wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS FOR JAN. 17, 1997

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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 
Richard W. Schramm, Director (E-mail:
RICH_SCHRAMM.PARTI@ECUNET.ORG)

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UPDATE: JANUARY 17, 1997
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o  In the wake of flooding and landslides that have hit five
Western states and killed 20 people in recent
weeks, American Baptist National Ministries  Office of National
Disaster Response has forwarded $10,000 in
relief funds to the U.S. Northwest.  The money, contributed by
American Baptists through the One Great Hour
of Sharing offering, has been designated for disaster relief in
southwest Idaho, in particular.  At least 200 people
in Idaho s Fayette County lost their homes in the disaster, which
hit the region Jan. 8.  Community Baptist
Church, Midvale, reported that half of its members have been
affected by the disaster.  In addition, First Baptist
Church, Fayette, reported that seven families in its membership
have sustained losses.  Church World Service has
issued an appeal for more funds to help disaster victims in the
area.  Some 15,000 homes have been affected. 
Losses from the floods in northern and central California alone
total more than $1.5 billion.  Receding waters
have allowed some evacuees to return to their homes to clean up,
but officials have warned that they face
hazards from raw sewage, dead animals and chemicals that may have
contaminated the water.  Ken George,
National Ministries  director of National Disaster Response,
noted that Church World Service expects needs to be
pressing "especially in economically distressed areas, including
the Native American Indian and immigrant
communities."  American Baptists desiring to designate funds for
flood victims may send contributions through
their region offices using the "Monthly Report on Mission
Support" form and marking gifts for "One Great Hour
of Sharing--West Coast January Flooding."  Clean-up kits are
needed as well.  Church World Service is
encouraging congregations and other community groups to
assemble "Gifts of the Heart" kits and send them to
its warehouse.  For instructions call 1-800-ABC-3USA,
ext. 2426.

o  The American Baptist Churches Mission Center here has
leased 6,000 square feet of its first floor space to
the Intergraph Corporation of Huntsville, Ala. 
Intergraph is a Fortune 1000 vendor of software, hardware
and
services for technical users in industry and government. 
It provides Windows-based software applications, Intel
processor-based workstations/servers, consulting,
support, maintenance, networking and training services to
fulfill
clients' requirements in engineering, design, modeling,
analysis, mapping and data management.  Intergraph's
three-year lease for rental space at the Mission Center
commences on March 1 and is renewable for an additional
three-year period.  The decision to lease a portion of
the Mission Center building was reached in 1995 following
a study of space utilization authorized by the American
Baptist Churches' General Board.  The study concluded
that a reduction in the space utilized by the
denominational offices not only was feasible but
desirable as an act
of good stewardship.  

97U117___________________________________________________
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