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The Role of Faith Based Organizations in Disaster Response. Don Timmerman, Director of Disaster Services, Manitoba and Saskatchewan Salvation Army. Responding to Disasters: Spiritual Foundations. Faith based groups are motivated by spiritual compulsion.
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The Role of Faith BasedOrganizationsin Disaster Response Don Timmerman, Director of Disaster Services, Manitoba and Saskatchewan Salvation Army
Responding to Disasters:Spiritual Foundations • Faith based groups are motivated by spiritual compulsion. • Faith based groups seek to meet not only the physical and material needs of disaster victims but also the spiritual and emotional needs
References • Bible: “Some give freely, yet grow all the richer…A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water” Proverbs 11:24-25 • Bible: “Because he loves me”, says the Lord, “I will rescue him: I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. He will call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 9: 14-16
References • For Jews, “the Torah makes it clear that it is a Jewish mandate to respond to the needs of the poor and needy…Doing tzedakah, righteous deeds, is part of the Jewish obligation to participate in tikkun olam-helping to repair the world.” (Source: American Jewish World Service
References • For Muslims, the Qur’an and the prophet Muhammed are sources of inspiration: Whoever saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” Qur’an 5:32 “He is not one with us who sleeps with a full stomach when he knows that his neighbour goes hungry.” The prophet, Muhammed
Role of Churches in Disaster ResponseStrengths • Location in the disaster affected community • Immediate access to buildings, which can be used as emergency shelters, warehouse space or other uses. • Members whom they may call upon to serve as volunteers. • Familiarity with local geography, demographics.
Church Strengths cont’d • Often established relationships with community leaders. • Ability to help identify and contact populations with special needs, including the elderly and disabled. • Reflection of the cultural diversity of their communities
Church Strengths cont’d • Potential connections to other faith based groups in the community through pre-existing alliances, such as inter faith groups or ministerial associations. • Role as a trusted, traditional source of refuge for those in need or in trouble.
Responsibilities of Faith-Based Groups • Educate members of the congregation and the community about the dangers of likely disaster events and how to prepare for them. • Look after members of their congregations, particularly those with special needs, during the emergency. • Offer advocacy on behalf of those most in need.
Responsibilities cont’d • Work in partnership with governmental and other charitable relief organizations, cooperate and support disaster recovery operations. • Determine unmet needs of people who are especially vulnerable and marginalized by the disaster. • Provide pastoral or spiritual services.
Responsibilities cont’d • Provide a larger vision of life that includes emotional and spiritual care as well as physical and material rebuilding.
Summary • There is a strong spiritual foundation underlying the participation of faith-based organizations in emergency work. • Faith-based organizations seek to meet the material, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of disaster victims. • Faith-based organizations have distinct advantages in ministering to the needs of disaster victims and responsibilities in helping their congregation and community prepare for and recover from a disaster.
Pandemic • Set up a call system within your church for those likely to be house bound. • Call house-bound regularly to check on their situation. • Deliver groceries, medication to those house-bound. • Prepare meals at home or at the church for those house-bound. • Deliver meals to those house-bound and unable to cook for selves. • Provide transportation as required for those house-bound.
Pandemic cont’d • Activities undertaken for church members can for expanded to the community at large based on the number of volunteers available. • Partner with other faith based groups to increase effectiveness in caring for the greater community.