February 2006
A Church and Mission Prepared for Disasters—Some Reflections and Ideas
Marg Pollon
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was And when he saw him, he had compassion on him and bandages his wounds pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Luke 10:33-34
As I ponder the Christian response to a global crisis, the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan comes to mind. This very familiar story we have heard since childhood has been a model to follow, yet the principles taught have often been ignored or taken a back seat with our busy lives. Will a world-wide and prolonged disaster such as an influenza pandemic (e.g., avian flu) re-ignite our church bodies to be the compassionate people that God desires? And how might this affect our mission operations and international/local staff? What will be our responsibility to them and those they serve?
Predictions of the impact that an influenza pandemic would cause range from two million to over 150 million deaths worldwide, over the course of several months. The associated social and economic impact would reach even further. The timing of such an upheaval cannot be predicted but it is considered to be very likely in the next five years. This will not be something happening "over there" or "to them." Our families, our churches, our organizations will all be affected, in whatever country or city in which we live. Governments are taking action and the business sector is taking this threat seriously. How will the church respond? How will we prepare?
The prospect of a `pandemic' or any other wide-scale disaster is a very difficult topic to consider and given the expected magnitude we are treading in unfamiliar territory. Findings from a recent survey in our own country, Canada, for example, indicate that few denominations/ministries are in discussion or are not yet taking aggressive steps to prepare for an emergency of this magnitude. We truly have been fortunate, having had relative calm compared to many countries which have experienced severe devastation. Yes, we have suffered localized emergencies such as floods, SARS, droughts, fires and ice storms; but compared to many other countries who have lived through horrific mass calamities, we really have no idea what it is to live through a "natural disaster" that could turn our lives upside down.
Biblical Response. During any crisis, many questions arise about God. As such, we need more than ever to be ready with a response for the hope that that lies within us. We know that one of the main questions asked by people affected by tragedies is, "Where is God in all this?" Christians must be well-grounded in biblical truths to be prepared to answer hard questions that might come our way, and at the same time being able to offer a listening ear to a hurting soul for solace and comfort. What an opportunity to reach out and connect with people in need, whether back in one's church or internationally in our mission settings.
Prayer. As Nehemiah prayed for God's guidance and protection, we too should make prayer a priority and first response in any situation. No matter what a persons spiritual leanings, when tragedy strikes, an offer of prayer can give great peace and assurance, to be affirmed that God is in control.
An inventory is helpful to assess what resources are already available, on a moments notice. For example, some churches are equipped with cots, bedding, and food; due to programs that already exist in their facility such as "community food banks". These areas of ministry can usually be implemented readily since the structure is already in place.
Small groups can play an integral role in building neighbourhood mutual support groups, prayer gatherings, home churches, counselling and support, food preparation, delivery service, child care, communication, etc.… These task-orientated groups have service already built into their DNA and will be of great value in community outreach.
Education/Training/Equipping. The focus of a disaster preparedness plan should be to anticipate what is needed to respond to warnings and to take action during a disaster relief operation. The process will be most effective if those who are the ultimate beneficiaries know what to do in times of disasters and know what to expect. For thisreason, an essential part of a disaster preparedness plan is the education of those who may be threatened by a disaster. This could be an important contribution of both the local church and the mission/aid community.
Of particular note in the context of a pandemic is that we are all threatened. Staff may not be available to help, because they too may be stricken or even dead! Or some people may say, "Of course we'll be able to respond; we'll just do whatever our local health authorities ask of us." This may all sound very well and proper, but the reality in many places is that health authorities are either not prepared themselves or else not available to help in a timely fashion. They won't be able to come around and say, "Thanks for being on stand-by, here's what you need to do." Hence we ourselves, both church and mission, need to prepare in advance…..
Training of trainers, who could prepare local churches and mission organizations in areas of healthcare, social services, and church planting, should be a high priority. This may not make sense right now, but if you were a survivor or Hurricane Katrina, or your staff were severely injured by the recent earthquake in Pakistan, it certainly would be extremely relevant. Health care workers that have been retired or out of service for whatever reason, could be brought up to speed for support in those areas that fit their previous expertise. Others could be trained to assist in lesser roles but would be of great assistance to alleviate stress and offer rest to over-extended medical professionals. Churches (where they exist) may see their facility used as a base for emergency response courses and programs, with congregations engaging in active participation.
Partnerships with other churches/ministries as well as other health/social agencies/NGOs are a viable way of reducing omissions as well as duplications in disaster response (Ecclesiastics 4:12). We should welcome this opportunity to partner with others to walk in the steps of the Great Physician to be Christ's hands and feet.
Communication. To keep information current and relevant, communication is an essential service to monitor the situation and interventions, as well as to relieve stress and anxiety or in some cases panic during a crisis. Churches and mission organizations could help gather data that would house valuable statistics on neighbourhood demographics, a list of church/mission/NGO members with specific medical qualifications and experience, keeping track of deaths, those living alone, lists of volunteers with non-medical skills such as electricians, drivers, etc. Many NGOs and missions have much experience in the areas of partnership and communication already.
New Sites for Services. Caring individuals that have been prepared to give sacrificially because they love the Lord will have an opportunity to step out and care for those in their churches and community. In times of crisis there is often much spiritual angst. In other emergencies people often seek a church for peace and comfort. As well, we could see a new healthcare landscape with the church leading the way in emergency response preparedness and community health education.
We are encouraging Christians globally to better prepare personally and corporately for mass disasters as Christ's ambassadors. If this virulent strain were to take hold and passes readily from human to human, there will be little time for preparation. As we see in the life of Nehemiah and other biblical personalities, good stewardship of our lives and resources includes preparation. Preparation involves not only how to care for ourselves and loved ones, but also for those in our sphere of service.

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