KAIROS Thanksgiving Message 2014
When people find out I work for KAIROS they always ask: How is KAIROS doing? And the word that most often comes into my head is resilience — we’re a pretty resilient group.
Time flies when you’re thriving. It was almost 5 years ago, on November 30, 2009, that we lost CIDA funding – almost half of our budget gone in a single, surprising phone call.
There were moments when we wondered if we would make it, but almost 5 years later we are still here, still engaged in faithful action for ecological justice and human rights, and for that I am so grateful.
I am grateful to our churches who continue to express collective public witness through KAIROS.
I’m grateful to our global partners, who offered their own solidarity in our crisis, who tell us our advocacy is even more important to them than our funding.
I’m grateful to the networks across the country who never let go, who every day show their belief in transformative social justice with faithful action in their communities.
And I am grateful to our donors, those who have contributed for years, and those who gave their support when they learned about our work.
I believe it is the action of the Spirit that creates resilience. The Spirit strengthens the bonds between us, keeps our hearts burning with passion for justice, and helps guide our feet on faithful paths.
We are imperfect. We face big challenges. Sometimes we need correction. We always need more discernment. But we are here, together, to help each other persevere in the ways of justice.
It is the action of the Spirit that turns a collection of people and a set of commitments into a movement for faithful justice.
This Thanksgiving, I want to say thank you. Thank you to everyone who has journeyed with us these past 5 years, and who, by your presence and commitment, give us confidence for the next 5, 15 or 50 years.
May the Holy Spirit impel us forward to truer faith and greater justice, for the sake of Christ’s beloved people and God’s aching earth. And may we continue to witness hope to one another.
For everything you do, thank you.
Jennifer Henry
Executive Director
