WHERE CAN WE INTERVENE TO BATTLE THE ‘GIANTS’ OF COVID? BY EMMA BREWSTER, SARAH SCOTT WEBB AND JACQUI CROXON The World Health Organization estimates 15 million people have died from Covid-19 in two years. But that figure only shows a fraction of the devastation wrought by the virus, which has left significant social change in its wake. Our mission context has changed, with many more complexities than we previously had to navigate. Early in the pandemic, some worrying trends became clear: family violence and use of pornography were escalating; children were being pulled out of school to help families earn a living; there was widespread loss of income and employment, leading to homelessness and more migration. While none of these was new, all were exacerbated by uncertainty and fear produced by the pandemic. We began mapping them, to see where the connections were and consider how we could best respond. How could we bring
Jesus into these challenging and complex issues? Our diagram below begins to map some of these social changes. It is a working document; many more things could be added, including the positive opportunities Covid-19 is revealing.
Interpreting the diagram
Reading left to right, each column lists, in increasing severity, some of the Covid ‘giants’ we are seeing, up to the worst-case scenario. Column 1 lists seven primary giants Covid-19 has shown. They have each increased those listed in column 2. The space between columns 2 and 3 is our first opportunity to intervene! For example: • How can we support those who are homeless because they can no longer pay rent? How can we address rising hunger and food insecurity? • How can we address disruptions to education? Or the GIANTS COVID HA S RE VE ALED
inequalities between those who can access online learning and those who cannot? How can we help children who have missed years of schooling? Or been forced into marriage or pressured into joining gangs? • How can we alleviate mental health issues alongside increased trauma and anxiety? How can we bring the peace of Jesus to those struggling with uncertainty and loss? Our hope is that the diagram identifies where our existing ministries can prevent situations worsening and helps us consider new opportunities to explore. We encourage your teams to consider this diagram and other ‘giants’ in your context, then think through ways to intervene. If you would value further input for your discussions from the team, please email Emma Brewster (gdmo@sim.org) and they will be happy to help.
Where are our spaces for intervention? GIANTS COVID HAS REVEALED
Loss of livelihoods Increased unemployment
Poverty
Debt bondage
Debt
Child labour
Decreased remittances from migrant workers
Child & forced marriage
Homelessness
Use of loan sharks
Hunger
Forced labour
WORST CASE SCENARIO
Illegal & unsafe migration
Giants of Covid
Family breakdown Suicide Educational polarities and complexities
Mental health issues
Lockdown & restrictions
Grief Depression
Violence
Addictions
unable to treat other illnesses
Increased online sexual exploitation
(drugs, alcohol, gambling)
Risky sexual behaviour Pornography
Health systems overwhelmed
Social unravelling
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Trauma
Made worse by inability to access medical treatment Xenophobia
Death & Illness
Increased commercial sexual exploitation / prostitution
Anxiety Pre-existing health conditions
GBV and domestic violence
Increased HIV infection rates
Child sexual abuse Inequities of aid distribution
Rape & sexual violence
Conspiracy theories Fear, mistrust, rise of Q Anon Political upheaval
Gang involvement (grooming) Societal violence
Increase in authoritarian governments
Interim Mali Director Start Date: February 21, 2022 Bob and his wife Marcia joined SIM in 1978, and served in Côte d’Ivoire in theological education and as country director. After further service with SIM International, SIM Benin-Togo and SIM USA, Bob retired in 2012. He joined the faculty at Charlotte Christian College but served as interim director of SIM Thailand in 2019.
East Africa Office Director Start Date: January 1, 2022 Seble grew up in a Christian family in the Ethiopian town of Durame, in a former SIM mission compound. She has served as chair of the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church’s women at the denominational level, served on the national board and spent more than 20 years in academia. She lives in Addis, with her husband Tamiru and children Sebhat (15), Leul (13), and Bamlak (7).
AndrEs Corrales: Uruguay Director Start Date (Second term): March 1, 2022 Andrés, who came to faith as a teenager in Costa Rica, serves as director of SIM Uruguay and participates in several support roles on a global level with SIM. He also serves as the deputy director of the Seminario Biblico del Uruguay. Andrés and Sonia, married for 17 years, have two girls, Abby (15) and Camila (11).
Afonso Chinhama
Angola Director Start Date: March 31, 2022 Afonso grew up as a displaced orphan in the care of his halfsister. He worked for the SIMrelated UIEA denomination in a food distribution project before enrolling in Bible college in Lubango, graduating in 2012. He married Canadian SIM worker, Becky, in 2009 and joined the mission in 2013. He serves on the UIEA directors’ committee and SIM Angola board. Sheryl Greenwood
Unwanted/teenage pregnancies that can lead to abortion
Incl. domestic violence
Bob Arnold
Mark Faus: Governance Consultant
Start Date: April 1, 2022 Mark grew up in Ontario, Canada, in a Christian family. He was a missionary pilot for 10 years before taking management roles with the Mission Aviation Fellowship. He then led CEML Hospital in Angola. He and wife Jana, who have an 18-year-old son Carter, joined SIM in 2018. Mark has an MBA in Global Business and Management.
Increased trauma levels
Inter-ethnic conflict
Ecuador Director Start Date: April 5, 2022 Sheryl studied pre-medicine at Mississippi State University and has several further medical and theological qualifications. She and husband John have three kids and joined SIM in 2004, arriving in Ecuador in 2006. Sheryl has served in the MK school, as Personnel Coordinator, as Prayer Coordinator and as leader of the Compassion Ministry in Ecuador.
Persecution
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” —Psalm 89:14
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MAY 2022 • VOL 4 ISSUE 2
Jonathan Moore: Niger Director Start Date: May 13, 2022 Jonathan, whose parents served in Zaire (now the DRC) and his wife Bonnie spent 13 years at Sahel Academy in Niger, using their gifts in construction and teaching. Their third son was born there in 1996. Jonathan has been deputy director of Niger since 2017 after serving in various administrative roles, while Bonnie teaches literacy in the local community. They have been members of EEI Bangabana in Niamey since 1999. Nicolas Piaget: Liberia Director Start Date: August 18, 2022 Nicolas has a PhD in atmospheric sciences and is both an IT consultant and the current Liberia deputy director. He and his wife, Melvin, have four sons - Théotime (born 2012), Siméon (2014), Gabriel (2017) and Caleb (2020). Melvin serves as a dentist, as well as staying at home with the boys.
LEader Appointments
Economic downturn
Seblewengel Daniel
Increased human trafficking and exploitation
Education decline Absenteeism & interrupted educational outcomes
LEADER APPOINTMENTS
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