Baptists in the Disaster Zone: Chile
Two teams of pastors visited the affected areas, and what they saw was “like a scene from World
War Two,” said Contreras, who is also a vice president of the BWA. Members of the teams wept upon
seeing the scale of the disaster, Contreras reported.
There is a sense of fear in the country. “People do not feel secure,” said Contreras. “Pastors are
scared because of the strong aftershocks.”
At least 500,000 homes were damaged, and more than 700 people were killed.
Contreras, who
was visiting with her daughter in the state of Kentucky in the United States when the earthquake
struck, was anxious to return to Chile, but could not do so due to difficulties in traveling into the
country. The reports she received, however, indicated that a massive reconstruction and rebuilding
effort will have to take place not just generally, but by Baptists in particular, in order to rebuild Baptist
churches and homes.
A concern is for the spiritual state of the Chilean people in this time of disaster. Pastors, she said,
will be challenged to explain the tragedy to the people. But Contreras reported that there are stories
of faith in the midst of the suffering, and explained that this is an opportunity for Christians, and
Baptists in particular, to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ.
Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the BWA, sent an initial sum of US$50,000 in
relief funds to the two BWA member bodies in Chile, UBACH and the Convention of Baptist Churches
of the Chilean Mission
PHOTOS:
Two Baptist churches in Chile that were damaged by the massive earthquake on February 27
Donations for Haiti & Chile may be made via the BWA website at: www.bwanet.org
or sent to:
Baptist World Aid
405 North Washington Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
USA
bwaid@bwanet.org.
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