‘Miracle’ timing for believers exiting church as quake struck

‘Miracle’ timing for believers exiting church as quake struck (Please use this version)
By Mark Ellis, Special to ASSIST News Service
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS -- April 28, 2015) -- After the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Kathmandu, Nepal, police reported more than 4,000 confirmed dead, 7,000 injured and tens of thousands homeless. Authorities say the numbers may rise dramatically as rescuers make their way to remote villages in the Himalayas.
The earthquake collapsed centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest and the surrounding villages at the base of the mountain. It was the worst earthquake to hit the impoverished South Asian nation in more than 80 years.
One leader of a Tibetan fellowship in Kathmandu called it “a miracle” that the deadly earthquake struck just before noon, as worshippers were exiting the church building, according to a report by Christian Aid Mission.
“Ten minutes earlier and everyone would still have been inside,” said Christian Aid’s South Asia Director, herself a native of Nepal. “There would have certainly been many injuries, if not deaths.”
Christian Aid Mission has been able to contact the leaders of two out of the 12 indigenous ministries they help in Nepal. A leader in another city reported no injuries among their people, while the other leaders could not be reached because phone lines are down and cell service is not working in those regions. Their status remains unknown at this time.
A Samaritan’s Purse disaster response team member who arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, in the early morning hours on Sunday saw incredible destruction, death, and need in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
“There’s a lot of hurting people here,” said Patrick Seger, the team leader for Samaritan’s Purse. “I saw a number of needs out there, a number of dead people, a lot of structures had fallen. A lot of people lost their homes and lost their incomes. They’re trying to figure out what they’re going to do.”
Samaritan’s Purse is rushing disaster response experts and an initial airlift of 60 tons of relief supplies to Nepal.
Seger spent the day Sunday assessing the damage in neighborhoods on the south side of Kathmandu with a Samaritan’s Purse church partner. With aftershocks an ongoing threat—a 6.8-magnitude one struck on Sunday—even those with intact homes are apprehensive about staying indoors.
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Photo caption: Devastation in Kathmandu.
About the writer: Mark Ellis is a senior correspondent for ASSIST News Service and also the founder of www.Godreports.com, a website that shares stories, testimonies and videos from the church around the world to build interest and involvement in world missions. 
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