ATLANTA – The focus of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship relief efforts in areas of Southeast Asia suffering from tsunami destruction has been as varied as the countries affected. Response has included assessment of damage, clean up and distribution of needed supplies.

Through CBF Global Missions field personnel, the Fellowship has disbursed approximately $100,000, including Global Missions emergency funds and more than $25,000 received online from individuals, to the region in the week following the disaster.

Field personnel are working through various ministry partners to distribute funds to areas most in need. "Even though our field personnel are not all trained as first responders, some of them are some of the first people entering devastating situations," said Barbara Baldridge, CBF Global Missions acting coordinator.

One of the most devastated areas is Indonesia, where the highest priority has been transportation of medicine and supplies to survivors. While global response has resulted in supplies coming to the area, the destruction of roads and bridges has slowed delivery to the most remote locations. CBF is partnering with relief groups on the ground to assess the needs in Banda Aceh, one of the hardest hit areas. Upcoming relief efforts might include developing a camp for displaced persons.

CBF relief involvement varies in other countries. Clean up in Malaysia is occurring although plans to rebuild are on hold as other needs are met. Field personnel in Thailand are delivering supplies despite limited transportation options. One of CBF’s field personnel has been redeployed to India to coordinate relief efforts there. In Somalia, where there was coastal damage, and Sri Lanka, field personnel are studying ways to partner with other relief organizations.

In addition to immediate relief efforts, field personnel will be developing long-term transformational strategies for the affected areas, Baldridge said. One strategy is already being employed by purchasing selected relief supplies from local areas not impacted as significantly. Local purchase not only avoids overseas shipping costs and delayed delivery, but also stimulates the local economy, according to David Harding, the Fellowship’s international coordinator for emergency response and transformational development.

"If we buy the material locally, that stimulates the economy of a particular area and helps with the economic development of that particular region," Harding said.

Partnering with other relief organizations, field personnel have purchased water purification systems, which cost $7,500 and an additional $3,000 to ship locally. Other purchased and distributed items include basic hygiene kits, food and utensils, water purifying tablets and supplies for shelters housing survivors.

Jack Snell, CBF Global Missions associate coordinator for field ministries, said the most pressing need for field personnel is prayer. "The work is slow and the strain on our personnel is severe, but they are totally committed to the challenge of sharing God’s love in a loving response. They need to be undergirded by prayer," he said.

The significance of the crisis demands the Fellowship’s continued attention and response, according to national CBF coordinator Daniel Vestal. "The tsunamis in Asia concentrate our attention on what is so often absent from our consciousness – the reality of human suffering. Now, more than ever, is the time for us to be the presence of Christ to the victims of this disaster with our prayers, our resources and our involvement," Vestal said.  

Some individuals have expressed desire to help by going to Asia, but Snell said people help best now by praying and giving. "You are there through our CBF personnel that you support through your prayer and financial contributions," he said.

By accessing the Fellowship’s Web site, http://www.thefellowship.info/, individuals can read up-to-date dispatches from the field, learn of the latest prayer need or make a contribution online. As of Jan. 3, online contributions have totaled $25,105.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.