Christian Aid ‘follows the example of Jesus’

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said that Christian Aid follows ‘the example that Jesus set for us to follow, to love our neighbours, whoever and wherever we are’.

The Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson was speaking in Paisley Abbey at a service celebrating the 80th anniversary of the international development charity.

Christian Aid grew from the work of the Church of Scotland minister and Army Chaplain, the Rev Douglas Lister, who in 1944 appealed to the church for help for German refugees. Dr Lister later wrote that he ‘was overwhelmed by Scotland’s generosity’, and Dr Shaw said that we see that generosity every year, particularly in Christian Aid Week in May.

Recalling visits to Christian Aid projects in Kenya and Malawi last year, Dr Shaw said: “Sometimes when we are confronted with poverty, injustice, discrimination, gender issues, natural disaster – sometimes we feel overwhelmed… that’s where the oftenquoted passage of scripture comes to mind: ‘Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these members of my family, you did it for me.’

He added: “Jesus commanded us to go to all people everywhere and ‘do’ – be involved, assist, care, love; share the Gospel… And that’s where I am especially thankful to Christian Aid and to everyone who has supported Christian Aid. For 80 years it has been standing with the poorest of our neighbours – the people that Jesus commanded us to love.”

The Heart and Soul Swing Band also took part in the service, which began a year of activities to mark the 80th anniversary.