CONDOLENCE MESSAGES TO PROK FROM GLOBAL PARTNERS
IN RESPONSE TO FERRY SEWOL TRAGEDY
Presbyterian Church USA – Rev. Mienda Uriarte, Area Coordinator Asia and the Pacific
“our hearts join you in your grief and sorrow with those who suffer. It is only God who can provide comfort during this time. Our connection with you as the community of faith stirs us to reach out in love.
Global Ministries, United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ – Rev. Dr. Xiaoling Zhu, Area Executive for East Asia and Pacific
“Our hearts went out with those students and their families. We, as your Christian sisters and brothers, would like you to know that we are keeping praying for them.”
Canada –
United Church of Canada – a letter was prepared right after the sinking and sent out to all congregations for use in churches on Good Friday: “Strengthen our kin in Jindo – grieving parents, scared youth and teachers, drowning friends and lost siblings. Strengthen the heroic rescue workers who have placed themselves in the center of your peoples; suffering, the rescue divers, helicopters and boats; the volunteers and search parties; the people who are keeping vigil and supporting those who are most affected.”
Patti Talbot, Asia Partnership, Church in Mission Unit, UCC
“May those taken rest now, in God’s everloving embrace. May all those bereaved and now in grief be upheld in their sorrow.”
Bern Jagunos – former Asia Partnership staff
“My heart goes out to the victims, their mourning families and the Korean people who are grieved by this tragedy.”
Prof. Kim Hye Ran – St. Andrew’s College
“Prayers and strength go with you for people to rise from this challenge as they know the Easter message.”
Rev. Lenore Beechan – former missionary
“We have been praying”
Mary Collins – former missionary
“Praying for those affected by this terrible tragedy, and for you, the PROK, as you minister to the grieving ones and to the rescuers and others responding on site.”
Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) – Germany
Rev. Ulrike Schmidt-Hesse
“I hope that the message of Easter may give some comfort and strength to those who are mourning and those who are torn between fear and despair. The peace of Christ be with you”
Lutz Drescher, Secretary, East Asia and India
“We in our staff worship were praying for the victims of the terrible disaster, especially for the parents and friends of the students who died much too young. May the risen Lord comfort them.”
Rev. Dorothea Schweizer – former missionary
“I deeply pray for the numerous families that Christ be very near to them and comfort and strengthen them in this time of unspeakable sorrow and grief”.
Rev. Paul Schneiss – former president DOAM (German East Asian Mission)
“May God help you to console all those people. We are crying with you, we are praying with you – though it is difficult to find words.”
Rev. Marianne Wagner – Department for World Mission, Protestant Church of the Palatinate
“May our Lord Jesus Christ who shared pain and death with us and who rose from the dead, grant comfort and hope to all affected by this accident.”
Rev. Klaus Rieth, Director, Mission, Ecumenism and Development, Evangelical Landeskirche
“We will pray for you, your people, your church, and for all the victims and their relatives”
France
Rev. Claire Sixt-Gateuille, Executive Secretary, Ecumenical Relations – United Protestant Church of France
“Families have lost their children, the worst ordeal ever, and may lose their hope. We pray God to lead your Church in its mission to accompany the families and share with them the one true Hope: Jesus Christ. May his grace comfort and heal survivors and families, friends and communities the victims were part of.”
Uniting Church in Australia
Rev. Dr. Ji Zhang, Asia Manager, Church Partnership
The Uniting Church in Australia will be holding the families in our prayers. May the Risen Lord give them the rising peace”.
Rev. Maureen Postma – Chair, UCA’s Christian Unity Working Group
“Do be assured of our prayers at this time of loss and grief for so many. We pray for those who have died, their families, and for the relief of trauma for those who suffered but have survived.”
Rev. Shoko Aminaka – General Secretary, NCCJ
“We pray for the passengers and their families of the Korean ferry disaster. Jesus Christ will lead all of them to his Hope.”
Rev. Toru Akiyama – General Secretary, UCCJ
“Yes, we pray for the people who are still waiting for the arrival of rescue teams in the midst of the cold sea and for their families.”
Dr. Yoichi Noguchi, Executive Director, Niwano Peace Foundation
“Thank you for your circular, regarding our joint prayer for those lost to the sea in the disaster of the Ferry Sewol. According to your call, I would like to join your prayers for quick rescue and the comforting healing touch of God.”
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, NCCI
“I express our solidarity with all the people of Korea as the nation has experienced the grief of the Ferry tragedy in which hundreds of people, in particular children, have been drowned. Precious lives have been lost. We appreciate the efforts PROK has taken in writing a pastoral letter to the concerned families, in forming an emergency response team to support the rescue operations and in calling upon all to pray. May the God of Easter give you all the resurrection spirit, comfort and hope.”
Bishop Prasada Rao, Rayalaseema Diocese, Church of South India
“Today on Good Friday worship we remembered the departed souls and bereaved families and all those who are affected, including the ferry company, that such tragedies will not happen in the future.”
Pakistan
Rev. Ish Kumar – Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
“We are extremely sorry to know this incident. We are praying our gracious Lord will do some miracle to save the innocent children.”
Hong Kong
Rev. Ralph Lee, Hong Kong Christian Council
“Please be assured that prayers and thoughts are with you and the Korean people at this tragic incident. This is widely reported in Hong Kong and we are deeply saddened. Our condolences and prayers for the families who have lost loved ones.”
Taiwan
Rev. Lyim Hong Tiong, General Secretary, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
“Please accept on behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan our deepest condolences for the loss of precious young lives and the pain that the Korean nation is going through… This is an unimaginable horrible tragedy. We have no adequate words of comfort to share with you. Writing you on this Easter Day, I pray that you and your people will somehow experience the hope and promise of the Risen Christ.
East Timor
Rev. Moises Antonio da Silva, Moderator of IPTL
“We enter the great Friday and Easter day one big family of Presbyterian Churches. Our prayers will always be with families in Korea and especially for friends who are afflicted by this accident.”
Thailand
Rev. Rung Ruengsan-ajin, Vice Moderator, Church of Christ in Thailand
“We, the Church of Christ in Thailand, join you in sorrow for the loss caused by the ferry wreck. We pray that God’s consolation and healing will reach the families and they will stand again in strength in Christ.”
Philippines
Bishop Elmer M. Bolocon, Executive Secretary, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Philippines
“We pray for strength for the families of those who perished and are missing due to this disaster. May our loving God grant them courage, understanding and faith. May this not weaken them but make them trust the Creator more.”
Act Alliance
John Nduna, General Secretary of Act Alliance
“Our hearts are broken with the tragic ferry accident that involved so many people. This is an awful occasion, and we pray with you at this very difficult moment for the people of Korea and especially the relatives and friends of the affected”
WSCF – World Student Christian Federation
Sunita Suna, Director, WSCF, Asia Pacific
“We join you and the people of Korea to mourn for these precious lives. We continue to uphold the bereaved families in our prayers. May God give them much-needed strength and comfort at this time of grief.”