The Free Church of Scotland, through its Disaster and Relief Fund, is sending £2,500 to Tearfund and £2,500 to Open Doors, to support the work being done to alleviate the suffering of those significantly impacted by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
The devastating earthquake has caused widespread destruction leaving countless families in dire need of aid. The epicentre of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake was in the South of Turkey in the Gaziantep province. More than 11,000 people have been killed – the full scale of the damage and the number of victims is unfathomable. Tens of thousands of people whose homes have been destroyed are now seeking shelter and refuge in the midst of a freezing winter.
As a church, we bring those affected in Turkey and Syria, before the Lord in prayer, and we are grateful to those offering aid and support locally.
The Free Church of Scotland is grateful to God for the work of Tearfund who, through a church partner in Syria, are providing vital supplies such as warm clothing, nourishing foods and hygiene essentials to those who cannot go back to their homes which are unsafe or destroyed. Tearfund has set up a specific appeal to support those in need.
We thank God also for Open Doors, which serves the persecuted church, and through their partners, are able to provide food, shelter and warmth through the local churches.
The financial support will enable both organisations to provide help and support to those affected.
The Mission Board want to encourage churches in Scotland to continue to pray for these countries in desperate need, and to ask for God’s protection and comfort to be known by believers across the global church. Please pray for those who are affected, whether injured, traumatised or grieving. Please pray that these organisations would be guided continually by the Lord throughout these appeals and their relief efforts, and that their work would ultimately bring glory to God’s name across the nations.
Donations from the Free Church of Scotland’s Disaster and Relief Fund are dependent on donations made towards the fund. If you would like to make a donation to the fund, you can do so here.
If you would like to read further into how Tearfund and Open Doors are responding to the earthquake, please do so here:
Open Doors: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/earthquake-syria-turkey/
Tearfund: https://www.tearfund.org/campaigns/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal