A Massive Earthquake Struck Central China
Benjamin Chan
May 12, 2008

The Yahoo news (go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080512/ap_on_re_as/china_earthquake) reported that "A massive earthquake struck central China on Monday (May 12) and state media reported that as many as 5,000 people were killed in a single county while nearly 900 students were trapped under the rubble of their school." "It struck in the middle of the afternoon when classes and office towers were full, about 60 miles northwest of Chengdu. There were several smaller aftershocks, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site."

Judy Sutterlin, International Ministries personnel in China, shared that although the "reports say that it was felt as far away as Beijing, Shanghai and Thailand. I didn't actually feel it here in Nanjing. Everything in Nanjing is normal." The Amity Foundation, a close partner of International Ministries, is checking their personnel who serve across the country, reported that "the Amity teacher on leave and studying in Chengdu is fine."

Judy asked American Baptist churches to "pray for the people in areas where the quake was strongest. Pray for their safety, for any needs they might have and that they may not be afraid. Pray for the churches. The churches in Sichuan Province have a long history of a wonderful outreach ministry to the needs of those in the communities around them. Pray for the Amity projects in that area, including church run social service projects and including the community based rehabilitation projects for the differently abled. Pray for an Amity teacher who is on leave this year to study Chinese in Chengdu. Pray for several of the students at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary who come from the earthquake area and who are concerned about their families that they have not been able to reach yet."

Judy Sutherlin currently serves as a teacher in the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. She also coordinates International Ministries sponsored projects in partnership with the Amity Foundation.