June 16, 2008

CHICAGO – The Rev. Peter K. Shen, consultant on China, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Global Mission, returned recently from a trip to Taiwan and southwest China, May 19 to June 1, in which church partners in both China and Taiwan discussed options for ELCA involvement in relief efforts in areas affected by a May 12 earthquake in the Sichuan province.

The earthquake has left nearly 70,000 people dead, about 17,000 people missing and nearly 300,000 people injured.

"Before I left for China, we at Global Mission had some conversation together and basically decided that we need to be there with our partners," Shen said. "(Second) is rather than make a quick judgment, including cash donations, we find out what the actual needs are."

Shen visited several affected areas, including the cities of Chengdu, Deyang, Dujiangyan, Luzhou and Mianyang. He met with members of the Luzhou Christian Church, who are facilitating the logistics of ELCA relief efforts. Shen also met with officials of the Taiwan Lutheran Church and the China Christian Council (CCC) to discuss their involvement in the efforts.

At a meeting with the CCC, it was reported that 21 large Christian church buildings had been destroyed. All council churches that were able have sent food, water and clothing to affected areas. The Taiwan Lutheran Church and ELCA Global Mission donated $40,000 as an "expression of love," Shen said.

The meetings resulted in a three-phase plan for continuing efforts in China, Shen said. "We came up with the idea that we should be there for the long term," he said, "for long-term reconstruction of the community and with the church, so they can stand up again and do their gospel mission."

The proposed first phase involves providing temporary housing, in a partnership between the ELCA and the Taiwan Lutheran Church, to be used for living, worship, counseling and community activities. This phase will also involve teams of Christian volunteers, some from Taiwan because of their knowledge of the Chinese language, to provide counseling to the affected communities. "That's one of the aftermaths – the tremendous need for counseling people from fear, from despair and from loss," Shen said. Five to seven affected cities will be selected for this phase, Shen said. Volunteer counseling is planned to continue on a weekly basis for the next three to six months.

The proposed second phase involves community-based rebuilding such as elder care, rehabilitation for disabled people, water and sanitation reconstruction and agricultural training programs. This phase is set to begin in January 2009 and continue into 2010.

The proposed third phase involves reconstructing some collapsed buildings, particularly places of worship, and strengthening efforts introduced in phase two. Partners in the Luzhou Church have determined which areas will be ready for ELCA assistance during this phase, Shen said. This phase is set to begin in January 2011 and continue as needed.

According to the Rev. Barbara Lund, director, Asia-Pacific Continental Desk, ELCA Global Mission, funding for these efforts will come from the ELCA World Hunger Program and "individual gifts for particular church support over and above regular benevolence to designated support."

Shen said the Chinese government needs more time to assess the situation and organize the efforts before rebuilding teams arrive. The ELCA's long-term efforts, he said, mirror this notion. "That affirmed our approach to this," he said. "We're not just going to be heroes, but we are going to be true friends."

Lund said that Aug. 1-12 an ELCA team will go to the earthquake zone in China. The team includes the Rev. Franklin Ishida, incoming director, Asia-Pacific Continental Desk, ELCA Global Mission; the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Global Mission; and Shen. Continuing follow-ups are planned in the fall.

"It's really incredible how doors have opened in the context of the Christian community," Lund said.

Information about ELCA Global Mission is at http://archive.ELCA.org/globalmission/, on the Web.

Audio of Shen's comments is at http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080612a.mp3, http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080612b.mp3, and http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080612c.mp3, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service
Luke Tatge is a senior journalism major at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer he is an intern with the ELCA News Service.