Local Church in Iwaki City Assists 1500 Survivors and Evacuees

Iwaki City, Japan - Supplies purchased from Costco with funds donated by Feed the Hungry and China Care were delivered by CRASH Japan to Nakoso Christ Church in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture from mid-March to mid-April 2011 and provided an average of 50 disaster survivors and evacuees per day with supplies of food, water, clothing, and hygienic supplies.

Nakoso Christ Church was one of the few churches in the area whose members suffered little from earthquakes, tsunami, or radiation, and as a result, church members were also able to use food supplies to provide hot meals at the various evacuation centers in the area. These were greatly appreciated by the evacuees, who primarily had been subsisting on unheated foods.

Pastor Sumiyoshi said that while the frenetic round the clock ministry was exhausting, it was a time of great blessing for the church members. Because of the material supplies provided by CRASH Japan, the church was able to minister to many more individuals emotionally and spiritually.

In total, approximately 1500 survivors visited the Nakoso church during the one month period from March to April. As many as 13 visitors visited worship services each Sunday, and approximately five individuals started attending regularly during that time.