The tornado and hailstorm that struck Eastern China on June 23 has killed 9 local believers and injured at least 212 others, according to Funing CCC&TSPM. Moreover, the houses of about 200 Christian families have collapsed and five churches have been damaged severely.
Rev. Zhang Keyun, the president of Jiangsu CCC&TSPM, and the leaders of the religious affairs authority came to the disaster affected areas and looked over the damaged churches, as well as comforting the affected believers on June 25.
On June 24, the provincial CCC&TSPM published an urgent assistance proposal that appealed the congregations to give donations and prayer for the disaster-stricken areas.
It said, "Faced with the disaster, we are convinced that the power of God's love will surpass this suffering and bring hope and blessings to everyone. Jiangsu CCC&TSPM earnestly requests to the local churches to pray to God that ask Him to heal the pain wrapped around the victims and help them pull through the difficulty across their weakness."
Besides this proposal, Funing TSPM organized people to provide rescue immediately after the disaster and sent volunteers to hospitals to assist with the medical efforts. Considering the insufficient blood supply due to many injured, the county's CCC&TSPM called on believers to donate blood.
Volunteer teams formed by some local believers also sent boxed meals to the area and rescued the wounded. The church in Funing has donated approximately 400,000 yuan for the relief efforts, except the donated goods.
Similarly, the social service department of CCC&TSPM released a news report to call on Christians to pay attention to the disaster area and pray for the affected crowd on June 24.
The Yancheng Zhendao Church also gave prayers for the victims and affected residents of the disaster and raised a fund of 25225 yuan, as well as some clothes three days ago. Currently, the church is delivering the funds and clothes to the disaster areas.
Elder Li Along from the county's CCC&TSPM said, "Thank the Lord. Although the storm disaster is merciless, we believe there will be a better tomorrow by depending on the strength added by God our Father and with the intercessory prayer and support from the national believers who love God."
