In Venezuela on June 24, two earthquakes, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck about 30 seconds apart, leveling hundreds of buildings. There are 6,509 confirmed deaths and over 226,000 hospitalizations or injuries. Rescue crews successfully pulled 6,462 people from the rubble. At least 40,000 people are unaccounted for.
In the coastal state of La Guaira, 80% of the buildings collapsed. In a church planted by the Guatire church in a town called Catia La Mar, four people lost their lives. Venezuela does not have the government emergency services or insurance companies to help them recover from this immense tragedy. But there are many dear brothers and sisters in Christ working to help those still in need.
Gabriel Sanchez is a missionary to the Amazon region with his wife Silviana, sent by the church in Guatire and discipled by Dave and Lois Belch. He worked in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake to share the gospel with survivors, pray and cry with people, and bring food, water and shelter.
Gabriel has received funds from sister churches, including those in Tenerife, Spain, and Faith Bible Church. He and other believers from churches in the area are using the funds to put together packages of needed food, hygiene supplies, medicine, and Bibles. They have been distributing these relief packages to families who have lost their homes (and, in most cases, loved ones). They are bringing blankets, sleeping bags, tarps, and other items to people living in tents. They have shared the gospel with and prayed with hundreds of hurting people.
They are loving in word and deed, collaborating with each other (and with us) to bring help and hope to hurting people. May we continue partnering with Gabriel and his team in prayer in the coming days, that the church would be built up and would shine the light of Christ in the darkness in Venezuela.
Dave and his wife Lois served on the mission field for 42 years in Venezuela and Tenerife, Spain. They are now retired, but can't help themselves from preaching the gospel everywhere they go.
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Nathan Thiry is the Growth Groups & Outreach Pastor at Faith Bible Church. He enjoys biking and outdoor activities, and has a passion to see the gospel spread throughout our community and the whole world!
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