Greetings in Christ. Many churches have extra mission funds at the end of the year. In this letter, I would like to encourage you to consider giving from your mission account or to do a special offering for Crisis Response and this South Asia project. There is an urgency to give to this project where families have lost their homes and means of making a living. Read more details below from Crisis Response –
South Asia Flood Response
Due to heavy summer rains, rising rivers and overflowing reservoirs, more than 1,600 villages have been flooded in South Asia, claiming the lives of 43 people and impacting more than 354,000. Homes have been destroyed; belongings have been lost; some escaped with just the clothes on their backs. Vast areas of crops and cattle have been killed, devastating the livelihoods of local farmers.
ReachGlobal Crisis Response is collaborating with multiple long-time ministry partners and local churches who have been ministering on-the-ground in South Asia for several years—making disciples, investing in leaders and planting churches.
Villages that once posted signs that read “No pastors/Christians allowed” are now more open to receiving help and are building relationships. In the context of their already existing ministry, Crisis Response and their partners are now able to leverage this new opportunity to make disciples by serving people with practical help and words of love. In an area of much religious division, they are serving people from all religious backgrounds, making a strong statement about the love of Christ for all people.
There are immediate needs for food, clean drinking water, cooking gas, medical supplies and cooking pots/utensils, etc. These are expected to extend until the flooded fields can be replanted (about six months).
Their goal is $85,000. Project #21709-3990P.
Thank you for giving!
Blessings,
Steve Austvold