How Crisis Relief Wesley Started

A personal perspective from Rosalia Rivera Mahendran, Pastoral Team Member (Crisis Relief Wesley).

When I joined WMC in April 1999, there was no crisis relief ministry then. I remembered being just a barely 3 months’ old staff when the Lord impressed upon me these three words – Emergency Response Plan. I have no idea about it as emergencies from natural disasters in Singapore are rather rare if not non-existent. After all, Singapore is known to be a peaceful, secure and prosperous country with no incidence of natural disasters.

Incidentally, God had also spoken to our then Pastor-in-Charge, Rev Melvin Huang and to some other Wesleyans as well, to respond to this call. Though we did not fully comprehend the need for such a ministry but in obedience to God, the ministry was setup in the year 2000. God has been our guide and director and He had been faithfully leading us gently, lovingly and patiently throughout the years.

CRW provides disaster relief work and training local churches in emergency response, across the region, including Singapore, because of the increasing frequency of natural disasters, rising terror threats and other emergency situations.

I believe that churches that are prepared to response, are also prepared to care and to make known our God who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving our wickedness, rebellion and sin and who will not let the guilty go unpunished. (Exo 35)

May we be faithful and courageous to continue His work in Singapore and in other nations.

God Bless.

Vision:

• CRW seeks to demonstrate God's love to those affected by disasters through relief work, with the aim to be operationally ready locally and abroad.

Missions:

1. To train and mobilize our congregation to do relief work primarily in Australasia, preferably air travel within 8 hours.
2. To raise awareness, train, build up, and assist communities-at-risk in disaster preparedness and response.
3. To engage in the survival and re-construction phases of relief work, generally up to 18 months post-disaster: children ministry, medical relief, distribution of essentials goods, and any other relief-related aid towards assisting the rehabilitation of the affected communities.

1. We are Christians (prayer, Bible-centred, kingdom advance, reconciliation, uphold Christian principles, intercessions, integrity, humility, personal testimony) who seek to assist affected communities irrespective of religion, creed or race;
2. Commitment to poor and needy and suffering regardless of background (race, language, religion);
3. Responsiveness and Readiness;
4. Flexibility & Adaptability;
5. Exercise cultural sensitivity and acknowledge the intrinsic value and uniqueness of all peoples;
6. Excellence of Service;
7. Teamwork and Unity;
8. Good stewardship; and
9. Partnering with like-minded churches and NGOs, non-religious relief organizations (eg. World Vision, CREST, CRS, Red Cross, TRAC, CAC).

CRW responds to events of both natural and man-made disasters. Geographically, we conduct relief work primarily in Australasia, preferably air travel time within 8 hours. We provide food, shelters, materials, tools of trade, man-power and counselling where needed.

Our strategy is to work with local partners who will be our first line of support and eyes on the ground. They will provide feedback and information regarding the needs of the people in the aftermath of a disaster. The relief is distributed through the local team as they are able to provide a longer support in the affected area.

CRW also provide trainings to equip local partners and leaders in handling disasters to the extend of empowering them to mobilize their own relief team. Other support includes praying for the people and the land affected by the disaster and volunteers coordination.

Local partnerships can include the Evangelical Christians, non-religious, governmental or non-governmental organizations engaged in relief work.

This ministry was birthed in January 2000 under the name of Wesley Disaster Relief Ministry which was subsequently changed to Crisis Relief Wesley in the year 2005.

Since then, we have provided relief support to the following countries:

• India
• Indonesia
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Bangladesh
• Cambodia
• Japan
• Sri Lanka
• Vietnam
• East Timor
• Maldives
• Laos

We have also conducted Crisis Relief Training (CRT) in the following countries:

• Singapore
• Philippines
• Myanmar
• India
• Nepal