Contribute to Philippines Disaster Relief through American Baptist Churches USA's International Ministries Effort

Super typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippine islands last weekend with devastating force.  The Philippine Red Cross estimates that at least 1,200 people were killed by the storm. That number could grow as officials make their way to remote areas made nearly inaccessible by Haiyan. International Ministries missionaries in the Philippines, Debbie Mulneix, Jonathan and Thelma Nambu, have been contacted by IM and are safe.

In response to this disaster, $10,000 in emergency relief funds is being sent from One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) to help victims of this massive typhoon.

“IM partners, the Convention of Philippines Baptist Churches (CPBC) and Philippine Baptist Church Development Ministries, in coordination with the Asia Pacific Baptist Aid of Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, received requests for relief in the hardest hit areas in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and North Negros where the majority of CPBC churches are situated,” reported Dr. Ben Chan, IM area director for East Asia, India, Hong Kong and China. “CPBC would like to assist in the immediate needs of families by providing food, drinking water, blankets and mats.  The relief operation is difficult because of roads destroyed and flooded. Many areas could not be reached yet. Also electricity and communication line are damaged. CPBC is coordinating with government officials to be able to reach the affected areas."

U.S. and Puerto Rico churches are asked to keep the victims, their families, their churches and the Filipino churches in the U.S. in prayer. Additional financial relief aid is urgently needed. To make a tax-deductible contribution online go to http://www.internationalministries.org/drives/16  To make a contribution by mail, write a check payable to International Ministries and write on the memo line: "OGHS-PHILIPPINES TYPHOON RELIEF.” Mail it to IM, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 10482 or give through your church, designating your gift for OGHS – Philippines Typhoon 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/