wfn.org | ABCUSA: AID SENT FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

BAPTISTS RESPOND TO SALVADORAN QUAKE
 Baptists are responding to the devastating earthquake 
that rocked El Salvador and neighboring countries Jan. 13, 
leaving at least 600 people dead and more than 2,000 injured 
or missing.
 The quake, which registered as high as 7.9 on the 
Richter Scale, was called "the worst cataclysm of recent 
history" by Carlos Sanchez, president of SEBLA (Baptist 
Latin American Seminary in San Salvador). Strong aftershocks 
and tremors were felt for days after the initial earthquake.  
A resulting mudslide in Santa Tecla, near the metropolitan 
area of San Salvador and near the epicenter of the quake, 
devastated an entire community.
 A national emergency has been declared by the 
Salvadoran government.  In addition to the killed, injured 
or missing, thousands of people are homeless and the number 
of damaged buildings, roads and highways is considerable.  
Power and telecommunication services have been severely 
affected and the airport in San Salvador, the capital, was 
closed.  Emergency systems and resources have been mobilized 
in El Salvador and aid has been forthcoming from the 
international community.  
 Funds totaling $25,000 for earthquake relief to El 
Salvador have been made available through the One Great Hour 
of Sharing Offering and the American Baptist World Relief 
Office.
 American Baptist International Ministries has 
contacted Deliris Carrión and Magda Aguirre, IM missionaries 
in El Salvador, as well as key partner leaders.  Carrión, 
who lives and ministers in the immediate metropolitan area, 
is helping with the emergency plan at the Colegio Bautista 
de San Salvador (Baptist Missionary and Education Institute 
of El Salvador), where she teaches.  Aguirre, who lives and 
works in the countryside, was in Cali, Colombia, attending 
an evangelistic conference.  She is attempting to return to 
El Salvador through Guatemala.
 International Ministries officials urge American 
Baptists to pray for missionaries, church leaders and all 
people in Central America affected by the catastrophe.  
Those wishing to contribute to the recovery may do so 
through One Great Hour of Sharing, marking contributions on 
line 7 of the Monthly Report of Mission Support "El Salvador 
Earthquake Relief."

WFN01117

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