Saipan Relief Fund

[Tom Raley]

Dear praying friends,

The following is an update from Andrew McClure concerning the devastation and recovery efforts underway in Saipan. Please read to the end where you will find how you can give toward this need, including a link for giving online through WBFMA. Joshua and Amanda McClure are planning to depart for Saipan in January, and the apartment at the church prepared for them has been destroyed. The vehicle they purchased to have there also suffered damage from the storm. Please pray for these missioniaries as they recover. This is an unexpected financial challenge for both of these families and the people/ministry there in Saipan. Here is the update from Andrew McClure:


The First Baptist Church and the Chinese Baptist Church are located on the Southern tip of the Island of Saipan. Just on the channel between Saipan and Tinian. It is a beautiful location or was until last week when Super Typhoon Yutu hit us with 185 mph sustained winds gusting to 220 mph. They projected the eye of Super Typhoon Yutu would pass directly through the channel between Saipan and Tinian. Which it did and now everything looks like a war zone.
It was a terrifying experience! The concrete building was shaking for hours as we hid in a room with no windows. Vanj cried, Jonathan screamed and I did a lot of praying. I went outside the next morning and could not believe my eyes as I looked at the destruction all around me but thankful for my family’s safety.
All the windows of both churches are gone. Everything inside is almost destroyed. There is about one and half feet of water standing in the FBC auditorium and the entire roof is gone. The floors in both churches are damaged and the ceiling in the hallway has fallen in.
The 2 Church vans are damaged beyond repair and our personal vehicles sustained dents and cracks in the windshields. They are reporting that it could be up to 6 months before electric is restored. At the present time there is no water nor electric.
Our first priority is to get windows and doors replaced and the buildings secured for safety purposes. It is very dangerous to have no windows and doors in the dark of the night. We have been estimating the cost of repairs and the minimum amount we came up with is $40,000 if we do most of the work ourselves. This is not including the roof of the auditorium or the vehicles. To replace the roof with a concrete one will be another estimated cost of $40,000. We are in desperate need of some help from God's people. The work of The Lord must continue!

Here is a link for how you can contribute to this need:

http://www.wbfi.net/saipan-relief-fund

Here is also a link to pictures accompanying Bro. McClure's letter:

https://mailchi.mp/6b1447c5304b/need-your-prayers-and-help-after-super-typhoon-yutu-hit

Thank you for praying!