Village Blog

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the 
mountains fall into the heart of the sea." - Psalm 46:1-2

It’s been nearly a week since the deadly super typhoon—one of the most powerful ever recorded—slammed into the Philippines. The 230 mph winds leveled tens of thousands of homes. In some places, tsunami-like storm surges swept up to one-mile inland, causing more destruction and loss of life. Almost 650,000 people have been displaced.

The true extent of the nightmarish damage inflicted on the people of the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan became shockingly clear as the Samaritan’s Purse team traveled to hard-hit areas. As they approached, they began to see debris piled up higher and higher along the road. People stood in front of their destroyed homes—children, mothers, and families—crying out and holding signs: Need Help, We Are Hungry and Thirsty.

“The sight is gut-wrenching,” said Andrew Conard, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene specialist on the team. “In the areas where the winds were the highest intensity, nearly every house is either completely destroyed or has lost the roof.”

 “There is total devastation everywhere,” said Patrick Seger, the Samaritan’s Purse team leader. “People are living in the rubble of their homes and sleeping out in the rain, open to the elements. Even if they have a partial house, they are staying with it to protect their belongings. They need tarps to put over their homes as they begin to rebuild.”

Samaritan’s Purse has begun to distribute supplies, including tarps for shelter, on Bantayan Island. “We are trying to share the love of Christ and work with all the churches here,” Seger said.

Samaritan’s Purse sent a cargo jet loaded with 110 tons of emergency supplies including plastic sheeting for shelters, as well as community water filtration systems, thousands of blankets and mosquito nets, medical tents, medical supplies, and generators – those supplies arrived yesterday.

As teams continue to meet physical needs, they also pray with people in dire straits, letting them know that God has not forgotten them.

“When people say, ‘What are immediate needs?’ they always say water and food and shelter, which is great,” said a volunteer helping to assemble the kits. “But they forget the fourth need, which is hope. As much as we can, we want to install hope and remind people that God is here in the midst of it. And the way they know God is here is because we’re here in the flesh.”

You Can Help: Support Typhoon Haiyan Rapid Response Fund

As a church, our finances are extremely tight right now. However, we all have a roof over our heads and food to eat. Many in the Philippines have neither right now!  So, as an elder team we strongly encourage you to give generously to the dire needs in the Philippines right now - even if that means shifting dollars earmarked for church. We are fully confident that as we give generously to those in greater need, God will also care for our needs. 

There are many great relief organizations helping who will put your dollars to good work. As a church, we have chosen to partner with the work Samaritan's Purse is doing because they are extremely effective at getting help to where it is most needed, they have very low overhead costs and also because they provide help in the name of Jesus Christ.

1. Give by Check

Note your designation in the memo field of your check.

2. Give Online - You’ll see the typhoon relief at the top of the list. 

Give Now

3. Samaritan's Purse

Learn More about Their Efforts 

(100% of contributions to our Typhoon Haiyan Rapid Response Fund will be given this week to Samaritan's Purse to help them with this effort.)

You an Help: Pray

Please join us in prayer for the victims and their families; that the lost would be found, the sick would be healed, that the God of all comfort would be with those who grieve, and that miraculous restoration would come following this tragedy. Please also pray for the safety of the individuals who risk their lives to provide critical assistance.

Thank you!

Your VBC Elders

p.s. Our missionaries, Leighton & Jennie Helwig, serve in the Philippines - in the city of Manila.  The typhoon did not hit Manila, so they and their school campus were spared. Praise the Lord!