Return to the home page

The article was written by our Mission Advocate, The Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble.

Subject:	Tsunami disaster response from Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble
Date:	Tue, 04 Jan 2005 19:36:33 -0500

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ in Pacific
Presbytery:
 
Peace be with you in the New Year in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ! As we ring in the New Year, the
world grieves as the death toll continues to rise from
the Tsunami disaster in Asia. 
 
I want to let you know about the response of
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to the Tsunami
disaster so far. PDA has already sent $300,000 from
your One Great Hour of Sharing offering. In addition
to that, they have launched an effort to raise $2.5
million in designated gifts by individuals and
churches. 
 
Here is the website for Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance: <www.pcusa.org/pda>. At the website you
can donate directly online, download bulletin inserts,
and find out about volunteer opportunities as well as
other ways to respond to the disaster. There is even
a hymn just written ("O God That Great Tsunami") that
you have permission to download and use free of
charge. 
 
If you would like to send a check, you can do so by
sending it to "PCUSA" (or your local church name) and
designate in the memo "DR000167" (or you can simply
write "Asian relief"). Send to: Remittance
Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA,
15264-3700. 
 
As a program, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is one
of the most beloved programs of our denomination. PDA
is committed to working in partnerships with other
relief organizations and agencies. PDA is unique
however, in that they support and empower local
churches and communities in the area. In other words,
they approach disaster relief "from the bottom up". 
Because of this, PDA is usually the last to leave a
disaster--they stay on well after most agencies leave
because they are an integral part of a community's
disaster response.  Also, because the personnel
expenses of PDA are covered through other funds,
approx. 97% of your donation goes directly to
humanitarian disaster relief. 
 
If you are interested in receiving occasional updates
from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance you can join
their listserve by contacting Pamela Burdine at:
<pburdine@ctr.pcusa.org> or by calling her at
1-888-728-7228 x5839.
 
Let us keep those directly affected by this disaster
in our prayers, as well as the relief agencies and
governments who are responding. May we be the hands
and feet of Christ as we respond generously as the
church in his name.
 
Grace and Peace!
Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble, Mission Advocate, Pacific
presbytery
 
 
Return to the home page