I didn’t know them personally – Glen, Tom, Dan, Thomas, Cheryl, Brian, Karen, Daniela, Mahram, and Ahmed – I’d never had a chance to shake their hands. But as soon as I knew they were “our partners”, it became personal. My grief moved to a new level.
People all around the world die senselessly every day from random and planned violence. But when we know them, they quit being statistics; they become flesh and blood persons. Flesh torn, blood spilled; lives tragically ended.
It became personal for me this week with the murder of 10 Afghanistan aid workers. It turns out these people were our people. Disciples support these ten and others working for International Assistance Mission. We partner with them through Disciples Mission Fund and Global Ministries, and through Week of Compassion. Through our partners at IAM, we are present in Afghanistan. We are offering critical presence, courageous compassion.
Some of us died this week in Afghanistan. Ten of us there being God’s love, walking alongside people just as Jesus walked and walks with us. I grieve their loss, but I lift their witness: compassionate, present. I give thanks for each one of them and pray that their witness for healing and wholeness will be as real as they were.
For more info re AIM, go to
or
