Overview

ERDO (Emergency Relief & Development Overseas) is the humanitarian arm of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. ERDO is involved in the growing, collecting and the distribution of food, clothes, and supplies for emergency relief and development projects around the world. ERDO also encompasses the ChildCARE Plus program whose vision is to reach children living in desperate circumstances around the world and match them with Canadian sponsors who provide them with basic needs such as food, shelter, education and medical care as well as meeting their spiritual needs by presenting the gospel.

Bethel’s Mission

Bethel supports ERDO by participating in the "Growing Project", which enables church congregations to donate the money required to plant wheat and canola in the prairies. Proceeds are channeled to the Canadian Foodgrain Bank, which ERDO has partnered with, and are matched by the Canadian Government $4 for every $1. Bethel also encourages individuals in the congregation to support and sponsor a child overseas through ChildCARE Plus.

Involvement to Date

Bethel raises enough money to rent two quarter sections of land (320 acres), which was planted and harvested in 2005. Each quarter section is 160 acres, and costs $8,000. An average crop yield from 160 acres translates into $120,000 worth of food aid, enough to feed 1,000 UN families. Bethel also contributed financially to help ERDO with the purchase of seeds, harvesting, and transportation.

Plans for the Future

This summer, Bethel will be renting two quarter sections of land (320 acres) as well as contributing financially to help with purchase of seeds, harvesting, and transportation. In May 2006, a team will be going to Saskatchewan to assist in planting this year’s crop.

Accomplishments

• Over the past six years, Bethel’s contribution through ERDO has resulted in supplying over 12,000 families with

a years’ supply of food

• Numerous children have been sponsored through ChildCARE Plus

How You Can Help

• Sponsor a child through ChildCARE Plus

• Join a team traveling to plant and harvest the grain crop in Saskatchewan

• Give financially

How You Can Pray

• Pray that the food sent would reach the people that need it most

• Pray that our crops grow well and produce a good yield

• Pray that our government would continue its commitment to match the proceeds

• Pray and/or become a sponsor of a child desperately needing aid

Flash Presentation on ERDO (8MB)