Moderator Dr Norman Hamilton has launched an appeal across the Presbyterian Church for the flood victims in Pakistan with the Church immediately forwarding a preliminary £50,000 for emergency relief.
"Out of my conviction that the God we worship in Jesus Christ has a heart of compassion for all people," the Moderator wrote in a letter to all ministers, "I am asking your support for a special Moderator's Appeal. Over the next month please give your congregation the opportunity to play their part in reaching out in compassion and solidarity to women, men and children who are in desperate need in Pakistan."
In his request Dr Hamilton highlighted recent media reports that that the impact of this disaster is as bad as that of the Asia tsunami, plus the Kashmir and Haiti earthquakes.
Contributions to the Moderator's Appeal which will be collected in congregations over the next month will primarily be channelled through the Presbyterian Church's relief and development partners, Tearfund and Christian Aid. Both agencies have been working in Pakistan for a long time (Christian Aid since 1954) and are already providing emergency food and medical assistance through their well-established networks. A portion of contributions will also be donated to the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, a partner church of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland which is also working in the flooded area.
"Our God is the One who calls order from chaos, and life from death in the resurrection of Jesus," continued the Moderator. "Chaos has come upon the ordinary people of Pakistan in a terrible way. There is a pressing and poignant need for order and life. That is what this Appeal will help bring about and I ask you to give generously."
Already this year Irish Presbyterians have contributed over £1m for relief and development programmes through the Church's annual World Development Appeal and an emergency appeal following the earthquake in Haiti.
See here for further information.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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