Super Typhoon Haiyan Spurs Massive Efforts, Prayer

NRB members have sprung into action and into prayer following the landfall of Super Typhoon Haiyan in Vietnam and the Philippines.

In the Philippines, where the typhoon hit hardest, some 600,000 people are displaced and more than 2,300 are dead – with the death toll expected to rise, perhaps significantly.

“It is very heartbreaking what is happening to my country caused by this super typhoon,” reported Leonardo Perez, a TWR Philippines staff member. “In Tacloban City [on the Philippine island of Leyte], according to the news, almost all households are victims. I am very concerned especially about the situation of children.  In the news, they are wet and chilled.”

After the storm – one of the most powerful ever recorded – slammed into the Philippines early Friday morning, relief groups immediately deployed disaster response specialists, including water and nutrition experts, to the region.

“The damage is extensive. Some areas the whole cities are missing or very badly damaged,” said Patrick Seger, team leader for Samaritan’s Purse’s response. “Many areas hardest hit are without electricity, without water, they are without food. These people are really struggling at this point and need everything.”

Also on the ground serving the immediate needs of survivors are The Salvation Army and World Vision, as well as the local branches of a number of ministries, which are also ministering in the Philippines in the midst of the devastation and loss. FEBC radio stations in the Philippines, furthermore, have initiated “First Response” broadcasts, airing critical information directing people to where they can find clean water, shelter, food, and emergency services.

FEBC has also sent a small, mobile team into affected areas to distribute more than 1,000 portable, wind-up radios to survivors so they can hear life-saving instructions.

Disaster relief praying with the victims; Photo Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse

While there are a number of NRB member organizations working to provide relief in the Philippines, the following are instructions from a few on how you can pray and help:

Cru
Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for all of our more than 200 staff located in the Philippines affected by this tragedy.
• Please pray for Dr. Ding Miguel, Jojo Besin, Art Adriano, and Ferdie Medina as they are coordinating now to provide immediate medical help and relief operations for the area.
• Please pray for a safe and effective way to bring relief aid, food, and necessities to the area. It’s not currently a safe situation as there is extreme violence and looting as people are desperate to get food and relief supplies.
• Please pray for the safety of our staff and all the people to whom they are ministering. There are many reports of violence and lootings from desperate people targeting anyone with aid.
• Please pray for safety for two ARP volunteers who are traveling to the area to provide extra medical help.

To donate, visit: Cru’s website

Evangelism Explosion International

Prayer Request: “Please join me in asking Goyd to bring speedy relief to Filipinos without food, water, or shelter in towns, cities, and fishing villages, some of which have been flattened by the storm.” – EE President Dr. John Sorensen

To donate, visit: Evangelism Explosion International

FEBC
Prayer Requests:

• For our ground staff as they assist in efforts.
• For the government & relief agencies to reach survivors quickly.
• For the Filipino people, as they struggle to recover physically and emotionally.
• That God will show His love, peace, and hope to a suffering nation.

To donate, visit: FEBC website

Belongings are gathered by those who suffered this devastation; Photo Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse

The Salvation Army
To donate, visit www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Donations of $10 can also be made via mobile phone by texting “TYPHOON” to 80888 and replying “YES.” Check donations to Salvation Army World Service Office (designate “Typhoon Haiyan”) can be mailed to:

Salvation Army World Service Office
International Relief Fund
P.O. Box 418558
Boston, MA 02241-8558

In-kind donations are not being accepted.

Samaritan’s Purse
Prayer Request: Please pray for the people affected by the storm and for our partners and staff as we respond.

To donate, visit: Samaritan’s Purse

TWR
Prayer Requests:

• Rehabilitation of roads. Supplies are not coming in as quickly as expected because of very poor road conditions.
• Recovery of electricity and communication lines. Coordination of aid and supply deliveries (especially from Manila to the affected areas) are affected by fragmented communication.
• Communication is a big problem. A priority is to restore the communication lines so that right responses can be given to typhoon victims.
• Pray for electricity to be restored immediately so that we can continue to air our programs and reach the people with the Good News.
• Pray for listeners who are victims.
• Pray that aid and relief will be able to reach the victims.
• Pray for TWR Philippines staff members’ relatives living in the affected areas.
• Give wisdom to our team leader and other Christian leaders as they strive to minister in the affected areas.

World Vision
To donate:

• Text the word “HOPE” to 777444 to donate $10 to World Vision’s relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan.
• Make an online donation to the Philippines Disaster Response Fund.
• Call 1-888-562-4453 (1-888-56-CHILD).

To learn more about the Kenneth Chan and the NRB, please visit National Religious Broadcasters Association