Taiwan has a long history of quakes. Since the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in 1999 that left thousands dead, Taiwan instituted stronger building codes and improved its emergency response teams. This time, the death toll is low, but rescue efforts are urgent. Taiwan’s National Fire Association said Thursday more than 700 people remain stranded. 

(April 3 earthquake damage at National Hualien Girls’ Senior High School. Official Photo by Shufu Liu / Office of the President courtesy of 總統府 via Wikimedia Commons: https://rb.gy/xbeqcy)

Joe Handley with A3 says, ““Taiwan is one of those countries that’s well prepared for a disaster like this. However, this was the largest quake they’ve had in over 25 years.”

Relief work will continue for months ahead. More than 100 buildings have been damaged and many landslides have impacted the eastern side of the island.

“The churches I know are actively engaging with what’s happening. You know, in moments like this, Jesus shines,” Handley says. 

“The church in Taiwan is robust in many ways. (It) has had a strong presence in the country and has been very missionary-oriented for years.”

Handley asks the global Church to consider the long-term as we respond to this disaster.

“Right now you do have the immediate response needs that are happening. I encourage people to give now; give to those opportunities that they see to help the local church rally around their own people,” he says. 

“Pray for the local churches, and then think long-term. Don’t think just ‘now and then out.’ Think long-term: What impact does God have planned for Taiwan?”

A3 works to disciple and resource Christian leaders in the countries in which it serves. Learn how you can partner with them here for the long-term strengthening of the Church around the globe. 

Header image is an Official Photo by Shufu Liu / Office of the President, courtesy of 總統府 via Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons: https://rb.gy/hboi2o.

Kurt Rovenstine of Bibles for China says the future is difficult to predict. “I wish we all had a crystal ball and could tell when this was going to end and how we could get on top of things,” he says.

“The flattening of the curve… may not be as flat as we thought, [and] we’ve heard some of those things about continued outbreaks and new hot spots over there in China where the virus is again, starting to move.”

What’s more, many local Christians are not returning to the same China they thought they knew. Rovenstine reports that their organization has regular conversations about what the future of Scripture in China might look like as sinicization efforts increase. Among other things, they monitor Scripture printed in China for any changes or adaptations that may have been implemented.

So where does that leave organizations like Bibles for China? Although distribution has been difficult, Bibles for China still has Bibles ready for when travel restrictions lift. They’re in regular conversation with local leaders and government officials to ensure their efforts are both legal and effective.

Photo courtesy of Bibles for China

“We work with government officials; they know we’re there and what we do,” Rovenstine says. “We have letters of permission for those scriptures to be distributed in the areas in which we work… we’re not smuggling them in.”

Bibles for China focuses on resourcing locals to purchase and distribute Bibles. Even if they can’t move Bibles from town to town right now, they can make plans to take action the moment restrictions lift.

“This too shall pass at some point in the future, and God [will] give us the wisdom to know how and when to push for the distribution of those scriptures that are in place and ready to be handed out,” Rovenstine says.

Like many other ministries, Bibles for China hasn’t been idle while their ministry is limited by health restrictions; they’ve found the silver lining in making their work digital.

“People that are joining online… the services that aren’t meeting [who] maybe wouldn’t have shown up otherwise, and that seems to be a dynamic that’s happening all over China,” he says.

One woman they’ve been in contact with says she didn’t have a local church and missed having opportunities for communal worship. When churches and small groups went online, she seized the opportunity to plug into her own group.

Similar stories have cropped up all over China. Small groups, bible studies, and worship services have all found life in creative digital efforts. In many ways, Rovenstine says the Chinese Church has grown stronger, not weaker, during this health crisis.

But there’s still a long way to go, so Rovenstine asks for prayer on three fronts:

1. Churches would open again. Some Chinese believers are concerned that they could face unexpected religious restrictions or that church openings would continue to see delay. Pray that they would open quickly and that local believers would see freedom in their worship.

2. Trust in God. In a rare historical moment, the entire world has been impacted by COVID-19 on some level. Pray that the world would find hope and faith in Christ and that God’s healing would sweep across the globe.

3. God would prepare people to become His voice. When the world does return to some level of normalcy, pray that many believers would have spent time in the Word and would be ready to advance His kingdom of compassion and justice around the globe.

Find out more about Bibles for China and their work right here.

Header photo courtesy of Bibles for China.

Relief Efforts in Mozambique

Mission Aviation Fellowship, operating as Ambassador Aviation in Mozambique, is a first responder in the country. MAF’s Global Disaster Response Manager John Woodberry says the cyclone has brought more devastation than what was initially expected.

Since cyclone Idai hit, MAF has been working with the National Disaster Management Institute of Mozambique to do aerial assessment, identify the extent of the disaster, identify the greatest needs, and gather critical information regarding how and where to respond. Since it is the responsibility of Mozambique’s government to respond to the disaster, MAF is working with them and other non-profits to provide help.

One of the challenges MAF faces during its relief efforts is isolation. People are stranded and hard to reach.

Aerial photos from Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. The cyclone made landfall on March 14, 2019 in Mozambique. (Photo/caption courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)

“We are finding people on tufts of ground, roofs of houses, wherever there was land. Animals, snakes, people all would get into the tree or the little tuft of land, and using food provided by the World Food Program, we started dropping food at different places. But we’re a part of a larger response now and we’re blessed to be able to serve and help those suffering in Mozambique,” Woodberry says.

Rick Emenaker, a MAF pilot responding to the disaster in Mozambique, has seen first-hand the destruction from Cyclone Idai during survey flights to photograph the damage and determine where to provide rescue efforts.

“We saw many people on rooftops and others clinging to trees. The floodwaters had completely submerged homes. These photos really opened the eyes of the world to what’s going on,” Emenaker says.

Partnering to Serve

MAF has partnered with Mercy Air, Food for the Hungry, Samaritan’s Purse, and others to respond to the crisis. Aircraft can deliver supplies, such as tents, food, and medical equipment, but Woodberry says helicopters and boats are needed to get to where people are affected. Through Mercy Air, MAF is using a helicopter to meet needs. MAF is also using its Cessna Caravan—a ten passenger aircraft—for survey flights and as an air-bridge for people. They’re also bringing tents to Beira, which is surrounded by floodwaters. BBC News footage from a survey flight shows extreme flooding in Mozambique.

Following Cyclone Idai in Mozambique in 2019, Mission Aviation Fellowship and Mercy Air worked together to deliver aid and conduct survey flights. (Photo/caption courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)

“We’ve been partnering with the helicopter operator for some of the food drops and tent drops. It’ll do a sling load of a bunch of tents and stuff like that. But the water is slowly starting to recede and so we’re hopeful in a week or so some of the roads will open up again, but that remains to be seen,” Woodberry says.

It was nearly harvest time when Cyclone Idai struck. Not only have people lost their homes, but they have also lost their food supplies, stock animals, crops, and livelihoods. Woodberry says people are moving into Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps for temporary shelter and food, but, the “long-term needs are going to be astronomical in helping people return and be able to build on land where it’s safe to do, replanting crops.”

Until then, people are packed together in tight quarters, creating a breeding ground for disease and cholera. Per the BBC, reports of cholera in Beira surfaced on Friday and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has noted an increase in malaria, too.

Get Involved

MAF plans to serve in Mozambique during this disaster until its services are no longer needed. However, the organization relies on donor support to provide help in times of need. Will you give to help MAF “respond and deliver rapid life-saving supplies” and to transport people as needed?

To financially support MAF’s response work, click here.

“Pray for wisdom, that God would open doors for help to rapidly arrive. You can pray for the people of Mozambique. Whatever challenges we’re having, we really do not have challenges compared to those who’ve lost homes, those who’ve lost family members, those who are hungry. So, you can pray for the suffering, those people, and that doors would be open, that help will come, and the tangible love of Jesus Christ will be shown,” Woodberry asks.

Header photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship.