Our Hearts Go Out To The People Of Japan

Greetings,

It's on everyone's minds. Seemingly out of nowhere, an entire country and region has been thrown into panic and chaos over a huge natural event. In times like this we are reminded that the earth can be a hostile place. It's certainly a place of risk and trouble.

Our hearts go out to the people in Japan. They are now faced with so many shortages, so many challenges that we long to reach out and help. I received one insightful "tweet" from someone that simply read "today we are all Japanese." In a way, we are.

It brings me hope and some sense of helpfulness to know that our United Methodist organization reaches out directly thru global missions and its agency UMCOR to help those in need - including the people of Japan - and that 100% of all donations go directly to the cause. UMCOR can do this because the administrative costs are kept low and are paid through-out the year from United Methodist funds. Those of us who are United Methodists can be proud that we have an organization in place that is able to respond immediately and is able to do so with financial integrity and efficiency. And those of us who are not United Methodist can rely on UMCOR as an agency of responsible hope and action in times of crisis.

In church this week John Baker-Batsel pointed out that UMCOR was already in Japan and doing its work the day the crisis began. The diligence and hard work of the past has prepared them for immediate response in times of need. Will UMCOR be able to solve every problem there? No, but they will play a significant role in helping people thru this crisis.

I've made a small donation to UMCOR today and I invite you to do the same if it is in your heart to do so. Because in some ways, today we are all Japanese.

UMCOR:

http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=5987

Doug Smith

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