Japan: after the wave

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:44 Wednesday, 16 March 2011 16:00

The massive relief operation in Japan is being supported by church organisations across the world, including Baptists.

Within five hours of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake striking, Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBA) had mobilised at the request of the Japanese Baptist Convention (JBC) and was on its way to the affected zone.

They included HBA chief executive Dr Bela Szilagyi (pictured centre) and rescue commander Laszlo Pavelcze (left), and were part of a Baptist World Aid Rescue24 team, which also comprises relief workers from North Carolina, USA and Singapore.

With transport crippled from the disaster, they did not arrive in the main stricken city of Sendai until after midnight on Sunday (March 13). The team was assessing needs and requirements on Monday.

On Saturday the JBC established a disaster relief headquarters, to gather information to distribute to all involved in the relief efforts, as well as channeling financial support for its relief activities.

‘As we learn more details of the situation of our churches and the people in the area, Japan Baptist brothers and sisters are anxious to provide relief supplies and relief work to help the thousands of victims,’ said Makoto Kato, JBC executive secretary.

Nearly 600,000 people had been evacuated and more than 2,000 evacuation centres set up in northeast Japan as a result of the earthquake, which struck on Friday afternoon and was followed by a series of tsunami waves measuring up to 10 metres.

Many towns on the country’s northeastern coastline have been devastated. The death toll was 1,600 at the start of the week, but was expected to rise to 10,000. There were fears about the spread of radiation in Fukushima following an explosion at a nuclear power plant. Concern was also mounting for the well being of a number of Baptists in the affected areas.

As The Baptist Times went to press there were still members of both the Japanese Baptist Convention (JBC) and Japanese Baptist Union (JBU) unaccounted for.

The JBC has 17 churches in the affected area, and the JBU 14. ‘Unfortunately several members of the JBC churches living in the vicinity of the Pacific coastline remain unreachable; we are anxious for their safety,’ said Mr Kato.

‘Additionally, about half of the 14 JBU churches and mission points are along the coast, and most of these have serious damages.  ‘Again, there is great concern for the church members who are unaccounted for.’

The JBU had not heard from the pastors at churches in Hachinohe, Kuji, Tagajo, Shichigahama, Matsushima, and Kashimadai.  Several of the smaller JBC churches themselves had sustained damages, although those with larger buildings were not ‘severely affected’, Mr Kato added.

Even the cities and towns in this region that did not experience much direct damage from the earthquake have still lost electrical power, gas, and water supply, causing ‘a miserable situation for people during this cold weather’.

Mr Kato thanked Christians for their concern and support, and encouraged continuing prayer. ‘Our human minds cannot begin to comprehend this crisis which exceeds our greatest fears,’ he said.

‘Let us pledge our continuing support for all the Baptist churches in northeastern Japan and the victims surrounding them.  

‘Let us join our hearts in prayer as we enter this long-time commitment to sustain a ministry of relief work in his name and for his glory.’

Makoto Tanno, JBU general secretary, also told The Baptist Times, ‘We need your help and prayer.’

Elsewhere Baptist Global Response, which coordinates relief work with Southern Baptist missionaries, allocated an initial $100,000 to prepare for the initial response.

American Baptist Churches USA sent a $20,000 grant to its partners, the JBU. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship sent an initial $5,000 for immediate relief needs.

Other Christian agencies, including the Salvation Army and World Vision are also on the ground as part of the relief effort.