Foursquare Disaster Response Services Report On the Damaged Churches by Typhoon "Yolanda"
INCEDENT AND ASSESSMENT
One week after "Yolanda" hit the country in November 8, 2013, the Foursquare Disaster Response
Team and Volunteers led by Pastor Val Chaves, President of Foursquare Philippines made its way to Leyte via Cebu City. Starting from Ormoc the team conducted survey on the damages and devastations that
Yolanda made to churches and houses in Leyte, Biliran and Samar provinces, particularly in the towns Albuera, Isabel, City of Ormoc and Tacloban. Couple of days after another team from Mindanao led by
the General Supervisor, Pastor Delfin Corona with some district supervisors and pastors came and brought with them some goods and construction materials for damaged churches.
The three provinces of Samar, Biliran and Leyte comprise the Eastern Visayas District of Foursquare Philippines with 50 local churches oversee by Pastor Dionie Lopez as district supervisor. Out of these total number of
churches 17 were heavily or totally damaged, while 7 others sustained partial damaged and around 700 homes of members suffered the devastations. Foursquare Disaster Response Services of the Philippines
were able to connect with churches and ministry partners here and abroad and many have responded to the need, particularly Foursquare Missions International (F.M.I.). As a result teams and volunteers have
been coming, up to this time helping in the on-going construction and rehabilitation efforts of churches.
However, the need for rehabilitation of churches and houses is still great, construction and rebuilding of churches are dependent on the financial helps that are coming in. We started first with those churches
that were totally damaged which are now halfway through, while others including houses of families and members are waiting for their turn. We continue to encourage churches, ministry partners and generous
individuals to sponsor or adopt a church or a family in terms of repair, rehabilitation and livelihood program. Thank you for praying and considering in partnering in this great ministry opportunity for the glory
of God.
Please let us know at the National Office of the Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Philippines for any plan, program or help you may want to have or extend for churches and brethren in Leyte. Call us at: +632-9138459 Fax: +632-9138462 or email: admin@foursquare.org.ph and for more updates visit our Facebook page.
You may coordinate also with district supervisor in the area, Pastor Dionie Lopez, mobile: 0926-3963096.