The Herald Bulletin
May 08, 2008 06:53 pm
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ANDERSON — The Church of God will send $25,000 in immediate disaster and hunger relief funds to Myanmar to help alleviate the suffering and provide money to repair the damaged churches and destroyed homes of congregation members, according to a news release from David Farlow, chief of strategic communications at the Church of God Ministries.
Church of God Ministries and two affiliated agencies, Children of Promise and the Women of the Church of God, have responded to the call for help from church leaders in Myanmar. But more help is needed, according to Farlow.
Cyclone Nargis’ path of destruction has caused suffering and damage to Church of God congregations and families in the country of Myanmar, also known as Burma. The national leader of the Church of God there has requested immediate assistance.
Children of Promise executive director Paul Maxfield spoke this week with the national leader of the Church of God in Myanmar, based in Yangon, about the devastation wreaked by the cyclone, according to Farlow. The conversation confirmed that many Church of God families have lost their homes, and others are without fresh water or electricity. The shortage of food has risen to what is considered a critical state.
Additionally, three church buildings lost their roofs due to the storm. The national leader also informed Maxfield that it was difficult to confirm the loss of life, personal injury or total extent of the damages because the roads are impassible and most communication systems are down.
“It is so terrible, it is so bad, please help us,” implored the leader several times during the phone conversation. The Church of God in Myanmar estimates an immediate need of $100,000 to purchase food and water and to make repairs to the churches and congregants’ homes. The church in Myanmar struggles under an oppressive dictatorship, yet it continues to conduct church activities. Funds cannot be wired directly to church leaders there. Children of Promise has coordinated a means to securely deliver funds to church leaders in Myanmar via a courier.
More than 200 children in Myanmar receive support through the sponsorship program facilitated by Children of Promise. In a phone conversation this week, Maxfield was informed by the program’s leadership in Myanmar that as best they can determine all of the sponsored children are safe. However, most of their homes were destroyed.
“Please pray for our churches and people in Myanmar as they recover from this terrible disaster,” said the Rev. Obadiah Smith, coordinator for compassionate ministries at Church of God Ministries. Smith added that individuals and congregations were encouraged to consider making a donation through the Disaster Relief Fund to help the church in Myanmar.
Barlow reported that one Anderson University student, who wished to remain anonymous, collected the loose change in the laundry room at Dunn Hall and brought $121 in change to the Church of God Ministries.
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How you can help
Those interested in making an immediate contribution online can do so using their credit or debit cards by visiting www.chog.org/givenow. Donations can be mailed directly to Church of God Ministries, P.O. Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018-2420. Please write “Disaster Relief, Project 45.04502” on the memo line. For more information, call (765) 642-0256.
For agency information, go to the following Web sites: chog.org, echildrenofpromise.org, wchog.org
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