In the early morning hours of November 8th, 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, made landfall in the Central Philippines. Reported as the most powerful storm ever to make landfall and definitely the deadliest in the history of the Philippines, Haiyan changed the landscape and lives of the Central Philippines in unimaginable ways.
In the aftermath of this unprecedented natural disaster, the response of the Global Church of the Nazarene has also been – unprecedented!
From Cuba to Canada, the Middle East to Eastern Asia, well over $4 million U.S. Dollars has been provided through gift in kind partnerships and actual funds raised. More than 200 volunteers have been at work here in the Philippines along with countless others around the world, preparing and delivering relief goods, providing medical support, psychosocial counseling and training, and most importantly, praying for this global response.
Because of the ongoing giving towards the World Evangelism Fund, the Church of the Nazarene already had significant infrastructure in place, which allowed us to provide almost immediate response and also allowed the church to become a major on-the-ground facilitator for many other international aid agencies.
As of March 1st, the equivalent of thirteen (13), 40 foot containers of relief supplies have been received and distributed throughout the areas hit hardest. This has included medical supplies and equipment, hygiene and disaster aid kits, School Pal-Paks, Crisis Care kits, relief food, and building tools and equipment. Shipments have come in from Compassionate Resource Warehouse (NCM Canada) and NCM U.S.A., International Relief and Development, Heart to Heart International, and YM / Alfredo Martinez. These shipments have been staged by the local Nazarene District in Cebu City, and then transported throughout the Central Philippine disaster area by ferry.
Medical teams from Heart to Heart International in coordination with Nazarene Disaster Response teams, have been on the ground since the first week after the disaster and have seen over 3,000 patients. Work teams from local districts in the Philippines and from overseas have been partnering in the rebuilding of nine churches that were completely destroyed. Work and proposals are also currently underway for the rebuilding of more than 500 homes.
The number of individual lives impacted through this global Nazarene response over the past four months is truly immeasurable. Just in documented cases alone, the Church has impacted more than 2,780 households. This doesn’t even begin to take into account the children impacted through the Safe Child Zones, and those touched through the lives of the 135 teachers that have come through our psychosocial training programs and who are now impacting their schools and communities.
This will not be a short recovery. By some government estimates, it will take more than 5 years to restore infrastructure and livelihoods. But thanks be to God, the church is strong, growing, and demonstrating the love and compassion of Christ to Nazarene and non-Nazarene communities alike. Significant inroads are being made where previously the Church of the Nazarene has not yet been. Doors of opportunity have been opened as we have demonstrated quite tangibly, the love of Christ through compassionately serving as His hands and feet.
From our hearts here in the Philippines to yours around the world…. Maraming salamat po. Thank you for partnering, praying and paying the price. Together we are making a significant Kingdom impact.
Here is a list of some of the major government and international organizations with whom the church has been partnering in the disaster response.
- Philippine Department of Education
- Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development
- Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches
- Heart to Heart International
- FedEx
- UNICEF
- Philippine Relief and Development Services
- Medical Mission Teams
- Water Mission International
- Compassion International
- International Care Ministries
- Philippine Red Cross
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