Filipino Churches Offer Aid as Typhoon Goni Heads to Vietnam After Leaving Philippines Devastated

A man sits beside a car, washed away by floods caused by Typhoon Goni, in Barangay San Isidro, Batangas City [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters]

Super Typhoon Goni is on its way to Vietnam today after leaving the Philippines in pieces. Forecasters expect Goni to make landfall tomorrow in central Vietnam.

Herman Moldez of Asian Access says the Lord intervened. “In the forecast, metro Manila [was] part of the direct hit of the typhoon. But somehow it changed for us,” he describes.

“We were all praying and asking the Lord’s mercy, and the Lord heard our prayers. That’s something that we are enjoying right now.”

Goni set a new world record on Sunday when it made landfall just south of Manila, with sustained winds at 195 miles per hour. Of the ten strongest landfalls ever recorded, seven have occurred since 2006, with four in the Philippines.

Fewer than 30 people have died so far, but that number is expected to rise as responders reach areas cut off by the storm. Filipino churches are on the front lines, offering tangible help and the hope of Christ to survivors.

Goni devastates Catanduanes Island

As described here by the UN, COVID-19 poses a severe challenge to relief efforts. “In a disaster like this, people will be evacuated and placed in a cramped [location],” Moldez explains.

“We need to pray that the Lord will spare us from more disasters and evacuations because [of] the high risk of COVID infection.”

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SOURCE: Mission Network News, Katey Hearth

CALL TO ACTION

• Pray nonbelievers recognize God’s existence through this disaster. Pray they will turn to Jesus and be saved.
• Pray for strength and perseverance for Filipino believers as they provide help and hope in Jesus’ Name.