The Philippines is a disaster prone area due to typhoons, mudslide, earthquake, fire, and other hazards. There is a need for every Nazarene church in the Philippines to be proactive in addressing disaster – reduce risks and to mitigate the effects of calamities, and to be prepared to respond to disasters effectively. Disasters also provide the church with one of its greatest opportunities to demonstrate God’s love to people who are hurting. Thus, the church becomes the hands of Jesus to the community.
On May 23-27, 2011, the Philippine Field Office and NCM Philippines sponsored a week long and intensive Training of Trainers on “Risk Reduction, Disaster Management and Emergency First Responder.” Nineteen delegates representing different districts in the country, the Philippine Nazarene College, Visayan Nazarene Bible College and Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary participated in the training. The training was held at World Mission Communication conference hall in the campus of the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary.
Stephen Gualberto, Field Strategy Coordinator of Philipipnes and Micronesia, talked about the Biblical Foundation of Disaster Management and led the discussion on Risk Reduction and Disaster Management, and facilitated the action planning. Mr. Brian Gray, the program director of the Mountain Life Flight from Susanville California, and Mrs. Linda Zane conducted the training on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency First Responder. Maureen Akinyi Okundi from Kenya and a student of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary spoke on Child Protection in Emergencies.
