"If the Lord had not been on our side . . . the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away." Psalm 124: 1,4
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
My heart has been heavy as I received news reports and hear personal accounts of the devastating impact of Typhoon Ondoy on the Philippines over the weekend. The rainfall reportedly doubled the amount that drenched the United States during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The latest reports are that 140 people were killed and many are still missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced by the storm.
Please join me in praying for all those devastated by the storm, particularly the Metro Manila Christian Church and many Filipino brothers and sisters that I have come to know through our partnership with their church.
The news from Manila is heartbreaking. As of Monday morning, we understand at least 10 members of the church are missing and many are still stranded on roof tops waiting for help. Many disciples' homes have been damaged or lost. I have seen pictures of Congregational Evangelist Koko Enrile's house and car under water. At this time, it appears that nearly every member of this church of 2,270 will need some kind of disaster assistance in the days and weeks to come. In the spirit of Galatians 6:10 ("let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers"), we need to help them.
My understanding is that all of the children under our care at the Laguna Center of HOPE worldwide are safe after evacuating the Center on rafts. The Center houses dozens of abused children taken off the streets of Manila. However, their future is now uncertain. I remember a few short years ago attending the opening of this facility when public officials were moved to tears by the prospect of hope for these needy children. We need to be sure that this beacon of light is not extinguished by the storm. "Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)
HOPE worldwide will partner with the Manila church and other cooperating churches in the United States to bring desperately needed help to victims of the storm. Our priorities will be helping disciples and their families and children from the Center who find themselves without a home.
Your brothers and sisters in Christ in the Philippines are traumatized and, in many cases, with little more than the clothes on their backs. Won't you join us in helping them?
God Bless,
Randy Jordan, CEO
HOPE worldwide ltd
Click here to find out how
Visit us at www.HOPEww.org to learn more about all of HOPE worldwide's programs and see how you can be a part of global change to bring hope to some of the world's most needy.
To read more articles from HOPE worldwide on Disciples Today:
 |
United We Serve as Chapters |
 |
True Health Care Click here |
 |
Join us on the 2009 Compassion Tour Click here |