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Asian-American United Methodists call for action on tsunami relief

Jan. 5, 2005

By Linda Bloom

The caucus representing Asian-American United Methodists is asking
church members everywhere "to pray and act" in response to the tsunami
that struck countries along the rim of the Indian Ocean.

"My wish is that all Asian-American United Methodists would respond to
the disaster and give generously," said Inday Day, executive director of
the National Federation of Asian American United Methodists. The Rev.
Mark Nakagawa is the organization's chairperson.

The federation has members from the South Asian countries of India, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh and the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia,
Malaysia, Myammar and Thailand - seven of the 12 countries hit by
December's tsunami.

"The Filipino-American community grieves with its Asian sisters and
brothers that suffered losses in the Tsunami disaster," said Aquilino
"Pong" Javier, chairperson of the federation's Filipino caucus, in a
Jan. 4 interview with United Methodist News Service. "Recently, we too
were recipients of love and care and help from the rest of world after
the devastating typhoons in the Philippines."

Working with the federation, Filipino-Americans have mobilized their aid
via e-mail and telephone calls to churches and individuals.

"We are aware that contributions are pouring in," Javier added. "We are
most fortunate that the UMC has an established communication direction
(through) UMCOR and UMCom to lead and guide resources in moments like
this," he said, referring to the United Methodist Committee on Relief
and United Methodist Communications.

Phu Xuan Ho sent a Jan. 4 letter to pastors and lay leaders on behalf of
the denomination's Indochinese National Caucus. "Faced with a
catastrophe of incomprehensible proportion, the family of Indochinese
United Methodists reaches out to and unanimously declares our solidarity
with the victims, families and relatives of the victims in the countries
of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and
Thailand," the letter said.

"Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones, their homes, livelihood
and property. We offer our prayers to God on behalf of the injured, sick
and bereaved in the affected areas."

Federation leaders are encouraging United Methodists to make donations
through UMCOR.

Donations to UMCOR's "South Asia Emergency" relief efforts can be placed
in local church offering plates or sent directly to UMCOR, 475 Riverside
Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Designate checks for UMCOR Advance
#274305 and "South Asia Emergency." Online donations can be made by
going to www.methodistrelief.org. Those making credit-card donations can
call (800) 554-8583.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service
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