GFA Leaders Call for Response as New Flooding Leaves Millions Homeless
by Staff
September 30, 2010
CARROLLTON, Texas, (christiansunite.com) -- After more than a month of battling massive flooding in Pakistan and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Gospel for Asia's Compassion Services relief teams are now on the front lines bringing hope and material aid to the victims of new floods in three North India states.Floods in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi have left an estimated two million people homeless and another 380 dead in their wake.
Even as the Yamuna River, which flows through the nation's capital of New Delhi, began to recede, it remained high above the danger level. Further upstream, mudslides washed out 1,500 roads and highways, stranding some 3,000 religious pilgrims for a week and cutting them off from relief efforts.
A major rail bridge in the city of Ambala, where Gospel for Asia ministers to slum dwellers and supports a womens' Bible college, was threatened by the floods, and several mainline trains had to be diverted to other routes.
In addition to homes, the waters also took a devastating toll on farmland and livestock, wiping out the livelihood of thousands of poor farm families.
"Imagine how desperate and demoralized you would be if you lost your home and possessions, and in addition, your teenaged son was drowned in the floodwaters," said GFA President K.P. Yohannan.
"That's the kind of tragedy that has been experienced by hundreds of families in these flood-stricken villages.
"All around this river, you have people by the hundreds of thousands living in mud-brick houses," Dr. Yohannan tearfully explained, "and these simple huts have been completely washed away by 25 or 30 feet of water."
"And within the house, all the furniture, beds, clothes, utensils and the kids' books -- everything is completely ruined. Everything the family has, which is not much, is all gone."
"It is to these desperate families, Dr. Yohannan said, that GFA Compassion Services teams are currently ministering."
"Our people are now desperately trying to bring these suffering men, women and children the basic necessities they need, including food, water, clothing, shelter and medicines," he said.
"We have churches in these areas, and some of them are suffering from the crisis, too. But by the grace of God we also have missionaries and volunteers on the scene -- even those who have suffered their own losses -- who are able and willing to minister to those around them who have lost all hope."
Dr. Yohannan pleaded for American Christians to "not grow weary in well-doing" and continue to stand with those who are bringing relief -- and God's healing love -- to those who have lost so much.
"When I hear these things, I think, 'Oh man, what on earth am I going to do about it?'" the GFA founder said. "But then I calm down and say, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?'"
"Sometimes it is to pray more. Sometimes the Lord shows me that this is an opportunity to demonstrate His love in a tangible way. But we will never be able to do what we should do if we are looking at ourselves.
"Rather we should be looking at things like the Macedonian believers did in the New Testament. They were in terrible poverty and had nothing for themselves, but they thought about others who were suffering and contributed and shared what they could. I think this is the biblical and godly attitude we should maintain.
"This is a time for people to pray and do whatever they can to relieve the suffering of people whom God loves in the name of our Lord. Now is the time to show the world what God's love really means."
Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization, based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.
