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Presbyterian Moderator Dr Trevor Morrow has expressed his 'distress' at what he has seen and heard following the utter devastation caused by the earthquake in Gujarat, India. 'The pictures of utter devastation and the news of tens of thousands having been killed has left us all shocked and distraught.'
In a letter from the Moderator to be read in all Presbyterian Churches this Sunday he is urging prayerful and practical action. 'We can pray for the people of Gujarat and particularly those bringing comfort, hope and help to the bereaved, injured and homeless. And we can give financially to support the relief and rehabilitation of the victims,' said the Moderator.
The Presbyterian Church has already sent an immediate response of £10,000 and it is expected that special offerings will be taken in most churches in coming Sundays. Money donated will be forwarded directly to the Church of North India, Diocese of Gujarat, a church with which the Presbyterian Church has links going back to 1840.
'Our partner church in Gujarat is right at the epicentre of this earthquake and have 100 volunteers working to bring relief,' explained Rev Terry McMullan, Overseas Secretary to the Presbyterian Church. 'They have already set up centres throughout the area distributing emergency supplies of food and water to 30,000 families and are providing basic shelter and utensils to a further 1,000.'
'I know Presbyterians will respond generously to this situation as an expression of love and concern for the suffering people of Gujarat and in particular for our brothers and sisters in our partner church in India as they seek in such overwhelming circumstances to care in the name of Jesus Christ,' concluded Dr Morrow.
The Moderator hopes to be Gujarat next month in a visit that was organised some time ago and his first stop is planned to be Ahmedabad in Gujarat where he now expects to see at first hand the efforts being made to rebuild the lives of the people and the infrastructure of the region.
The Presbyterian Church has very close links with India and has nine overseas staff working on the sub-continent. Though none are in the earthquake area of Gujarat, that is where the Presbyterian Church would have had its longest involvement of over 160 years, with many Irish Presbyterians having worked there particularly in the areas of education and medicine . Today the Church works in close partnership with the Church of North India supporting its work particularly in the Gujarat Diocese. The Bishop of Gujarat, Rt Rev Vinod Malaviya has been a regular visitor to the Presbyterian Church and studied for some time at the Church's Theological Faculty at Union College, Belfast.
The full text of the Moderator's letter follows:
1st February, 2001
Dear Friends,
Earthquake Disaster in Gujarat 26 January 2001
All of us have been distressed by what we have seen and heard following the earthquake in Gujarat in India. The pictures of utter devastation and the news of tens of thousands being killed has left us shocked and distraught.
Gujarat is one of the most Christian areas of India. We as a Church established our first overseas mission venture in this region in 1840. Already we have responded by sending £10,000 to our partner church the Gujarat Diocese of the Church of North India.
I am writing to invite the members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to stand with our brothers and sisters as they seek to respond to this appalling situation. There are two things we can do:
(i) We can pray for the people of Gujarat and those who bring comfort and hope to the bereaved and injured and practical help to those who have been made homeless.
(ii) We can give. Let me suggest we take up an offering on either Sunday 4th or 11th February to help with the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the earthquake. Donations may be sent to the Financial Secretary's Office, Church House. Cheques should be made payable to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and accompanied by a note to state that the donation is for the Indian Earthquake Disaster Appeal. Church Treasurers are asked to ensure, where possible, donations from members are given under the Gift Aid Scheme.
The money will be forwarded directly to the Diocese of Gujarat, Bishop Vinod Malaviya, who has studied in Belfast and has visited our Church on many occasions, wrote on 28 January detailing some of the destruction in Bhuj - the quake's epicentre - Gandhidham, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Surat, Bharuch and Ahmedabad. He has told us that the Diocese has set up five centres in Ahmedabad and will be doing so in the other affected cities to distribute emergency supplies of food and water for up to 30,000 families and plastic sheeting, blankets and cooking utensils for some 1,000 families who were not able to return to their homes, and your financial gifts will help fund this essential Christian ministry.
Next month, Carys and I will visit India and Nepal. Our first stop is Ahmedabad in Gujarat. We will see first hand the efforts being made to rebuild this region. I know that you will want to give a tangible expression of our love and concern for the suffering people of Gujarat and in particular for our brothers and sisters in our partner church in India as they seek in such overwhelming circumstances to care in the name of Jesus Christ.
Yours sincerely,
TREVOR MORROW
Moderator of the General Assembly
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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