wfn.org | ABCUSA: Missionaries Safe in Europe Following Flooding

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (8/19/02)--American Baptist missionary
personnel in Prague, Czech Republic, are safe but reported widespread damage
and social disruption as flood waters began to recede there and in other
parts of Eastern Europe.

Nora and Pieter Kalkman said late last week that they and fellow
missionaries Wes and Cheryl Brown and Lauran Bethell are safe and that their
housing has not been damaged because it is above the flood line.  

The International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague also has been
spared serious damage because of where it is situated.  The missionaries and
other personnel from the seminary have been involved in emergency assistance
efforts.  IBTS, supported by American Baptist Churches USA since its
founding in 1949, draws students from all over the world, especially Europe
and the Middle East. 

As of late last week in Prague only one bridge remained open, water and
electricity frequently were out and about 50,000 people had been evacuated
because of unprecedented flooding of the Vlatava and Elbe rivers.  Parts of
Europe have experienced rainfall for weeks, causing Prague to experience
"the worst floods in its recorded history," according to The New York Times.
Damage estimates for that city are in the billions of dollars.

Contributions by American Baptists for relief efforts may be sent through
customary mission channels marked as One Great Hour of Sharing (line 7 on
Monthly Report of Mission Support) designated for "Czech Republic Flooding."
Those wishing to contribute online can do so by accessing the "American
Baptist Missions" or "Give Now" pages of the ABCUSA Web
site--www.abc-usa.org.

02ABN123	

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org