HOUSTON (BP)―A July 31 benefit held through two Houston churches has raised approximately $27,000 toward ongoing recovery and gospel work in Venezuela as the country continues rebuilding after two powerful earthquakes on June 24, which caused extensive damage and loss of life in the capital of Caracas.
Noche de Clamor por Venezuela (Night of Prayer for Venezuela) was held at The Loop Campus of Houston’s First Baptist Church, bringing together “thousands of people from many nationalities for an evening of worship, prayer, and generosity,” read a statement.
Offerings were forwarded to Send Relief, Southern Baptists’ global compassion ministry arm, which was responding in the country days after the earthquakes.
Pastors Enrique Puig of Houston’s First en Español and Ramón Medina of Champion Forest Español welcomed guests before beginning a night of prayer and music.
Internationally recognized Spanish Christian artists Ingrid Rosario, Danilo Montero, Job González, and Alex Campos led the congregation in worship.
Holding on to hope
“When everything seems to be lost, we can still hold on to the one who never lets go,” said Amarilis Rivera, one of the event’s speakers. “God does not abandon us. He remains with us. He sees us. He sustains us. God is still God in La Guaira, in Houston, in Caracas, and in ‘Katyzuela.’ He was there, he is here, and he will continue to be present.
“Tonight, we are not united by tragedy, but by hope … under the flag of Jehovah Nissi.”
Stephen Trammell, Houston’s First executive pastor, thanked those in attendance for their part in “building a love bridge to Venezuela.”
“After the earthquakes this past June, the church didn’t have to suddenly mobilize,” said Charles Clark, who grew up in Venezuela as a missionary kid and served there as an adult through the International Mission Board. “The reality was that the church was already mobilized before the earthquakes, allowing local churches to respond immediately, ministering both spiritually and by meeting physical needs.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
“Even churches that lost their own buildings were going out to provide water, shelter, and refuge,” Clark told the crowd in Spanish. “That is what it looks like to be a church that remains faithful to our Lord.”
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.