More than 15,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Syria and Türkiye on February 6th. Another earthquake hit Monday, February 20th. Freezing weather conditions are further endangering survivors and aftershocks continue to hit the area.
The Syrian population was already profoundly affected by the ongoing war and the economic collapse of the country. Many people must deal with being displaced, losing their livelihood, and surviving the harsh winter conditions.
At the recommendation of our missions committee, SPL is donating $5000 in unallocated missions funds (see below) to Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D). PWS&D is partnering with ACT Alliance who are on the ground and have begun distributing warm food and canned goods to people affected by the disaster.
To support the response click here or call 1-800-619-7301. Indicate your donation is for the “Syria-Türkiye Earthquake.”
SPL’s Missions Budget: How it Works
As a church, we are committed to directing at least 15% of our annual budget to missions efforts. This means that when you donate to SPL, 15% of your donation supports missions.
A team of people, led by Jennifer Wilson and Ryan Lamoureux, review potential mission opportunities against our strategy and guidelines and recommend the distribution of mission funds accordingly. Each year we intentionally leave some funds unallocated at the beginning of the year. These flexible funds allow us to respond to opportunities as they arise—such as this earthquake.