January 3, 2012

Your Generosity Aids Typhoon
Survivors in the Philippines

An Oblation grant is offering relief to survivors of Typhoon Sendong in the Philippines. The US$2,000 grant equals 86,219 Philippine pesos. The church in the Philippines and individual members are partnering with the World Church to provide support for those in need. Your generous contributions to the Abolish Poverty, End Suffering mission initiative made this grant possible.

Jennifer de Guzman, Southeast Asia Mission Center associate president, said the storms have “severely devastated several cities in the area. The typhoon is believed to be the worst in 12 years now earning the highest death toll of almost a thousand…and still many are missing.”

Typhoon Sendong (internationally named Typhoon Washi) hit Mindanao island in the Philippines December 17. Monsoon rains followed, causing flash flooding. Thousands have been left homeless. “We are very grateful that all our congregations are safe during the typhoon except that we experienced heavy rains as well,” said Jennifer. “The aftermath of the typhoon in the South is heart-rending to see and we cannot afford to not respond to the many needs of the victims.”

Community of Christ Abolish Poverty, End Suffering aid was given through the Philippine Red Cross Santiago City chapter. Volunteers and staff from the Philippine Red Cross are in Mindanao providing meals and first aid in evacuation centers. They will continue to give survivors shelter, food, water, and other relief supplies and assistance.

Your Generosity Shares Christ’s Compassion

Your offerings to Abolish Poverty, End Suffering make it possible for the church to be Christ’s hands and feet, reaching out through compassionate ministries to those in need. You can give to this and all of the mission initiatives at www.CofChrist.org/give/contribute and on the worldwide ministries side of your mission tithes envelopes. Because of your ongoing generosity, Community of Christ is able to respond as a worldwide church to this crisis in the Philippines.