Introduction

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6

Dear friend,

When we hear the word thirst, we think immediately of water -- the natural remedy for thirst. Water is essential to life, yet too much or too little can spell catastrophe, as we have seen so tragically in the wake of hurricane, tsunami, drought, and flood this past year.

Water is a fundamental need of all people, yet one out of every six people worldwide lacks access to safe drinking water.

As you look at the photo on this year’s annual report, I hope you will ponder the words of the CWS colleague who took it: "How critical to development access to clean water is! It has such a multiplier effect for the betterment of people's lives, especially women and children."

Water is not all that people thirst for in these troubling times. People thirst for justice -- for enough to eat, a place to call home, a chance to earn and learn -- for a better life for themselves and their families.

Church World Service is helping to quench these and other thirsts, often with cutting-edge programs. Take, for example, the School Safe Zones program of our Africa Initiative. It is reaching out to schoolchildren in Kenya, creating an environment of safety and security that allows the focus to stay squarely on students and learning. Kenya's leaders of tomorrow may be sitting in one of those classrooms -- or getting a cool drink of water like these youngsters at Mjini Primary School. We pray so.

As a supporter of Church World Service, we know that you, too, thirst for justice and a better tomorrow for yourself and your neighbors, wherever they live. Thank you and bless you for that, and for having a stake in the success of our mission.

Because of your generous spirit, your prayers, and your continued support, our ability to quench the thirsts of our friends in need grows daily.

May God bless you and quench your thirst,

Rev. John L. McCullough
Executive Director and CEO

P.S. Perhaps the greatest recovery and rebuilding challenge in the history of this country exists on our Gulf Coast. CWS is there for the long-haul — with material assistance, organizational aid, and counseling for the most vulnerable of the survivors. Your help remains crucial to this ministry. Thank you.