At the DNA, we often say that the church is God’s NGO: his chosen agency for restoring, healing and blessing broken nations. Rarely has that been seen more acutely than in these weeks following the earthquakes in Nepal.
Many DNA-trained Nepalese Christian churches have worked together to lead the emergency-relief effort in parts of Nepal not reached by large international agencies.
In the days and weeks following the first earthquake on April 25, the populous capital city was inundated with relief agencies and resources while people scattered in remote, mountainous villages sat waiting for help.
Local Christians, many of whom experienced their own losses during the quakes, assembled for action, beginning with prayer.
Vision Network Nepal (VNN), the DNA’s local network, has been working for 10 years to train more than 1,000 local churches in biblical worldview and wholistic ministry. These churches, perfectly poised to serve their neighbors with the love and truth of Jesus, have ventured to places like Kaule, a small, remote village north of Kathmandu where at least 40 people died.
Existing local relationships, such as those fostered by VNN over the years, are invaluable in a time like this when traditional systems of infrastructure have broken down but the needs are urgent. Using local and international donations, VNN was able to provide six tons of rice and 62 tents to those in Kaule. This is just one example of the daily efforts put forth by Nepalese Christians through VNN.
Presently, VNN has nine teams from various regions of Nepal helping in four specific areas with great need. In each area, they are serving 100-140 families, providing rice and tin sheets to build shelters. The tents many people receive have proven too flimsy against the wind and rain, especially with the approaching rainy season. Attention is now turning to the need for permanent housing.
DNA is partnering with Reconciled World to support VNN, a grassroots Nepalese organization that will walk with these communities the whole way–past emergency relief and toward the flourishing life God intended. Fully 100 percent of all donations we receive for Nepal are being sent to VNN for use among the local churches and communities with which they’re already walking.
Please watch for more updates in the days to come; we expect to receive more photos and reports soon from the VNN teams.
