Wednesday, March 30, 2005
SOUTH
ASIAN QUAKE HITS CHRISTIAN ISLAND
German
Missionaries Converted Headhunters on Nias
By Wolfgang
Polzer
GUNUNGSITOLI/WUPPERTAL (ANS) -- The
earthquake off the coast of Sumatra has hit an island predominately
inhabited by Christians. The quake on Easter Monday with a magnitude of
8.7 on the Richter scale devastated the Indonesian island of Nias. More
than 90 percent of the 700,000 inhabitants are Protestants. In 1865
German missionaries came to the spice island and converted many native
headhunters.
The United Evangelical Mission (UEM) in Wuppertal, Germany, is in
contact with its member churches on the island. It is feared that the
number of victims will exceed those caused on the island by the
earthquake and tsunami of December 26.
So far 330 bodies have been uncovered on Nias, but the death toll is
expected to rise above 500. Church officials estimate that 75 percent
of the main town, Gunungsitoli, with a population of 30,000 has been
destroyed.
Thousands fled in panic to higher ground around the town. Gaping holes
and cracks have made some streets impassable, which were still under
repair from the December tsunami. Some bridges have collapsed.
Initial reports also speak of serious damage to church buildings: at
least two churches as well as schools and kindergartens have been
destroyed. Many shops have also been damaged; therefore food, power and
fuel are in short supply. Provisions must be brought in from outside.
Christian organizations are organizing relief efforts. UEM is an
international missionary communion consisting of 34 member churches in
Africa, Asia and Germany. The objective is the communion in mission and
reciprocal assistance in implementing missionary tasks.
| Wolfgang Polzer (54), is senior
news editor of the Evangelical News Agency idea, Wetzlar (Germany),
which he joined in 1981. His previous work included four years in the
editorial department of the Salvation Army in Germany. In all, he has
spent 27 years in Christian media. Wolfgang can be contacted by e-mail
at: Wolfgang.Polzer@idea.de. |
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