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ATLANTA – As Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel continue earthquake relief efforts in Indonesia, the Fellowship has extended its response in Southeast Asia to include the Philippines, a country preparing for landfall of Typhoon Lupit, the third major storm to hit the nation in the past month.

Following Typhoon Parma, which made landfall Oct. 3, the Fellowship sent $5,000 to the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. This seminary is one of nine schools in the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary consortium, a CBF Global Missions partner.

The Philippine seminary is located in Baguio, a mountain city where heavy rain – some of the worst in decades – caused fatal landslides. The landslides blocked or destroyed many roads, making relief supplies difficult to provide to the thousands who have been displaced from their homes. According to Associated Press reports, more than 850 deaths have been caused by Parma and Tropical Storm Ketsana, which hit Sept. 26.

In Indonesia, CBF field personnel continue their response to two major earthquakes that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. CBF field personnel have treated hundreds of survivors for related injuries and diseases. Now, they seek to help families rebuild in a region where more than 140,000 homes were destroyed by the most recent quakes.

Rebuilding in Indonesia is challenging as the country sits along a major fault line, making it susceptible to many earthquakes, including the 2004 tsunami that led to more than 230,000 deaths across Southeast Asia.

Local residents, including many who live on less than $2 a day, need homes that can withstand future earthquakes.

"That could make the difference between a house collapsing on a family and the family being able to get out to safety," said one of CBF’s field personnel serving in the area. "There are so many ways that we can be the hands of Christ to people that have nothing left but their lives and rubble."

One way is by providing a construction booklet to families, teaching them how to build a more earthquake resistant home.

Financial contributions to relief and recovery efforts for the earthquake can be made online at www.thefellowship.info/Give/Donate.aspx?fund=17016. Because disasters can happen anywhere and at anytime, the Fellowship also has a general disaster response fund that provides immediate emergency relief. Contributions can be made at https://www.thefellowship.info/Give/Donate.aspx?fund=DR. Gifts by mail can be sent to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, P.O. Box 101699, Atlanta, GA 30392, indicating fund No. 17016 "Earthquake Response" or No. 17000 "Disaster Response."

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.