In a world of endless headlines, it’s easy for people and places to fade from view. Today, stories like Therese’s, which has some sensitive detail in, will remind us of the power of being seen and supported. We’re called to notice those who feel invisible, whether near or far from us, and reflect God’s love through practical care and persistent prayer. Who could you notice today?
"Mind the gap."
A saying we all know well, yet in a world of 24/7 global news coverage and endless social media feeds, I find myself wondering – where are the gaps? What, if anything, truly remains out of sight and out of mind for us today?
Perhaps it's those corners of the world that briefly come into focus during a crisis, only to fade again when the spotlight shifts – places where daily life feels far removed from our own. Or maybe it's someone much closer to home, like a housebound neighbour who has quietly become invisible to the community around them.
Let me share with you the story of Therese, a single mother living in Rwanda. In flooding and a subsequent devastating landslide recently, she lost three of her four children and her home. She was also badly injured and was in the hospital recovering for an extended time. Despite her deep grief and physical pain, Therese never lost her faith. Her community Savings Group, where she gathers with other women to learn business skills and save her money, was her strength and support throughout the ordeal. Her group members visited her in the hospital while she was recovering and contributed from their mercy fund to help her.
It's a joy to say that Therese has now returned home and to her Savings Group, and she recently opened a meeting of the group by sharing a Scripture reading from Luke 18 about the judge and the persistent widow who kept knocking on the door asking for help. The judge eventually responded and helped. She said, “How can God not hear us when we pray day and night? We have a Lord who is capable and has blessed us with the fruits of the Holy Spirit, so we are capable.”
Therese lives over 4,000 miles away from us here in the UK. Her story – of a life upended by the impacts of climate change, conflict, or food shortages – is just one among tens of thousands across central and eastern Africa. In these often-overlooked places, Therese’s experience serves as a powerful reminder: Five Talents’ Savings Groups are more than just a source of economic security – they are lifelines where people minister to one another and offer support in times of need.
She is seen, and she is loved.
Whether just next door to us, or across the world in a context we don’t fully understand, may we truly see those who can often be invisible.
Kris Coppock, Five Talents UK
Reflect
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27 (NIV)
Pray
Pray for those communities across the world facing the day-to-day challenges of droughts and floods because of climate change. Pray by name for those you know who are experiencing grief and loss. Pray for all those, like Therese, who are members of a Savings Group, wherever they are in the world; that they may gain the skills they need to transform their lives and the lives of their families.
Act
Acts for you to consider today:
| Create a compliments jar and give it to someone. | ||
| Buy a bunch of flowers and drop them at the door of a friend or neighbour. | ||
| If you know someone in your local community who lives alone or has recently been bereaved, find a way to make contact and offer them support. |
Share
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About Five Talents
Five Talents support community-led literacy, numeracy and business skills programmes that empower women and men to learn, earn, save and invest together. Savings Groups build economic resilience and enable members to start and grow small businesses that sustain themselves, their families and their communities.
Five Talents is a Christian charity working with local partners in eastern and central Africa. Its mission is to tackle extreme poverty by restoring human dignity and creating strong, sustainable communities.
