Open Doors Launches Two Million Dollar Tsunami Relief Project
by Chad Groening
January 25, 2005
(AgapePress) - An international Christian ministry has announced a multimillion dollar outreach to victims of last month's South Asian tsunami. The "Wave of Hope" project is being implemented by Open Doors, a ministry that serves the persecuted Church.The Wave of Hope outreach involves partnerships with Christian ministries and churches in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India -- three of the countries hardest-hit by the December 26 tsunami disaster. Open Doors spokesman Jerry Dykstra says the two million dollar project is being established to provide assistance over the long haul.
"These people are going to need help spiritually and physically for months and years to come," Dykstra says, "so really we're looking at long term [needs], such as rebuilding churches and helping them get reestablished to minister in their communities; assisting our partner organizations and network of pastors; continuing relief operations among the victims, regardless of their faith; and financing schooling of displaced and orphaned children."
The Open Doors representative notes that many Christians living in the tsunami disaster zone have been persecuted for their faith in the past. Now, he says, many of these believers are able to share Christ with their Muslim persecutors.
Dykstra points out that the Wave of Hope outreach is both materially practical and evangelistic. "We see this as a holistic ministry," he says. "I know some agencies have been criticized for speaking out and telling people about Christ, but we think both these things go together -- both the spiritual and the physical -- and that's what we're doing."
Open Doors USA president Dr. Carl Moeller says the ministry has been working in Southeast Asia for years, providing Bibles and Christian materials, facilitating community development, and conducting seminars. Now that the area is in dire physical need, he says the ministry intends to be steadfastly involved in the long-term response. Relief provided by Open Doors and its Christian partners will include providing food, tents, drinking water and other relief and medical supplies, schooling of children, livelihood projects, and trauma counseling.
Relief workers will also be offering spiritual aid and comfort to the surviving victims. Moeller invites Christians around the world to partner with Open Doors as the ministry strives to "extend the hands of Jesus" to those who are suffering in the aftermath of the December tsunami tragedy.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
