Responding to the Crisis in Myanmar
Crisis never seems to be far away reminding us how fragile life is for those who live in extreme poverty. The news of the devastation of Cyclone Nargis to Myanmar (Burma) seems overwhelming as the latest death toll approaches 50,000.
As Christians, how do we respond? Pastor John Piper offers some insights:
1. Be softened to the pain nearby…
2. Pray for the followers of Christ in Myanmar…
3. Pray for the millions of unbelievers near the calamity and far from it…
4. Pray for those of us who live in the seeming security and prosperity of America…
5. Give money to replenish the coffers of compassion “since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3)…
6. Muster a team from your church, and when the doors are open, be ready to go…
While world leaders argue over what countries should be able allowed in, many NGO’s are already on the ground meeting the needs of the hurting. World Vision is a great Christian NGO and one of the few large enough to be able to respond to a crisis of this magnitude. If your heart is stirred to give, World Vision is accepting donations here.Update: As the UN says the number of dead may reach 100,000 Sovereign Grace Ministries steps up to say they can cut through much of government issues through some local ministry contacts. You can give through them here.
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May 9th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Here is something that I received from CBF…has some good insight and prayer request…
Myanmar Situation Report #1: CBF Response to Cyclone Nargis
Date: May 8, 2008
General:
Estimated death toll of 100,000 in the Irrawaddy Delta in southern Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis struck
World’s most devastating cyclone since a 1991 storm that killed 146,000 in Bangladesh
1 million homeless
5,000 square km of the delta region underwater
First food drops have been conducted by Myanmar government, no overland convoys yet. Helicopters can’t land in flooded areas.
UN just got permission on Wednesday to go in with a ship of supplies.
Many NGO’s including UN still waiting for visas for their workers.
26 countries have committed $30 million to date plus $10 million from UN
Response:
A donation button has been set up in the middle of the CBF home page at HYPERLINK “http://www.thefellowship.info” http://www.thefellowship.info for contributions to Cyclone Response fund #17023. An initial contribution of $5,000 has been made for immediate assistance. Our focus will be on the recovery effort rather than rescue.
CBF will partner with BWAid, Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), International Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA, the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and others to assist the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) in their response. BWAid has committed $50,000 and ABC has sent $5,000.
24 members of Baptist World Aid Rescue are assembling in Bangkok but have yet to be issued visas. The team includes 6 from Australia, 2 Hungarians, 4 Americans and standby’s from Norway, Sweden, UK and Canada. This team specializes in immediate rescue response but this window is closing. Transition plans to recovery will be made.
Rick Burnette, one of CBF’s field personnel in SE Asia, had a previously planned trip to Myanmar, so he already has a visa and tickets to go in on May 15-17. He will connect with MBC and the Baptist team including Kabi Gangemi of APBF who is going in on May 15 as well.
If you know of anyone who already has visas issued for travel to Myanmar, please let David Harding know at HYPERLINK “mailto:dharding@thefellowship.info” dharding@thefellowship.info
If volunteers are requested by MBC and the Baptist team for recovery work, then CBF will be able to send qualified volunteers through the Disaster Relief Ministries of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. For those interested in serving, please contact Nichole Bulls at HYPERLINK “mailto:nichole.bulls@vbmb.org” nichole.bulls@vbmb.org or 800-255-2428 ext 7242. All qualified volunteers will be placed on standby depending on the plans and resources that emerge in the weeks ahead.
Challenges:
Visas
Communications are down in the affected area.
In country transportation