Christians respond after 'catastrophe of historic proportions' in the Bahamas

Christians are on the ground in the Bahamas offering spiritual counselling and practical assistance after Dorian left a trail of destruction. 

Swathes of the islands have been left in ruins after the hurricane swept through with winds of up to 185 mph.  At least 43 people were killed and around 70,000 people are homeless. 

Samaritan's Purse has airlifted an emergency field hospital and medical team to the Bahamas at the request of the World Health Organization and the Bahamas government.

The mobile facility has 40 beds but can support the care of up to 100 patients daily, and houses an operating room as well as obstetrics ward with delivery room.

The humanitarian organisation, led by Franklin Graham, said that the people of the Bahamas had been left in "desperate straits" after Dorian.

Since the category 5 storm made landfall a week ago, Samaritan's Purse has dispatched 30 tons of emergency items, including material for temporary shelter and water filtration units.

Over a dozen disaster relief team specialists have also been sent to the islands who are working with church partners to determine the areas of greatest need.

"Families in the Bahamas are suffering.  Please join me in praying for everyone affected by this hurricane, and for our teams as we respond in Jesus' name," said Graham. 

Dorian is reported to have been the strongest storm ever to hit the Bahamas.  

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains have been deployed to the islands to offer emotional and spiritual care to those grieving the loss of loved ones, homes and livelihoods.

"It's a catastrophe of historic proportions," said Rapid Response Team Assistant Director Josh Holland. 

The Salvation Army said that transportation had been a "huge challenge" in the aftermath of the storm, with many roads blocked, badly damaged or submerged under flood waters. 

The Salvation Army corps in Freeport was partly damaged but has managed to remain operational thanks to a generator, allowing the team there to prepare food for distribution to the emergency shelters.

News
Who was the Ethiopian eunuch and what can we learn from him?
Who was the Ethiopian eunuch and what can we learn from him?

When we think about the history of Christianity in Africa, we may immediately think of European missionaries who travelled to the continent to spread the gospel. Yet Africa’s connection to Christianity stretches much further back, to the earliest days of the Church itself.

Fewer than half of Americans believe in virgin birth, study finds
Fewer than half of Americans believe in virgin birth, study finds

This is the first time a major national survey has recorded belief in the virgin birth dropping below 50%.

Salvation Army stands up for rights of older people at UN meeting
Salvation Army stands up for rights of older people at UN meeting

Dementia doesn't have to mean the loss of autonomy.

West Bengal Christians face wave of violence and intimidation, report warns
West Bengal Christians face wave of violence and intimidation, report warns

A new report documents 60 incidents targeting Christians in West Bengal over a four-month period.