Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Liberia, Africa. The Ebola epidemic there is now affecting our members as food and medicine become scarce and expensive. GCI pastor Browne, who serves in Liberia, wrote recently that, “life is deteriorating on a daily basis in Monrovia,” Liberia’s capital. “Ebola is on the rampage here, but hunger is killing the most people. My daughter died at the hospital as the result of complications from a miscarriage.”
Pastor Browne requested financial assistance to purchase food, medicines and other supplies to care for our members in Liberia during this time of crisis. Kalengule Kaoma, GCI mission developer in Africa forwarded the request to our Glendora home offic and the GCI Disaster Relief Committee responded quickly by forwarding about US$5,000.00 financial assistance from the GCI Disaster Relief Fund to Kalengule so he can help pastor Browne meet the current needs. If your congregation would like to help replenish the GCI Disaster Relief Fund so that we are ready to assist with this and other emergency needs as they arise, donations may be sent to:
GCI Disaster Relief FundGrace Communion International
P.O Box 5005
Glendora, California 91740
Note: The GCI Disaster Relief Fund was established to help provide members in disaster areas with emergency needs such as food, water, medicine, clothing, temporary housing, home and/or church hall repairs, temporary local pastoral salary expenses and other emergency needs. Monies received into the Fund that are not immediately needed, will remain in the Fund and be allocated for future disasters.
Many of us contribute to GCI directly [in addition to our regular church offerings]. I am not clear on the Disaster Relief Fund. Are the monies in that fund the only ones used to help with disaster relief, or are other funds sometimes used to help out when the need is greater than the Relief Fund is able to handle. I would like to contribute to the DRF regularly. Is it more helpful to send in a separate check for this or can I simply designate a portion of my check to be used for this fund. Thanks for clarifying this for me.
Our hearts are burdened by the scope of this devastating epidemic. Our prayers are also with Pastor Browne and his family. Experiencing the loss of a daughter is terrible and nothing that we can say could take away the pain. So we stand there with you weak and frail trusting in God.
May God in His mercy put a swift end to this calamity and comfort the afflicted.
In Him,
Santiago and Elke
Thank you for your question Jim and your support. The primary source of funds for disaster relief come from the GCI Disaster Relief Fund. GCI congregations around the world have donated for this purpose. In an extreme case, other general funds may be sent if available. However, since the Disaster Relief Fund is a separate restricted fund, it is generally better to send a separate check to GCI Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 5005, Glendora, CA 91740. Thank you for your support of the General Fund and the Disaster Relief Fund.
Thank you on behalf of those who will be blessed by your support.
Mathew Morgan
GCI Treasurer