ATLANTA – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s response to two major Asian disasters – an earthquake in China and a cyclone in Myanmar – continues to develop as the recovery and rebuilding phase nears in both areas.

Representatives from several Baptist agencies, including one of CBF’s field personnel who recently traveled to Myanmar to assess damage, met May 24 in Bangkok to discuss relief efforts in both countries.

In Myanmar, the Myanmar Baptist Convention has set up 47 relief centers serving more than 13,500 cyclone survivors. Food, medicine and fuel have also been distributed in hard hit areas. Lack of infrastructure and government restrictions on foreign aid are continued challenges in the response.

The Fellowship, which has contributed an initial $5,000 to the Myanmar convention’s efforts, is also planning to provide training on how to construct low-cost water wells and purify water through bio-sand filters. The Fellowship has also contributed $5,000 toward recovery efforts in China. In addition, Fellowship Baptists and partner churches have contributed nearly $34,000 to CBF response efforts in China and Myanmar.

In China, CBF representatives Bill and Michelle Cayard are working with local partner Hua Mei International to distribute relief supplies to survivors. In 10 distribution trips, Hua Mei has helped more than 10,000 people.

"People still fear aftershocks and are more comfortable in makeshift dwellings of tarps and tent-like setups with their beds, belongings and families inside," said Bill Cayard, who recently traveled to Pengzhou, an area close to the earthquake’s epicenter.

With more than 67,000 reported dead in the earthquake and many others injured or affected, the Cayards are coordinating grief counseling training for local pastors and church leaders. Gene Wilder, pastor of CBF partner First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Tenn., is in China helping with training.

Service opportunities could develop in China, where the government has not restricted foreign relief workers as Myanmar has done.

"CBF has very strong and effective partners in both places and our resources are being applied to help victims directly and to help the church take next steps in the long recovery and rehabilitation stage," said David Harding, who coordinates CBF’s international disaster response and has traveled to China to assist in relief efforts.

According to Associated Press reports, nearly 21,000 are missing from the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on May 12. Government officials are estimating the death toll will be 80,000 or more. The May 2 cyclone has left 78,000 dead and 56,000 still missing as more than a million others remain homeless.

To contribute to the relief efforts, send a check payable to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392, indicating fund No. 17023 "Cyclone Response" or No. 17024 "China Earthquake" in the memo line or call (800) 352-8741. You can also give online for cyclone response at www.thefellowship.info/Give/Donate.aspx?fund=CRF or www.thefellowship.info/Give/Donate.aspx?fund=CHINA for earthquake response. One hundred percent of donations go directly to rebuilding and restoration efforts.

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.