The images and headlines from Turkey and Syria are shocking as the full extent of the devastation following the recent earthquakes is being assessed.
News reports confirm that the death toll has now passed 17,000 and hundreds of thousands are homeless.
If your heart is moved and you want to help in Jesus’ name, where do you turn? What is a trusted channel for our resources?
I recommend that we pray and that we give through Send Relief. A prayer guide and link to give are here.
Send Relief is the collaborative compassion ministry of the International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Through Send Relief we link arms with our Baptist partners around the world and we join with other followers of Christ in SBC churches across our country to provide help and hope in Jesus’ name.
In addition to our tithe (10%) and offerings (above the tithe) at Ingleside, Beverly and I give every year through Send Relief, and when major human-need catastrophes occur (like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, wars, etc.) we sometimes make other contributions through Send Relief to meet needs and to share the gospel with those in crisis.
When we give, it makes a difference. Last year, Southern Baptist gifts through Send Relief provided emergency food rations, temporary shelter and more to over 852,000 individuals recovering from a disaster (here in the U.S. and abroad).
So as the Lord prospers you and as your heart is moved, I hope you will consider making a generous gift to share help and hope in Jesus’ name through Send Relief.
Scripture teaches us that God often uses disasters to draw people to faith in Jesus (remember the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:25-34). And God is at work even now to gather his people and to accomplish his purposes, even in the wake of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Praying and giving through Send Relief is how we can help in Jesus’ name.
Your Pastor and Friend,
