March 11, 2011

Staff working with Christian Reformed World Missions and Back to God Ministries International in Japan are safe in the wake of a major earthquake and tsunami that hit the country today, Christian Reformed Church officials say.

Bob Heerspink, director of BTGMI, and Gary Bekker, director of CRWM, reported that all ministry personnel and their families have been accounted for and are safe.

The Reformed Church in America reported that its missionaries in Japan also are safe following the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in more than 100 years.

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is launching a response to aid earthquake and tsunami survivors, working in concert with Back to God Ministries International, Christian Reformed World Missions, the ACT Alliance and other partners.

CRWRC has started a fund for earthquake and tsunami relief. To make a donation, please visit http://www.crcna.org/Japan/.

Bill Adams, CRWRC's director of Disaster Relief Services in the United States, will be talking to U.S. relief officials to make plans to respond should a tsunami spawned by the earthquake cause damage in Hawaii, other U.S. islands, or along the West Coast of the U.S.

The earthquake brought the bustling city of Tokyo to a standstill as buildings swayed and thousands of people filled the streets.

BTGMI staff was staying in the ministry office, near Tokyo, since no buses or trains were running. Staff there reported that the office shook and papers and pictures and other items flew through the office.

"When the earthquake occurred, Ms. Shimada and I were in the office," said Masao Yamashita, BTGMI's ministry leader in Japan. "It was the biggest earthquake I ever experienced in my life.

Christian Reformed Church News Service