The impact of President Trump's suspension of USAID funding is being widely felt across the Middle East, including by Embrace's partners - as Jamie Eyre, CEO of Embrace the Middle East, explains:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

Matt 5:14-16

If you attended one of our 170th celebration events last year, you will have heard me share these verses from the Sermon on the Mount as a section of scripture that inspires me to keep going. They are a wonderful metaphor for who we, as Christians, are called to be, living out our faith in a way which will draw others to God. 

The story of Embrace since 1854, the generosity of our supporters, the dedication of our partners and staff, and how we have all adapted to the changing world around us are great encouragements. Each one of you reading this is part of the continuing story. We give thanks to God for each of you and your partnership with us and local Christians in the Middle East. It feels like we are entering another period of change, which we will need to respond to and stand firm with our Christian brothers and sisters in difficult and uncertain times. 

Over the past few weeks, you will have heard some of the many policy changes coming from the new US President and his team. A US president's words and choices have the potential to cause sudden and sweeping changes. President Trump’s talk of “clearing Gaza” and resettling its people has quickly gained currency with Israeli and US politicians. The impact of an abrupt stop work order to the vast majority of US international aid is also being widely felt, even by Embrace partners. 

As we shared from Gaza last week, in the words of our friend George Antone: “…we will stay in Gaza...This is our voice. This is the voice of the Christians.” he went on to say, “What we heard, we consider this is what [The US] think, not what we need and not what we want.”  We, as Christians in the UK, have a role to play to amplify the voices of our sisters and brothers as they express their desire to rebuild and not be removed. We have a responsibility - to encourage our political leaders and our church leaders to speak up and support people under threat of expulsion from their land.  

The Heads of Churches in Jerusalem wrote last week:  ‘As Christians, we cannot be indifferent to such suffering, for the Gospel commands us to uphold the dignity of every human being. The words of our Lord remind us: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed" (Isaiah 10:1-2).’   

We are called not to be indifferent or silent in the face of injustice. 

The impact of President Trump's suspension of USAID funding has stopped many humanitarian, development, and UN organisations in their tracks. The US is by far the biggest donor of international aid. A significant reduction or change in priorities, both of which are now happening, will create tremendous hardship for many people in need who rely on this support and on the local aid workers who deliver aid all across the world. Many of them will lose their jobs as aid and development projects come to an abrupt end, causing untold suffering in already disadvantaged communities.  

Embrace’s partners are already reporting that funding from other international partners who receive US funds is being stopped or reduced. As funding from the US drops, the needs our partners are responding to will increase, and the competition for funding will become more intense. In the West Bank, for example, USAID projects employ thousands of people, including Embrace partners. The unemployment caused by the sudden stopping of support will push more people to seek free or subsidised services such as health and education, and our partners will not turn people in need away. 

At Embrace, we know that only through your continued support from friends and donors is the only way we can remain a strong and dependable partner to Middle East Christians: “filling the gap”, as our friend Serop Ohanian, who leads primary healthcare in central Beirut, describes it. 

Embrace relies on the support of UK Christians to assist our local partners. Together, we help 40 partners to deliver upwards of 60 health, education, and community development projects each year. The importance of every pound we receive grows each year as needs increase, government priorities across the world shift, and the work of our partners becomes ever more essential. On behalf of the Embrace team and all our partners, I thank you for continuing to walk with us and, in the words of Paul:  

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Phil 1:3-6