arriving in Abilene,” Connection Christian Church said in an Oct. 24 Facebook post. “This afternoon, we met at the cross with our friends from First Christian in Midland and Bethany Christian in Odessa. We sang, read scripture, and prayed over these items and our beloved neighbors who will receive them. Good job shining the light of Christ, church.”
President Biden said on Aug. 24 in remarks about evacuation efforts in Afghanistan that the United States will be a leader in supporting “refugees and evacuees currently fleeing Afghanistan.”
The International Rescue Committee continues to support Afghans in Afghanistan and by helping to resettle Afghans in the United States, Uganda and Mexico, the organization’s website said. The organization provides food, cash and other aid.
“18 million people in Afghanistan are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. More than 630,000 have been internally displaced this year alone,” the organization’s website said. “Many Afghans have fled the country to build new lives in the United States and other countries around the world.”