At Foursquare’s convention in Houston last month, an offering was taken to aid in the relief efforts in China and Myanmar. The contribution totaled $31,000 in cash and $154,000 in pledged gifts. Although local contacts in China are limited, Foursquare Missions International (FMI) staff have been able to assist with the relief work thanks to local contacts. As churches follow through with their commitment to ongoing relief assistance in Myanmar, their offerings will be used in the following ways:

• Four-hundred-foot deep wells are being dug to provide clean water to locals, which is critical for health.
• Twelve churches have been rebuilt.
• Toilets are being provided.
• Food, water and hygiene products are being delivered.
• Community health education classes are being taught.
• The first staging area in the Irawaddy division has been established.

Recent reports from leadership in this country indicate that courageous efforts are being made in response to Cyclone Nargis relief efforts. The current numbers circulating estimate that more than 147,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been left homeless in the Irawaddy division of Myanmar.

“People and churches have given and are continuing to assist financially as we carry out a long-term project in Myanmar,” said George Butron, FMI regional representative to Asia. “We are so grateful for their partnership.”

Prophetic Message
While many lives were lost through this disaster, locals have still seen God work. Days prior to the destruction of Cyclone Nargis in southern Myanmar, the national leader of Foursquare Myanmar prayed on a rooftop in Yangon.

God spoke to him clearly and said: “There is going to be a famine. It will be like the time of Joseph. You need to prepare.”

The following Sunday, he went to his congregation and brought them the word he had received. He also told the people to withdraw all of their money out of their banks. The congregation initially treated the “word” as suspect, but many ultimately complied and retrieved their assets from the bank. Four days later all of the banks in the country closed due to the cyclone.

The people also responded to the prophecy by stocking their homes with rice, canned foods, cooking oil and other staple supplies. Immediately after the storm, everyone understood how God had prepared them for this disaster and they immediately began to help those in need in the city of Yangon and beyond.

Relief efforts are continuing in many ways. According to Tom Hinton, Global Connect coordinator for FMI, there is also an ongoing discussion for the purchase of land for rice development, a training center and an orphanage. Continued prayers and financial gifts from the Foursquare family are needed to assist those in Myanmar. If you would like to give financially to assist in this Foursquare relief effort, please send contributions to Foursquare Missions International. Make your check out to ICFG, and write "Relief Fund" on the memo line. Mail checks to:

Foursquare Missions
ATTN: Paulette McCammon
P.O. Box 26902
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Foursquare News Service #338

Iowa District Supervisor Jim Machen and Regional Supervisor Cliff Hanes are actively engaged in assessing the needs of our churches and the communities affected by the flooding. Assistant General Supervisor Jim Scott is also in the region, helping to mobilize Foursquare’s response as people determine how to clean up and rebuild their homes and their lives.

Two semi trailer-loads of supplies have been shipped to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, one of the hardest-hit areas to date. Cedar Rapids Christian Center, a Foursquare church pastored by Barry Foster, was flooded with nearly four feet of water. Jim Machen, who accompanied Pastor Barry as he walked through his church building, writes: “We had to wear boots and masks to go through the church building once the water receded. The four-and-a-half feet of water that was in the church many days did major damage.”

Other areas in Iowa impacted by the rising water include:

• Waterloo: Pastor Jerry Burrow’s home was inundated with three feet of floodwater.
• Waverly: Water flooded the home of a recent Foursquare church planter.
• Vinton: Scattered flooding caused much damage, but recovery efforts are going well.
• Iowa City: A trailer park and some businesses were flooded, and a large church in the community had water inside up to the roof. House of Praise Foursquare Church, pastored by Richard McCaslin is fine, but the homes of two families in the church were flooded.
• Fort Madison: Flooding of homes and businesses along the river was made worse by a semi-load of carbon dust inadvertently dispersed into the floodwater.

Several Iowa churches, while not directly affected by flooding, have strongly participated in local relief efforts. Foursquare congregants from both Living Hope Community Church in Davenport, pastored by Renee Holm, and Burlington Foursquare Church, pastored by Sam Fratt, are providing meals for relief workers. The city of Davenport alone received one initial damage estimate of $4.5 million. Cleanup and restoration of the damaged region could take four years or more to complete.

The Foursquare church family across the U.S. is encouraged to pray diligently for our pastors and fellow Christians, especially those serving the needs of people affected by the flooding, as well as those volunteers who are working tirelessly to help with cleanup and restoration.

The National Church Office released initial funding for flood relief in several communities in Iowa, and is accepting donations to assist as additional needs are identified and assessed.

Ways to help

1. Monetary donations may be made payable to The Foursquare Church and mailed to:

Disaster Relief
The Foursquare Church
1910 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Please clearly mark “Disaster Relief” on the memo line of each check.

2. The Iowa District office currently is establishing a process for coordination of work teams. Teams wishing to assist with cleanup and recovery should contact the Iowa District office by calling 563.243.0701.

3. Pray for God's grace to embrace those that mourn, “to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:2-4 (NKJV).

Foursquare News Service #337

Read John and Becki Rusk's latest newsletter from South Africa here.

More information about their ongoing work in Africa can be found at their website - Maniac 4 Missions.

Over the weekend Cyclone Nargis struck the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar--also known as Burma--with 120 mph winds and caused widespread devastation. As of Wednesday, the death toll may exceed 100,000 people, with more than 70,000 missing and 1 million homeless. This disaster is already being compared to the 2004 tsunami that hit south Asia.

Foursquare global connect coordinator, Tom Hinton, is assessing the situation with the help of Regional Representative George Butron and National Leader Philip Ahone. Together they are initiating a relief response action plan. Foursquare Myanmar has 112 churches in this predominately Buddhist nation and is involved in evangelizing and training church planters to reach the harvest.

George Butron writes: "Pastor Philip contacted me to say that the roofing was blown off our Bible college there, as well as several leaders' homes and several church buildings. There is no power or drinking water. Food, fuel and other essentials have tripled in price overnight. Large numbers of people are at risk in the days ahead."

Jonathan Hall, director of Foursquare Missions has noted three prayer points for the Foursquare family:

• Ask the God of comfort and peace to minister to victims in the midst of the confusion
• Pray for provision and resources to help meet people's immediate needs for food and shelter.
• Ask the Lord to give our Foursquare leaders wisdom in how to respond and advance His kingdom.

Foursquare Missions
ATTN: Paulette McCammon
P.O. Box 26902
Los Angeles, CA 90026

View more pictures from Pastor Becky's trip to Cambodia here

Visit www.Maniac4Missions.blogspot.com to travel with the Rusks on their mission to Africa and Asia.

Find more pictures here.

John Rusk, the Maniac 4 Missions, spoke at Grace Chapel on April 6. Here is the MP3 audio from that message.

Visit www.Maniac4Missions.blogspot.com to travel with the Rusks on their mission to Africa and Asia.

Help get our Kids Mission Team to Ecuador. Sponsor a walker or get your friends and family to join us on a lap (or two) around the lake. Information is available at the Kids Mission Table in the lobby on Sundays or by contacting Pastor Rae Bergen.

Learn more about the Rusk's ministry to equip and empower church leaders around the world to become more effective at reaching the lost with the Gospel and about their upcoming trips to South Africa and Ethiopia at the Maniac 4 Missions website.

Learn more about the Rusk's ministry to equip and empower church leaders around the world to become more effective at reaching the lost with the Gospel and about their upcoming trips to South Africa and Ethiopia at the Maniac 4 Missions website.

We need your stuff for our sale. Drop off your items at the Kids Church room between February 24-27. Plan to shop 'til you drop when the sale begins on Friday, February 29. Contact Pastor Rae for more information.

Help us raise money for our upcoming kids missions trip to Ecuador and enjoy some of the best chili and cornbread in Arizona for only $10/adult or $20/family. Enter the chili cookoff contest for $10. The winner receives $100 prize. More information is available at the Kids Mission table in the lobby on Sundays or by contacting Pastor Rae.

On Sunday, February 3, we are pleased to have the Maniac 4 Missions as our guest speaker. Pastor John Rusk and his wife, Becki, are currently making the final preparations for their deployment to South Africa where the will help to equip and empower churches, especially their leaders, through the ministry of the Word and the demonstration of the Spirit to help them develop spiritual maturity and become more effective at reaching the least-reached around them with the Gospel.