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Breaking bread with the town's pastor
Pastoral Pondering: Give the gift of faith that will never fade
| Small
local efforts for tsunami relief gain steam |
Newberg churches banding together to help victims of the December tragedy
in tsunami |
By Schellene Clendenin, Newberg
Graphic reporter
E-mail Schellene at sclendenin@eaglenewspapers.com
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The tragedy was felt round the world.
When more than 150,000 men, women and children were killed in the tsunami
that struck the Indian Ocean Dec. 26, relief efforts from around the world began pouring
into the countries affected to help the survivors and begin the cleanup that many project
will take years to complete.
Churches in Newberg were no exception.
Many, like Trinity Presbyterian, Open Bible and others, requested relief
offerings from their members. The Newberg Ministerial Association donated $1,000 of its
own limited funds – almost half of what it had saved in its coffers – to the
effort.
Jane Shaffer, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, said that while
her congregation took a relief offering as well, the money will be pooled with that of
dozens of other United Methodist churches across the nation.
The money funds a relief agency called the United Methodist Committee on
Relief. Denominations pool their funds together to fund administrative costs to send
people to crisis situations at home and abroad.
“All the (money) we give for crisis goes to the crisis,” she said.
“It’s a good agency.
“UMCOR is playing a pivotal role. They are already there working in
partnership with agencies, churches, world services ... and the National Council of
Churches in Sri Lanka. UMCOR stays for the long hall.”
Rob Thomason, pastor at GodSong Community Church, said so far the
congregation has provided about $500 in donations. The money will be sent to World Vision,
a group already working with the relief.
“There are so many organizations out there and it just so happens that
one of people in church had worked for World Vision in different areas of the world and
had nothing but good to say about what they do and what they do with the money,” he
said. “And they present the gospel with their mission so we thought that was the way
to go.”
Thomason said that along with the offering the church has an a open donation
basket at its information desk that will remain until further notice. And GodSong’s
Web site has a link for World Vision to allow people to investigate the group further.
“I believe Americans as individuals, private organizations and churches
are giving extravagantly,” Thomason said, adding his congregation was shocked about
the tragedy.
“It’s a shocking thing to happen,” he said. “Then to
witness the ongoing deaths and destruction, it’s overwhelming. The people in our
church have a world vision to see beyond walls and towns, giving funds and lifting our
prayers so that God will use all things to good.”
Thomason also pointed out that people should not underestimate the power of
prayer. He characterized individual prayer as thin clouds of incense rising through the
air and collecting as it ascends to form a massive cloud on its way to God.
“That’s pleasing to God,” he said. |
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From Jan. 8,
2005, Newberg Graphic
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