Ballymena mission team, Reaching and Teaching Ministries reaches out to help earthquake victims. The Ballymena-based organisation (RTM) is appealing for public support as it seeks to provide aid for the population of a ‘tent village’ in the Philippines which was decimated by an earthquake in October 2013.
Donations of clothing suitable for adults and children are urgently required, along with financial backing to enable the purchase of food and medicines in a country that has no National Health Service.
RTM Director, Kenneth Wilson, explains: “The village was discovered by our missionaries in the region, Philip and Tracey Johnston, who are also from Ballymena.”
“The village is on the island of Bohol; its precise location is about two hours from our mission base. Philip and Tracey load up the van and head out to meet with the people to find out what their needs are on a regular basis”, he adds.
Kenneth reveals that the aid is shipped to Asia in Balikbayan boxes. These hold about 250 items each and cost between £55-65 to ship depending on their size. Two one cubit metre containers have also been sent out in partnership with Mercy in Action ministries. Another one planned for early in the New Year.
Reaching and Teaching Ministries reach out in a practical way to show God’s love.
In addition to this, RTM are also providing practical, financial and medical support to a sick little girl and her family, who live in a nearby ‘squatter village’.
Three year old Riza has never walked and, due to malnutrition, she is yet to grow.
Kenneth remarks: “Tracey is going three times a week to see that this baby is properly fed. She gained no weight for three years but they is no starting to gain this. We are providing aid for other people in that village as well.”
Making God’s Word available to those who need it is also a key part of RTM’s work. Approximately 500,000 copies of John’s Gospel have already been distributed in schools and other places where the ministry has an opening. (These were printed by the Revival Movement in Dromara.)
More aid is urgently needed to go on the post-Christmas shipment. If you or your Church can help Reaching & Teaching Ministries reach out to give essential supplies to these people so drastically affected by an earthquake then contact Kenneth on is 07774 617487 or log on to their website here.