The News
Following US aid cuts to international health programs like PEPFAR, community health workers in places like rural Kenya are losing support. Florence Mwendwa, a 49-year-old HIV patient in Kenya, now worries about who will visit her home as the health workers funded by US aid disappear. The cuts are forcing churches and faith-based organizations to reconsider their role in providing basic healthcare and compassionate care to the most vulnerable.
Why It Matters
This isn't just international news—it reveals where government safety nets are shrinking and where the church's ancient calling to "visit the sick" becomes mission-critical. Your congregation likely has people struggling with chronic illness, addiction, or health crises who've lost access to care. Whether you're in rural Kansas or urban Toronto, this is an invitation to strengthen your community care networks and build relationships with local health providers.
The Takeaway
Start mapping which members or neighbors have ongoing health needs and organize a simple visitation or meal-train system to fill the gaps left by disappearing government support.