COMPASSION FUND/DISASTER RESPONSE

Our field workers in the earthquake region continue to work with local partners and churches to meet immediate needs and evaluate how to long-term provide resources for those who will have to rebuild their lives after losing everything.

Items of clothing, food, and other material aid continue to be distributed to needy families, providing them with the basics they need to get back on their feet. For example, one pastor and family rescued from the rubble are trying to rebuild their lives by cooking for Russian families who have come to the country, and through this, they are earning a little bit of income. Providing aid for families like this is primarily happening through local believers seeking to help both believers and relatives in networks of relationships throughout the area.

While meeting immediate needs, our field workers and local church leaders are meeting and finalizing plans for helping families over the coming year. Long-term priorities include rental, and food assistance for many families affected, relocating away from the quake zone, and temporary housing provisions such as a container home for those in rural areas needing rebuilding time. These ongoing efforts to address physical and emotional needs will be critical for families rebuilding their lives.

Here are some ways you can pray: 
Pray for endurance for those providing food and other necessities to those who have lost homes, etc.
Pray for wisdom for our field workers and local partners as they seek the Lord’s guidance for where and how to engage in ongoing assistance for those impacted by the earthquake.

Even though local groups of believers in the earthquake zone and surrounding regions are relatively few, our field workers are encouraged that churches are working jointly to provide aid. For example, one church has converted its sanctuary into a place of refuge for survivors. These churches are also collectively asking the global Church to work with and through local churches and organizations to provide aid. This is our aim: to work with and through our long-time partner churches to assess both immediate and ongoing needs and provide appropriate aid.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and in partnership with these local churches, our field workers have been able to distribute material and financial assistance to many who have been left with very little or nothing at all after the earthquake.

On the Turkish side of the earthquake zone and through this network of church relationships, some of these funds have been used to provide basic supplies in multiple areas throughout the impacted region. Several families who are staying in temporary dormitory housing were provided with money to purchase food and other necessities. Some other families, including one with a special-needs child, were also provided with funds from the church to purchase food, clothing, and other needed things. Through another church connection, hygiene items, supermarket gift cards, and electric heaters have been given to needy families. 

Through a direct partnership with a church of Syrian refugees, nearly 40 families have been helped in material ways. This has included providing food, bedding, clothing, and transportation, as well as helping some families relocate and providing medical help as needed. The church is faithfully worshiping together each week and making pastoral and mercy visits throughout the week. 

There continues to be a great deal of anxiety in regional quake-prone areas and many people are having their buildings assessed for safety. Some local friends are already in the process of moving to safer locations. Yet another 5.6 tremor today caused more injuries, destruction of more buildings, and one death in Malatya, Turkey, a city which already had considerable damage from the first earthquake. The emotional needs of survivors and surrounding communities will be significant in the months ahead. In light of this, some of our field workers are beginning to equip both themselves and local brothers and sisters in basic trauma care in order to minister to survivors in an informed and caring manner.

Some ways you can pray:
Pray for those who have been left alone with no surviving family members. Many stories are emerging of entire families, save one, who died in the earthquake.
Pray for local bodies of believers to be strengthened, resourced, and further equipped to help provide care for those who have been so terribly impacted by this earthquake. Continue to pray for wisdom as they come alongside those in the region with the love of Christ.
Pray for our field workers as they continue to work with and through local partners and churches to help with both short-term and longer-term needs.

Exactly two weeks have passed since two massive earthquakes hit southern Turkey and northern Syria. The devastating quakes have taken over 40,000 lives and destroyed hundreds of thousands of apartments and homes. Rescue teams from around the globe have wound down the rescue efforts to find the living amongst the rubble of buildings. After the news fades from the front page, the long road of restoration begins.

From cities across Turkey, aid and workers continue to head to the disaster region with supplies and building materials. In coordination with several believing churches in the region, efforts are being made to provide water, clothes, and temporary shelter to the smaller cities and villages that are requesting aid. Many families have fled the region to stay with relatives or friends in the inland cities. Some of those fleeing have expressed a fear of loud noises or of any slight movement indoors. These things bring immediate trauma and fear that they are reliving the nightmare again. This is only helped when aftershocks like today’s 5.6 quake continue to shake and topple already damaged buildings and are felt 200 miles away.

Our MTW field workers are working through partners and networks of believers to provide immediate aid where possible. Some of our field workers are relaying much-needed money via trusted couriers to some of the areas that are most difficult to access. One partner church has sent diaconal funds to relatives who lost family members, their home, and have nothing left. In one of our local partner churches, a family is hosting their parents who lost their home; they have made expressions of thankfulness to God for His protection and are now attending church and desire to be baptized. 

While immediate aid is needed, knowing how to help people in the long-term is the primary goal of the churches and MTW field workers in the region. We have committed to a two-year plan of providing support to those who have lost their homes, believers and their families who have been impacted economically by this disaster.

Here are some ways you can pray for the people here this week:

Pray for the Syrians affected by the earthquake and for the government there to not impede the doctors and aid heading to that region.
Pray for the children and hundreds of thousands of pregnant women who have been displaced by the quakes.
Pray for the MTW assessment teams visiting believers in the region this week.
Pray for the churches to be equipped with wisdom to come alongside those in the region with the love of Christ.