News from Chile

Retired Ipswich Minister, John Battman (formerly with SAMS) has received some information about the situation in Chile from Bishop Hector Zavala of the Anglican Church.

 

Beloved in Christ,

 

May the grace, mercy and love of Christ be with each one of you.

 

Apart from the VIII Region, the general situation of the church is good. There has been

no loss of life, although there is some structural damage to buildings which will need to

be repaired during the second stage of recovery.

 

The little information we have received on what is happening in Concepción, hampered

by the breakdown in communications and the supply of electricity, is as follows:

· The city of Concepción is still isolated; electricity supply has not been established,

and due to lack of transport no food, water or petrol is getting through.

· Around seventy families from our church have been affected. Our brethren are

sleeping in tents in three different parts of the city: Manqimavida, San Pedro de la Paz

and Las Lomas.

· As the families are grouped together they can share cooking pots and maximise

the few provisions they have between them.

 

At an emergency meeting, the Diocese decided to take help to the area. We called upon

our churches, both in Chile and abroad to help carry out the following plan:

1. It is very important for the church to unite and mobilise, to help, first of all, our

brethren in the churches in Concepción, and then the other seriously affected towns in

the VII Region.

2. We would like to support those affected in an integrated way (body, mind and

spirit)

3. We are asking pastors and lay leaders to create and organise prayer networks in

each church, so that ultimately the Lord may be glorified in this whole situation.

4. Churches in the metropolitan area of Santiago are asked to help with funds, non

perishable goods, nappies, bottled water and blankets. Please get in touch with this

office if you need help with transport.

5. God willing, on Tuesday 2 March I hope to take a truck of goods to Concepción.

Another truck is due to leave for the coastal area of the VII Region at the same time.

6. On Wednesday 3 March a lorry will depart with goods for Concepción.

7. In Concepción itself we will need to evaluate the situation on the ground.

Finally, we remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ “For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a

stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you

looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. The King will reply, 'I tell you

the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for

me'.”

 

In the service of Christ

 

Dear Bishop Hector,

 

Our dear brother John Battman (formerly of SAMS) has forwarded to us your announcement

about the situation, and an extract from a letter from one of his friends in Concepcion. The

Christians of this Diocese in the east of the UK are praying for you all, and joining the laments

the world over, and we will join in prayers on Sunday around the Lord’s table.

“Therefore we will not fear, through the earth be moved...though the waters therefore rage and

swell….God shall help her, and that right early.”