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  • Fresno: Valley churches call upon faith, compassion

    Fresno Bee, CA
    Jan 3 2005

    Valley churches call upon faith, compassion

    By Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Fresno Bee


    After the deadly combination of an earthquake and tsunami devastated
    lives overseas, many people in the Valley who turn to their faith for
    comfort are reaching out to victims who need help.


    Last week, Bishop John T. Steinbock of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
    Fresno asked each parish to conduct a special collection Sunday to
    make clear the Catholic community's response to the disaster that
    struck countries from Malaysia to East Africa the day after
    Christmas.

    The death toll Sunday stood at more than 137,000, but thousands more
    remain missing.

    Other churches also are extending a helping hand, which adds to the
    many donations coming from individuals and agencies that are fueling
    the relief work overseas.

    St. Paul Armenian Church in east-central Fresno, for example, held a
    special collection Sunday at the direction of the Western Diocese of
    the Armenian Church of North America. "We had a tremendous response
    and will repeat it next Sunday," said the Rev. Arshen Aivazian.

    Many churches, such as Aivazian's, are offering heartfelt prayers for
    the dead and the surviving. But it also is a natural response to send
    monetary assistance.

    In the case of his church, Aivazian said the Armenian people are
    "very understanding and sympathetic," especially since they have
    suffered themselves. In 1988, an earthquake in northwestern Armenia
    killed tens of thousands of people.

    The Rev. John Coelho-Harguindeguy, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua
    Catholic Church in northwest Fresno, said parishioners there Sunday
    were very generous in responding to the special collection.

    "They are good-hearted people," he said. "People basically are good.
    ... People basically are very generous when they see a need."

    U.N. humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said this past weekend that 1.8
    million people would need food and that the figure could rise.

    At Cornerstone Church in downtown Fresno, the Rev. Jim Franklin said
    the congregation offered a special prayer at its New Year's Eve night
    service and that his church regularly supports the great disaster
    relief fund conducted by the Assemblies of God.

    "Any time there's tragedy, you always want to respond in compassion,"
    Franklin said, "because we recognize tragedy happens to every
    individual, whether we're there or here. As a minister, I deal with
    the heartaches and the tragedies in people's lives every day."

    Franklin said now is not the time to try to figure out why such
    calamities happen: "We've got people who are hurting, and we want to
    reach out to help them."

    Not far away in downtown Fresno at St. John's Cathedral, parishioners
    pondered the sheer breadth of what happened.

    "I can't comprehend it. I just can't comprehend it," said Terry-Lyn
    A. Schmidt. She said her faith helps her and that "you just pray and
    help as much as you can."

    Lorenzo Santos Vega, a lay minister for the church, said his
    Christian faith also helps him in times such as these. He said all of
    the parishes are donating funds to the relief cause, and "I guarantee
    you this parish is very generous. ... We'll do everything we can."

    But he also looked at it in a spiritual way. He believes those who
    died are in heaven, and he prays for them.

    "Money can do so much and the aid that we've given them, but what's
    the best thing is spiritually and our faith. I believe that so much,"
    Vega said. "I know they're in a better place. All of them. The ones
    still surviving, I pray for them, too, because you know what? The
    Lord will be there for them."

    HOW TO HELP
    Among those accepting donations:
    American Red Cross, Fresno chapter: (559) 455-1000
    Chinese American Heritage fund at Bank of America: (559) 433-1278
    International Medical Corps (Doctors Without Borders): (800) 481-4462

    Sri Lanka Fund at United Security Bank: (559) 225-0101
    West Coast Mennonite Central Committee: (559) 638-6911;
    www.mcc.org/asia- earthquake; 1010 G St., Reedley, CA 93654
    International Mission Board, SBC: (800) 999-3113;
    www.resources.imb.org/worldhunger/
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