Missionaries Bring Hope to India's Flood Victims - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

Even as massive flooding in the Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh has left at least 230 people dead and more than 10 million survivors homeless, Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries and the Christians they serve are reaching out to the victims with both physical aid and emotional comfort.

GFA President K.P. Yohannan reported that among the congregations these missionaries serve, more than 170 church building have been damaged or destroyed and at least 30,000 families have been affected.

"Most of these Christian families—like others around them—need immediate food, clean water and shelter," the GFA founder said. "They have lost literally everything."

News reports indicated that at least 350 villages have been totally cut off from the outside world by the flood waters, the worst in Karnataka’s modern history. The floods were caused by a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, which is off the east coast of India.

The Indian Air Force is dropping supplies to some areas by plane, while the Army is trying to reach other survivors by boat. Also disturbing for the long-term is that thousands of head of livestock, upon which many farmers depend to make a living, have also died in the flood waters.

A GFA leader in Andhra Pradesh reported that one town was 60 percent submerged and in danger of being completely drowned under 15-20 feet of water. He said panic was gripping people in surrounding towns and that both adults and children were crying out for help.

And help is on the way. Dr. Yohannan reported that, regardless of their own situations, GFA-supported missionaries are already bringing relief supplies—and hope—to those in such dire need.

"In spite of their own difficulties, our missionaries and believers are working to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the victims," he explained. "In fact, our people see it as a great privilege to share the love of Christ with those who are suffering so much."

Dr. Yohannan said that in addition to the physical suffering, the missionaries see even greater despair and emotional pain in the eyes of the victims.

He cited an example from the 2004 tsunami where a woman who had been given physical aid walked out into the ocean, apparently ready to end her life in the waves.

"But our missionary walked out to her and began sharing from the Scriptures," he recalled. "She had lost her family—everything—but God’s Word gave her the hope she needed to go on. The Gospel gave her a new life.

"That’s why our missionaries are trained to not only give out food and blankets, but to counsel and pray with men and women in trauma, giving them the only true hope they can find to rebuild their lives," he explained.

"Jesus said, 'As you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.' So what an opportunity it is to minister to these suffering victims in His name!

"I ask all of our Christian brothers and sisters in the West to please join with us in bringing the hope of the Gospel to these suffering people. I believe thousands of these precious men, women and children will find new life in the midst of this tragedy, and your gifts to GFA flood relief will truly make a difference."

http://www.gfa.org/news/articles/karnataka-flood/

Reply by Lahry Sibley on October 6, 2009 at 6:34pm

Thanks Chris,
I've been getting an email here and there from friends in India and they are all reporting the same data. About 2 months ago, I was praying with them for rain. Sigh. I guess we over did it a bit. Even with our hurricanes and tornados, forrest fires and earthquakes, it is difficult for most americans to have an inkling of what it's like to be caught in the kind of situation that exists in India currently.
Thank you for posting this. I trust that those who have funds will be generous. I think GFA is a worthy agency of aid and Godly support.

Shalom,

Lahry

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