As we learned with the earthquake in Haiti, disaster response is a complicated and long process. Typically emergency workers are able to be "on the ground" in a short amount of time. Organizations like World Vision spend thousands of dollars in a heartbeat to get the process rolling. This expenditure of large amounts of cash is why monetary donations are critical in the days and months immediately following a natural disaster like in Japan.
At this time we have no plan (nor do we intend) to send material goods or people to Japan any time soon as it would only further complicate the scene. If someone asks what the church is doing in response, here is my thought:
YOU are the church. If you feel God is leading you to help you can do so in these ways: pray for Christians and churches in Japan to rise up and love their neighbors, pray for relief workers to work well. If you feel led to give in some way then give money to an organization like World Vision or to CAMA which is the relief and development wing of the C&MA . If FAC receives funds marked for Japan they will be redirected back out to one of these two organizations.
Here is a first-hand update from a missionary in Japan. For those of you wondering what CAMA's response has been and will be, check it out.
