The Advocate

BR churches gather cash for relief work
By JULIE KAY - Advocate staff writer

Amid dramatic pictures and gut-wrenching stories of the horrific tsunami disaster in southeast Asia, faith-based organizations are in full gear.

In Baton Rouge, churches, synagogues, and mosques are doing what they can to send relief to affected areas and seeking monetary donations.

Maj. Mark Satterlee, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Baton Rouge, said the organization is asking for only financial donations because it can be sent the same day. Anything else at this point, he said, would not be as helpful.

"One, they don't have any place to put it; and two, it chokes up the system," Satterlee said.

The Salvation Army has a small presence in those countries, and Satterlee said he knows they are struggling to meet all the needs at present. As specific needs become apparent, those requests will be funneled through the international and national system to the local level.

The Army's initial aid efforts are more practical, according the Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in Jackson, Miss. The branch services Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

At present, efforts include rescue; providing food, water, medical supplies and temporary shelter; and providing aid at relief shelters.

Betty Backstrom, communications director for the Louisiana Methodist Conference, said Methodist churches throughout the area also are encouraged to give monetary donations.

At present, people are involved in searches, which are more aptly handled by the military and those experienced in such disaster efforts, she said. The United Methodist Committee on Relief will organize volunteer relief efforts as needed.

The church has also taken out a full-page advertisement in USA Today to offer a message of healing and encourage support for relief efforts, according to the United Methodist News Service.

Bishop Peter D. Weaver, president of the denomination's Council of Bishops, said the ad, showing weathered hands folded in prayer, is part of the church's effort to help the victims.

"We are called to respond to a loss of life and human suffering that is nearly beyond our ability to comprehend," he said.

Deborah Roe, the director of Catholic Community Services in the Baton Rouge Diocese, said Catholic Relief Services already had people on the ground in affected areas before the disaster and has committed $25 million.

Here in Baton Rouge, Roe said Bishop Robert Muench called for churches to collect special offerings at Masses on Jan. 8-9. Roe said she is also working with schools that are taking collections.

Roe said the needs are different in the different regions.

"Some have food; others don't. Some have water; others don't. The people already in place are better to gauge needs as they arise," she said.

"Baton Rougeans are typically very generous in times such as these, Roe said. We just wrapped up the most generous Christmas campaign in our history, and people are prepared to reach out," she said.

Healing Place Church has held special collections for tsunami relief efforts and is working through missionaries in the area, in addition to partnering with several aid organizations, who are coordinating food and medical programs and helping provide help for refugees by way of hygiene kits, said Dan Ohlerking, a representative for senior pastor, the Rev. Dino Rizzo.

One of the missionaries was in Baton Rouge as the tsunami struck and immediately headed back, Ohlerking said.

"People are telling me if the opportunity comes to go and work over there, they will drop whatever they have to," Ohlerking said.

Roddy Conerly, director of missions for the Judson Baptist Association, said Southern Baptists are on the scene and helping coordinate efforts. Information is available at the Louisiana Baptist Convention Web site.

At Bethany World Prayer Center, Rick Zachary, a world zone leader whose home base is Baton Rouge, said Bethany has collected more than $63,000 toward the tsunami relief efforts.

Zachary, whose region as a zone leader includes South Asia, said a church he started in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001 has since grown to 400 members. Although it was not near the tsunami devastation, congregation leaders have been mobilized to aid in relief efforts.

While much relief effort is going toward immediate needs of food and water, Zachary said the most of the donated money from Bethany is being used to purchase building materials in Colombo. Materials are being delivered by truck to the southern coast. "Many of these families are capable of rebuilding their home themselves," he said. Church members in Colombo are also volunteering to help.

Many, such as the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge, are holding special prayer services and collections, according to member Ed Ott.

The masjid held a fund-raiser just after the disaster, in which the prayer service collection was donated to tsunami victims, he said.

At Beth Shalom, Rabbi Stan Zamek said the children in their religious school will be donating money toward tsunami relief and the synagogue will soon decide which Jewish relief organization to send whatever funds are collected.

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