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KBC Establishes Fund for Japan
03/15/2011
LOUISVILLE – Kentucky Baptists seeking to help those affected by last week’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan can make a financial contribution through the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
Gifts to "Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief" with the memo "Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief" may be sent to the Kentucky Baptist Convention, PO Box 43433, Louisville, KY 40253-0433. Online giving is available at www.kybaptist.org/dr. Find the link under "contributions."
Funds will be forwarded to the International Mission Board to be used in disaster relief and recovery efforts, said Coy Webb, KBC disaster relief associate.
"My hope is that Kentucky Baptists will step forward as they have always done with grace and compassion and with aid for those affected by this disaster," Webb said.
A Southern Baptist Disaster Relief assessment team arrived in Japan March 12 and began work to determine the best way that Southern Baptist volunteers can help on the scene, he said.
Teams from the Alabama, California and South Carolina Baptist conventions are expected to be the first Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers called upon to serve in Japan.
Prayer is a gift everyone can give to the Japanese people, Webb added.
"We should pray ... for those who are hurting that they will receive aid and compassion and that they will be drawn to Christ," he said.
While efforts are just beginning to help the people of Japan, here at home, 20 Kentucky Baptists are serving in Ohio following flooding there. The group, deployed last week, is in Wapakoneta, Ohio, about 90 miles northwest of Columbus.
Webb said the 17 "mud-out" volunteers, two chaplains and one command team leader from 10 Kentucky Baptist associations anticipate completing their work March 19 or 20.
"No additional teams appear to be needed from Kentucky," he added.
Through Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, more than 7,000 individuals have been trained to respond to natural and man-made crises with an array of services. Feeding units can provide thousands of meals on short notice. Volunteers in other units can move in with chainsaws to remove debris, remove mud from flooded homes and provide other assistance.
Kentucky Baptists are part of a larger network of Southern Baptist volunteers that comprise the third largest relief organization in the United States. To learn more about Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, go to www.kybaptist.org/dr.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
by Dannah Prather, KBC Communications
