9.0 Earthquake Strikes Japan - 25 March Update
Donate to TouchGlobal earthquake relief efforts
04 April 2011
Read about the latest outreach to 1200!
25 March 2011
On the ground report with specific prayer requests from TouchGlobal Assessment Team
24 March 2011
Read the daily blogpost from TouchGlobal and ReachGlobal staff in Japan:
http://efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com
22 March 2011
From ReachGlobal staff in Tokyo
If you were to look around in Tokyo, you would see daffodils blooming, people out and about, children playing, the garbage being collected on time, and a certain “normalcy” returning to life.
To be sure, there are still shortages of some foods on the shelves, gasoline is in short supply with long lines at the stations that are open, busses running more irregularly, and train schedules unpredictable due to continuing planned blackouts in the city, yet you might almost have a sense of the “surreal”, knowing that not many hours away, there are over 22,000 people dead or missing and destruction estimated (conservatively) at $235 Billion (That’s $235,000,000,000). We continue to make adjustments.
Last Thursday evening (17 March), our English Department prayer meeting was a “virtual” prayer meeting, thanks to internet communication technology. This week our prayer meeting on Thursday evening (24 March) will again be “virtual” with people participating not only from Japan, but from other countries as well.
The EFCA’s TouchGlobal Crisis Response assessment team arrived and assembled at our place last night. Tonight (Tuesday), they will travel to another area of Tokyo from where they will depart at 5:00 am tomorrow morning for the hard-hit city of Sendai to survey the damage, make contacts with churches and pastors, and evaluate the kind of long-term involvement needed.
Our own congregation of Tokyo Musashino EFC (Musashino Chapel Center-MCC) has received an offering in our English worship service Sunday that will be given entirely to CRASH Japan (www.crashjapan.com) to aid in their on-going relief work. In addition, the Japanese and English Departments of our church collected needed items and are sending them to the Sendai through the EFC (EFCJ). For a “streets-eye-view” of the situation in Sendai, you can check out the web page of the Sendai EFC:
http://www.sendaiefc.com/church/jishin201103.html#english
Pray
- For the TouchGlobal assessment team as they travel to Sendai; that God will give them great contacts and clarity so that the Evangelical Free Churches in many different countries can “make a difference” for the Kingdom of God in bringing healing and hope to the people in the Name of Christ.
- For the EFC of Japan as their board meets in early April to give thought to the intermediate and long-term work of relief and re-building needed in the Tohoku region.
- Giving thanks for the Sendai EFC, as they are serving as a center of distribution of needed relief supplies.
- For the stamina of the Sendai EFC, the Furukawa EFC, and the Sendai-Izumi Church Plant as the ministry of rebuilding and restoration will need to continue for months and even years.
- For Musashino Chapel Center (MCC) as we consider our next steps in partnership with others for the long-term restoration efforts in Christ.
Just a final word for now…we’re fine, albeit it somewhat weary from the intensity of the work these last 11 days. Thank you for “standing in the gap” by prayer and your encouraging notes. We are grateful.
17 March 2011 - Thursday pm
Friday morning (Tokyo Time)
You have been following your news sources, so let me update you once again with a “street’s-eye-view.”
In spite of all the headlines about “nuclear catastrophe,” we are safe and secure. Yes, there are throngs of people trying to leave Tokyo, and to be honest, I’m kind of scratching my head. We are not cavalier, but confident in the One who upholds all things by the Word of His power.
Actually, I may encourage more people to leave Tokyo…Monday in the grocery store I was “cheek-to-jowl” with every other inhabitant of Tokyo. Yesterday on my regular “hunting-gathering” rounds, the same store was eerily quiet…and there was even some stuff on the shelves!
Transportation remains disrupted because of electrical power shortages. The trains/subways are all electric and when there are rolling blackouts (which we have NOT yet had at our house), the trains/subways are affected. That’s why evening meetings are a bit dicey, not wanting people to be stranded without a way to get home. That’s why we canceled the Thursday night English Department prayer meeting at church and went “virtual.”
This afternoon (or evening…or night…or tomorrow…depending on transport from Narita Airport), the first member of EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response arrives at our place. Three other members of this assessment team will arrive Monday. We’re working to make some “connections” for the assessment team, including with those who are traveling to affected areas bringing emergency supplies.
Before this gets too long, let me ask you to pray we will be able to make very good connections for the TouchGlobal assessment team so:
- TouchGlobal will have a clear leading of how to proceed and who to partner with over the “long-haul” in the holistic ministry of the gospel.
- For one ReachGlobal family that did leave Sendai yesterday, following the U.S. Government’s “50 mile evacuation radius” announcement. They were living at the outside edge of this radius and so were asked to leave by ReachGlobal-Asia leadership. They are now on their way to Sapporo (island of Hokkaido) to stay with another ReachGlobal family. Pray for their safe travel to Sapporo.
- For us that we will model confidence in the sovereignty of the Living God before our church and the world.
- For God’s people to live above fear in the strong grip of the Father so as to have “clear heads” to minister to others.
- For the Evangelical Free Church of Japan (EFCJ), with whom we are also in partnership.
- For the Sendai Evangelical Free Church. Out of their own distress, they are serving as the “distribution center” for relief from the EFCJ. They will need stamina for this task.
- For the work of CRASH Japan (www.crashjapan.com) as they seek to connect the many who want to help with people and organizations so that the maximum assistance can be given in the most effective way. To see the “disaster board” of CRASH Japan, please go to: http://crashjapan.licquia.org/.
Thanks so much for your prayers and expressions of concern. They are a real encouragement to us!
17 March 2011 - Thursday am
In view of recommendations by the U.S. government and ReachGlobal leadership, ReachGlobal personnel in Sendai are evacuating to a safe place due to the nuclear crisis.
Specific prayer requests may be found:
