Updates

Snowstorm in China
12 February 2008

Over the past weeks, China was hit by the worst winter snowstorm in 50 years. Since 10 January 2008, large portions of central and southern China was blanketed by snow, inflicting severe hardship on the people. About 100 million people were affected by the snowstorm. An estimated 223,000 homes were destroyed and 862,000 others were damaged. Some people were killed by collapsed buildings and by the cold, and hundreds of thousands were injured. An estimated 4 million hectares of crops, including fresh vegetable and fruit, were destroyed by the snow and cold. Power and water supply were affected, and some cities and towns have been without power and water for over a week. Highways, railways and airports were closed, causing millions of people to be stranded. The situation is aggravated by the estimated 200 million migrant workers who wanted to return from the cities to their homes in the countryside to celebrate the traditional Spring Festival, their once-a-year journey home to be with their families.

This was the update on the situation in China we received recently from Mr. Kua Wee Seng, the Coordinator of the United Bible Societies’ China Partnership Office.

As you would expect, Christians have not been spared. Many churches have been affected by the storm and have been requesting for help. For instance, in Yiyang city of Hunan Province, 60% of the 238 churches have been damaged, 200 homes of believers have collapsed, and another 1,000 homes damaged. At least 500 Christians were injured. In one instance, three members of a family of five were killed. The Yiyang Christian Council has rallied church members to help their fellow believers and to reach out to the community in love and with practical help.

In view of the current circumstances, the United Bible Societies’ China Partnership Office has offered to provide free Bibles to those who lost their Bibles to the storm and to provide Scripture portions to encourage and comfort the affected.

Whilst Bible production at the Amity Press was affected by the power outages for a few days, and the delivery of Bibles was affected by the closed highways and roads, thank God that the printing of Bibles* has resumed and the highways are now open.

The Bible Society of Malaysia is responding to the current situation by taking a collection for China. If you wish to make a contribution, click here.

You can also pray for the situation in China.


* Praise God that the request for the printing and distribution of 3 million copies of Bibles for Mainland China for 2008 has been approved! Another 3 million Chinese will be able to get a copy of the Bible, and be blessed and reached by the Word of God!