Strong Earthquake Strikes China

Thursday, June 7, A.D. 2007

Earlier this week an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale struck China’s southern Yunnan province. Initial reports are that three people were killed and more than 300 injured; however, the amount of destruction is very extensive, with more than 90,000 homes destroyed and some 270,000 damaged.

Long time Disciples and Church World Service (CWS) partner and Action by Churches Together (ACT) member, the Amity Foundation, is responding to 2000 of the most vulnerable families affected by the quake who have not received assistance from the government or from other agencies. Amity’s immediate response includes provision of rice, quilts and plastic sheeting to meet the urgent need of food and temporary shelter. For the post-crisis response, Amity is preparing to rebuild 100 homes, two village schools and three irrigation systems.

CWS is issuing an appeal to its member communions in the U.S. in response to a larger ACT appeal on behalf of Amity. Week of Compassion is responding with a grant from the Compassion Response Fund on behalf of the Disciples.

WOC Committee Approves Sustainable Development Requests

Meeting in New Orleans, LA, recently to see Disciples hurricane recovery programs and assess ongoing hurricane needs, the Week of Compassion Committee also approved $119,250 in expenditures for eight long-term sustainable development projects, including a project to support sexually exploited and abused children in Nicaragua; a community-based health care project in rural Bosnia Herzegovina; and a capacity-building project with Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) – World Health to support several Christian Health Associations in Africa. A complete list of long-term development projects funded by WOC can be found on the Map/Poster page on the WOC website.

Many Volunteer Opportunities Available

Volunteer opportunities abound for Disciples work groups. Work groups are still needed in large numbers across the Gulf Coast to participate in the Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative through the end of the summer of '08. Work groups are needed in Kansas to respond to the recent tornadoes and flooding. And now WOC has received an urgent request from Dave Troxler, pastor of First CC, Daytona Beach, FL, and president of VIND (Volusia Interfaith Networking Disasters), for skilled volunteers to help rebuild homes following the tornadoes of Christmas Day 2006 and February 2, 2007. Call the Office of Disciples Volunteering for details/scheduling at 888.346.2631.

Click here to read how one congregation affected by Hurricane Katrina that has been on the receiving end of work groups is now sending its own work team to Kansas.

Also, CWS greatly needs volunteer groups to help sort through kits at its New Windsor, MD, distribution facility. Volunteers for a day or longer will help assemble and process kits and make sure any expired items are replaced. The need for volunteer help is urgent, as we have many pending kit requests from overseas partners that cannot be facilitated until kits in the warehouse are processed. Call 410.635.8700, the Brethren Service Center Hospitality Office, if you would like to schedule a time to help.

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the WOC map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.