IMB Personnel in SE Asia Reported Safe
Category: Faith...
Posted Tuesday, January 04, 2005 at 02:40 PM [GMT-6]

I had been wondering about this. The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention reports that all of its personnel in the areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami are "safe and are actively responding to the tsunami disaster."

The email update received this afternoon reports that all IMB personnel in the area are now involved in distributing food, water, medical supplies and plastic shelters to those most severely affected.

This is not surprising. Southern Baptists -- and Texas Baptists in particular -- were among the first relief workers on the ground in Iraq, handing out food and clothing.

There are many effective avenues for giving money to help in relief efforts; the IMB provides one via its website. I can recommend it because 100% of your donation goes to buy food for the affected areas. Nothing is diverted to pay admin costs. And for those who worry about "spiritual strings" being attached to the food that's handed out...don't. No questions are asked. Physical needs are met, and the people are prayed for, but this is not a proselytizing project.