Allow me to paraphrase an old folktale. Thousands of starfish have washed onto a beach, where many of them will die. A young boy gently tosses one back into the water, then another and another. An onlooker asks, “Why are you bothering? You can’t save them all. You’re wasting your time. How can this make any significant difference?” The boy looks at the starfish in his hand, smiles, and says, “It makes a difference to this one.”
In Kenya, as in many parts of the world, there are countless starfish stories that are more than a folktale. The stark truth illuminates every waking day. It feels like many people have been washed onto dry land and are struggling to survive. Poverty is real and affects all areas of life. Basic needs (food, clean water, shelter) are not always easily acquired. Education resources are limited. Poor road conditions present transportation dilemmas. Cultural stigmas affect family and community life.
How do we tackle such huge problems? What difference can an ordinary person make? Here are a few snapshots of those who threw a starfish back into the ocean this year.
Climate change represents a growing threat to people and the planet. In 2015, the majority of countries around the world adopted the Paris Agreement, an international framework to reduce the effects of climate change by limiting the rise of global temperature to 1.5 C. Salvationist features editor Giselle Randall spoke with Major Heather Poxon, the first territorial environmental officer in the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory, about how she is helping to change hardware and hearts.
On April 28, the atmosphere at Knox United Church in Winnipeg was jubilant and festive as friends, family, staff and faculty gathered for the 42nd convocation ceremony for Booth University College. Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander, with Scott Gillingham, mayor of Winnipeg At the morning baccalaureate service, Booth UC officially
Territorial leaders talk about the importance of "food, family and faith" to Salvation Army ministry in Italy, and how the Army is fighting human trafficking in Greece.
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