KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 11/21/24)—International Ministries (IM) sent $4,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) emergency disaster relief funds to aid relief teams in Spain with IM partner Baptist Evangelical Union of Spain (Union Evangelica Bautista de España, UEBE) as they strive to meet the overwhelming needs of communities devastated by unprecedented flooding caused by DANA (an acronym of “depresión aislada en niveles altos” or “isolated depression at high levels”).
IM Associate Global Servants Marci Carvalho and María Angélica Mainecul serving in Spain report that they are safe and well in Malaga. Torrential rain and flash floods have impacted entire neighborhoods in Spain, tragically claiming lives, leaving families without their homes, and cutting off access to crucial infrastructure and resources. The OGHS funds will enable UEBE’s Social Work Ministry (Ministerio de Obra Social, MOS) to provide life-saving relief in Spain’s impacted areas.
MOS has activated an urgent campaign with two objectives: first, the immediate distribution of essential items and, second, the long-term support for rebuilding and recovery. MOS calls for donations for essential supplies, including mattresses, blankets, warm clothing, basic appliances, and non-perishable food. However, the demand for supplies is far exceeding local resources, and every additional contribution is desperately needed to reach those in crisis. IM’s emergency relief funds will help address the immediate survival needs, covering food, shelter, and emergency supplies to alleviate the people’s suffering.
“The situation in Spain is catastrophic and growing worse as the water slowly recedes,” said Area Director for Iberoamerica and the Caribbean Adalia Gutierrez Lee. “With each passing day, we uncover more casualties. Some families have lost everything — their homes, belongings, pets, and even treasured memories. Members of our partner churches have seen loved ones washed away, and many now have nowhere to go. They are relying on relatives and the community for shelter, but the toll on our churches and our people is staggering.”
Urgent Prayer Requests for Spain
IM global servants and IM partners in Spain call for prayers in the face of this unprecedented crisis:
- Pray for God’s comfort for those mourning the loss of loved ones, homes, and communities.
- Pray for strength and resilience among IM partner leaders as they mobilize relief and face unimaginable hardship.
- Pray for urgently needed resources to sustain recovery and regain stability.
- Pray for healing and that God’s light and hope may reach even the most devastated places.
International Ministries remains committed to walking alongside our global partners to help restore hope and rebuild lives. In the coming weeks, International Ministries will continue to monitor the situation closely, working with IM partners in Spain to assess evolving needs and expand our support where it is needed most. We invite our supporters to join us through prayer and sharing this urgent call with others.
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 development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing the distribution of the annual OGHS offering received by churches.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.