VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/11/13)—Super typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippine islands last weekend with devastating force. The Philippine Red Cross estimates that at least 1,200 people were killed by the storm. That number could grow as officials make their way to remote areas made nearly inaccessible by Haiyan. International Ministries missionaries in the Philippines, Debbie Mulneix and Jonathan and Thelma Nambu, have been contacted by IM and are safe.
In response to this disaster, $10,000 in emergency relief funds is being sent from One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) to help victims of this massive typhoon.
“IM partners, the Convention of Philippines Baptist Churches (CPBC) and Philippine Baptist Church Development Ministries, in coordination with the Asia Pacific Baptist Aid of Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, received requests for relief in the hardest hit areas in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and North Negros, where the majority of CPBC churches are situated,” reported Dr. Ben Chan, IM area director for East Asia, India, Hong Kong and China. “CPBC would like to assist in the immediate needs of families by providing food, drinking water, blankets and mats. The relief operation is difficult because of roads destroyed and flooded. Many areas could not be reached yet. Also electricity and communication line are damaged. CPBC is coordinating with government officials to be able to reach the affected areas.”
Donations designated to “OGHS Philippines Relief” can be made by visiting www.abc-usa.org and clicking “Give Online” at the top right of the page. In the “Comments” section, type “OGHS Philippines Relief.”
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The Committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and the development of assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches. Learn more: http://www.abc-oghs.org/
American Baptist International Ministries was organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America. It began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need. Learn more http://www.internationalministries.org/.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.