General Disaster Relief

The South Asian village was unrecognizable. Floodwaters had swallowed homes, fields, and roads, leaving the community isolated and struggling to survive.

Families huddled under makeshift shelters, their faces etched with despair. Food was scarce, and few saw any path forward.

But this is where you come in.

Because of your sacrificial gifts to this ministry, hope and help soon arrived in the village. Long-term workers and local partners distributed 200 food bundles with enough rations to feed a family for the next week.

But the aid didn’t stop there. Blankets arrived to shield families from the biting cold. Children received stationery kits with pencils, notebooks, and crayons. These simple items allowed students to return to their government schools.

As help from you arrived, the community’s attitude shifted from despair to hope.

A small group called “Circle of Hope” united people, fostering unity and mutual support. Many villagers embraced the gospel, finding comfort and strength in God’s promises.

Your generosity gave this community the essentials that sustained its residents through this challenging time. These supplies didn’t just address physical needs; they sparked a spiritual revival, and 35 came to Christ as a result.

Please join us in prayer:

• Praise God for the 35 new believers in this village; pray for their spiritual growth.
• Ask God to guide believers as they rebuild and support their neighbors.
• Pray for continued spiritual growth among the villagers and “Circle of Hope.”

Thank you for your gifts and prayers that paved the way for this revival and met the physical needs of this village.  God used you to make an eternal impact in South Asia!

Dalia* observed the relief workers with keen interest. They were unlike any other teams that arrived after the earthquake. These Christians served without asking for anything in return. Puzzled by their behavior, she resolved to discover the God that Christians follow.

Your gifts sent Christian relief workers to Dalia’s village to help in the aftermath of earthquakes in the region and to share the love of Christ that led her to ask questions about Jesus.

Matthew 5:16 reminds us, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Your generosity sent the team to work in Dalia’s village, sparking her curiosity to know the God whose people serve others selflessly. Amid disaster, God is drawing those like Dalia to himself.

Since the devastating earthquakes, our partnership led to interactions with more than 47,000 people. Food, blanket, and water distribution touched lives and delivered the hope of Christ to those who needed it most.

Please join us in prayer:

• Pray for Dalia and fellow villagers receiving provisions because of your generosity. Pray they recognize the uniqueness of Christians, ask questions, and open their hearts to the salvation Christ offers.
• Ask God to strengthen and energize Christian relief workers in this area as they begin a second year of work here.

Thank you for joining us in addressing the world’s greatest problem: lostness. Your gifts and prayers enable us to share Christ by meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those impacted by global disasters.

*Name changed for security

With you as our faithful partners, the General Disaster Relief fund has aided many individuals and communities impacted by natural disasters over the past year. Here are some testimonies from a few of those projects:

South Asia – Blanket Distribution
We held a small blanket distribution in an area new to long-term workers in the region. Only ten families were there; however, because the group was smaller, our national could more boldly proclaim the gospel. He reported that two or three women paid close attention and asked thoughtful questions. After the gospel presentation, the women said, “How fortunate are we today? We not only received these gifts of blankets but also this gift of the good news.” None have given their lives to Christ yet, but they invited our national partner to return and share more.

Asia – Volcano Response

After a recent eruption, many people in this part of Asia found themselves without homes, and some lost family members. Debris and lava destroyed crops, and those who lived in the villages closest to the eruption were forced to relocate to communities further down the mountain. They were allowed back to their homes for brief periods during the day to salvage what they could, but a concrete-like combination of ash and rain coated almost everything. Fear and hopelessness was widespread.

A national partner recounted his opportunity to hand out food packets to some families sharing a temporary living space. As he gave them the provisions provided by your generosity, the men began to cry and thank him. He was able to share the gospel with the men and their families. When he asked if they had heard it before, most said they had not. We are hoping to follow up with them soon.

Asia – Flood Relief

One of the local church members who helped lead this project, “Mr. O”, shared this testimony upon returning from this project: “Many kinds of people can bring assistance to people in need, including non-Christians. In the end, we want to love our fellow humans, but we also must remember that it is always Christ who saves and not any of our good deeds. Being the hands and feet of Christ always needs to be carefully balanced with this understanding that we are not the ones doing any saving: it is only Him. And being there, bringing material help, gives us a chance to embody that.”

One Christian family in this town was incredibly grateful for the hours this volunteer team gave helping muck out his flooded business space. Each member of this family recently gave their lives to Christ, and seeing the generosity of these Christians impacted the family’s growing faith.

On behalf of our entire General Disaster Relief team, thank you so much for your sacrificial support that provides for the hungry multitudes around the world. Your generosity and faithfulness are changing lives!

*names changed for security