Posted: 2/03/06
| Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Baptist Union of Georgia gathers around a wood stove to stay warm. At one point, an energy crisis left half the country without power. |
Republic of Georgia getting
heat again; needs still remain
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
TBILISI, Georgia – A supply of natural gas into the Republic of Georgia has been restored and parts of the country’s capital city again have heat and electricity.
A Jan. 22 explosion destroyed a Russian pipeline that supplied much of the country’s natural gas, leaving Georgians to fight through the coldest winter in decades without heat or electricity. The pipeline was repaired Jan. 28 and natural gas is now flowing.
Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Baptist Union of Georgia said gas has been restored in much of the capital city of Tbilisi, but some areas remain without an energy source for heat and electricity.
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| Georgians receive badly needed bread during a church service in Tblisi. On top of an energy crisis, many people are struggling to find food. (Photo courtesy of the Baptist Union of Georgia) |
After days of staff members working around the clock with a wood-burning stove to keep a Baptist aging care facility warm, the home now has gas. All the residents remain healthy.
The crisis may be waning, but its effects remain, Songulashvili said. Many elderly injured themselves trying to get kerosene or diesel. Others are sick.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas has wired $10,000 to the Baptist Union of Georgia to meet needs there. The funds will be used to purchase blankets and food.
Texas Baptist support helps the bishop and other Georgian Baptist ministers be the presence of Christ in their communities, Songulashvili said. They are meeting needs and sharing the gospel.
“You help me and my colleagues to help the most vulnerable in the society,” he said.
For information about mission opportunities in the Republic of Georgia, call the Texas Partnerships Resource Center at (214) 828-5181 or send an e-mail to Texas_Partnerships@bgct.org.
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