Just before noon Saturday, April 25, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. The epicenter was between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara. The earthquake was felt in Delhi and Kolkata in India and even Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
More than 1,500 people have already been reported dead in Kathmandu alone, and many more are trapped and feared dead. The government has declared a state of emergency.
The new roads just recently built are torn open; the airport is closed and entry to Nepal is through India, a one-day ride by car if the roads are open. Thousands are terribly frightened because of constant smaller and bigger aftershocks.
The Church of the Nazarene has several hundred churches with more than 8,000 members in Nepal. In Kathmandu and close by, more than 10 churches and church plants have been affected.
Field Strategy Coordinator Nathan Biswas and church leaders in Nepal are requesting prayer and support.
Joerg (George) Eich, the new Eurasia regional NCM coordinator, is on his way to Nepal. He is traveling together with a team of doctors and nurses from Humedica, a partner organization that has helped Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in various disaster response efforts around the world.
How to help
Your prayers and support are needed as churches work to respond to the immediate needs around them and as families and communities begin the hard work of recovery.
Pray for the families of those who have been killed, and pray for strength for church leaders and members as they minister to their neighbors.
To support the disaster response efforts, give to the Nepal Earthquake Fund. Donations will be used to meet immediate needs, such as water, food, and shelter, as well as long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
To send donations by mail, make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to:
Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116
Be sure to put ACM1549 in the Memo area.
In Canada, make checks payable to “Church of the Nazarene Canada” and send them to:
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3
Be sure to put ACM1549 in the Memo area.
For more information, visit ncm.org/nepal.
