Current situation

In the early hours of January 3, 2026, Venezuela entered a new chapter following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. forces. While the full implications are still unfolding, this transition creates an opportunity to bring help and hope to families already facing food shortage, limited access to healthcare, and economic hardship.

How Send Relief has been helping Venezuelans

For years, Send Relief has served vulnerable Venezuelans both inside Venezuela and across the region, working through local Baptist churches and trusted national partners to meet urgent needs and share the hope of Christ.

Together, these church-centered efforts have provided food assistance for families facing extreme scarcity, access to critical medicines and basic healthcare, and ongoing support for pastors and church leaders serving on the front lines. Send Relief partners have also invested in sustainable, dignity-restoring solutions—such as bakeries, soup kitchens, and other micro-enterprises—that help families generate income while churches continue to minister in their communities.

Beyond Venezuela’s borders, Send Relief has walked alongside Venezuelan refugees in countries like Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, supporting rest stops and ministry hubs that provide hot meals, clean water, showers, laundry, medical care, and spiritual and emotional support for families fleeing crisis—many traveling thousands of miles on foot.

Since 2017, through 64 projects across Venezuela and the region, Send Relief has helped more than 3 million people, including:

• 696,892 people receiving food assistance
• 1.43 million people receiving healthcare and critical medicines
• 18,426 people trained through skills development and ministry initiatives
• 216 micro-enterprises launched to help families build sustainable livelihoods

Through these efforts, millions have been served and tens of thousands have encountered the gospel through the compassionate witness of local churches—reflecting a long-term commitment to serving people with compassion, dignity, and Christ-centered hope.

A posture of preparedness and partnership

These long-standing relationships and regional experience position Send Relief to respond wisely and quickly as needs emerge during this season of transition. Our approach remains the same: working through local pastors and churches, honoring local leadership, and meeting urgent physical needs while pointing people to the lasting hope found in Christ.

A call to prayer from Venezuelan Baptist leaders

In response to these recent events, leaders of the Venezuelan National Baptist Convention have called believers across the country—and Christians around the world—to remain steadfast in prayer, asking God for peace, calm, and wisdom during this time of national uncertainty.

Venezuelan Baptist pastors emphasized the church’s role in encouraging prudence, tranquility, and Christ-centered hope within families and communities, urging believers to trust in God’s sovereign care and to be a blessing to others even amid political and military tension.

As they reminded the church:

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”— Isaiah 26:3

Send Relief is grateful for the faithful leadership of pastors and churches in Venezuela who continue to shepherd their people with courage, wisdom, and trust in the Lord. We stand with them in prayer and remain committed to supporting church-centered compassion efforts as needs emerge.

How you can pray and give

You can stand with the people of Venezuela today by praying and giving.
Please pray for:

• The protection and safety of all people in Venezuela
• Peace and restraint amid instability and transition
• Provision of food, clean water, and medical care
• Strength, wisdom, and courage for pastors and church leaders
• God’s purposes to prevail, and His peace to be known

Your generosity also helps Send Relief remain prepared to meet urgent needs through trusted partners on the ground and throughout the region.