Taiwan's Presbyterians See the Value of Disaster Response 

Title: Taiwan's Presbyterians See the Value of Disaster Response 
Training
Taiwan Church News 2719, 5 through 11 April 2004
Reported by: Yang Shu-hao. Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Last December in Taiwan's eastern Taitung County there was an 
earthquake
measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale. Many church buildings and the 
homes of
church members were damaged. A team from the Church and Society 
committee of
the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) recently revisited the area and 
found
Kanifangar (Long-Chang) Church still worshipping in a tent. Members of 
another
church were living in garages and tents. One committee member, upon 
seeing
the devastation and misery, called for more emphasis on training for 
disaster
response and the establishment of local disaster aid teams and 
communications
networks.

The Church and Society Committee convened at the Kwang-fu Sugar Mill in
Hualien County on March 31 and April 1 to evaluate last year's 
responses and
disperse condolence and aid payments to families and churches that had
suffered loss.

The Rev. Mr. Chen Fu-chhun, pastor of Ciwkangan Presbyterian Church and
General Secretary of the Eastern Amis Presbytery pointed out that 
damage from
the quake to most churches had been light. Repairs have already been 
finished
in most places. Kanifangar Church was an exception, having been totally
destroyed. Nine members of Pangaongan (Fung-tien) Church who lost 
their homes
were still in tents or garages. The presbytery had already held a 
fundraising
event and called on Christians to join with those who suffered from the 
quake
in a spirit of support, aid and prayer.

Rev Chen added that after the quake the Eastern Amis Presbytery saw the 
value
of disaster response training that had been conducted earlier in 2003.
Following the classes many had felt like "soldiers on paper" but never
imagined that before the end of the year they would be called upon to 
use what
they had learned. Plans have been laid this year for two more training
sessions.

In every township the presbytery has already designated one 
"communications
contact", usually a local pastor. When a disaster occurs, believers 
and other
residents of the community have a person and place to which to go for
response.

The Rev. Te* Eng-ji, program secretary for Church and Society, said 
that
preparation is as important as rescue. He recommends that PCT 
districts
nationwide hold disaster response training to enable church staff to 
get
organized so that believers might be able to give aid when it is 
needed. He
suggests that churches consider themselves as neighborhood disaster 
relief
centers and invite their neighbors to be trained together. This, he 
says, is a
good way to establish better relations between churches and their
communities.

He reminds all that as summer approaches the typhoon season draws near.
Natural disasters seem more imminent. He encourages districts to hold
training for response, and suggests that those covering too large of a
geographical area divide into even smaller "sub districts" so that the 
classes
can be held.

Districts wishing to conduct training can look to the PCT's General 
Assembly
for guidance and monetary support.

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