Disaster Relief Update - Friday, October 2, 2009

"The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not remain on the earth." Proverbs 10:30 (HCSV)

An epic flood, powerful typhoons, and major earthquakes with a resulting tsunami have pounded the world over the last couple of weeks. God is not surprised by any of these events and already He is working in the hearts and lives of the many people affected.

American Samoa Tsunami

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief continues to assess the needs of American Samoa. The Hawaiian-Pacific Baptist Convention is preparing to send disaster relief chaplains as soon as flights can be arranged. Terry Henderson, North American Mission Board disaster relief consultant, will also be traveling to American Samoa. NAMB is still looking at the possibility of deploying other personnel and equipment as needed. We are also aware of a super typhoon near Guam and Saipan. Please keep Veryl Henderson, Hawaii-Pacific Baptist Convention executive director, in your prayers as he and his leadership team respond to this disaster.

Individuals wishing to make a contribution to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention American Samoa Tsunami relief efforts may do so online through the NAMB Disaster Relief Donations website. Designate your donation for American Samoa by using the In Honor option and type Samoa in the Memorial Name box.

Philippines Typhoon

At the beginning of next week the first teams of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will depart for the Philippines as yet another storm bears down on the area. Already Southern Baptist missionaries are working there. The first volunteer team in will be a group from the Southern Baptist Texas Convention. This team will lay the groundwork for teams that follow, including teams from Kentucky, Oklahoma, and the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptist Men). Please pray for these volunteers as they travel and work, for those affected, and for everyone's safety as the next storm approaches.

Georgia Floods

As we launch into the second weekend of the Georgia flood response, there is still much work to be done. Calls are coming in at the call center at the North American Mission Board (1 800 460-6881) and job orders are being collected in the field. Please continue to remember Stuart Lang, Georgia Baptist disaster relief director, as he leads the response efforts and also all of those from Georgia and beyond who have worked tirelessly to clean and sanitize flooded homes.

You can support the Georgia Flood disaster response with your financial gifts through either Georgia Baptist Convention online or through the North American Mission Board's Disaster Relief Fund online. 

Sumatra Earthquake

Our partner in international disaster relief, Baptist Global Response (BGR), reports that as result of the 2004 and 2005 disaster relief responses in Indonesia, many Indonesians have been trained in disaster relief work by BGR and its partners. Currently there are reports of 800 to 1,100 deaths in Padang as a result of an earthquake in Sumatra. News reports indicate that one severely damage building housed a school. Join us in praying that the God of the universe would shine His light of hope in this most populous Muslim country during these days of grief and loss.