Christian Relief Workers Bring Hope to Earthquake Victims in Japan
by Jonathan Wilson, Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope (CRASH)
July 27, 2007
KASHIWAZAKI, JAPAN (ANS) -- Christian volunteers are arriving in Kashiwazaki-city to begin operations after a devastating 6.8 earthquake hit the region only 2 months after a similar quake in the nearby Noto Peninsula. The area is still recovering from the massive earthquake that wiped out villages and left thousands homeless two and a half years ago. The city of Kashiwazaki has been without basic services such as water, electricity and gas for most of the week and many are crowded into shelters as thousands of homes have collapsed.
CRASH has made contact with most of the churches and ministries in the city and many of them have suffered extensive damage.
The Kashiwazaki Holiness Church's sanctuary has completely collapsed, but thankfully the pastor and his family did not suffer injury.
A missionary family serving with the Church of Christ, Jerry and Laura Mort have been forced out of their home once again, the second time in three years. They are living with their children, including one with special needs, in the English school where they have been conducting outreach in hopes of planting a church in the city.
The Niigata Bible Institute and Campground located just outside of the city has sustained some damage but has agreed to serve as a base camp for Christian volunteer operations to the city.
The CRASH assessment team is currently in Kashiwazaki setting up the volunteer center at the camp and meeting with local Christian leaders to ascertain the need. The volunteer center will be accepting Christian volunteers from Monday, July 23rd.
Team Leader, Sherwood Patterson, reports, "Once we reached the Sea of Japan coastline, we could see blue tarps covering many damaged roofs. The roads were open, but there were many workers sealing large cracks and welding bridge beams. After arriving, (at the Niigata Bible Camp) we found three of the cabins had broken away from their foundations, leaving 4 inch cracks where the buildings once stood. While we were examining the foundation under one cabin, there was a small aftershock that caused the cabin to sway."
CRASH (Christian Relief Assistance Support and Hope) is a ministry of Grace Christian Fellowship, in Tokyo Japan. In cooperation with the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association and the Japan Evangelical Association, CRASH helps Christian volunteers respond to disasters within Japan through information, coordination, and pre-disaster training. It can be found on the web at crashjapan.com.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.