Foursquare Disaster Response Services

RATIONALE
The need for creating a team for disaster response in the Foursquare Family is based on the following observations and assumptions:

  1. Our country, more than ever before, has become very vulnerable to the hazards of man-made and natural calamities, the occurrence of which could possibly result to destruction of or damage to home and livelihood, loss of personal property, disruption of food distribution and utility services, evacuation of residents and other situations that adversely affect the daily life of the people.
  2. In the aftermath of the emergency situations, like that of Sendong and Pablo in Mindanao and the most recent killer Yolanda in central Philippines, victims may need assistance in obtaining food, clothing, shelter, mental health services, social services, economic support services, long-term care, other related human services as well as essential life support needs.
  3. The surviving victims and others who are affected by the calamity emergency situations may experience stress, anxiety and other physical and psychological effects that adversely impact on their daily lives.
  4. It behooves us as followers of Christ to respond to situation of crisis by way of providing means to meet the needs of the victims otherwise we will not fit for what we preach.

THE BIBLICAL INJUCTION
  • John 15: 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you..., 17 These things I command you, so that you will love another."
  • Gal. 6: 2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ... 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
  • 1 Tim. 5: 8 "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

OBJECTIVES
In response to the needs of calamity victims, the aim is to assist the victims in three phases or stages, namely: relief, recovery, and restoration or development.
  1. Prevention and mitigation
    • Identify, assess and mange the hazards and vulnerabilities and risk that may occur in the locality.
    • Disseminate information and raise public awareness about the hazards, nature of possible effects and warning signs.
    • Call for churches to intercede for God's intervention to avert the occurrence of the calamity.
  2. Relief
    • At this stage, immediate provision for food and medical treatment, if needed, is done by the Foursquare Disaster Response Team in the area.
    • It is found to be truly beneficial if as early as this stage trauma debriefing is administered.
    • Temporary shelter or arrangement for immediate evacuation may also be done by the team if not provided by the government or other assisting organizations.
  3. Recovery and Rehabilitation
    • The recovery phase starts after the immediate threat to human life has subsided.
    • At this phase the goal is to bring the affected area back to some degree of normalcy.
    • The victims are brought to a process of restoring the appropriate level of life condition and social well-being that will eventually sustain them towards full restoration and development.
    • The assistance may include housing construction materials, labor force to for the reconstruction of damaged churches and or houses of members, household items such as kitchen utensils, clothing, and other items as the case may be.
    • Continues flow of food assistance may still be needed at this level if the victim's livelihood is also damaged.
  4. Restoration and Development
    • At this stage, the victims are not only empowered to gain back, but also challenged to reach beyond their original condition before the occurrence of the calamity.
    • The Foursquare Disaster Response Team may not be equipped to administer this phase alone but this can be made possible by way of establishing linkage to other sources of help.

WORKING PRINCIPLES
Below is a list of working principles considering Christian beliefs in general and our practices in the Foursquare family in particular.
Planning and implementing a disaster response program must be:
  1. Comprehensive -- consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.
  2. Progressive -- anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
  3. Risk-driven -- use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
  4. Integrated -- ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of community.
  5. Collaborative -- create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
  6. Coordinated -- synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
  7. Flexible -- use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.
  8. Professional -- value a science and knowledge- based approach; based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship and continues improvement.
  9. Prayer -- consider the truthfulness of God's word that He is sitting in His throne who continues to be in full control over man's affair and the whole of His creation; that calamities are not necessarily an expression of Divine wrath over man's wickedness contrary to what many believe; that He remains to be merciful and compassionate even though often time the situations are beyond our understanding; that God ultimately is who we need in the matter of ministering to others; that in the midst of mess and disorder through prayer His purpose will prevail "knowing that all things work together for good to them who love God and to them who are called according to His purpose."
  10. Redemptive -- all efforts in emergency response3is aim to present the love of God to both believers and unbelievers always in mind to bring glory to God and present opportunity for people to have a personal encounter with the Lordship of Christ.
  11. His principle -- along with our practice of prayer, makes us distinct from other service organizations.

TARGET BENEFICIARIES
  1. Foursquare members -- in consonance with 1Tim. 5: 8 "...especially for members of his household,..."
  2. Non-Foursquare members -- if funds will allow the whole community must be served for the witness of the gospel

PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
  1. Creation of committees or Disaster Response Team (DRT). DRT in three levels are created, namely: national, regional and district. Basically, the responsibility of the DRT is to:
    • Determine the extent of the damaged
    • Define the scope of the response program
    • Oversee the development and implementation of the disaster response program.
  2. National Level
    • Val Chaves - Ex officio member
    • Delfin Corona - member
    • Diony Espiritu - member, fund raising in-charge
    • Sammy Cereno - member
    • Danny Feleo - member
  3. Regional Level
    • Luzon Region
      • Val Chaves - Ex officio member
      • Delfin Corona - chairman
      • Rey Lucion - member
      • Arnel Bautista - member
      • Charlie Ortal - member
      • Greg Pagulayan - member
    • Visayas Region
      • Val Chaves - Ex officio member
      • Delfin Corona - chairman
      • Richard Cabaluna - member
      • Rejulson Laguneroa - member
      • Joemarie Sulmaca - member
    • Mindanao Region
      • Val Chaves - Ex officio member
      • Delfin Corona - chairmanr
      • Jun Casumpa - member
      • Danny Feleo - member
      • Glen Caballero - member
      • Procolo Toreon - member


Foursquare Disaster Relief International Updates

Foursquare Philippines Eager to Rebuild Churches
In the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda), homes were destroyed and churches abolished by wind and waves. But people pray for strength. Now local pastors and members of The Foursquare Church in the Philippines are looking to rebuild churches to provide places for people to worship, no matter their circumstances.

Hear their story from local leaders, Foursquare National Leader Val Chaves of the Philippines, and Foursquare Disaster Relief's International Operations Chief Chad Isenhart.


Foursquare Philippines National Leader, Val Chaves Thanks Foursquare International Community
Val Chaves, national leader of The Foursquare Church in the Philippines, thanks you for your donations and prayers as Foursquare members work together to rebuild in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. Hear what he has to say, and also see what has people smiling again. Hear their story from local leaders, Foursquare National Leader Val Chaves of the Philippines, and Foursquare Disaster Relief's International Operations Chief Chad Isenhart.

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