U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the self-sacrifice and relief efforts of Christian charitable organizations in China Sunday while surveying disaster struck areas throughout Sichuan province as part of a greater goodwill tour with Chinese officials.
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(Photo: Samaritan's Purse)U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is seen here with a staff member of Samaritan's Purse. Rice praised the charity for aiding in relief efforts in disaster-stricken China.
In early May, China’s southwestern Sichuan province was devastated by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that left millions homeless and claimed over 70,000 lives.
Rice said that Christian organizations in China – among the first to rush to the country’s aid after the country faced its worst earthquake and natural disaster in three decades – were shining examples and living testimonies of the importance of faith-based charitable groups during times of global crisis.
"I am delighted and just moved to be here with Samaritan's Purse, providing clean water for the residents," said Rice, in a statement, as she surveyed a water purification system established by just one of the many Christian groups active in the area. The water filtration unit was one of 12 airlifted by Samaritan’s Purse to the quake zone.
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization, led by evangelist Franklin Graham,that has aided the world’s poor and devastated for over 35 years.
Rice said that it was commendable that through just one organization alone, 3,000 families were provided with temporary housing and 16,000 blankets were handed out to the needy through Graham’s charitable organization.
"I can see that the Chinese government and officials have been attentive.”But with a disaster of this magnitude, no one can do it alone,” she said, according to The Associated Press as she highlighted the importance of faith-based groups.
Rice also commended the openness of China in accepting outside, international aid which has helped provide millions of disaster victims with support and hope in rebuilding their lives.
In comparison, millions in Burma remain stranded in hopelessness because of the reluctance of the country’s military junta to allow Christian and other international aid groups to enter following the cyclone that ripped across the country two months ago, she said.
The Sichuan earthquake was China's deadliest since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that leveled the city of Tangshan in 1976.
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lossnerp
You have said....
They can only respond because they are getting tax dollars from the government????? What a lie!!
Every tax dollar the government has is from the great people of this country. We, the taxpayers. The government has no other monies of its own. I'm sorry if you thought I was suggesting something else.
Having said that, religious charities are supposed to have local church affiliations. It is the local church that is supposed to support them.
But the expenses necessary to address a major crisis are too great for a local church to bare.
The government has passed legislation allowing the use our tax dollars to fund charities where local churches cannot. And now the government wants to set rules for these charities.
Perhaps it sounds cold, but the integrity and representation of the Word of God is far more important.
If you feel that your tax dollar is still well served compromising God's ministry, then you may pay my portion as well.
Last Halloween, one of our neighbors came dressed as Condoleeza Rice, as a black woman.
To the Christian Post Staff,
I find it very strange that this article was moved from the front page, to almost impossible to find, so quickly. I would appreciate and answer as to why???
Sorry about the typos...Would someone at Christian Post please make the comment box bigger so such mistakes are more easily caught before posting. Thanks.
wrhalver,
Go to this link. See if you still say that countries should reject this kind of charity after watching this, you are one cold person..
And no, works to not achieve salvation. Works are the result of salvation.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Relief_and_Development/Volunteer_with_US_Disaster_Relief/
They can only respond because they are getting tax dollars from the government????? What a lie!! Those funds are coming from the sacrafices of people that have already been taxed 30-40% by their government. Much of those taxes go for things that are abhorrent to them.(abortion through planned parenthood, gay marriage certificates, condoms in schools, liberal senators that should be working for the money they receive, instead campaigning with those funds and furhter promoting lies , etc..) I am one of those tax payers. I am going to make another donation to Samaritans Purse right now to counter such a ridiculous comment.
The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn away from the truth and turn to myths. 2 Tim. 4:3-4
Jesus: "For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth." Note, you testify in court. Truth was, and again is on trial.
"were shining examples and living testimonies of the importance of faith-based charitable groups during times of global crisis."
Appearently I am a little behind with this idea of the Faith-Based Charities. Be careful, this is not all that it seems to be.
The bottom line is that these types of charities can only respond to a crisis because they are getting funds from the U.S. Government. That's our tax dollar at work.
I am now starting to understand why some countries are rejecting the help of these charities.
On the Spiritual side, remember that works cannot achieve salvation. We need to make sure we are being guided by God's will and not government tax dollars.
We don't have answers to the question, why natural
calamities are taking place in various parts of the world. But, every time when there is a calamity,
the Christian organizations are in the forefront to
wipe the tears of the affected people. These people
get the first hand taste of Christian love as Jesus
proclaimed to the world. God wants every believer to
be a good neighbour to relieve the physical and emotional
pain of the suffering world, whether they are in an
earthquake or hurricane. This way, we can reach the
world for Jesus Christ in a more effective way.