This is the first in an occasional series of posts about organizations you might want to support with your time and/or money as you strive to make a difference in the world.
What is Preemptive Love Coalition?
When we think of “preemptive” action, it’s often in a violent sense: preemptive strikes, preemptive wars. But what if we decided to take Jesus’ words “love your enemies” seriously and engaged in preemptive love?
Preemptive Love Coalition was founded in 2007 in Iraq by Jeremy and Jessica Courtney. Much of their work is in Iraq and Syria, although they also work at the U.S.-Mexico border, and in Iran, Libya, Israel and Palestine, and the Korean peninsula. Preemptive Love’s purpose it to bring aid as close to the frontlines of conflict as possible and to help families rebuild their lives after the need for immediate aid has passed.
Preemptive Love is a peacemaking organization that believes we need to “love anyway” — even across enemy lines. Its staff and volunteers include Christians and Muslims, Iraqis and Americans, veterans and pacifists. The organization doesn’t sweep in to deliver what it perceives to be the needs of the people it serves; it asks them what they need and partners with local organizations to meet those needs. Preemptive Love depends on private donations, not UN or government funding.
How can I get involved in their work?
- First and foremost, you can donate to support their work. Of course one-time donations are great, but regular monthly gifts are even better, giving them a steady stream of contributions they can count on.
- Pulling together your shopping list for holiday gift-giving? Consider purchasing gifts from Preemptive Love’s online store. You can help families who are rebuilding their lives by purchasing soap, candles, and knitted goods that they’ve made. You also can buy items like t-shirts and reusable bags to support Preemptive Love’s work.
- I strongly encourage you to sign up to receive email messages from Preemptive Love (a sign-up form is on their homepage). This organization sends messages that are worth opening. This summer they asked people on their contact list if they wanted to sign up for a weekly series of challenges that would encourage readers to “love anyway” right where they are. What a great resource for people who want to make a difference!
- You also can subscribe to their podcast. Like their email messages, the podcast is well worth your time. Not only will you learn more about Preemptive Love’s work, but you’ll hear episodes that will inspire you to act as a peacemaker in your own community.
- If you use social media, follow Preemptive Love on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
- Want to be even more involved in their work? You can volunteer for them or apply for an open job.
- And, of course, you can spread the word about their work, as I’m doing here.
If you believe in the importance of love, I can think of no better organization to support than Preemptive Love Coalition.
Full disclosure: At the time I’m writing this, I do not financially support Preemptive Love Coalition’s work. I hope to be able to do so in the near future.