Thank you from thousands of Baptists in Myanmar and China.

      How did you respond in May 2008 when the bad news of the back-to-back natural disasters that struck Myanmar (Burma) and China shook our world?  Perhaps you prayed for those victims a world away, many of whom share your faith in Jesus Christ. Maybe you, like many others, immediately reacted to the call for help by giving a special offering through your church to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). American Baptists responded eagerly -- giving $122,000 for Myanmar and $53,000 for China.

      Still, we struggle to come to grips with the devastation that resulted when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar’s “rice belt” in the southern Irrawaddy delta on May 2 and 3, affecting more than 2¼ million people. Then just a few days later, on May 12, overwhelming images rocked the print, broadcast and electronic media when a devastating earthquake, measuring 8 on the Richter scale, claimed more than 80,000 lives in western China.

      Today, the media fervor over the joint disasters is yesterday’s news. Measurable progress has been made, but critical needs still exist.  One year ago, American Baptists were quick to come to the rescue with thousands of dollars for relief efforts. Now the needs have changed, but are no less dire. Presently, we as American Baptists are called to rebuild houses, hospitals and schools, to buy medicines and medical supplies, to equip farms and businesses, to bring hope to the thousands who still are hungry and lack adequate shelter.

      In Myanmar, the land where the name of Jesus was first spoken by Ann and Adoniram Judson more than 190 years ago, the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) immediately established a temporary Emergency Relief Taskforce, using OGHS funds sent by International Ministries to respond to the destruction resulting from Nargas. Of the 1.7 million Christians in the predominately Buddhist nation, 1.3 million are Baptists, and it was the local churches of MBC that were among the first to dispatch teams of staff and volunteers to affected churches and communities, bringing emergency items like water, rice and medicine to any in need.

       Many of those affected by the Myanmar cyclone were of the ethnic group known as the Karen (Kahr-en’). Some insurgents, fighting in northeastern Myanamar against the government’s military dictatorship, are also Karen. Perhaps that is why the government was not inclined to respond to the effects of the cyclone. In village after village, the Baptist churches were seen as the source of help. In fact, villagers in the devastated areas believed that if the church buildings were not rebuilt first, the community would be unable to come together again.

      Stanley A. Murray, International Ministries area director for Southeast Asia and Japan, describes the present situation, saying: “Even though the cyclone’s fury could be measured in hours, the results of it will live on for many years. The Baptists in Burma hold in high regard American Baptists—their brothers and sisters—who brought Christ to them, and they want to continue to walk in partnership during this critical time of recovery and rebuilding.”

      The impact made by Baptists working on the recovery in China is similar. International Ministries was among the first organizations to provide help through the Amity Foundation, which aided 400,000 earthquake victims. This included funding1,295 granaries to farmers.

      God’s comfort was also clearly demonstrated by Chinese Christians. Judy Sutterlin, International Ministries missionary serving with Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, tells about one of her students, Rev. Gu, who is the pastor of the historic Mianzhu Church. It had a few hundred members a year ago. “As a result of the earthquake, the church building was not safe. Today, next to that shell stands an enormous prefab building. Over a thousand people now worship there regularly each Sunday. How? The answer has to lie in the witness of love—those faithful believers have been reaching out to others in need with concrete expressions of love during this time of crisis and recovery.”

      Our partners are on the frontlines, providing help to the suffering people in Myanmar and China. Gifts are often given to commemorate anniversaries. As this one-year anniversary rekindles thoughts of destruction and despair, you can do something that reflects Christian compassion and hope for those who are still living in temporary shelters and struggling to feed their families. Your specific OGHS gifts for Myanmar can provide desalinization of farming areas, rice seed, rebuilding of homes and schools, and the purchase of boats. OGHS donations for relief in China can assist 935 affected families to build quake-proof homes and a village community center, 15 water towers and pipes, schools in remote areas and a permanent church building and social service center for the Mianzhu Church.