Dozens of Denominations Launch Much-Needed Relief Efforts
Christian denominations across the nation dispatched their relief personnel and called on the faithful to dig deeper to give all they could for the victims of what historians are calling the greatest disaster of all time.
Christian denominations across the nation dispatched their relief personnel and called on the faithful to dig deeper to give all they could for the victims of what historians are calling the greatest disaster of all time.
The disaster began on Sunday morning when a 9.0 earthquake struck under the sea in north Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake – the fourth largest in recorded history – sparked a wave of Tsunamis all over Southeast Asia. According to meteorologists, the 30-40 feet high waves crashed on the shores of Indonesia, India and Singapore at 500mph speeds, destroying nearly everything in its path.
An eyewitness account by an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) member who survived one of the tsunami, explained, “a 30-foot wave came from nowhere and crashed into the train, toppling it.”
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The survivor was Eranthie Mendis, 25, who had been traveling by train along the Indian Ocean coast between the cities of Maratuwa and Hikkadauw with her mother, Tamara. Tamara, 55, did not survive the shock.
“Passengers were submerged for several minutes before the water subsided,” the account continued. “Eranthie Mendis tried pulling her mother to safety, but people screamed at her to go because another wave was coming. She walked about 10 miles to a family home in shock.”
The ELCA is just one of dozens of denominations seeking financial contributions and prayers from Christians in the United States. Numerous other denominations and Christian organizations have already gone on-scene to help distribute food, water and medical supplies to the more than 1 million rendered homeless through the tsunamis.
According to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), “Our personnel in the areas affected are involved in lending emergency assistance and are exploring ways to respond to the long-term needs in appropriate ways.”
Southern Baptist personnel has already begun talks with the governments that have called for assistance. According to a Dec. 27 report by the Baptist Press, relief personnel are calling for a $125,000 initial contribution to help the situation.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) wrote on Dec. 27 that while its missionaries in the area survived the shock, there are literally millions who are in need of clean water, food, shelter, health and sanitation.
The Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a joint relief effort by the ELCA and LCMS, is “beginning to provide these essentials with long-time partner in India, CASA. Already, teams trained in disaster response are in the southern coastal areas of India, providing up to 50,000 people with clean water and food.”
The Baptist World Aid (BWAid) and Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) Medical and Relief Team also left for Colombo, Sri Lanka on December 27, just a day after the earthquake hit.
Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, allocated an initial $25,000 for relief work in the affected Asian countries, working with and through the local indigenous leaders.
For a list of Christian organizations working in the affected area, email: pauline@christianpost.com
