wfn.org | Council of Evangelical Churches of Nicaragua Issues Letter

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

Reply-To: wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>
11-November-1998 
98369 
 
    Council of Evangelical Churches of Nicaragua Issues 
    Pastoral Letter on Crisis 
 
    by Alexa Smith 
 
Editor's Note: The Council of Evangelical Churches of Nicaragua (CEPAD) 
issued the following pastoral letter to the people of Nicaragua, the 
churches, the government of the Republic of Nicaragua and the international 
community Nov. 5. - Alexa Smith 
 
    Joined together in a special session of the General Assembly to discern 
the Word of God in this difficult hour for Nicaragua and other countries of 
Central America, and facing the consequences of Hurricane Mitch, we find in 
God's Word expressions of consolation and hope.  Psalm 46: 1: "God is our 
shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble."  Isaiah 
40: 1: "Comfort my people," says our God. "Comfort them!" 
 
    1.  Motivated by this reflection and testimonies of brothers and 
sisters during this assembly, we feel with profound pain the human losses 
in Posoltega, Le¢n, Chinandega, Esteli, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Villanueva and 
other towns and villages of the country.  We want to express words of 
consolation to all those who have suffered and continue to suffer the 
consequences of Hurricane Mitch, those who have lost members of their 
families as well as those who have lost some or all of their belongings, 
fruits of their lifelong labor. 
 
    2.  We call on the people of Nicaragua to join in active solidarity 
with all victims, reminding one another that we are a poor people and these 
are not moments to take advantage of the situation by increasing the prices 
of products that are necessary for survival. 
 
      We see with hope the generosity of Nicaraguans who have given away 
personal possessions in the midst of the poverty that overwhelms us in 
order to share with those hardest hit by this natural phenomenon. 
 
    During our CEPAD General Assembly, we heard testimonies from different 
churches that have responded and given consolation to the victims.  More 
than 400 committees from the departments of pastoral ministry, women's 
concerns and youth ministry in all regions of the country and the 17 
different CEPAD offices throughout the country have been mobilized, 
participating actively in the great effort to determine the most immediate 
needs of the affected population.  These committees have established links 
and channels of communication, coordinating with local authorities in order 
to give effective help to the affected communities. 
 
    3.  All of us have been deeply moved by this tragedy.  We are praying 
that the President of Nicaragua and his ministers will be illuminated by 
God's wisdom in order to be truly sensitive and objective in responding 
adequately to the national situation.  We call on our government officials 
to reconsider the application of the Structural Adjustment Program during 
this time of disaster and to take advantage of the rich experience of civil 
organizations who have historically given valuable support in moments of 
crisis. 
 
    4.  The system of poverty that exists in Nicaragua which can be seen in 
the high unemployment and illiteracy will become worse with the effects of 
the hurricane.  For this reason we request from the international community 
and church organizations immediate aid in order to meet the human needs in 
a comprehensive manner. 
 
    5.  We call on the people of Nicaragua, and particularly the churches, 
to: 
 
    a.  Maintain an attitude of permanent solidarity as we face the tasks 
of reconstruction and restoration. 
    b.  Pray steadily for God's intercession. 
    c.  Take this as an opportunity to recognize the violence and abuse 
that we have committed against nature through indiscriminate deforestation 
that to some extent has worsened the consequences of this natural 
phenomenon. 
 
    On behalf of the General Assembly of CEPAD and the Board of Directors, 
 
 
 
Dr. Gustavo A. Paraj¢n, President 
The Rev. Hedley Wilson, Secretary 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  This note sent by PCUSA NEWS
  to the wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>.
  Send unsubscribe requests to wfn-news-request@wfn.org