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By
Bill Snider
We’ve had our equivalent of Hurricane Katrina in Metro Manila. Ketsana brought 13.4 inches of rainfall —
almost a month’s worth of rain — in just six hours over Metro Manila causing
widespread flooding, some of which was up to 20 feet high. More than 500,000 people were forced to
evacuate their homes.
A week later, Typhoon Parma hit Baguio in the northern part of Luzon island. This mountainous region experienced
hundreds of landslides after a week of intense rain. In one area, 39 members of one of our Assemblies of God
churches died as a portion of a hillside literally covered houses in their
small village.
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDST OF CALAMITY
Thanks to the strong response of our national church,
our missionary family, Convoy of Hope and Health Care Ministries, we responded with
relief efforts and are now in a time of trying to help people process and
recover from their losses.
Recovery from such devastation is slow. Yet, in the midst of this calamity, the
church has also been presented with some wonderful opportunities. Literally thousands of people have
received a clear witness of Christ and many have responded during health
clinics and feeding programs. Please
pray that the follow up by national church pastors will be effective.
Reflecting on these things this morning, I’m reminded of what Jesus told His
weary disciples:
Are
you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real
rest. Walk with me and work with
me—watch how I do it. Learn the
unforced rhythms of grace. I won't
lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly
(Matthew 11:28-30, The Message).
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the midst of so much need and such great
opportunities. I’ve never felt
more the reality of the words that the harvest is great and the laborers are
few. Your prayers and your support
allow us to be in this place at this strategic time working in close
relationship with our national brothers. We rely strongly on the ministry of the Spirit through our friends.
Bill
and Kim Snider are AGWM missionaries to the Philippines.
Copyright ©2009 The General Council of the Assemblies of God.
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