Christians Respond to Crisis in Myanmar
As the worst cyclone and natural disaster to hit since the South East Asian tsunami crisis nearly four years ago continues to wreck havoc and bring unspeakable destruction among the people of Myanmar, Christian groups have been mobilized into action, carrying the burden of the Lord to all those in need.
Gospel for Asia (GFA), which has more than 400 churches and over 200 missions scattered throughout the nation, has been among the first groups to respond to the crisis, which has left an estimated 40,000 either dead or missing. The group has temporarily turned their Bible College in the capital of Rangoon into a makeshift shelter for over dozens of people.
Through GFA, dozens of villagers who have lost their homes and all their belongings are now being shown the love of Christ through the careless giving of food, water, and shelter.
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"I am certain throughout Burma (also known as Myanmar), as our believers and missionaries go about helping the people and praying for them, this is definitely going to open the door for people to understand the love of Christ," said K.P. Yohannan of GFA, according to Mission Network News.
In general, Christians around the world have been quick in their response to the disaster, citing the importance of the region and the duty to bring comfort to those in need.
Christian humanitarian organizations like Church World Service (CWS), World Vision International (WVI), Operation Blessed International (OBI), and American Baptist International Ministries are among just a few of the groups that have earned recognition and praise in their pledge to raise money and send teams to help purify water, rebuild devastated areas, and maintain damage control in an increasing desperate situation.
Stuart Windsor, national director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), emphasized that the desperate nature of the situation was particularly evident given that the otherwise closed and repressive regime of Myanmar was willing to accept outside aid.
"This cyclone is an unprecedented disaster which serves to compound the suffering of the people of Burma. The military junta's acceptance of external aid is an indication of just how bad the situation is," he said in a statement.
Ultimately, however, while the disaster has proved the readiness of numerous Christian groups to respond quickly and effectively to disasters, GFA's Yohannan emphasized the importance of prayer and reliance on God in the face of crisis.
"Right now is the time for us to do everything we can to help [the people of Myanmar]... We're praying that God will give us strength and wisdom to reach out to these people, It is very, very important at this time," he said.
The cyclone, which ravaged about 11,600-square-miles of Myanmar last weekend, is said to be among the worst natural disasters; as many as 57 million people are estimated to have been affected, with death, homelessness, and disorder continuing to be widespread.
