Story number 1 for 7 Feb 2002

(Afghanistan)–Topping the news, Afghan nationals have faced the twin scourges of war and drought. However, due to international aid efforts, it appears that the threat of famine may have been averted. World Concern’s Cory Heins says there are concerns that immediate aid is only a stopgap measure. “That’ll get people through the winter, and maybe early spring. But it doesn’t do a lot of help here, for later in the year. They really have to have those crops going. It’s a major thing out there. Looks great to have those trucks out there distributing, but you need to have seeds head there also. Right now, that’s not the case, at least in the area that I was in.” Heins says their mission is fulfilled through their outreach. “We’re showing the works of Christ, through our givings right now. We’re going to get in there and help these people out. It’s a gradual thing; you have to be very careful. When we come in, we’re helping with the relief effort, [and] people are realizing ‘There’s something special about Christians.'”