We are all connected: Canadian church responds to the crisis around Lake Chad

WATERLOO, Canada – On four quiet Sundays in June, the congregation at Christ Lutheran Church in Waterloo turned their attention to the disappearing waters of Lake Chad. Once one of Africa’s largest lakes, Lake Chad is now a symbol of the climate crisis affecting millions.

And Christ Lutheran’s congregation is part of a growing movement of churches who care about creation.

Young Christians care deeply about climate change, but many feel their churches aren’t showing up. The Friends of Creation Challenge is CLWR’s response: a simple, four-Sunday commitment for churches to learn, pray and act for climate justice while supporting a powerful project to restore the land and livelihoods around Lake Chad. Christ Lutheran Church was one of the first to join.

Their story is part of a growing movement.

Over the past 60 years, Lake Chad has shrunk by 90%. Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures have devastated the region. Thousands of farming families who once thrived along its banks now face worsening food insecurity, displacement and environmental collapse. CLWR worked alongside communities impacted by the crisis to share their voices and lived experiences with congregations across Canada through a series of videos and resources that churches can use as part of the Friends of Creation Challenge.

“I really appreciated those personal stories of the people around the lake, like Nuba and his tomatoes,” said Pastor David Malina, who used the material to shape a sermon series rooted in scripture, touching on themes of water, food, economy and livelihood.

Malina recalls the moment he first introduced the Friends of Creation initiative to his congregation. “Folks here have long supported CLWR. There’s a real sense of care and concern for people’s suffering, and more specifically, there are people here who are very tuned in to the climate crisis,” he said. “There’s a strong resonance with the idea that what affects one, affects all.”

For this congregation, Friends of Creation wasn’t just an information campaign. It was an invitation to reflect, respond and reconnect.

“The Lake Chad Challenge has been very welcomed. People, with a quiet curiosity, sat with it. Week after week, they leaned in more,” Malina said. “For a lot of us, it made the connections feel real, especially when we started thinking about how hard all of this hits the most vulnerable communities.”

A lawn sign out front of Christ Lutheran Church shows their commitment to climate action. Photo courtesy of Christ Lutheran.

Friends of Creation offered a way to bridge global realities with local faith by raising funds to restore land around Lake Chad. Christ Lutheran set a goal to raise $1,400 by September, enough to help restore 28 acres of land. The church pledged to match the first $700 raised by individual members, and with $600 already raised, they are only $100 away from meeting their goal.

Funds will support large-scale ecosystem restoration in the Lake Chad basin through initiatives like agroforestry, regenerative farming, sustainable fishing and fuel alternatives. But for Malina, the impact of the project is not only material, it’s spiritual.

“It helps lift us out of our silos,” he said. “It reminds us that our lives are part of something wider. God’s big, interconnected world.”

When asked what he would say to other congregations considering signing up, Malina didn’t hesitate.

“I’d say go for it! This is a real, tangible way to live out our faith and be part of God’s wider church, not just in our own communities, but globally,” Pastor Malina said.

He added that he’s already seen enthusiasm from other churches in the area. Some have joined the initiative, while others plan to participate in September during the Season of Creation, a time when Christians around the world focus on caring for the Earth and protecting the environment.

“It’s not about doing something huge; it’s about doing what we can, and that matters. Every little bit counts. Especially now, with everything going on in the world, it helps to feel connected to something bigger,” he said.

To support Christ Lutheran Church’s Lake Chad fundraiser, visit: clwr.org/ChristELCWaterloo

Want to get your congregation involved, sign up today: Friends of Creation Challenge – Canadian Lutheran World Relief

Top image caption: Pastor David Malina with congregation members Connie Ferguson, Carol Filipowitsch and Evyleen Litt in front of their Friends of Creation Challenge display at Christ Lutheran Church. Photo courtesy of Christ Lutheran.