Baptist Global Response

By Kate Taylor

In a war-ravaged city in Central Asia, 40 impoverished women are receiving training that will help them provide for their families and move out of the refugee camps they live in – thanks to the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.

Women who participate in the six-month course will learn the art of sewing and attend daily literacy classes. The training will give them marketable skills and a chance to earn a stable income in an area where annual per capita income averages less than $100.

The project will provide each student with a monthly food supplement while enrolled in the course. Each student also will receive a sewing machine after successfully completing the program.

A single sewing machine can change the life of a female refugee, who may use it to create an in-home business or to find work through a local tailoring shop, said the local project director, who is a field partner of Baptist Global Response. The impact of the course is potentially multiplied by the number of family members in each of the 40 households, directly affecting approximately 240 people.

Both the sewing and literacy classes are taught by two female teachers, nationals who have led the program successfully since 2003. Over the course of six months, the teachers are able to help their students learn how to have a full and meaningful life that inspires them to raise their families in confidence, build their communities with dignity and share that life with others.

“This has been one of our most successful projects,” said the project director. “That is a testimony to the two women who, at great risk, do what no Westerner can do.”

The project director asked believers to pray for the safety of the teachers because their homeland is such a dangerous place.

“Projects like this enable families to move toward breaking the poverty cycle that entraps millions of people. This project gives these ladies a skill that long outlives any materials goods that could be given.” says Francis Horton, area director for Central and South Asia. “Generations will benefit from this project.”

Total funding for this project – $12, 575 – was provided by Southern Baptists who care about people in need and donate generously to the World Hunger Fund. For information about giving to the World Hunger Fund, please visit our Giving page.

By Kate Taylor

Communities in the Pacific Rim devastated by flooding have been helped through relief efforts made possible only by the generosity of Southern Baptists. A total of 475 households received food staples, as well as roofing shingles, purchased with $5,000 provided from Southern Baptist world hunger and general relief funds.

Early this year, three days of extremely heavy rain and high winds caused flooding up to six feet deep in the areas. A number of rural villages were left isolated as flood waters rose, blocking roads and taking out bridges and electricity. By the fourth day, the water had risen so high that homes were submerged and people had to flee. At least 11 people died and three others were missing and presumed dead.

Field partners of Baptist Global Response moved quickly to provide disaster relief directly to families living in the villages. By distributing packets of rice, sugar, noodles, oil, and tea, around 2,000 people in two villages experienced renewed hope. Field partners also were able to distribute shingles and help repair several buildings. They continue to monitor the situation and look for additional ways to help.

Believers are asked to pray for the more than 4,000 villagers affected by this tragedy and for the workers who are assisting them. Pray that the help these families have received will inspire them to raise their families with confidence, build their communities with dignity, and share this life with others.

By Mike Creswell

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — The orphan girls stood silently as the brown paper parcels were opened, their eyes widening as they began to think maybe this was something for them.

They squealed with delight when colorful new dresses were handed to them to try on.

A new dress is a remarkable and precious thing in this impoverished country. Zimbabwe has been battered by economic collapse, political turmoil, violence and disease in recent years. A cholera outbreak in late 2008 killed more than 4,000 people and sickened at least 10,000.

But those numbers are small compared to the ongoing AIDS epidemic, which has killed millions across central and southern Africa, leaving countless children orphaned — like those in the home in Bulawayo, which is assisted by the Baptist Union of Zimbabwe.

“The kids are all smiles,” said Ann Mitchell, executive director of the Baptist Union of Zimbabwe. “The materials used are a constant cause of amazement. They will last for ages, even if they are pounded on a rock in the washing process. The designs are so very different from anything seen here. What a blessing!”

Getting the dresses delivered was made possible by Southern Baptist missionaries who partnered with staff from Baptist Global Response. General relief donations — given by Baptists across the United States through their state conventions, North American Mission Board and International Mission Board — paid for 600 dresses to be delivered to Zimbabwe.

The dresses themselves, however, came from the hands of Addilene Leonard of Louisburg, N.C., a smallish town about 30 minutes from Raleigh, the state capital.

Baptists use Bibles, puppets, videos and many other tools for missions. Leonard uses her sewing machine.

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This prayer item comes from BGR prayer coordinator Lori Funderburk:

Tuisoch, an indigenous Mayan community in Guatemala, recently lost its access to a natural spring which was its only source of water. Currently this community is collecting rainfall from the roof of the local church. Water is also being trucked in from three hours away, but the transportation fees are almost double the value of the water. BGR and local partners are constructing a cistern that will be used by the community. All work and supervision will be provided by the community.

Will you pray that the cistern will be developed quickly so this community can have fresh water?

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Southern Baptists are continuing to provide desperately needed relief to families suffering in Zimbabwe’s unprecedented economic disaster.

“The current unemployment rate is reported to be 94 percent and the annual inflation rate was estimated this past October at 2 trillion percent,” said Mark Hatfield, who with his wife, Susan, directs Baptist Global Response work in Sub-Saharan Africa. “One expert put the rate in December at 516 quintillion percent – the highest ever recorded.”

The country’s new national unity government emerged from a weekend retreat April 6 with a visionary 100-day plan to bring Zimbabwe out of its downward spiral. The agenda focuses on five “clusters” – the economy, security, infrastructure, social services and interests and rights.

The challenge they face, however, staggers the imagination, Hatfield said. The only goods available in stores are priced in foreign currency that ordinary citizens do not have. Those who do have some money in the bank are limited to withdrawals to small to purchase food. Hospitals are hamstrung by a lack of medicines, water and electricity. Schools cannot function for lack of teachers and supplies.

“Overall, the situation in Zimbabwe is worse than I have ever seen it,” Hatfield said. “The lack of jobs, currency, water and food has collapsed the country’s economy. I am filled with appreciation for the way Southern Baptists allow me to represent them as we physically demonstrate the love of Christ to people in desperate need.”

Southern Baptists have responded on several fronts, including food distribution, school supplies and assistance to Sanyati Baptist Hospital.

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Southern Baptist disaster relief specialists are monitoring the situation in L’Aquila, Italy, after an April 6 earthquake killed at least 207 people and left 100,000 homeless.

Baptist Global Response has categorized the response as a Level 2 emergency, meaning that any response will most likely occur through local Italian partners trained in specific disaster relief techniques.

“Italy has a long history of earthquakes and the government there has responded very well to the situation,” said Jim Brown, BGR’s U.S. director. “The situation is under control and they are not seeking additional help. We will, however, continue to monitor the situation and will mobilize Southern Baptist disaster relief teams if that becomes necessary.”

Abraham Shepherd, BGR’s area director for Europe, said he is in contact with field partners about response needs. They are investigating the need for an assessment team to visit L’Aquila.

The quake, which registered 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck at 3:32 a.m. at a point about 70 miles northeast of Rome, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A total of 280 aftershocks have followed, one registering a magnitude of 4.7 that collapsed several damaged buildings.

Rescue workers have pulled 150 people alive from the rubble and 15 are reported as missing, according to news reports. An estimated 1,500 people are being treated for injuries. The quake flattened buildings in 26 communities. Rain was falling on the region as bottles of water and food boxes were handed out to survivors who were preparing to spend the night in tents or cars.

Lori Funderburk, BGR’s prayer coordinator, asked Christians to focus on five concerns:

– Pray that those who are still missing will be found.

– Ask God to comfort people who are injured.

– Pray that quake victims’ needs will be met quickly and effectively.

– Ask the Lord to provide shelter for those who lost their homes.

– Pray that people would experience God’s love in this crisis.

PRINCETON, W.V. – During the 30 hours that 150 believers fasted at Immanuel Baptist Church in Princeton, W.V., 31,250 people died of starvation around the world.

That’s why the believers were fasting.

“We fast to save their lives. We fast so they don’t have to,” participants were told as the late February event opened.

Seven years ago, when Immanuel held its first fast for world hunger, only 13 people participated, said Josh Johnson, the congregation’s associate pastor. The year, their “f30″ fast drew 150 participants – both youth and adults – from a wide variety of congregations and raised almost $8,400 for the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.

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