On Monday, September 3, Hurricane Felix came ashore on the Eastern Coast of Southern Honduras and Northern Nicaragua as a (most powerfully registered) category five hurricane. These shores are the home of the indigenous Miskito population of about 150,000, living mostly in very basic wooden homes built off the ground with zinc roofs.
The hurricane already has caused 100 deaths. Another 120 people are missing. Latest reports indicate nearly 10,000 homes have been destroyed and another 9,000 partially destroyed. An estimated 50,000 people have lost everything they own. Thousands of acres of agricultural product have been lost in the affected area. People from 52 locations near the coast are currently staying in 101 shelters.
Rev. Eric Pennings, a missionary with the United Reformed Churches of North America, has been travelling to this area providing a ministry of leadership development among church leaders as the Central American Regional Coordinator for Miami International Seminary (MINTS). The main MINTS Study Centres in this area is located in Puerto Cabezas, home to about 30,000 residents, with a surrounding area population of an additional 30,000, representing about 12,000 homes, almost all of which were either damaged or destroyed by the hurricane. He had just been there for a week in August, visiting with pastors in homes and preaching and teaching in churches that only two weeks later were damaged or destroyed.
One of the courses that he taught was a course on "Worldview" for which he gave an eight hour conference. A primary focus of the course presented a challenge for Christians to make a difference in society particularly through a "wholistic" ministry of Word and Deed. Little did the students know that within weeks, the destruction of Hurricane Felix would provide an opportunity to put the course into practice.
Word and Deed Ministries, a distinctively Reformed Christian relief agency, has agreed to partner with MINTS in providing disaster relief through the local churches with which Rev. Pennings is training pastors in the Puerto Cabezas area. With the contacts provided by Rev. Pennings and the distinguished record of relief projects coordinated by Word and Deed, we hope to provide relief to the affected area.
We would ask you to prayerfully consider joining us in our resolve to help the churches in the affected communities demonstrate the love of Christ by providing short-term (initially) and long-term relief as the Lord provides the means. An emergency transfer of $10,000 has already been sent. These funds are being used by local pastors well known to MINTS to prepare 100 packets of emergency food supplies, each of which will provide the basic needs of one extended family for one week. The funds will also be used to purchase pumps and transportation so that the community wells in thirteen affected communities can be purified. As funds are raised, many more food packages and other emergency supplies will be provided to more families and communities.
You can donate online by selecting the appropriate link below:
Donate to Word and Deed USA
Donate to Word and Deed Canada
Churches and individuals may make donation cheques out to "Word & Deed" which should be designated "Hurricane Felix Relief Fund". These funds can be sent either to the US or Canadian office of Word and Deed:
WORD AND DEED - CANADA
Word & Deed Ministries
P.O. Box 20100
St. Thomas, On
N5P 4H4
Phone: 519-633-2333
Toll -Free: 1-877-375-9673
Fax: 519-633-7181
E-mail: office@wordanddeed.org
WORD AND DEED - USA
Word & Deed Ministries
C/O Mrs. H. Pronk
P. O. Box 157
Hudsonville, MI
49426 USA
Phone: 616-896-3160
Toll-Free: 1-866-391-5728
Fax: 616-896-9219
E-mail: usoffice@wordanddeed
Bulletin Announcement
Hurricane Felix Disaster Relief - Word and Deed Ministries and Miami International Seminary (MINTS) are partnering in providing disaster relief to the victims and affected communities of Hurricane Felix in Nicaragua. Two weeks before the hurricane, Rev. Eric Pennings, Central American Regional Coordinator for MINTS, taught several courses to pastors of churches that have since been either damaged or destroyed. Emergeny funds have already been sent to Nicaragua to provide food and clean water to some communities. A relief fund is being administered through Word and Deed. For more information about sending a gift, please contact your deacons or office@wordanddeed.org or mailto:ericp@mints.edu.
