Show r" -- 7 ww vi - J ’' ’ "'V ' - w— - i- "P '?—" $ rv Cl 6— The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday April 10 2003 W ®Vn) CQflDIfflSlIHDftSlCDSlimDSlIilH 'hi ) Christian groups poised to help Iraq but some question whether they just want to make converts NASHVILLE Tenn (AP) — In die aftennath of war Iraq is expected to face a massive humanitarian crisis with hunger homelessness and disease threatening the nation’ 4 24 million people Christian relief organizations including a Nashville group affiliated with the Churches of Christ are prepared to help Even before die war began many started gathering medicine food blankets and other supplies for Iraqis in need Critics however already are raising concerns that evangelical relief groups may try to use humanitarian aid to make inroads in Muslim countries Relations a Washington The Council on American-Islamadvocacy group said it was especially upset to bear that the relief agency Samaritan’s Purse run by the RevvRranklin Graham planned to work in Iraq Graham has called Islam “a very evil and wicked religion” “It’s particularly disturbing that a group headed by a man who openly states he believes the faith of Islam is evil woujd niter into a Muslim country in the wake of an invading army" council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said Most of the agencies say they do not proselytize and believe just helping others sends a message abort Christian faith Ken Isaacs the international project director for Samaritan’s Purse said the agency has professional and experienced relief workers who save out of compassion for the needy not a desire topreach The Boone NC organization “meets needs where they are But at the same time if people ask us what we believe we share that” Isaacs said Samaritan's Purse is prepared to provide drinking water for up to 20000 Iraqi families build temporary shelter for more than 4000 families and supply packages of household items for 5000 families The organization also has medical ldts designed to meet the needs of 100000 Iraqis for three months Many US relief groups have already been working in the region for years and have focused on building relationships with aid organizations and local community groups in the Mideast — not on winning converts UJS-bas- ed The United Methodist Committee on Relief is raising funds for Iraq but its chief executive officer Paul Dirdak said it will funnel aid through established groups that do not evangelize Catholic Relief Services the charitable arm of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has been in Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War ended The uency is now shipping medical supplies to the neediest areas of die country and setting up programs to help refugees Church World Service which has also worked in Iraq since 1991 is among organizations providing hand soap and deter-- 66 ic It’s particularly disturbing that a group headed by a man who openly states he believes the faith of Islam is evil would enter Into a Muslim country an invading in the wake of Army1' —Ibrahim Hooper Council on AmericaiHslamlc Relations gent to Iraqis to prevent the spread of disease It is the relief agency for foe National Council of Churches comprised of Protestant and Orthodox denominations The missionary agency of die Southern Baptist Convention which has provided aid in the Mideast for years has distributed blankets diapers and infant formula to refugees streaming across the border with Jordan The group also plans to fool up to 10000 people a day if needed At the Nashville headquarters of Healing Hands International workers had been assembling hundreds of kits for Afghanistan Now the group is drawing up plans to help healdi-and-hygie- ne IP- ' J- - On the Net: Healing Hands International: http:wwwhhi-aidor- g Relations: http:wwwcair-net0r5Council on American-Islami- c Samaritan's Purse http:wwwsamarttanspurseorg y H Fisher Home Furnishinq’s Storewide Savings 10-4- 0 Bedroom Dining Room OFF HksSSAYlNfiS COUPON! 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Not valid for prior purchase Control pricing is excluded VaM April 421 2003 at Fisher- Home Furnishings 2175 North Main Budget & Clearance Center 1031 N M am One coupon per purchase and per customer & B HOME FURNISHINGS w HE Furniture For Life” 2175 N Main N Logan 753-101- 59 8 t - The Healing Hands kits contain items such as soqitshampoob bandages washcloths and toothbrushes— but no spiritual materials such as Bibles or Christian tracts Healing Hands spokesman Tnent Wheeler said the approach of Christian relief groups has shifted “It used to be primarily ’Preach preach preach'” he said The new strategy is to help first and explain Christianity later Wheeler explained “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” he said Joe Smith Healing Hands’ director of operations uid die aid has another benefit: showing that Americans care about people ( overseas “Humanitarian aid goes a long way toward showing people in other countries that we’re not just after Iraq’s oil not just out to set up a new army base in Afghanistan or something Uke that” Smith said Kevin King a manager for the Mennonite Central Committee based in Akron PS recalled a conversation he had with an Iraqi farmer last year when he tried to explain what Mennonites believe King’s organization which has provided about $64 million in aid to Iraq since 1990 had helped the farmer improve his tomato crop When the two spoke about peace and religion the farmer did not understand the Mennonite faith and suggested ' “Maybe we could become Muslim Mennonites” King said it brought home the lesson that talking about Christianity was sometimes less effective than just acting Christian “In these times of need the food the blankets the tents and foe relief kits speak louder than words” King said “I guess it reminds me what Francis of Assisi used to say: ’Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words’ “ HOME FURNISHINGS BUDGET & CLEARANCE CENTER 1031 North Main Logan ' 753-932- 5 r |