As rescue workers race against time to find more victims of the back-to-back earthquakes that rocked northern Venezuela last Wednesday, Christian ministries are rushing to help people affected by the disaster. As of June 29, the death toll stood at more than 1,700 people, with around 12,000 displaced, according to the United Nations, while many survivors remained in need of food, shelter and other aid.
Photo courtesy of World Vision
Laying the groundwork
When crisis hits around the world, as it has in Venezuela, Christians are often first in line to help. That’s a very good thing.
However, there’s a reason the Bible tells us to love God with our mind as well as our heart. At times like these, we should engage both. Below are a few principles and tips to keep in mind as you give to Venezuelan earthquake relief efforts. We also have our assessment of some ministries raising funds for earthquake relief.
The Old Rules Apply. Just because there’s a crisis, that doesn’t mean a ministry that has been poorly run suddenly becomes well-run. In fact, often a crisis causes a weak organization to break. That’s why even in the midst of crisis and urgent appeals, take an extra moment to do your homework. MinistryWatch gives ministries a Donor Confidence Score, a Financial Efficiency Rating, and a Transparency Grade. (You can search on a ministry and check their scores here.) Don’t give money to poorly-rated ministries, or to ministries that don’t share enough information to produce a rating.
Beware of “Matching Gifts” or “Challenge Gifts.” These sorts of giving schemes can be legitimate, but in times of crisis, they are often used to heighten the sense of urgency. Educate yourself about Challenge Gifts and Matching Gifts by clicking here.
Boots on the Ground. When crisis erupts in a far corner of the world, it is too late to establish a presence there. Ministries that are the most effective are those who have already been operating there. They have “boots on the ground:” personnel, partners, processes, and infrastructure. Give to these ministries.
Ask Where the Money is Going. Ministries with a real plan should be able to tell you where the money is going. If the fundraising appeal doesn’t specifically say so, ask. If the ministry doesn’t respond with clear and specific answers, it’s possible it is just using the crisis opportunistically, hoping for a financial windfall.
Ministries Providing Relief Aid in Venezuela
Operation Blessing
This global humanitarian ministry based in Virginia Beach announced it is “mobilizing to assess conditions and identify ways to serve those affected” in partnership with local organizations.
“The earthquakes have struck at a time when many Venezuelans are already navigating severe economic and social challenges, making recovery even more difficult,” the ministry said in a plea for donations to its general disaster relief fund.
In the MinistryWatch database, Operation Blessing has a Donor Confidence Score of 93 out of 100 and a Transparency Grade of A.
World Vision
World Vision is asking for support and prayers as it addresses two concerns: the national impact of the disaster and the safety of its own in-country staff.
“At times like this, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of every member of our team and their families,” said Peter Grape, the ministry’s national director for Colombia and Venezuela.
According to its website, World Vision is currently working to confirm the status of all in-country staff members and their families and conduct safety assessments of its facilities. It is also assessing community impacts and humanitarian needs, coordinating efforts between World Vision teams in Venezuela and neighboring Colombia, and preparing to provide emergency aid.
In the MinistryWatch database, World Vision has a Donor Confidence Score of 89 out of 100 and a Transparency Grade of A.
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Water Mission
Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit, has a Disaster Assistance Response Team in Venezuela working with partners and authorities to begin an assessment to set up multiple emergency safe water treatment systems. “Access to safe water is critical in the days immediately following a disaster for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and sanitation/hygiene,” said Water Mission’s Gregg Dinino. It helps to prevent the spread of waterborne illnesses, which are particularly deadly for children. The ministry’s safe water treatment systems can provide enough safe water for up to 5,000 people per system each day.
Water Mission holds a 100 Donor Confidence Score in the MinistryWatch database and an A Transparency Grade.
Samaritan’s Purse
Franklin Graham’s North Carolina-based charity plans to deploy an emergency field hospital it says will be able to treat more than 100 people per day. The hospital will include a pharmacy, laboratory, critical care unit and multiple operating rooms. The organization also plans to airlift aid, including blankets, solar lights and emergency shelter materials.
“This is going to be a long-term effort,” Graham said in a press release. “I think we’re only just beginning to understand the full extent of the destruction in Caracas and La Guaira. Multiple hospitals are damaged or overwhelmed, roads have been split wide open, and hundreds of buildings have collapsed. People are living on the streets—terrified of aftershocks. They need our prayers.”
Samaritan’s Purse is a huge ministry that does good work in desperate places — thus we’ve included it on this list. However, it holds low ratings in the MinistryWatch database, with a Donor Confidence Score of 36 out of 100 — meaning MinistryWatch recommends withholding donations from this ministry — and a Transparency Grade of C.
MAP International
MAP International provides medical and health supplies to people in need around the world. The disaster relief organization is now working with partners on the ground in Venezuela to provide medical aid to earthquake victims. They are sending 74,700 Disaster Health Kits containing personal hygiene items and first aid supplies, as well as pallets of other health supplies.
MAP International earns a Donor Confidence Score of 90 out of 100 and an A Transparency Grade.
Send Relief
Send Relief, a collaboration between the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board and International Mission Board, has released a prayer guide for Christians to intercede on behalf of those affected by the earthquakes. The ministry is also asking for donations as it assesses the needs of local churches and partners, which it says “will likely include food, water, shelter, and more.”
According to Send Relief’s website, “The Venezuelan Baptist Convention has called on its churches to activate their response efforts and serve as places of refuge and hope for their communities. Because these churches are already present in their communities, they can begin caring for families immediately and continue serving long after emergency response efforts end.”
Convoy of Hope
This Missouri-based ministry with a focus on hunger and disaster-relief announced on social media that it was already distributing aid as early as the day after the quakes.
“Convoy is already responding,” said Ethan Forhetz, vice president of public engagement. “We’re bringing help and hope to survivors on their darkest day. Our teams are on the ground right now providing immediate, life-sustaining relief, including food and water from mobile kitchens.”
Convoy of Hope is another large humanitarian aid ministry that earns low ratings in the MinistryWatch database — it has a Donor Confidence Score of 32 out of 100 (Withhold Giving) and a Transparency Grade of C.
Warren Smith contributed to this report.
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