As you are surely aware, Turkey just experienced the most devastating earthquake in the long history of our earthquake-prone area. Ten districts are destroyed and 15 million people affected.

We are writing to provide you with a clear and comprehensive plan for the disaster relief support we are seeking for our brothers and sisters in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Maras, Turkey.

As you may know, the earthquakes have affected over 15 million people and have left many without homes, basic necessities, and proper infrastructure. Our assistance plan consists of four phases:

1. Immediate Help
2. Permanent Help
3. Continuous Help
4. Reconstruction Help

Phase 1: Immediate Help

In this phase, we will prioritize providing immediate needs to the affected area. We have already sent a relief pack on February 8 and are planning to send another one on February 13 through official organizations. We are financing this phase with our church budget and donations from our members, as well as sending a team of two or three individuals to the disaster zone to identify additional needs. This team will also aid Christians in the area, including a relief pack and further opportunities for aid as identified on-site.

One of the biggest needs in the disaster zone is housing, as nearly all buildings were destroyed and it will take years to rebuild. We are hoping to work with Ahbap, a trusted non-governmental organization that has experience in building container-base houses in disaster zones, to build 80 container-base houses in total. Our plan is to build two villages, each consisting of 40 houses. For the Second Phase, we aim to raise $440,000 for 80 shipping container houses (in other words, two container house villages consisting of 40 houses) and the groundwork.

Phase 3: Continuous Help

In light of the widespread destruction, the affected people will require ongoing support, including medicine, food, and other basic necessities. Our goal is to continue to support these individuals, especially those who will reside in the container villages we hope to build. This will provide a significant opportunity for our witness to the surrounding community.

Phase 4: Reconstruction Help

While this phase may not be immediate, we hope to be prepared to assist in the rebuilding efforts of Christian homes and churches in the future. This is a tentative plan, as it is difficult to predict what the situation will be in the coming years.

The earthquakes have resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands lives confirmed lost and over 12,000 apartment buildings collapsed as of this writing. We assume that 200,000 people are still under the collapsed buildings. As the Izmir Protestant Church, we feel a responsibility to extend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to our neighbors in need. We are grateful for your consideration and any support you may be able to provide.

Please let us know if you have any questions or need 
 any additional information.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Send Earthquake Relief Donations To:

Global Church Ministries (ATTN: Bocek Family)
42946 Corte Abanilla,
Temecula, CA 92592

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Post authored by:

• Fikret Böcek

  

  The Rev. Fikret Böcek was converted to Christianity in 1987. He is a graduate (1998) of Westminster Seminary in California returned to his country in 2001 to plant a confessional Reformed church in Izmir, the ancient Smyrna, the persecuted city of Revelation 2:8–11, where bishop Polycarp famously died for his faith.

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