April 13, 2009
But how then can we serve, and how can we love our neighbors in such a crisis? Well, the Lord is building His church in Italy, and has moved the Body of Christ to to an effective and appropriate first response. An alliance of over 25 churches in that region is collaborating with some assistance from such agencies as Samaritan's Purse, and Operation Blessing. I stress in that region because it is crucial that local churches be encouraged to personally reach out to the victims. They are their neighbors! And they are the most trustworthy channel for getting resources to them.
Special Collections
Yet, we the larger Body in Italy and beyond were asked to give and give generously. Special collections are being taken in all the churches (1Cor 16:1-4;2 Cor 8:1-15). We are urged and committed to pray. On Easter Sunday in Rome believers wept as they prayed. We were exhorted to get out and share the Good News of Jesus Christ - the Living Hope - with our neighbors! According to a pastor in Rome, there is a national mentality fixated on tragedy and death, and needs to turn from the Crucifixion to the Resurrection! Churches in the surrounding regions will be on "stand-by" to minister in other ways as further needs (pastoral or material) surface.
Social Involvement
Tim Chester and Steve Timmis, reflecting on the issue of compassion ministry, write:
"Our first instinct when faced with someone in need is to give something to them or do something for them... But the poor need more than that... They want to participate in community... They need community. They need Christian community. They need the church.(...) The best thing we can do for the poor is offer them a place of welcome and community. Our first priority in social involvement is to be the church, a community of welcome to, and inclusion of, the marginalized." (The Total Church: A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel and Community, Inter-Varsity Press, 2007)
Tomorrow
I would suggest that later on - beyond this immediate crisis - local churches will be the ones ready and able to offer a welcome for these homeless and traumatized folks, just as they extended a loving hand in the wake of the tragedy. The faith community is a powerful witness in this way. We want to support the congregations of the Abbruzzo as they corporately love their neighbors.
Brian and Sarah
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| L'Aquila 4-6-09 |
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DOZENS DEAD AS EARTHQUAKE HITS ITALY
April 6, 2009
"Thousands of people (could be left) homeless and thousands of buildings collapsed or damaged," said Agostino Miozzo, an official at the Civil Protection Department. A resident in l'Aquila,[a 13th century mountain city about 100 km (60 miles) east of Rome that has a population of 68,000], standing by an apartment block that had been reduced to the height of an adult said: "This building was four storys high." Some cars were buried by the rubble. --the Post Chronicle
At 3:32 AM Sarah and I awoke to some strange noises in our apartment. I thought there might have been a burglar rummaging around. Burglars are actually pretty nice in Rome. They usually anesthetize you first, steal what they want, and even clean up after themselves. So, I wasn't too worried about getting up to check it out. When I stood up I felt the floor vibrating and could hear some items rattling in the cupboards. We had experienced a mild earthquake in Brussels once, so I knew what this was. As I was going to get Philip up (he's been home on spring break), to get him in a doorway, the quake subsided. It had only lasted 15 or 20 seconds. No damage or casualties that I know of in Rome. There was no alarm or activity in the streets and only a few other lights were on in neighboring apartment buildings.
The epicenter was in the Abbruzzo mountains about 60 miles (95 km) northeast of Rome, near the medieval city of L'Aquila (the Eagle). It was a major earthquake measuring 6.3 to 6.5 on the Richter scale. The toll continues to rise this morning. Numerous buildings collapsed including historic ones, as well as at least one college dormitory. Please pray for those affected by this disaster to turn their hearts to Christ.
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| L'Aquila emergency personnel 4-6-09 |
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| A powerful earthquake struck a huge swathe of central Italy as residents slept on Monday morning, houses, churches and other buildings collapsed. |
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Italians are a superstitious people on the whole. Individuals will be asking questions. Pray for opportunities to enter into fruitful conversations with our new friends here in the center of Rome.
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Death Fatalities
now 293
28,000 evacuated
3,000 volunteers
5,500 police, firemen,
military
Tents set up housing
24,000 people
15,000 in hotels
National funeral for 289
held Friday, April 10
Search for survivors to
end Sunday, April 12
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