Dear members of our Anglican Churches,
I am sure you have read and seen in the news report the calamity that had just happened in the Central Philippines has taken at least 2500 lives and many homes were completely destroyed.
Our Diocesan Welfare and Disaster Relief Board has decided that they may send a small team to bring some help immediately. Or if not they will send help through churches working in that area.
I am writing to all our churches to take up a special offering and direct donations to the Diocese under Welfare Funds. You can do so by taking a second offering or you may do so using a special envelop. I leave it to our clergy to give leadership here. The Welfare Board has some funds which they are already mobilizing. Please send your collection to the Diocesan office under “Welfare Funds”. Cheques can be sent to the Diocese of Sabah – and you write at the back “Welfare Funds”.
In times of sufferings of others, we realize how blessed we are that we live in relative peace in Sabah. But the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ stirs our hearts to help others in need in the spirit of compassion. So your giving and the active relief brought by our Welfare Board will be visible acts of mercies and love we demonstrate in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It brings glory to His name and it brings help to those in urgent needs. Relief and help of this kind needs to be sustained. Our Welfare Board will be making contact with our Episcopal Churches and other churches doing this work and they will work hand-in-hand with them.
This is the first time our Diocese is sending a relief team overseas – and the financial support from our churches is very much needed. I am praying for Philippines especially the affected areas. I am asking all our churches to pray for the suffering people of Philippines.
I thank everyone for your positive response to this special appeal.
Gal 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Every Blessing in the Lord,
Bishop A Vun