It seems like there are more and more natural disasters occuring around the world every month. It's very important as Christians that we are involved in caring for, helping, and praying for those who are in need.
Here's a summary of some of the things you can do to help those in Japan:
Pray:
As Christians, we know that God is in control of everything. It is good for us to pray to him and express our sadness, and ask for help. Pray particularly for the potential nuclear disaster.
Perhaps your church or youth group could hold a prayer night this week? Invite members of your local community & your friends and family to come and join you to pray.
Let's also pray that throughout this crisis that Christians in Japan will serve God faithfully, and make Christ known, even in their suffering.
Donate:
World Vision is often one of the first organisations to begin relief work when disaster strikes, including the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as earthquakes last year in Haiti and Chile. They also promise to “remain on the ground for the long haul, rebuilding communities and restoring hope”.
If you can, there is an opportunity to donate online to help them meet the urgent needs of disaster survivors in Japan and other areas devastated by the massive tsunami.
Help at home
Are there any kids at your school, or any neighbours in your street who have family or friends in Japan? They may be feeling very stressed or upset right now.
Take the time to listen to how they are going & see if there are any ways you can help. The best thing may be just to ask them if they want to sit and pray with you.
Learn about God & suffering
In these sorts of times, people often ask questions about “why does God allow suffering?”, and “why would God do this?”. If you would like to have some answers to these questions, then I recommend reading the following Fervr articles: