February 2010: SHARING CHRIST'S LOVE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
"Rejoice with those that rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans 12:15 NIV
Articles contained in February's newsletter include:
Haiti - As soon as the extent of the damage in Port au Prince became evident, our partners at Mission Evangelique du Nord d'Haiti started to organize the effort to bring relief to Mission churches in the heart of the destruction. Read more >>- India, Bethel Mission, KGF - Pastor Frank's recently completed law degree brings yet another dimension to his ministry to widows, orphans, the disabled and the hungry in his region.
Read more >> - India, Jehovah Shammah Children's Home - Expressions of gratitude to God for protection and provision during 2009; many interested in learning more about Christ following meetings lead by JSCH evangelists; generous response to needs mentioned in December's newsletter.
Read more >> - Burmese church in Thailand - Reports on the 15th Annual Evangelistic Crusade; heartfelt thanks to East West InterKnit for our support. Read more >>
- Praise and Prayer - Overflow crowd at evangelistic crusade; many newly baptized Christians; prayers requested for Christian workers, their families, and those to whom they minister... Read more >>
February's InterKnit newsletter is also available as a printable full-color 5 page version in PDF format - just "click" here.
HAITI
| During the 19 years of our association, many of our partners have either experienced a major disaster themselves or have taken an active part in the relief effort afterwards. Earthquakes in India, cyclones, floods and the Tsunami in Asia, drought and famine in Africa, multiple hurricanes in Haiti....left literally millions dead or without homes or means of support. And still the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti in the early evening hours of January 12, 2010 rocked the world with the magnitude of the devastation and loss of life it caused. While we are not primarily a relief organization, East West InterKnit cannot ignore the plight of our partners in Haiti or their commitment to helping their own people. We pledge to send every penny donated toward Haiti relief to our partners in Haiti for that purpose. Simply write "Haiti Relief" on the memo line of your check or on the "Special Projects" line of your Support Form. As always, undesignated gifts will be used in the area of geatest need. |
Up to the minute news is difficult to obtain. It was even more difficult for our partners at Mission Evangelique du Nord d'Haiti in Plaine du Nord to get news than it was for us who have access to CNN or any number of other radio or television news sources. The electric power in Haiti was off more than it was on; when power was available, the internet was often down; the phone towers were down as well, leaving mobile phones useless. Even when service was restored in some places, the lines were quickly overloaded and one could not get through. At this writing, this is still the case. Many roads were clogged with rubble or refugees.
 |
 |
 |
 |
When we did hear, we learned that, though the ground shook, there was little or no damage in the northern part of the courntry where most of the MENH churches and families are located. However, at that time, no one had been able to reach either Pastor Girard and members of the MENH church located in the heart of Port au Prince or the church plant outside of Port au Prince. It took more than a week to find out that Pastor Girard and most of his congregation had survived. At last word, there are still family members of MENH people who have not been heard from. Every family is affected, as most have relatives living in the Port au Prince area.
As soon as they became aware of the extent of the disaster, the MENH leadership made a decision to help and began immediately to seek donations of vital goods from the UN, from the local government, from local institutions, and from officials in the Dominican Republic. Partners in the US and Canada were also asked to lend a hand by providing funds for the purchase of food, water, and medicines to make up for what could not be donated locally. They were able to procure a bus, a commitment on the part of the government to provide fuel for the trip, and help with security so that the goods might be delivered safely. Organizations in the north donated medical and food supplies. Your donations helped them purchase water, additional food, and additional medicines.
The first group left on January 21st on a bus loaded to the top with supplies. They set up a distribution center at Pastor Girard's relatively undamaged church and when they began handing out aid on the 22nd, those waiting in the long lines were patient and orderly. The team's two nurses provided first aid and handled the proper distribution of the medicines while all helped to distribute water, rice, peanut butter, oil, salt and sugar among other things. While in Port au Prince they also delivered medicines to a hospital as well as food and medicines to an orphanage. On Sunday the 24th they worshipped with and encouraged Pastor Girard's congregation and distributed more aid at that site.
From the information provided following that first trip to Port au Prince, it is clear that we have just begun to recognize the needs that must be addressed: providing care for orphaned children, schooling, feeding those who have lost jobs and possessions, providing shelter to those who have none, providing adequate sanitation, and maintaining security, besides healing physical and emotional wounds. Quake refugees who flee the city hoping to find shelter with relatives or friends in other areas often discover that nothing is available for them there either. Hundreds of thousands will need long-term care.
On February 3rd a second MENH team left for Port au Prince with three aid-laden vehicles. In addition to food and medical supplies, they took clothing for those left with nothing. They have not yet been able to report the current conditions. We do know that they are working with the UN and US governmental agencies as well as a number of non-governmental agencies in an effort to find partnerships for meeting the need for land, temporary or permanent shelter, food, security, and some of the other issues mentioned above. MENH is willing to loan a piece of land large enough to support a tent city of 10,000. Though UNICEF has promised the tents, it will take several additoinal partnershps to make this possible. MENH leadership and EWI are exploring possibilities. Please pray that the right solution will be made clear and the resources will become available.
BETHEL MISSION
KGF, South Central India
Pastor Frank, head of Bethel Mission, recently completed a law degree and has been accepted to the Bar Council in India. He hopes to be able to serve the poor suffering Christians in his region in this new capacity in addition to continuing all other ministries of preaching, teachning, and ministering to widows, orphans, the disabled, and the hungry. Due to a fall and a badly broken arm, Pastor Frank has been unable to communicate as he would like. Please pray for continued healing and renewed strength.
We anticipate more detailed news of Bethel Mission events held during the Christmas and New Year season in the future when Frank is able to resume his writing. In the meantime, he has reported that funds sent through the generosity of EWI donors helped to provide gifts and clothing for the 100 orphans, clothing for the widows, gifts for the mission pastors and their families, and helped at several "Feed the Hungry" events [see photos]. Frank reported that members of the mission church visited and sang at 600 homes including many homes of non-Christians.
JEHOVAH SHAMMAH CHILDREN'S HOME
The director wrote to express his gratitude to God for protection and provision during 2009. He also said that it is worth remembering that through the ministries of JSCH many children have come to know the Lord Jesus as their savior and that they are eager participants in activities meant to communicate the gospel to those who have not yet heard.
The JSCH director, recovering but still weakened from an illness, participated in a January 1st meeting held in a remote village and led by one of the the JSCH evangelists. He reported that seventy people, nearly all from the non-Christian community, attended and expressed interest in knowing more about Christ. Following the meeting, the local church provided a meal for all and presented the most needy with items of clothing.
Pastor Yesupadam led a Christmas celebration at another village. He shared the Christmas message with sixty people, the majority of whom were from the local non-Christian community.
In December we mentioned several needs to which you responded generously. The JSCH was able to provide clothing for the children, cover costs related to Christmas events, pay for clothing for widows and purchase a sound system for an evangelist with funds received. Additional funds have been sent since that time, enabling them to purchase a second sound system and cover many other costs.
Currently the most pressing need at Jehovah Shammah Children's Home is a generator costing $1,200. Their hot season begins in mid-March. Please prayerfully consider what you might be able to contribute toward this worthy project.
THE BURMESE CHURCH IN THAILAND HOLDS ITS ANNUAL EVENT
| Burmese nationals living in Thailand came from many different parts of the country and filled the conference room of a Bangkok hotel for the six day conference. Several well-known guest speakers were also able to come from Myanmar to present the gospel to the gathering. All in all, 186 non-Christians and 98 Christians attended the event. "We thank the Lord for His presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit during the 15th Annual Evangelistic Crusade held for Burmese living in Thailand. Without your prayer and support, we cannot do that much. THANK YOU." |
| "We not only shared the plan of salvation to these people but also with the help of our friends and partner organization, we were able to give beautiful bags, tracts, Christmas CDs, calendars and New and Old Testament Bibles to each person and also those who got baptized after the Crusade. We want to thank East West InterKnit for your contribution and help in this." |
|
| "At the end, 115 people came out and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and out of that, 102 people gave their lives by taking water baptism on the 6th night at 11 p.m. PTL." |
PRAISE AND PRAYER
For Praise –
- The annual Evangelistic Crusade held by the Burmese Church in Bangkok (see December Newsletter) drew an overflow crowd of 284 to the meeting place. Of these, just 98 identified themselves as Christian. Before the conference ended, 115 attendees indicated a desire to follow Christ and 102 were baptized on the final night. Praise God for these results and continue to pray for the new believers. They raised nearly all of the funds needed and provided each person with a Bible, a Christmas CD, and some tracts.
- Our gift sent in December to a ministry in East Africa covered costs of a special children's Christmas outreach event, paid for books and pens for 25 orphans and for uniforms for 16 children.
For Prayer –
- Pray for pastors ministering in refugee camps in a restricted country. Funds have been sent to help them with transportation costs and to purchase training materials for use in the camps.
- Pray for the evangelists in South Asia who face hostility and threats against life and limb. Pray for their families as well, as they sacrifice much in order to serve in situations that provide little or no support.
- Pray for safety in travel for those who faithfully take the gospel message to distant places. Pray that those who hear will understand and respond to the message of God's love and grace.
- SH asks for your prayer for those who heard the message of the gospel at the children's Sunday school Christmas program. Many non-Christian parents and family members attended this event.
- Pray for children facing opposition because of their attendance at Sunday school.
- Pray for outreach ministries in hospitals and high schools, for Bible and literature distribution, and correspondence courses.
- Pray for those who have requested baptism.