Christ Church, Jerusalem, has provided a grant via its Mercy Fund to the American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East for medical relief.

“This is a welcome gift from Christ Church,” said FRRME America Chairman Scott Rye, “and we are very glad to see Christ Church include the Foundation in its mission and outreach efforts.” Rye noted that the church has supported the U.K.-registered branch of the charity, FRRME UK, in the past. FRRME America is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is also a registered charity in Jordan.

According to FRRME America Project Officer Helena Scott, the majority of refugees that FRRME Ameri-ca works with have medical issues. “We see everything from children who need prescription glasses to people who have serious medical conditions, requiring surgery or medication,” Scott said. “There is also a need for additional psychological counseling—trauma counseling—for children and adults alike. This grant will be put to good use.”

The grant was made after Scott and FRRME America Senior Advisor for Outreach and Development, the Rev. Meg Saunders, met with Christ Church clergy in Jerusalem during Holy Week 2018 and dis-cussed the work of the Foundation.

“Partnering with such an influential church, like Christ Church, is a boost to our mission and outreach efforts,” Saunders said. “We want to see the lives of our Iraqi and Syrian brothers and sisters, who are living as displaced refugees, improved. We want to help tangibly restore hope for their future and provide them with the tools to rebuild their lives now. Medical assistance is a big part of this, and we are thrilled Christ Church has joined us in this effort!”

FRRME America partners with a number of local churches in Jordan, working primarily with Iraqi and Syrian refugees who have fled violence and persecution in their home countries. The Foundation also provides support to St. George’s Church, Baghdad, where it operates a medical and dental clinic, and provides funding for humanitarian assistance efforts, education and jobs training in northern Iraq and Kurdistan, the areas hardest-hit by extremism and religious persecution for minority groups.

Christ Church, Jerusalem, was consecrated in 1849. One of the tenants of the church’s Mercy Fund is “Helping the sick with medical expenses, transportation to doctors, hospitals and drugs not covered by health insurance.”

To make a donation to FRRME America, please visit https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/frrmeamerica?code=FR3WM1703