In the first century, when the believers in the church in Jerusalem were experiencing an extended period of great hardship, the Gentile churches responded sacrificially – and with joy – sending offerings to relieve the suffering of their brothers and sisters in Christ. (2 Cor. 8 – 9)
The Covid-19 pandemic presents PCA churches with a similar opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways in the midst of this unprecedented need among our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout North America.
Thousands of ethnic minority members of PCA congregations throughout North America have been affected severely by the COVID-19 shutdowns. Some of our most vulnerable church members are now in our small, predominantly minority churches located in economically challenged areas.
Many worked as nannies, housekeepers, handymen, day laborers, dishwashers, busboys or home health care aides. Their jobs and their income have come to an abrupt halt, and few will qualify for any government relief.
The majority lived paycheck to paycheck, and they’ve already exhausted their meager savings. Their unpaid bills accumulated during the shutdown now threaten to snowball and overwhelm them.
They’re facing genuine hunger and danger of eviction. Some have little or no food to offer their children. For many, English is their second language, which makes accessing any local government assistance programs challenging if not impossible.
Many who were previously self-sufficient and among the first to help others are now turning to their trusted local churches for help as their families face exceptional privation. Their church is the one place they know and trust to find help amidst crisis.
In response, the PCA has formed a relief fund, called the Ethnos Coalition Relief Initiative, to provide financial resources for the mercy ministries of PCA churches in North America to help them give immediate relief to their members in poor and marginalized ethnic communities.
Apply for Relief
For PCA churches in need of relief fund grants for their low-income households, CLICK HERE
Donate for Relief
To make a donation to the Ethnos Coalition Relief Initiative of MNA, PCA, CLICK HERE
For More Information
For additional information on the needs of specific groups in North America, contact members of the MNA Ethos Coalition listed below:
Bland, Jeb – Native American/First Nations Ministries; jebland@pcanet.org
Caires, Darcy – Network of Portuguese Speaking Churches; dcaires@pcanet.org
Hatch, Pat – Refugee and Immigrant Ministries; phatch@pcanet.org
Jun, Alex – Korean American Leadership Initiative; ajun@pcanet.org
Nabors, Randy – Urban and Mercy Ministries; chaprandy@gmail.com
Plummer, Wy – African American Ministries; wplummer@pcanet.org
Sáenz, Hernando – Hispanic Ministries (Chairman, Ethnos Coalition); hsaenz@pcanet.org
Sim, Bill – Korean Ministries; bsim@pcanet.org
St. Germain, Dony– Haitian American Ministries; dstgermain@pcanet.org
We help underserved church leaders develop churches that transform lives and communities
