News at ABWE
Hurricane Relief Update
Missionary David Smith is heading efforts in Jamaica, and Tim Bahula is presently leading efforts on Grenada. He will also be looking into whether we can or should do anything in Haiti. There are many other organizations working there, and we have no missionaries there, so we will probably assist, if we do, by working alongside another good board. To the extent funds are received, we will certainly seek to assist where we can.
Our initial operations in Grenada are food oriented. We have identified 12 groups (11 churches and 1 Christian radio station) that we will assist with our first shipment which we expect will go out this week (last week of September). Total cost (including shipping from Trinidad) will be US$4,800 or US$400 per “church”. We expect to continue this operation twice per month until the end of December so long as funds permit and the need continues. We have identified 8 churches that require varying degrees of repair. Most of the work will involve roofs; although, some churches also require other structural repairs. The estimated cost for materials for this project is US$20,000 or US$2,500 per church… of course some churches will require more and some less. The third phase of operations will be aimed at repair or construction of dwellings for church members and for other families identified by local pastors. The estimated cost for materials for the repair/construction of 50 houses is US$60,000 or US$1,200 per house. The construction leader is a contractor from Tobago who worked with FEMA in the U.S. Virgin Islands doing this kind of reconstruction after Hurricane Hugo. He has committed his construction crews to work on this project.
In Jamaica, David Smith reports damage to 9 Baptist churches, 5 with major damage and 4 with minor damage. The three with the greatest damage are Sea View Baptist Church, which lost its roof and three walls (repair estimate $10,000 plus), Vineyard Baptist Church, which lost the roof and suffered other damage (repair estimate $5000), and Clarksonville Baptist, which lost part of the roof and suffered a lot of water damage (about $4000). The damage at the Bible College was not as severe as first thought, and they have already begun repairs. We had only $5000 to leave with the local church planting mission to be distributed for assisting the churches to rebuild. Much more is needed, as you can tell by the report.
Please consider a special offering at your church. Perhaps your congregation would like to adopt a sister church in Grenada or Jamaica to assist with funds or a building team. So far our national partners have raised nearly US$5,000 and the U.S. board of the Fundamental Baptist Mission of Trinidad & Tobago is contributing US$5,000 for Grenada relief. Partners in Canada and the US are committing funds from North American churches composed of Jamaican immigrants for the project there. Their giving is, in most cases, sacrificial. But we still have a long way to go and need your help! Should you want more details about any of these projects, or to discuss building teams, etc., you may contact the missionaries directly. David Smith may be reached at our Canadian office by calling (519) 690-1009, or you may email him at dwsmith@abwe.org. Tim Bahula may be reached by calling (868) 646-4768 or emailing bahula@abwe.org.tt. Please view the "Hurricane Ivan relief page" for more information or if you would like to give financially.
Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and gifts as we seek to demonstrate the compassion of Christ to those suffering from the devastation of recent storms.