RCWS Supports Partner in Response to Earthquake in Italy
In the early morning hours of April 6 a 6.3 magnitude earthquake rocked the Abruzzo region of Italy, claiming 298 lives. As the dust cleared, over 60,000 people found their homes either totally destroyed or uninhabitable. Temporary tent cities have sprung up throughout the region.
The RCA's partner, the Waldensian Church in Italy, has been actively engaged in providing assistance to those impacted by the earthquake since day one. Often identified as "the oldest Protestant church in the world," the Waldensian church's roots go back to the eleventh century. Though a small church of about 30,000 people, it has a strong diaconal program of outreach and support to the community through hospitals, home care agencies, and orphanages.
According to Maria Bonefede, moderator of the church, the Waldensians launched a relief program immediately following the quake in Abruzzo that included:
- Collecting money to assist the population in need.
- Contacting government authorities to offer assistance and expertise.
- Mobilizing Waldensian congregations in the Abruzzo area that were not affected by the earthquake to actively assist in the relief program.
With the initial crisis now behind them, the Waldensians have been working to develop a strategy that would maximize their impact as Abruzzo enters the rehabilitation and long-term recovery phase. In consultation with government leaders, the Waldensians have committed to providing social services, including a "help desk" that will provide citizens with critical information about where they can obtain the various services that they need.
The heart of the Waldensian program, however, will be providing psychologists for the next six months to help individuals and families cope with the emotional and spiritual trauma that inevitably accompany such life upheaval. Duncan Hanson, supervisor of RCA mission in Europe and the Middle East, has worked closely with Waldensian leadership as they've developed this program. "People have so many needs in the midst of a crisis like this," says Hanson. "But unless their emotional and spiritual needs are being met, it's unlikely that they'll be able to cope with all the other challenges they're facing. We think this is a key element in the recovery process and an appropriate role for the church to play."
How You Can Help
In response to the need and in support of our Waldensian partners, Reformed Church World Service will provide at least $5,000 toward the Waldensian Church's response, approximately ten percent of the project's cost. "We wish we could do more," reports RCWS coordinator David Dethmers, "and perhaps we can, with the generous support of our RCA family."
Other Waldensian partners in North America, such as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), are also supporting the venture.
To give by credit card to support the Waldensian response to the earthquake, click here to donate online or call (800) 968-3943, ext. 247. If you prefer to send a check, make it out to Reformed Church World Service, clearly designate it for "Italy Earthquake," and mail it to Reformed Church in America, P.O. Box 19381, Newark, NJ 07195-1938 or, in Canada, to Synod of Canada, 201 Paradise Rd. North, Hamilton, ON L8S 3T3.
Please pray for all the people of Italy as they recover from this massive disaster, and especially for our Waldensian brothers and sisters as they seek to share the good news of Christ in this situation through words and deeds of love and grace.
Posted 05/04/09
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