wfn.org | The Primate of South East Asia appeals for prayers and helpw

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>]

ACNS 3926 | SOUTH EAST ASIA | 31 DECEMBER 2004

The Primate of South East Asia appeals for prayers and help

An extra-ordinary tragic disaster of unprecedented magnitude hit Asia and the
surrounding areas the day after Christmas. At this moment, News Reports and
broadcasting Networks, locally and around the world, estimated the death toll
to have surged past 55,000 with many more still missing and millions of people
displaced.

Without any warning this region was turned into weeping and great mourning.
Indeed we can hear "Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be
comforted, because they are no more".

On behalf of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia, I send
our heartfelt condolence and deep sympathy to all those who have lost their
loved ones. We deeply grieve with them and we share their pain.

With such a devastating tragedy we could no longer keep silent. We turn to
our sovereign and merciful God in prayers. May I at this time call all our
Intercessors in our Province to have a special day of prayer and fasting on
Friday, 31st December, 2004. May I also request that special prayers to be
offered during the Services on New Year's Eve, 2004 and New Year's Day 2005.
Please remember all the people who have been afflicted by this disaster.
Please pray that effort for rescue, relief and re- habitation can be properly
coordinated and effectively carried out so that all people, lands and nations
afflicted may be speedily recovered and healed.

On behalf of our Diocese and our Province, I want to thank all Christian
brothers and sisters and friends from around the world for praying for us and
have phoned or sent us messages of concern either by email, fax etc. It is
times like this we know we are not alone. We are so thankful to all of you.
Please continue to pray for our areas.

In our Province, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore have not been affected. However,
some areas in West Malaysia, mainly Penang and Phuket in Thailand have been
greatly affected. I have been in contact with the Bishop of Singapore and the
Bishop of West Malaysia. They reported that all the churches are safe but
extensive damages have been inflicted in these areas. More than 1,000 people
died in these areas.

As a Province we would like to offer practical help to as many affected people
and areas caused by this dreadful disaster as possible. Our Provincial Crisis
Relief Fund is now open to receive donations from our churches and friends for
this purpose.

Please send your donations, clearly labeled "Crisis Relief Fund", to the
Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia by cheque or by bank
transfer to Account No: 392-357448-011 HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad, Kota
Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. I will also contact churches in other areas outside
the Province to see how we can help.

We do not always understand everything that happens in this world. However, I
know that our God is Sovereign. He wants us to love and to share. In Him we
trust.

May the Lord bless you all!

The Most Revd Datuk Yong Ping Chung Primate of the Church of the Province of
South East Asia

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