Christian Organizations Heighten Quake Relief Efforts

By Michelle Vu

In the third week of recovery from the disaster that some call "bigger than the tsunami," Christian relief organizations are heightening their relief response to the historic earthquake that shook Pakistan and its neighboring countries.

Within the last few days, thousands of tents, blankets, medicines and urgent supplies have been shipped to the affected areas to be distributed to exhausted and traumatized victims. Among the Christian groups intensifying their response is Samaritan's Purse, who conducted the largest airlift in its history yesterday.

On Oct. 24, Samaritan's Purse shipped 120 tons of greatly needed supplies including enough rolls of plastic to shelter up to 24,000 families, hospital equipments, medicines, 350 wheelchairs, 10,000 blankets via a Boeing 747 - the largest domestic cargo plane in the United States. The plane will fly 7,800 miles and land in Islamabad where supplies will be distributed in Balakot and Muzzaffarabad, the two cities closest to the epicenter of the earthquake.

"The equipment and supplies loaded on this plane will help save lives and alleviate suffering," said Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham in a statement. "The people in Pakistan are literally out in the cold right now and the help and resources they need aren't readily available."

The 747 jet cargo was scheduled for departure at 1 p.m. EST on Monday, Oct. 24.

In addition, Baptist World Aid (BWAid)/Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) in a combined effort has donated more than $90,000 to relief efforts and supplies and the third relief team is now in Pakistan. The team consists of medical doctors, paramedics, technical rescue experts, rescue dogs, a rescue commander and an HBAid coordinator. The team has been searching for survivors since their arrival, one day after the massive quake on Oct. 9, as well as treating hundreds of injured people.

"There are over three million people who lost their homes. They live in tents provided by the international community or still in the open air in the freezing cold in the mountainous areas," said Attila Szilagyi, senior relief officer of Hungarian Baptist aid in a statement released by BWAid. "Baptists want to share in helping the needy victims of this earthquake. We plan to set up a camp with at least 200 tents for some 1,200 - 1,500 people. We need to move quickly to help them live through the winter."

"By our rescue efforts and technical resources, by providing medical care and humanitarian aid, and by organizing a team of Baptists from North Carolina, Virginia and Hungary we believe BWAid Rescue24 is on the road to be an effective first responders group," commented Sandor Szenczy, HBAid's president.

Moreover, World Vision has airlifted 4,000 tents and over 12,000 tarpaulins last week, while Church World ServiceVAction by Churches Together (CWS-ACT) has distributed 1,297 shelter kits and 993 food packages.

"Everything has been sent by Christians in this country to show God's love to the people of Pakistan," noted Graham.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

  • Woman pastor analyzes: How Chinese gender culture shapes female ministers’ roles in churches

    In traditional Chinese culture, deeply ingrained notions of gender roles, often expressed as "male strong, female weak," significantly influence the position of women in society and the church. This issue is particularly pertinent for female pastors navigating their roles in ministry. Rev. Dora Wang, Ph.D., from China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), recently addressed this topic in a seminar, sharing her insights on the challenges women face in ministry and proposing strategies to su

  • 4th Christian art biennale in Hong Kong concluding with record reception

    The fourth Christian Art Biennale, titled “The Splendor of Beauty in His Land,” opened on December 22 at Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong and will conclude tomorrow, January 1. The 10-day exhibition has drawn enthusiastic responses, surpassing previous years in attendance and impact.

  • 2024 report from Wycliffe Global Alliance shows status of Bible accessibility worldwide

    Wycliffe Global Alliance has published its 2024 Global Scripture Access Report, unveiling the latest status of Bible accessibility worldwide. The annual report is compiled using data from the Alliance’s partner organizations, including SIL International, the United Bible Societies, and others.

  • A Christian’s proper response to the sugar-coated bullet of influencer fame

    Today, I came across a thought-provoking story about a 2016 internet influencer from the U.S.. The case of Nicholas Perry raises a sobering question: Is it worth sacrificing oneself in the pursuit of views?