‘Dignity, freedom and hope’

Jackie Macadam learns more about this month’s Christian Aid Week from Val Brown of Christian Aid Scotland.

“I REMEMBER one particular church service at the old South Shawlands Church in Glasgow that the minister, the Rev Lily McKinnon did on debt - she put a helium balloon way up into the rafters and said every time we see it to think of the unpayable debt that the world’s poorest countries have to deal with.

“That ignited my passion for justice and linked it so clearly to our faith journey.

I went on to do a degree in history and geography which gave me a good understanding of global economic and political systems, and how they often perpetuate rather than alleviate poverty.”

Val Brown, a member of Williamwood Parish Church in Glasgow, has worked for Christian Aid for more than 20 years, coming in to do youth work for the team, before taking on the role of Church and Community manager in 2007, and this year having the opportunity to be head of the Scotland team. Before that she was a volunteer for Christian Aid. That church service inspired her and she has worked on behalf of the world’s poorest communities ever since.

This year’s Christian Aid Week runs from May 12 to 18 and will be marked by churches across the country.

“ Over the years it’s been an immense privilege to get out across Scotland and see what people do for Christian Aid locally.

“Over the years it’s been an immense privilege to get out across Scotland and see what people do for Christian Aid locally. The commitment of the churches to understand and take on new campaign issues and new fundraising ideas is inspirational. Churches have grappled with climate justice, tax justice, trade justice, gender justice, and have been interested to know how these issues intersect with their faith and local mission, and how they can get involved in making the world a fairer place,” Val says.

“Christian Aid Week is enormously important to us. While churches and individuals fundraise for us year-round, Christian Aid Week is that UK wide big moment when Christian Aid really gets out beyond the churches and into the community. It’s a great ecumenical moment and allows churches to be very visibly engaged with global justice issues in their local communities. Many people still remember the red envelopes coming through their door in May and whilst the number of churches doing door to door has decreased, there is still that community expectation that something will happen for Christian Aid Week. As I travel across Scotland in May it’s wonderful to see so many red Christian Aid banners outside churches, and to know that communities are coming together to raise money for their global neighbours.”

And the different ways churches find to raise money never fails to impress Val.

“Churches are hugely creative at fundraising during Christian Aid Week: there are bake sales, high teas, book sales, plant sales, curry demonstration evenings, wedding dress shows, sponsored walks, quizzes, ‘donate a day’s pay’, auction of talents, art shows, film evenings – you name it and some of our amazing supporters will have done it before or will be planning it for this May. We’re always encouraging people to do whatever works well for them locally. For some people it’s the traditional ‘house to house’ envelope delivery and it’s superb to see that still working well in so many places, or the delivery only scheme that some churches use – delivering the envelope but encouraging people to drop them off at a central location like a local shop or library. Our team in the office in Edinburgh are always happy to chat through ideas with people and offer any support – we really do want everyone to enjoy Christian Aid Week and get enjoyment from the fundraising that they are doing.”

Every Christian Aid Week has a different ‘theme’ and this year is no exception.

“Our message is ‘seven days, so many ways to fund lasting change’ we want to celebrate the huge variety of ways that our supporters can fundraise, act and pray. We’re also launching 70k in May: a new challenge to walk, swim, cycle, kayak (or whatever motivates you) a 70k distance during the month of May.

“There truly are seven days, so many ways.”

“This is really an attempt to demonstrate that people can do whatever works best for them locally. And they don’t need to do seven things! It’s an invitation to be creative and do something new, and over the whole of Scotland there will be seven days of getting the Christian Aid message out in many different ways! We don’t want people feeling obliged to stick to models of fundraising that no longer work for them. I always feel that if Christian Aid can get out into the community then it showcases the church at its best – working on behalf of the world’s poorest - and enables them to engage with people beyond the congregation members. One church always does something really creative linked to the partner story and gets lots of young people involved and loads of local media! It’s a chance to release people to do individual challenges, or to build in easy and fun activities like the Christian Aid Week paper quiz. That cryptic little brain teaser is made up every year by my mum and I know that one relatively small congregation raised over £400 last year from handing out quiz sheets to their wider networks.

“It’s not an ask for churches to raise £70k (although we wouldn’t say no to that), but rather a challenge of doing 70km in May and getting sponsored. This can be done by individuals, families, walking groups, youth groups, or entire congregations. One church did something similar a few years ago when they got everyone to count how many steps they did over Christian Aid Week and when they tallied them all up they had an enormous number!”

Val is planning to lead from the front, and has set herself a personal challenge.

“I’m planning to do a 70k challenge with my family, Alan who works for CrossReach and Bridgeton St Francis-in-the-East

Church and two children, both of whom play competitive sport and we’ve decided to cycle four times around the Isle of Cumbrae over one, or possibly two days – if it’s nice we might make a weekend of it! But that will be after the Highers are finished for my son, so just after Christian Aid Week.”

Val says that the whole organisation is grateful for all the work done by congregations across Scotland and Britain.

“I want to take the opportunity to personally thank everyone who supports Christian Aid. Our partners around the world support people to lift themselves out of poverty and our work brings dignity, freedom and hope to so many. The fact that that work was born out of the churches and sustained by the churches is an incredible act of witness. Christian Aid was formed (or the Interchurch Aid and Refugee Service, as it was known then) in response to the refugee crisis in Europe at the end of the Second World War because the churches believed passionately in justice and in the practical outworking of Jesus’ words, ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’. We believe in life before death is much more than just a strapline, it’s a statement of mission, and as Christians in Scotland we have embedded it into our worship, mission and outreach.”

Christian Aid Week runs from May 12 – 18. Find out more at caweek.org