Story number 1 for 29 Jan 2001

(India)–Topping the news, thousands are feared dead following a powerful earthquake that rocked western India on Friday. The quake, measuring 7-point-9 on the Richter scale, was the most intense to hit India in half a century. Operation Mobilization’s Peter Dance says they’re concerned because their workers were situated right in the epicenter. “We have a large team in Gujarat, and in the Ahmedabad area. We at this point, have been unable to contact our own people and find out how they are.” Dance adds that: “Wherever there’s been a disaster, we’ve tried to go in there and minister and try and meet the needs-food, clothing, shelter, and where possible, water. I think the church in Gujarat will rally around to pray and to give. A lot of people in Gujarat will actually ask “Why is God so angry with us?”, and I believe the church can actually go in and share the love of Christ.”