TWR Responds to Indonesian Earthquake

With ministry partners all over the world, TWR is able to bring hope wherever disaster might strike.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, that place was the southeastern Indonesian island chain of East Nusa Tenggara, including Flores Island. Early that morning, residents were awakened to the jolt of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake. Along with strong aftershocks, the temblor left dozens dead and thousands displaced.

It’s a region of the world that has seen this before, including the massive Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004, previous earthquakes in portions of Indonesia and a major earthquake in Myanmar last year.

TWR is responding now as it has in the past, said Daniel Saputra*, TWR international director for Southeast Asia. In the wake of the 2004 disaster, TWR developed Hope Prevails, a 60-episode radio series designed to encourage survivors with the hope only Jesus can bring. The series was brought out again in response to previous Indonesian earthquakes and translated into Burmese to be heard in Myanmar last year.

Now, the program will be aired in the latest earthquake zone through national partner, Saputra said. It can be broadcast through an FM station on Flores Island and via shortwave elsewhere in the region. TWR's Indonesian national partner also is helping to provide emergency aid to survivors, Saputra said.

The quake in Indonesia is the sixth of magnitude 7.0 or greater worldwide since June 1 of this year, according to the United States Geological Survey. Among the previous were the twin earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24 and the Aug. 10 temblor in western Colombia. In each, TWR partners have been a source of vital communication and hope.


Want to help bring hope to families affected by there disasters? Right now, listeners in Indonesia, Venezuela and Colombia are facing the aftermath, and TWR's partners are on the ground responding with both practical relief and the hope of the gospel. 
Give to the Indonesia Earthquake Response Project →
Give to Venezuela and Colombia Disaster Response →

*A pseudonym