Tsunami response raises $6.8 million

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—Southern Baptists‚ record giving to tsunami victims and their on-site relief efforts gave International Mission Board trustees plenty to applaud during their Jan. 24-27 meeting in Richmond, Va. But the growing death toll reminded them of unfinished work among people who have never heard the Gospel.

The board also appointed 54 new missionaries, approved alternatives in missionary education requirements and improvements in technology, clarified the definition of “church,” honored active and retired missionaries who died within the past year and said farewell to Larry Cox, former vice president for the IMB’s office of mobilization.

After the tsunami struck countries in South Asia and the Pacific Rim regions Dec. 26, Southern Baptists rapidly mobilized to help those in need. Since then, they have raised more than $6.8 million for relief efforts.

Through Feb. 1, the IMB had processed donations from more than 14,700 givers. Previously, the highest number of donors in a single month was 3,500. And more than $1.3 million dollars was raised through online giving.

“People around the world, including Southern Baptists, have responded in a tremendous outpouring,” said David Steverson, the IMB’s treasurer.

Steverson noted in his report that 100 percent of all donations sent to disaster relief will be spent for that purpose. This is made possible through shelter worker who helps change Hannah’s life.

“I’m looking for a story that has some redeeming quality to it. And a lot of what’s being made right now does not have that,” Bartel said. “The story is more important to me than the role that I play. I could play a bad character in a story that is a redemptive story and has a redemptive message.”

Ayris admits as a relative newcomer to the entertainment industry he is still working out his theology of how Christians are to be in the world, but not of it. And while Christians will come to different conclusions about to what degree or even whether believers should try to influence the entertainment industry, there’s no question in Ayris’ mind that Christians should be involved in Hollywood.

“To me, film is no different than any other area—where sin reigns, we should be a part of offering positive solutions, giving positive alternatives.”