Oct. 26, 2009 issue
Philippines churches aid typhoon survivors
By Jewel Showalter Eastern Mennonite MissionsLUMBAN, Philippines — Philippine Mennonites are assisting victims of two deadly typhoons.
Children of members of Lumban Mennonite Church pose with aid prepared by the church to distribute in the community. — Photo provided by EMM
They are receiving support from North American partners.
“When disaster hit the Philippines, our church responded immediately,” said Richard Rancap, pastor of Lumban Mennonite Church, who also chairs the Emergency Relief Committee of the Integrated Mennonite Church of the Philippines.
“Within a half hour people began bringing extra food and clothing to the church. We hadn’t asked for help from outside, but we were very excited when we learned that Eastern Mennonite Missions and other connected groups were sending money to help us in our response. It felt like a miracle of the five loaves and two fish.”
Tilahun Beyene, prayer ministries advocate for Eastern Mennonite Missions, arrived Oct. 9 on the heels of typhoons Ketsana (Ondoy) and Parma, which killed more than 600 people.
Beyene and the rest of an EMM team visited Santa Cruz, where one-third of the city of 100,000 was still under water.
The next day the EMM team joined Lumban Mennonite Church for worship. “We’re here to stand with you in this difficult time,” said Beyene, who also is coordinator for the International Missions Association, a group of Anabaptist mission bodies.
After worship, church leaders shared relief supplies of food, medicine and clothing with members affected by the flooding.
The EMM team joined an International Missions Association emergency medical team organized by Lumban Mennonite Church member Lotus Rancap.
The group of volunteer nurses, midwives and doctors treated needy people and dispensed medicine and rice.
The church also used the medical outreach as an opportunity to share spiritually. Bishop Ambrocio Porcincula preached evangelistic messages and prayed with interested people.
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