Global Ministries sends One Great Hour of Sharing emergency funds to United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in support of relief efforts to deliver essential food, clean water and medicines.

Shared below is a message received from our UCCP partners:

Like a thief in the night, flash flooding due to the heavy volume of rainfall brought by typhoon “Sendong” (International codename: Washi) on Friday, December 17, 2011, claimed the lives of hundreds of people in Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Rising as high as 11 feet, the flood swamped houses to the rooftops and drowned unprepared residents in communities including children.

Latest disaster update from the Philippine National Red Cross website placed the death toll at over 900 from 8 heavily affected areas, with many still missing in the aftermath of the flood. Initially, there are 5,844 families  affected by the disaster, according to a report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“We need all the help we can get for relief work,” said Bishop Melzar Labuntog of the UCCP Northwest Mindanao Jurisdictional Area, lamenting that the disaster is the worst that they have experienced in years. Local churches and conferences in disaster affected areas are mobilizing disaster response machineries to conduct needs and capacity assessments, organizing and relief operations despite meager resources.

“We enjoin all our church members in fervent prayer to God for the victims of disaster in Visayas and Mindanao,” implored UCCP General Secretary Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza. “Let us sow hope amidst despair. The spirit of Christmas is more meaningfully expressed through our generosity in giving help and comfort to those whose lives have become bleak because this horrible experience.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Pray for the people and communities across the southern Philippines impacted by flooding from Typhoon Sendong (Washi).

2. To assist people impacted by this disaster, please make a gift payable to your congregation marked for “Philippines Typhoon Sendong Relief”  with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries.

OR

Send gifts, made out to United Church of Christ and marked in the memo portion “Philippines Typhoon Sendong Relief”    to United Church of Christ; Financial Services;  700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.

OR

Make a secure online donation to the International Disaster Relief fund. Please note “Philippines Typhoon Sendong Relief”   in the Comments Box.

Thank you for your compassion and support.