There are a variety of ways to participate in the Virginia Baptist relief project with Indian Baptists:
• Raise funds for the immediate placement in a children's home of at least 100 children affected by the tsunami. The cost for one child is $400 per year. Our desire is for individuals and churches to consider becoming long-term sponsors for these children.
• Raise funds to replace fishing boats and nets in the town of Kulachal. A fishing boat and set of nets for each family can be purchased for $1,000.
• Raise funds to replace children's school items, allowing them to return to school for the next school year beginning June 1. $25 per student will make this possible.
• Raise funds and send construction teams to assist with the establishment of at least one new children's home near a tsunami-affected area.
• Send construction teams to make immediate repairs to existing homes still habitable but damaged from the tsunami.
• Consider raising funds to send volunteers or become a long-term volunteer to work with the India Baptist Convention and Virginia Baptists.
• Raise funds in order to provide living expenses for church-planters who will work in the field in support of the above ministries. $100 per month will provide room and board for a non-married individual.
Please make checks payable to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, designated for the particular response of your choosing. If you would like to have your money allocated to the greatest need at the moment, designate the funds for “Tsunami Response.”
More detailed information on all of the opportunities listed above can be found at www.vbmb.org or by calling either the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's glocal missions and evangelism team or Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia at (800) 255-2428.
Special to the Herald