On behalf of all of us at Christian Aid Ministries, THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU for your heart of compassion and generous support in 2024! Your gifts ministered to millions of needy people around the world through CAM’s 60+ programs. Words are inadequate to express our deep appreciation. Without supporters, we could do nothing!
From me personally, a special thank you for the privilege of serving as General Director of Christian Aid Ministries since 1981. These past 40+ years have been a great blessing and a wonderful opportunity to live out my dream and burden for a channel through which our Anabaptist people could become aware of the many physical and spiritual needs in the world and respond to them if they choose. I cannot thank God and you enough for making CAM’s ministry possible.
On January 1, 2025, Weston Showalter took over the role of General Director. He and our five-member Executive Committee are responsible for the daily operations of CAM and report to our nine-member Board of Directors. I am confident that, with God’s help and your support, Weston, the executive team, and the board will do a great job of leading CAM into the future. My heart is still very much in the work, and Lord willing, I will continue to serve in a support and advisory capacity for the foreseeable future. As I like to say, “I am stepping down from servant leadership to simply servant.”
Personal highlights over the past 40 years would be many, but space does not permit me to elaborate on them all. Here are several memories: (1) Providential circumstances that enabled us to provide food parcels to believers in Romania during especially tough times under communism. (2) The collapse of communism in Romania when dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was executed on Christmas Day, 1989. He had vowed not to allow Christians to celebrate Christmas that year. (3) Meeting with and hearing personal testimonies of Bible distributors who put their lives on the line so others can have a Bible. I recall one saying, “I know what the Word of God has done for me; in spite of the danger, I want others to have this blessing too!” (4) Sitting in refugee tents with people who had recently escaped from ISIS with the clothes on their back, some having lost loved ones. (5) The emotional highs and lows while 17 staff members were held hostage by the feared 400-Mawozo gang in Haiti. We were flooded with notes of encouragement and prayer support from people around the world.
One of the biggest highlights for me over the years has been associating with so many of you, whether in person or through the mail. Seeing tens of thousands of people and hundreds of churches in all 50 states and other countries working for a common cause has blessed me tremendously and often made me think of heaven. Knowing that each of you have your own personal problems and disappointments makes it more special that you care about the needs of others.
The importance of your help continues unabated and if anything, seems to increase with time! So many needs and opportunities exist at home and abroad. God has indeed given us a great privilege and wonderful opportunity to blend our efforts to bless His people and help build His kingdom. May we be faithful until the end!
We receive many grateful words from recipients who are blessed through physical aid, a Bible, practical or spiritual teaching, or some other way—all made possible because you care! Their thanks belong to you. Again, thank you and God bless you,
David Troyer
To God alone be the honor and glory. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
