The Baptist World Alliance published the article below on May 7, 2015. Click here to read the original article on the BWA website. American Baptist are asked to continue to hold all those touched by the Nepal earthquake and its aftermath in their prayers.
Baptists of Nepal continue to provide assistance to communities affected by the April 25 earthquake that devastated parts of the South Asian country, including the capital, Kathmandu.
The Nepal Baptist Church Council (NBCC), a member organization of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), is leading the response on behalf of Nepalese Baptists.
In addition to providing immediate food, shelter and medical assistance, NBCC is also offering trauma healing and spiritual support.
John Narayan, coordinator of the NBCC Disaster Response team, told the BWA that he, his family and other Baptist Christians are “also experiencing life under the tent here in Nepal.” Narayan was referring to the tent that they established in Kathmandu, in collaboration with Hungarian Baptist Aid Rescue 24, to offer immediate relief to earthquake victims.
Up to the time of reporting, some 540 tents were distributed to earthquake victims while 245 persons had received medical attention.
Other areas receiving assistance from the NBCC included Sankhu, Manikhel, Bukhel, Chaughare, Chhampi, and Sanogaun, all of Lalitpur district.
The Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM), a BWA member organization from India, sent assistance and personnel to Nepal. The team arrived in Kathmandu on May 4. “Food is the immediate need,” said a report from BCM. “Also safe drinking water is of urgent need which seems to have been neglected by most relief workers.”
BCM stressed the dangers posed by the monsoon rainy season. “The wet monsoon season is approaching, contaminating the water supply system of the affected areas, which can increase water-borne infections to the common population,” BCM noted. “To prepare for this a borewell/ringwell construction is of urgent necessity.”
Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the BWA, is coordinating the global Baptist response to the earthquake relief in Nepal.
Tax-deductible contributions may also be made online at visit www.abc-usa.org and click “Give Online” at the top right of the page. In the “Comments” section, type “OGHS Nepal Earthquake Relief.” 2. Give through your church, designating your gift for “OGHS-Nepal Earthquake Relief.” Or, click here to learn about more ways to give, referencing “Nepal Earthquake Relief”
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The Committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and the development of assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches. Learn more: http://www.abc-oghs.org/
The Baptist World Alliance, founded in 1905, is a fellowship of 231 conventions and unions in 121 countries and territories comprising 40 million members in 177,000 churches. Its priorities are nurturing the passion for mission and evangelism; promoting worship, fellowship and unity; responding to people in need; defending human rights and justice; and advancing relevant theological reflection.
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