The cuts, Bremer-Bennett said, are “not just numbers on a page,” but “real lives lost.”
Cho and others expressed frustration at the administration’s actions but also highlighted the potential role of Congress, arguing lawmakers have the power to reinstate the programs.
“We are here today to urge the administration and Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, to do all that they can,” Cho said. “It’s not too late to protect critical international aid that supports tens of millions of people suffering alone right now.”
Carol Bremer-Bennett, executive director of World Renew, speaks during the “Prayer Vigil for Foreign Aid” at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (RNS photo/Jack Jenkins)
In a separate interview with RNS, Cho said he was aware of “conversations that are happening behind the scenes” in the halls of Congress regarding aid, but that he and others feel compelled by their faith to publicly voice their concerns with the Trump administration and lawmakers.
“We pray for the administration, but we also are urging our elected members of Congress to do their responsibility — and to do their duty — to follow through on the allocation of those resources,” he said.
Cho was echoed by Lanre Williams-Ayedun, a senior vice president of international programs at World Relief. Speaking at the vigil, she insisted that when leaders “neglect the vulnerable,” including those who benefit from foreign aid, it amounts to “turning away from God.”
In addition, James Standish of ADRA, the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was one of many speakers who noted that foreign aid makes up less than 1% of the federal budget.
“We sing that song: ‘God bless America.’ Well, folks, God has blessed America,” Standish said, arguing the Bible instructs believers to share their blessings with others.
James Standish speaks at the “Prayer Vigil for Foreign Aid” at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (RNS photo/Jack Jenkins)
Multiple speakers made clear that while they believed the foreign aid system has issues, drastically reducing programs was not the answer. Randy Tift, senior adviser at the Accord Network, raised concerns that a cycle of grievance was driving many of the Trump administration’s actions.
“People involved in these recent decisions on all sides, some in current leadership, were grievously mistreated in the past,” Tift said. “I fear grievance is driving a lot of the new team’s decisions; dedicated and faithful USAID staff, including former staff — some of whom are here today — have now been treated with cruelty by some who were aggrieved in the past.”
Other speakers included Gillian Foster Wilkinson, director of strategic alliances at Hope International, and the Rev. Jessica Moerman, president and CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network.
After the vigil, Cho told RNS the event was originally planned to be held in front of Congress but had to be moved for scheduling reasons. The hope, he said, was to dispute the idea that Christians, “including those that come from more conservative or evangelical leanings,” are in support of USAID’s cuts.
Cho acknowledged that it may take time to turn hearts in Congress but said that his group was prepared for a long fight.
“We’re not interested in putting on one-time events,” he said.
This article originally appeared here.
