自新冠病毒疫情在印度地區迅速蔓延，我們便一直尋求參與援助的管道，減輕當地人民疫情之苦。結果，我們得知能夠通過美南浸信會海外傳道部（下簡稱“IMB”）的宣教同工和他們的事工夥伴，把救濟物資送到受疫情嚴重影響的居民。
由於這次新冠病毒在醫療上帶來高度的挑戰，很多援助工作都集中在治療病人方面， 但我們也得知有其它方面的援助也是極為迫切需要， IMB也向我們介紹了在印度東北部和尼泊爾地區人民的需要。這個地區的人口大約2.34億，自2020年因醫療方面的缺乏、地區封鎖、失業，以至民不聊生。我們的計畫是向當地主內弟兄姐妹信徒及未信耶穌的居民派發救濟物資， 讓他們在這艱難的時刻感受到基督的愛和憐憫。
就此計畫，我們定下了4萬美元的籌款目標。
在2021年5月6日，我們把這個把基督的愛帶到印度東北部和泥泊爾地區的疫情援助計畫公佈了，縱然那時很多教會還未恢復實體聚會， 信徒還未能方便定期把十一奉獻及其它捐獻送到教會，但我們卻得到多間教會、牧者、個別信徒熱烈的回應及寄來的捐獻。這完全是神的作為，在祂子民心中作的感動工作，燃起對需要幫助的人群憐憫的心。
直至2021年6月13日， 約開始籌款的一個多月，我們從多間教會及個別信徒共籌得 $70,215美元，到今天還陸陸續續收到其它捐獻支票。 感謝神！您們滿溢的慷慨正彰顯出神對我們信徒的慷慨，就像使徒保羅在哥林多後書8章9節裡提醒哥林多教會信徒：「你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典。他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。」這次籌得的捐獻已經全數轉到IMB，用在購買援助物資上，行政費用分文不取。
如有感動捐獻，請在支票抬頭上寫上 Chinese Baptist Fellowship，並請備註 India COVID-19，把支票寄往：
CBF
P.O. Box 1393
Monterey Park, CA. 91754
（請寫上回郵地址，方便我們把扣稅收據寄給你。）
India/Nepal BBNJ Cluster COVID-19 Disaster Relief
Ever since we heard about the Covid-19 pandemic raging in India, we have been exploring ways through which we can lend a helping hand to help alleviate the human suffering there. We found such an agency in the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (IMB) which has personnel and national partners on the ground to channel aid to the people most affected by the pandemic.
Because of the medical nature of the pandemic, everyone was focused on providing medical relief, but we are aware that there are other areas of need that are just as pressing. Upon the recommendation of the IMB, we were directed to the Northeastern part of India and Nepal. This area, which has a popula-tion of 234 million people, was hard hit by the lack of medical services, lock downs and unemployment since 2020 which have caused tremendous hardship to the people there. The plan was to distribute ra-tion relief packages to the families there to show Christ’s love and compassion for them and to stand with our brothers and sisters and the people during their hour of need.
For this, we committed to raise $40,000 for the relief efforts.
When word got out about this gesture of Christ’s compassion to India and Nepal on May 6, 2021, pas-tors, churches and individuals responded in a huge way. Despite many churches not completely opened for in-person worship and fundraising activities posed some challenges when churches themselves did not have their regular tithes and offering collection on Sundays, funds began to flow in. It was solely the work of God as He worked in the hearts of His people and stirred their compassion for others in need.
As of June 13, 2021, a little over a month of our start date, churches and individuals have given a total of $70,215 towards the Fund and churches have indicated that more funds are on the way. We praise God for this outpouring of generosity which reflected the generosity of God to all of us, when the apostle Paul reminded the believers in Corinth in their giving, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9) All of the funds collected have been sent to the IMB and there were no administration fees charged.
To give, please send your check payable to the CHINESE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP with memo “India COVID -19” and send to:
CBF
P.O. Box 1393
Monterey Park, CA. 91754
(We will send the tax-deductible receipt to the return address as indicated.)
