Global Disaster Response meeting draws attendees from around the world.

by | Sep 26, 2013

Philippines:   September 23rd through 26th, found key Nazarene Disaster Response leaders from around the world converging on the Philippines for a conference on best practices in disaster response.

The attendees represented NCM and other personnel/practitioners from various fields and regions to include Eurasia, Philippines-Micronesia, Canada, the United States and Australia. They explored and developed recommendations to be presented to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and Church leadership, in hopes of establishing a global NCM Disaster Management/Response/Support Team.

The primary goal for such a team would be to immediately come alongside regional and field leadership in a disaster in order to support, resource, facilitate and enhance an effective Disaster Management response. The team would be recruited from existing NCM personnel as well as others from outside this diverse and very proficient global network.

Key to the meeting was the opportunity to visit an example of what has been considered a “best practice” in recent Nazarene disaster responses.

The team visited the island of Mindanao (southern Philippines), specifically Cagayan De Oro, an area devastated by typhoon Sendong that struck in December of 2011.  Miss Leah Mae Open, who served as the volunteer Nazarene Disaster Response Team leader in the 2011 typhoon, met the working group and provided an overview of how the Church had impacted the community. When the typhoon hit, Open, who was a recent graduate from a local teacher’s college, effectively spearheaded engagement with the local community, city officials, and various levels of the church, and coordinated volunteers, individuals and teams in a compassionate and Christlike response to the thousands displaced by the flooding.

The long lasting positive impact on the community and for the work of the church has served as an example of how best to facilitate such a response.

“There was a great sense of excitement as the group prepared the basic foundation for what we pray and hope will again support, resource, and facilitate the Church’s more effective response to disasters globally,” stated David Harris, Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Todd & Connie Lou Aebischer

Todd and Connie Lou Aebischer served as Regional Communications Coordinator - Regional NMI Coordinator respectively for over 4 years. They are now serving in Papua New Guinea under Mission Aviation Fellowship as Country Director / Program Director.

Related Posts

APNTS welcomes its new Academic Dean

APNTS welcomes its new Academic Dean

On 10 April 2025, Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary announced its new Academic Dean, Dr. Marie Joy Pring-Faraz. She will begin in her new role on 3 May 2025. She will succeed Dr. David Ackerman, who has served with distinction and excellence. Dr. Ackerman...

read more
Myanmar recovery efforts underway after deadly earthquake

Myanmar recovery efforts underway after deadly earthquake

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, 28 March. The disaster has claimed more than 3,100 lives in Myanmar, with thousands more injured. The tremors were felt as far as Thailand, where at least 18 people lost their lives. Many...

read more
Jesus Film Team leaders gathered for enhancement training

Jesus Film Team leaders gathered for enhancement training

Yangon, Myanmar: The Southeast Asia Field Jesus Film Ministry held an Enhancement Training from 15 to 17 March 25 at the City Golf Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. The event brought together 24 participants, including 21 teams from five different districts in the country,...

read more
NYI 101: Asia-Pacific NYI Online Gathering

NYI 101: Asia-Pacific NYI Online Gathering

On 22 March 2025, around forty NYI participants from across the Asia-Pacific Region gathered online via Zoom to learn about NYI's purpose and ministry, led by Rev. David Gonzalez, NYI Global Director. This session, called NYI 101, was designed to support new NYI...

read more