Prayer, Financial Gifts and Timing Key to Response
Christian denominations in the U.S. began deploying relief workers and supplies to Southeast Asia by Dec. 27 – one day after the largest earthquake in 40 years and subsequent floods and tsunamis killed over 23,000 people.
Christian denominations in the U.S. began deploying relief workers and supplies to Southeast Asia by Dec. 27 – one day after the largest earthquake in 40 years and subsequent floods and tsunamis killed over 23,000 people.
"The timing of the relief work is going to be as important as the supplies we distribute," said Pat Melancon, Southern Baptist international relief coordinator, to Baptist Press.
According to Baptist Press, Southern Baptist workers will meet with Thai government officials in the affected area on Tuesday, Dec. 28. They also hope to work through the Baptist churches in the region.
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"These little villages have been devastated. It's hard to describe how bad it is," said Melancon. “The basic needs are going to be food, clean water, blankets, shelter and basic medical supplies."
"We want to help people immediately; that's always our first instinct,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Church World Service announced on Monday that its Indonesia office is deploying emergency assistance team to aid recovery efforts in Indonesia.
"We join with the international community in responding to this devastating situation," said CWS Emergency Response Program Director Rick Augsburger, "Initial assessments indicate that full recovery from this disaster will require significant resources. Further support and assistance from Church World Service will be forthcoming," he added.
Both Augsburger and Melancon asked Christians to offer their prayers for the victims and to give as much as they can.
A "ton of relief agencies" will be streaming into devastated areas of Sri Lanka and India, which have appealed for international aid, Melancon said to BP.
The IMB will be using $125,000 of Southern Baptist disaster relief funds for aid in Thailand, Sri Lank and other parts of Southeast Asia.
"That will help us get a lot started, but until we go in and get on the ground, it's hard to say how much we'll need," said Melancon.
“Southern Baptists and other Christians can help by sending financial gifts for aid through the IMB disaster relief fund. Send gifts designated "Asia Earthquake Disaster Relief" to the International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, Va., 23230 (to give online, go to the International Mission Board's website, www.imb.org, and click on "Give Now" in the box highlighting this story). All funds given will go to relief efforts; none will be used for administrative costs,” explained BP.
The CWS also said contributions can be sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515 or by calling: (800)-297-1516 ext. 222.
Meanwhile, the two groups explained that prayers are also a powerful gift that can be given by Christians.
"I've seen God open doors that have been closed for a long time through disaster response, but I've also seen a lot of people get hurt -- so please pray for safety and discernment," Melancon said.
International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin, who served as a missionary in the region, also called for prayers.
"Our hearts are grieved anytime a disaster such as this brings such devastation and loss of life. Having served for 23 years in the affected countries makes the loss very personal for me. I have traveled many of the coastal highways, worked in the towns and vacationed at the seaside resorts that have been destroyed,” he said in a statement, according to BP.
"Our IMB personnel in the region are already on site in many locations, assessing the damage and evaluating what we can do as we work alongside local governments and Great Commission partner agencies. We are trusting Southern Baptists to respond with an outpouring of support to undergird the relief and rehabilitation projects that will follow in the days and weeks ahead. We need to pray for the victims who have lost homes and loved ones, and pray that the compassion and love of Christ can be expressed and communicated through our ministries.”
