We wanted to provide a short update on the Japan Relief situation as we have been getting many e-mails and calls concerning how to get involved and where to send funds.
We have CC Japanese teams from our CC Japan churches over there right now doing relief work and sending them the funds to work with appears to be our best current approach. We have about 15 CC’s over there and strong relationships with them in doing the relief work. We also have some strategic contacts in place for the long haul including some U.S. and Japan government contacts. There are a lot of relief groups on the ground currently and we don’t believe sending teams right now is the best approach with the uncertainty of aftershocks, evacuations and nuclear reactor concerns. Most American families have been evacuated so it doesn’t seem to be prudent to bring people in the midst of that.
We have 3 groups in place now in the most devastated area.
1. Our CC in N. Tokyo, pastored by Chizou Sakaurai, is in Sendai with a truck filled with gas drums, food, blankets, coats, generators, etc. Chizou and his team have partnered with a local church in ministering both spiritually and physically to the people of Sendai.
2. Ricky Barnett, our CC Okinawa pastor, has also arrived in Sendai with another truck of supplies and is now working with Chizou. Additional trucks are being prepared for the trip to Sendai from Tokyo.
3. Marre Ishi, our Committed Fellowship Tokyo pastor, has set up a relief/outreach center in Rikuzen-takata in Iwate Prefecture, which is next to Sendai, and was one of the hardest hit areas. He will be working with Chizou and Ricky and will be a base for the relief work to continue.
4.We are also in contact with and working with other relief groups such as Samaritan’s Purse and CRASH to obtain and distribute needed supplies.
So there is a lot of active ministry and support in place right now. We just need the funds to keep it going. We are also developing a long term plan for the support that will be required for years to come. Anyone interested in being on a relief team to go to Japan can sign up on the http://www.committedrelief.org website. We will then notify you of when these trips will begin.
You can go to http://www.committedrelief.org to get updates and to contribute on line. Or you make out the check to Limitless Boundaries, the relief outreach of CC La Habra, and send to CC La Habra at:
Calvary Chapel La Habra
Attn: Roger Wing
1370 S. Euclid St.
La Habra, CA 90631
There is a tremendous mission field in place for ministry in Japan. The fields are ripe for harvest in this country with a Christian population of less than 1%. With our strong Calvary Chapel presence in Japan, we see being committed for the long haul. So please keep the people of Japan and the ministry being done in prayer. May the Lord use this tragedy to bring people face-to-face with the truth of Jesus.
Be blessed,
Lance Cook & Roger Wing
No comments:
Post a Comment