There have been a huge number of posts I’ve read regarding the recent tsunami disaster in Asia, and I feel that I need to add my voice to the mix in crying out about the loss of life and livelihood.

Please help. Donate, pray, and encourage others to do the same. The money you spend donating is worth so much to those in need. God help us all to help our brothers and sisters in need. As my friend Tiegs quotes Jesus, “Whatever you have done unto the least of these you have done to me.”.

My man Elias posted the following information about how to help:

———————-

You can donate:

1. Directly to large international non-governmental organizations (NGO) such as World Vision, World Relief, etc. Giving options will be posted on their web sites.

2. Directly to local NGOs overseas. This would require sending your money by wire transfer directly to the bank account of the local NGO. It costs about $30.00 to send a wire transfer, and you would not receive a tax deductible receipt. It is the fastest way to get money to local response efforts.

If you want to send money directly overseas, I recommend the following organizations:

In Sri Lanka – contact LEADS (Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Service)
Contact person – Roshan Mendis
e-mail – [email protected] or [email protected]

In India – contact the Evangelical Fellowship of India.
Contact person – Rev. Richard Howell
e-mail – [email protected] ; [email protected]

Thailand – contact the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand
Contact person – Rev. Rev Silawech Kanchanamukda
e-mail – [email protected] ; [email protected]

3. Indirectly to Geneva Global which will accumulate gifts in a fund and send them directly to local NGOs in Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia. Funds will be designated to a specific project and followed with a report after the project is completed.

Checks for Geneva Global projects should be sent to:

The National Christian Foundation
Geneva Global Brokerage Account #13799
1100 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 900
Atlanta, GA 30342

Note also that there are three stages of disaster relief:

Stage 1: Immediate relief such as medical treatment, food, drinking water, clothing, blankets

Stage 2: Temporary shelter, dry rations, cooking utilities, sanitary utilities, trauma counseling

Stage 3: Permanent shelters, reconstruction, restoration of livelihood

Many donors will give to Stage 1 because the news is hot. Donors tend to neglect Stages 2 and 3 once the media coverage quiets down. These later stages are vital because they avert further loss of life from disease, malnutrition, and exposure. Geneva Global will direct funds to Stage 2 and 3 projects.