Following Saturday morning’s 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Puerto Rico, Acting General Secretary C. Jeff Woods encouraged prayer saying, “We continue to pray fervently for the people of Puerto Rico as the earthquakes continue to occur and cause power outages, damage, and depleted caregivers. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters of Puerto Rico.”

Puerto Rico has been affected by earthquakes for more than a week. Prior to the latest earthquake, American Baptist Executive Minister of Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico, Rev. Edgardo Caraballo Marín asked for prayers, especially for people on the southwest part of the island. American Baptist Pastor Felipe Candelaria said: “We all felt the earthquakes; a lot of the people are dealing with anxiety. Please keep praying.”

As announced on January 9, in response to the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that shook Puerto Rico Tuesday morning, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), on behalf of American Baptist Churches USA, released $15,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) funds to partners in Puerto Rico, including $10,000 for Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico. However, additional help is needed.

The American Baptist Home Mission Societies noted in that announcement: you can help by praying for our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico daily at 20:20 hours. Part of the concern is that the lack of electricity, water and gasoline will trigger widespread panic in addition to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder initiated by Hurricane Maria.

Donations to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering can be made online here designated to “OGHS-Puerto Rico Earthquake” or via your church or check with the same designation and mailed to the attention of Leda Carter at American Baptist Home Mission Societies, 1075 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406.

One hundred percent of donations go to relief efforts; no dollars are retained for administrative costs. To ensure that your church receives credit for your gift, write the church name on your check.

One Great Hour of Sharing 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 development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches.