Our Response to the Myanmar and China Disasters
The Global Diaconate is prayerfully investigating opportunities for responding to the deadly cyclone which brought destruction to Myanmar on May 2. According to the U.N., over 1.5 million people have been severely affected by the cyclone. The Red Cross estimates that the death toll could be as high as 128,000. A week later, a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 shook China in the area of the Sichuan province. The official Chinese news agency says that 19,500 are confirmed dead. Please pray that God will guide the Global Diaconate's discussions with potential partners in relief efforts, and for national Christians as they respond in the name of Jesus.
- Read a letter about how we are encouraging you to respond (pdf).
- Pray that God would open Myanmar & China for relief efforts.
- Give beyond your continued support of mercy ministries at the church to World Relief or BWAid.
- Watch the Star Newsletter and this Web site for more channels to help.
- Apply with Global Diaconate and be trained as a disaster relief responder.
Update: A man that we're in contact with who is helping with Myanmar relief efforts in Thailand writes, "God put a passion in the hearts of many at Bethlehem to pray for the Burmese affected by Cyclone Nargis. While some aid and a small number of relief workers have been allowed into Myanmar (Burma), the amount is nowhere near enough to support the estimated 1.4 million who need urgent assistance. Last week the Global Diaconate and Bethlehem Missions Department took action to assist a Thai church with a heart to bring help in Jesus' name to those devastated by the cyclone. Pray that in the days and weeks ahead many Burmese would glorify God for his mercy through Jesus Christ as they witness the Thai and Burmese Church risk much together to feed the hungry, help the sick, and comfort devastated hearts with the hope of the gospel. Ask the Lord to take five bags of rice and feed five thousand, and seek his face for abundant natural and living water to flow across the land."
What Is the Global Diaconate?
The Global Diaconate is a vision for spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of the poorest of the poor and the suffering around the globe through Jesus Christ. The word "diaconate" comes from the Greek word for "deacon". Our Global Diaconate Committee, under the Foreign Missions Board, oversees the disbursal of funds to relieve global suffering in short and longer term crises. Read the Global Diaconate's Annual Report (a 1-page pdf) about the work they did in 2007.
What Kind of Relief?
The Global Diaconate responds in one of three ways:
- Immediate Disaster Relief
- Ongoing Crisis Relief Projects
- Sending and Fully Supporting Emergency Responder Teams to Specific Needs
These 3 strategies will attempt to provide practical help, such as:
- Feeding the hungry
- Providing water to the thirsty
- Welcoming the stranger, that is, caring for the unique needs of refugees
- Clothing those without sufficient clothes
- Visiting the sick with care and medical help
- Reaching out with help to prisoners
Funding
The Global Diaconate is part of the ongoing Treasuring Christ Together (TCT) vision. Of each dollar that people commit to give to TCT, 10% goes to the Global Diaconate. This helps us to:
- have a permanent stream of income, rather than a one-time fundraising event;
- answer the clear call in the Bible for God's people to have compassion on the poor, especially the poorest of the poor and those who are suffering;
- put a governor on our tendency to spend more than we need to on our campus facilities;
- help us to more clearly embody and communicate the TCT vision: making our campuses and churches launching pads and seedbeds for Christ-exalting missions and justice and mercy;
- waken the greater commitment and joy in giving to TCT;
- address the concern that some people have that the TCT stream of income would reduce our overall missions giving.