Cyclone Impacts AG Churches

The destructive force of Cyclone Pam on Saturday on the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu had a measurable impact on the Assemblies of God, which includes 141 churches scattered across more than 40 major islands. The approximately 60,000 worshippers who attend AG churches equal almost a fourth of the nation's total population of 267,000.

Much of Vanuatu relies on subsistence farming, and food may run out in just a few weeks.

"As fast as they're cleaning up, they're out there planting corn, beans, and crops that will produce in three months," AG missionary Bryan Webb says. "But until then, they're going to need food."

AG World Missions Executive Director Greg Mundis is urging those in the U.S. to do everything they can to help meet the desperate need of Vanuatu's churches.

"I'm praying that believers in Vanuatu will be able to meet the needs of the suffering and reach out with the hope of the gospel in the aftermath of this tragedy," Mundis says.

Webb is coordinating relief efforts in Vanuatu and already working with the first Convoy of Hope relief team that arrived in Vanuatu on Tuesday.

"Convoy will be able to help get rice here quickly," Webb says. "Rice is portable and doesn't spoil."

Webb is unsure of the loss of lives. News from outlying islands is unobtainable. Although the death toll officially stands at 11, that number is expected to rise once communication is re-established.

"We just don't know," Webb says. "We have many people in Port Vila, the capital city, who have family, but we can't get hold of them."

"Assemblies of God churches around the world have increasingly become known for responding to crisis with compassion," says George O. Wood, general superintendent of the U.S. Assemblies of God. "I encourage our U.S. AG churches to help AG World Missions and Convoy of Hope enable our sister churches in Vanuatu recover and become centers to distribute relief in their communities."

Additional reports on the crisis will be available on the AG World Missions website. To give a gift to help those who are suffering, go to giving.ag.org and click on the "Vanuatu Relief" button at the top of the page.

THURSDAY UPDATE: With the first Convoy of Hope team on site in Vanuatu assisting AG missionary Bryan Webb, a second Convoy of Hope Disaster Services team is en route. As well, 40 tons of food, water, and supplies are on the way from the organization to the cyclone-ravaged islands.

"The news media have underreported the Cyclone Pam disaster," says Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson, "but AGWM, Convoy of Hope, and our partners are committed to helping the people of Vanuatu recover from this tragedy. Thousands have lost everything they have and need our help putting their lives back together."

Transportation between the islands is very limited. Donaldson urges prayer so that teams will be able to travel safely and distribute supplies quickly.

Image used in accordance with Creative Commons license. Photo credit: Julie Lyn , Flickr

Randy Hurst

Randy Hurst serves as Special Consultant to the AG World Missions Executive Director.