Earthquake in Haiti

A major earthquake measuring 7.0 on the richter scale hit the carribean nation of Haiti at 16:53 local time (12:52 GMT) on Tuesday 12th January 2010, just 15km (10 miles) south-west of Port-au-Prince. 

Tens of thousands are feared dead and up to three million affected.

Aid groups say there is a race against time to find survivors under the rubble of the collapsed buildings – the first priority of the rescue effort.

Heavy lifting gear and sniffer dogs are desperately needed to seek out trapped victims, with medicine, food and water also in short supply.

Following this major disaster in Haiti, AoG Incare has launched a relief appeal in partnership will Convoy of Hope for the distribution of aid.
 
Cheques should be made payable to AoG Incare, marked Haiti Appeal and sent to: Assemblies of God Inc, PO Box 7634, Nottingham, NG11 6ZY, UK.

Further Attacks on Church Property in Malaysia

Another Christian church has been attacked in Malaysia – the ninth such incident since Friday.

No one was injured in the attack on an evangelical church, but buildings were damaged by what appear to have been home-made petrol bombs.

The attacks have been triggered by a High Court ruling last month that overturned a government ban on non-Muslims using the word “Allah”.

Under the slogan “One Malaysia”, the government has made racial harmony a central policy. Its commitment to that policy is now being severely tested.

Metro Tabernacle

Metro Tabernacle Bombed

The Metro Tabernacle Assemblies of God Church in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has been fire-bombed in an attack that gutted it’s administrative offices located on the ground floor of its three floor complex.

A witness spotted four people on two motorcycles breaking the glass front of the church and throwing an incendiary object inside before fleeing, according to Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohamad Sabtu Osman.

He said police have found a wrench, empty gasoline can and two scorched motorcycle helmets at the church, which is located in Desa Melawati, a suburb in Kuala Lumpur.

The King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, expressed his wish for all Malaysians to remain calm and to respect all places of worship, following the attacks which follow a controversial high court decision on the use of the word “Allah” by other religions.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said he viewed the matter seriously as these actions could jeopardise harmony, adding that the Government would take all possible action to prevent such incidents from recurring.

At the same time, Najib has directed the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to beef up security and surveillance at places of worship.

“We must not allow the peace and the understanding that we have among Malaysians of various ethnic backgrounds and faiths be threatened by anyone or any parties.”