Japan Earthquake | 2011

On Friday, March 11 at 2:46pm, a massive earthquake registering 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the northern coast of Japan. Moments later, a 23-foot tsunami traveling upwards of 500mph crashed through Japan’s eastern coastline, sweeping buildings, boats, cars, and people miles inland. More than 50 aftershocks followed…their combined effects overwhelming the region.

In all, the numbers are devastating…and are changing every day:

• Nearly 7,000 lives lost
• Several thousand still missing
• Hundreds of thousands displaced
• More than 1,000,000 without access to water
• 4,000,000 buildings without power

Perhaps at no other time does the Church have the kind of opportunity to be the Church, to be Jesus’ ambassadors, more than it does in this extreme time of need and distress. ROCKHARBOR is responding to this crisis in the following ways:

1. Prayer

First and foremost, we can all pray. Here are some things to be interceding for:

• Pray that the government leaders of Japan [and around the world] come together to bring the most effective help, recourses, and personnel to Japan to expedite relief as much as possible. Pray that God gives these leaders have wisdom, quickness, and unity to all work together.

• Pray for the health of everyone at risk near the nuclear power plant areas and for the bravery, safety, and wisdom of the men who have stayed behind to work on the power plant to try to stop the meltdowns and radiation leaks.

• Pray for the more than half million people displaced from their homes – that they can lean on each other for love and support…that God provides them with food, water, and the recourses needed to survive.

• Pray for all the lost/missing people – that they have hope if they are still living, and that they be found. Pray that God brings comfort to the loved ones who are anxiously waiting for any news about them.

• Pray for the Christians/believers who live in Japan right now – that they would be a prayer force unlike any other, that they would witness hope and God’s love and providence to their fellow citizens – that they would represent the love of Jesus to the people of their country, and that they would be strengthened by God’s spirit through this horrible time.

•Pray for all the relief teams, missionaries, and media who have flown into Japan – for their safety.

• Pray that all of the missing tourists be found, and brought home safely.

• Pray that God’s Church would step into the relief efforts in compelling ways – that Jesus would be on display and God would be glorified through the effort.

2. RH Medical Missions Team

We have a team ready to go to Japan to aid in medical efforts as soon as the nuclear power plant situation stabilizes. Please pray for this team, that God would protect them, guide them, and give them favor as they minister to the people of Japan in practical and spiritual ways.

3. Supplies

There is an obvious need for practical supplies and resources in Japan. RH will be collecting the following items on the patio of all campuses starting the weekend of March 19 & 20:

Hygiene
- Shampoo
- Body Wash
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Washcloths
- Deodorant
- Hand Sanitizer
- Toilet Paper
- Baby Diapers

Medical/First Aid
- Gloves
- Dust Masks
- Pain Killers
- Bandages
- Gauze
- Antibacterial Soap
- Hand Sanitizer

Food
- Non-perishable Foods (high in protein)
- Powdered Milk

Temporary Shelter
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Tents
- Tarps

Miscellaneous
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Batteries

Specialized
- Potassium-Iodide Tablets (130 mg)

**Please only donate unused items that are on this list.

4. Financial Aid

RH is currently praying about where and how to aim some of our financial resources to aid in the recovery of Japan. We encourage anyone interested in financially supporting the relief effort to pray and ask God’s Spirit to lead them in terms of how and through whom to give. We will update this page as soon as RH makes a decision on whom to support so that we can offer any suggestions.

Find out more

Email Kacie Hamilton for more info on RH’s response to the crisis in Japan