January 24, 2005

Your Contributions Aid Tsunami Survivors

Following the December 26 Indian Ocean tsunami, members and friends responded with generous donations to the Oblation and World Hunger Funds to provide relief to survivors. Between the two funds, an immediate $75,000 in humanitarian aid was provided through the Red Cross. This amount ($50,000 from Oblation and $25,000 from World Hunger) equates to half of what is typically given for disaster relief annually.

In anticipation of the generous response of members and friends, an additional $20,000 was sent to directly aid church members in Sri Lanka for immediate needs to reconstruct homes, install water pumps, and provide food and medicine. Ron Smith, South Central Asia Mission Center president, reported that the loss of life among the Community of Christ family appears to be small "but the tsunami left hundreds of church people homeless and without food or resources. Whole villages, like Karamba, Sri Lanka, where we have a congregation, were washed away."

In response to this disaster, contributions to Oblation and World Hunger at the beginning of the year were significant. All donations to these funds during January will be used to aid tsunami survivors. In a further challenge to allow an even greater response on behalf of the church, all contributions above the average for February will be used for this relief effort. Total aid offered will be calculated and reported by April.

You can contribute to the Oblation and World Hunger Funds using Mission Tithes offering envelopes or by mailing a check or money order to Community of Christ World Headquarters, ATTN: Oblation/World Hunger, 1001 W. Walnut, Independence, MO 64050 USA.

-Kendra Friend reporting

U.S. tax deduction available for tsunami aid offered through Oblation and World Hunger during January 2005.  more

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