Workers in Southeast Asia share testimonies during crisis
- Faced with the lockdown and the shuttering of their business for a couple of weeks, Ron and Veronica Stone* were faced with the horrible reality that artisans whom they love would be out of work. These laborers live on the money they make day-to-day. Thanks to the giving of Southern Baptists to crisis response work, the Stones received funds to buy food for 23 workers. Their employees realized that this is not just about business for the Stones; they truly care about the workers as people. New doors are open in these relationships for close personal relationships and sharing of the gospel.
- “Some of our colleagues have been discipling a new believer for some time. Lately, relationships have been tense between them. The family invited this new believer into their home during the lockdown and have been discipling them. They report that relationships are much better, and the new believer is growing in the Lord.”
- One missionary team launched their new church plant on March 1. Soon they were faced with the lockdown and unable to meet. In the Lord’s providence, they were approached by a woman who runs a tutoring center near the church. Several families related to the tutoring center needed help with food. In partnership with this tutoring center and Southern Baptist relief ministries, they were able distribute food to homes to which they had no access previously. They have access to homes they might not have had access without the lockdown.
- Abe Goforth* in Southeast Asia invited local leaders to join with brothers from East Asia and Southern Baptist relief ministries to look for ways to partner to minister to at-risk communities. As a result, several initiatives are emerging (e.g. supplying masks, outreach to low income housing, and others). Workers have discovered that believers are eager to join hands in reaching out to the unreached during this time.
- Thomas and Harper McKay* heard news that international students were quarantined on a local university campus. Students could only leave if they needed medical attention. The college was promised help from the government, but it had not arrived. Officials and students alike were afraid there wouldn’t be enough to feed the hundreds of international students on campus. The McKays rallied help from Southern Baptist relief ministries and took food to the school to help feed the students. When faced with travel restrictions, they doubled their efforts by working with two local churches to feed students. The McKays, then, shifted their attention to helping feed families related to these churches.
*Names changed for security
You can continue to give to relief efforts at Coronavirus Response project.
