Our Moderator, Rev. John Greer, returned from the Pastors’ Conference in Kathmandu on Friday night. A magnitude-7.8 earthquake shook Nepal’s capital and the densely populated Kathmandu Valley on Saturday morning, the worst quake in the Himalayan nation in over 80 years.
At least 1,180* people were confirmed dead in Nepal, including 181 in the capital, Kathmandu alone, according to the police. Another 34 were killed in India, 10 in Tibet and two in Bangladesh. At least 539 people were killed in the Kathmandu valley. More than 1,700* had been injured. The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas.
A magnitude-6.6 aftershock hit about an hour later, and smaller aftershocks continued to ripple through the region for hours. While the extent of the damage and the scale of the disaster are yet to be ascertained, the quake will likely put a huge strain on the resources of this poor country best known for Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
Rev. Greer was able to speak with Rev. Paul Thapa, the moderator of the Nepal Free Presbyterian Church. He and his congregation had just finished their Saturday Worship Service when the earthquake struck. The congregation ran out of the building.
Mr. George McConnell was able to reach our missionary, Rev. Wesley Graham, who spoke of scenes of panic as they desperately attempted to vacate the church building. We are glad to report that everyone in the church and orphanage is safe, though minor damage was discovered in one of the walls of the Church and Bible College building.
It is hard to know what congregations are affected belonging to our Nepal sister Church. There is no electricity in Kathmandu, and communications are poor. It will be some time before the full scale of this disaster is known. No doubt, there will be thousands needing assistance and we would like to help our churches in Nepal to do what little they can to alleviate the suffering, and, in the midst of dark providence, bring a message of hope.
After consulting with the officers of Presbytery, and my fellow officers on the Mission Board, we have decided to make an urgent appeal to our congregations for help. It is hoped that our churches could lift a retiring offering on the Lord’s Day or in the immediate future. These funds will be made available to the Presbytery of the Nepal Church to use at their discretion in their effort to give humanitarian assistance to those in need.
Please send your gifts and offerings to the Mission Board Office, 3 Carginagh Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down. Northern Ireland BT34 4NE. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Mission Board FPC’ and indicate that the amount is for ‘The Nepal Earthquake Disaster Appeal.’
Sincerely in Christ, Rev. David Park (Mission Board Secretary)
For more information, visit our Free Presbyterian Mission websites.
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*correct at time of posting
