Christian Broadcasters make Contribution to Tsunami Relief

The spiralling death toll of the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean has now begun to slow as the number of dead passes 150,000. While relief work is undertaken in the affected countries of Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia among others, aid agencies are still desperately calling for more donations and continued attention to the disaster. In this aspect, the Christian broadcasters have made a unique contribution in amplifying their cry for help and providing a network for emergency communication.

The Far East Broadcasting Company has launched a project responding to the needs created by the tsunami. In the worst hit country Indonesia, the ministry has played an important role in relief work at the request of the government in this Muslim nation.

Aceh of Sumatra was nearest to the centre of the earthquake, had been completely cut off from geographical access as all the roads were destroyed by the tsunami. Also, no radio stations are in operation, and so now radio communication provided by Far East Broadcasting has become vital in responding to the emergency.

"At this particular point in time, the radios will be literally a life line for many of these people to find out where they can get food, water and shelter and other life saving information," said the President of the Far East Broadcasting Company, Gregg Harris.

Harris introduced the three pronged approach in helping Aceh to the Mission News Network:
1. Sending a technical and programming team in to the region to enable local radio stations to function in the emergency.
2. Distributing wind-up radios that don't need batteries.
3. Health programming and grief counselling.

It is very encouraging that the Indonesian government has observed the crucial need of the radio and has ordered the Army to widely distribute radios to tsunami victims.

Another Christian broadcaster SAT-7 - an Arabic Christian television service targeting unreached countries in the Middle East and North Africa - has recently launched a prayer request programme for tsunami victims. The TV channel will focus more on the spiritual counselling for whom are closely related to or deeply concerned about the tragedy.

In the Press Release from SAT-7, CEO of the ministry Terry Ascott, said the disaster is a hot topic in the Middle East, however, it did stimulate many people in the Arab world to reflect about life and God. He described that the disaster brings to the top of the agenda for on-air discussion one of the great philosophical arguments within Christianity - "a problem of pain".

"Many people in the Arab world, of many religions are asking ‘Why did some live while so many perished?’ Some say the tsunami is God’s judgment on the sins of that part of Asia - where some cities are well known for prostitution and other vices. Others say the earthquake is a signal that we are in the ‘End Times.’"

Ascott gave this answer, "While we will never fully understand the ‘why’ until we reach Heaven, we do know we serve a good and loving God."

"We know that prayer opens heaven’s gates and brings to earth the mercies of God. This is why we want to engage the members of our audience in prayer," Ascott added in the press release.

SAT-7 prays that God’s glory and grace will be revealed in the midst of the Indian Ocean disaster. This is the prayer of SAT-7 for the tsunami victims, "Dear Lord Almighty, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, on behalf of all the suffering, grieving people of Asia who have lost family loved ones, we plead with you to grant them Your mercy and love, and to give them a time to weep and mourn for those they have lost. We also ask You to provide for their immediate needs of food, water and medicines."

SAT-7 also encourage viewers to donate funds to charities which have launched appeal for the tsunami, such as World Vision, UNICEF, the International Red Cross and MedAir. Currently, it is now taping interviews with Middle Eastern survivors of the disaster, and gathering comments from Arabic Christian leaders, theologians and even a Christian geologist about why they believe God allowed these events to occur.