Happenings P Around the World El Niño Hits Africa

arts of East and Southern Africa are experiencing devastating drought and famine conditions believed to be caused by El Niño, an irregularly periodical variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon affects much of the tropics and subtropics. Beletew Kebede, general secretary of the Ethiopian Addis Kidan Baptist Church, told the Baptist World Alliance that “10 to 15 million people need quick intervention and support” as a result of the drought. Amhara Regional State, North Shewa Zone and Minjar/Shenkora district, including nine rural kebeles, are epically affected. A kebele, or neighborhood, is the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia. About “8065 farmers lost all their income as their lives totally depend on agriculture, mainly the cultivation of crops,” Kebede said. T. Tombo, administrator of the United Baptist Church of Zimbabwe, said “most animals, especially in our hottest areas, are dying and peasants are selling their herds at give-away prices, as low as US$20.00 a beast.” Trevor Eayrs, mission developer for KwaZulu- Natal Baptist Association in South Africa, informed the BWA that “Northern Zululand is facing the beginning of a very bleak time ahead.” He said “surface water has dried up, cattle are dying and rural people are having to pay for water delivery with their meager finances which should be used for the purchase of food.”

DEVASTATING DROUGHT AND FAMINE

In addition, farmers and residents “have not

planted crops because of the drought, which means that food resources this summer will be depleted or nonexistent.”

Andrew Gwambe, program manager of Baptist Development Services, a program of the Baptist Convention of Malawi, announced that “the country is facing its worst famine in decades.” Gwambe stated that more than “2.8 million people are affected in 25 districts out of 28 districts in Malawi.” Baptist groups in the

affected countries were

“With this situation, as a church we felt we cannot fold our hands and watch.”

making preparations to respond. The Ethiopian Addis Kidan Baptist Church prepared an “Intervention and Rehabilitation” initiative designed to alleviate hunger among farmers as a result of the drought. Tombo

of Zimbabwe declared, “with this

situation, as a church we felt we cannot fold our hands and watch. We want to assist the affected areas and families. The burden for the community is also ours. Hence, we are shouldering each other’s burdens.” South African Eayrs said, “I do believe that the church must also be seen to act in favor of any who are in need. I have assessed the situation and believe that the church can and should help.” The Malawi Baptist Convention decided to focus on the southern part of Malawi, especially Mangochi, Zomba and Phalombe districts. Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the BWA, was considering proposals from all groups for assistance.

(Photo courtesy of Pablo Tosco, Oxfam)

REVIVAL IN SYRIA Continued

“We may die at anytime. Our children don’t have hope or a future. We need you to back us by your love, by your support.”

for two or three hours to arrive at your destination because of a lot of traffic due to checkpoints.”

In Damascus, much of the bombing takes place in Christian neighborhoods, “but we think these past months are better than before,” Makkar said. A major disappointment is the lack of unity among Christians

more generally, and Baptists in particular. “In Syria, there is no unity between churches, even within denominations,” Makkar asserted. “Each works alone. We have divisions within the denomination and with the traditional (Orthodox and Catholic) churches.” Efforts to strengthen unity among Baptists have failed. “For years we tried to be united. It didn’t work because each one liked to be the head. We hope to arrive at unity but we cannot say we have unity.”

One of the hardest hit areas in the war was the city of Aleppo, where members were able to repair the Aleppo Baptist Church

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after it was bombed. “The church got hit and they repaired it and everything was fine and the area there today is very good. It’s safe after they repaired the church.”

She reported revival in another hard hit city – Homs. “The main Baptist church in Homs is growing in number.” A lot of people are coming even though bombs explode there occasionally. There are “bombs here, explosions there,” but Homs is relatively safe. “The church is doing fine and they have another one, a new church in Hama and it’s in a safe place.” Tartus and Latakia are relatively peaceful. The areas are

getting humanitarian aid. “It’s a safe area. No bombs, no war at all there,” declared Makkar. In her appeal to the worldwide Baptist family, she said, “We need you because we’re fed up. We’re at the end now, persecuted economically, spiritually and ministry wise. We may die at anytime. Our children don’t have hope or a future. We need you to back us by your love, by your support.”