Developing a theology of Disaster

3. Yolanda

4. Understanding Disaster

5. A calamitous event resulting in …
loss of life
great human suffering & distress
Large-scale material damage
Malaking kapahamakan; malaking
kasawiang-palad; malaking sakuna
Nang hindi sinadya
From International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement

6. In many parts of the world disasters
are not aberrations that temporarily
halt development work. Often they
are a constant threat that can & must
be prepared for.
– Christian Aid

7. Disaster Examples
Bagyo / Baha – yearly
Lindol / Tsunami / Bulkan – saan galing ang
bundok?
Bomba / Gera / Terrorista – Daniel 9:26
Namatayan – Genesis 2:17
Sunog
Banggaan

8. Disaster Deaths in High & Low Developed Countries
100
700
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
1994-2003
Low
High
7X higher in lower developed countries!

9. Increase in Reported Disasters in Lower & Higher
Developed Countries
0
0.3
0
1.42
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
140%
160%
1994-1998 1999-2003
Low
High
Note: Not necessarily an increase in disasters. Just
an increase in reported disasters!

10. Toward a Theology of
Disaster

11. What do I do?
A personal struggle

12. 5 Steps to Bring Hope to
Disaster
A Theology of Hope

13. Resources
 Frank R. Tillapaugh, Unleashing the Church: Getting People
Out of the Fortress & Into the Ministry, (Regal Books, 1982).
 The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross & Red
Crescent Movement & Non-Governmental Organisations
(NGOs)in Disaster Relief
 Christian Aid Mission, Guiding principles & inter-agency
coordination, www.christianaid.com
 The Sphere Project, Humanitarian Charter & Minimum
Standards in Disaster Response, www.sphereproject.org
 Dawn Ministries, DNA Vision

14. Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible
When we are used to a certain lifestyle, we
often don’t see certain areas of the
world.
 Redemption & Lift Principle
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

15. Redemption & Lift
NON-CHRISTIAN LIFE
GAP
“the redemption of a large number of people in a society will
cause a lift in their social & economic situation. The lift takes
place over a generation; it is the generation that follows that
often sees that greatest change.”
CHRISTIAN LIFE•Sugal
•Inuman
•Mahirap
•Pagkain
•Tuition
•Mayaman
Generation 1 Generation 2 Generation 3
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

16. Redemption & Lift
“a person is redeemed, straightens up his or
her life with God & the church's help, gets
serious about work, family & civic duties &
becomes a respectable citizen. Soon, the
former drunk is a solid citizen, & the children
go on for advanced degrees, becoming a
part of the upper social class”
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

17. Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible
Try to “see as Jesus saw”
John 9:1 “Sa paglalakad ni Jesus, nakita
niya ang isang lalaking ipinanganak na
bulag.”
Mt 9:36 “Nang makita niya ang napaka-
raming tao, nahabag siya sa kanila …”
Mk 2:14 “… nakita niyang nakaupo sa
paningilan ng buwis si Levi …”
Lk 20:23 “Alam ni Jesus ang kanilang
masamang balak …”
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

18. Acts of
Nature
Poor
Planning
Environ-
mental
Abuse
Terrorism
ANALYSIS: Ano ba'ng mga dahilan ng
malaking kapahamakan?
Disaster
20 bagyo/yr
Illegal
fishing
Davao Airport
Bagyo
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

19. Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible
Invisible Problem Solution
Manor Hotel Fire Code, Less Crime (no
grills), Education
Real, et al Tree Planting, Legal
Logging, Education
Tsunami Relief & Development;
Building Code Changes
OFW Overseas Filipino Families?,
Education
Illegal Fishing Political Will, Education
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

20. Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible
Solutions
1. “Seeing-as-he-saw” fieldtrips
 Hospital
 Night
 Police
2. Are there laws not being kept?
 May layunin ang mga batas.
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

21. Red Cross Code of Conduct
1.Humanitarian / Makatao
To alleviate human suffering is the primary
purpose
Ang nanlalait sa mahirap ay humahamak sa
Maykapal, at ang nagagalak sa kapahamakan
ng iba'y mayroon ding pananagutan. Pr 17:5
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

22. Red Cross Code of Conduct
2.Without Distinction /
 Regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the
recipients
 Without adverse distinction of any kind.
 Priority on those who need help the most
Ang Diyos ba'y Diyos lamang ng mga Judio?
Hindi ba't Diyos din siya ng mga Hentil? Oo,
siya'y Diyos din ng mga Hentil, sapagkat iisa
lamang ang Diyos. Kapwa niya tatanggapin
ang mga Judio at mga Hentil dahil sa kanilang
pananampalataya sa kanya. Pinapawalang
saysay ba namin ang Kautusan dahil sa
pananampalatayang ito? Hinding-hindi! Sa
halip, pinapagtibay pa nga namin ito. Ro 3:29-
30
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

23. Red Cross Code of Conduct
3. Instruments of God / Mga Kagamitan ng
Diyos
 Not instruments of government or political
policy
 Aid will not be dependent on religious
conversion
Ang mga taong nasa kadiliman ay nakakita ng
maningning na ilaw! Sa mga nakatira sa
lilim ng kamatayan ay sumikat ang liwanag.
Mt 5:16
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

24. Red Cross Code of Conduct
4. Dignity & Respect
 We shall recognize disaster victims as dignified
humans, not hopeless objects
Pagkatapos, sinabi ng Diyos: "Ngayon, likhain natin ang tao
ayon sa ating larawan, ayon sa ating wangis. … Nilalang nga
ng Diyos ang tao ayon sa kanyang larawan … Ge 1:26, 27
 We shall respect culture & custom
Kinabukasan, isinama nga ni Pablo ang mga lalaki at
isinagawa nila ang seremonya ng paglilinis. Pagkatapos, siya'y
pumasok sa Templo ….Ac 21:17-26
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

25. Reduce the risk
Determine biggest threat
Prepare beforehand
Respond effectively
Know minimum
standards for response
Rehabilitate to reduce
risk
Make disaster
management part of
development
Make people aware
Strengthen ability to
withstand disaster
OUTCOMES: Objectives & Goals
Emer-
gency
Plan
Capacity &
Local Ldshp
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Individual
Righteousness
Solutions

26. Assignment
See as Jesus saw:
• What potential disasters exist in your
community?
• What places in your community don’t you
see? Ano ba'ng mga lugar na nasa paligid
natin na hindi natin napansin?
• Plan a “see-as-he-saw” field trip for your
church in your community
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

27. Stage 2: Holy Spirit’s Calling
Ac 13:2 – … sinabi sa kanila ng Espiritu
Santo, "Ibukod ninyo sina Bernabe at
Saulo. Sila'y pinili ko para sa tanging
gawaing inilaan ko sa kanila."
Stage 2: Holy Spirit’s Calling

28. Stage 2: Holy Spirit’s Calling
Realise not every need is a call
Do we have a leader called by God?
• Go where God wants us
• God-given motivation to leaders
“want-to motivation”
Key Idea: We may have the desire for a
certain ministry but God hasn’t yet provided
the leader for that ministry (P.S. It isn’t
always you!)
Stage 2: Holy Spirit’s Calling

29. Ang Iglesya
1. Body / Katawan
2. House / Bahay
3. Vine / Baging
 Special Design for a Special Purpose
 How does your body fit together?
Stage 2: Holy Spirit’s Calling

30. Who is on your team?
1. Sino sila?
2. Anong trabaho?
3. Anong mga
libangan?
4. Taga saan sila?
5. Anong karanasan
nila?
6. Anong mga
kalakasan nila?.
 Teachers
 Engineers
 Tradespeople
 Professionals
 Doctors
 Nurses
 Police
 Military
 IT
 Telecom
 Business.Stage 2: Holy Spirit’s Calling

31. Stage 3: Matuto sa Iba
We can’t do it on our own!
Who is responsible for the area?
• Logging, fire, relief, DSWD, NGOs
Who is concerned for the problem?
• Advocacy groups, citizen’s groups, media, NGOs
How do they do it?
Empowered members
Complementary staff
Stage 3: Learn from Others

32. Stage 3: Learn from Others
Red Cross Code of Conduct
5.Local Capacity
 Involve affected persons in the management of relief
aid
 Build response on local capacities
 Buy from local stores
Nang kami ay kasama pa ninyo, ito ang itinuro namin sa inyo,
"Huwag ninyong pakainin ang sinumang ayaw magtrabaho."
Binanggit namin ito dahil nabalitaan naming may ilan sa
inyong ayaw magtrabaho, at walang inaatupag kundi ang
makialam sa buhay ng may buhay. Sa pangalan ng
Panginoong Jesu-Cristo, mahigpit naming iniuutos sa mga
taong ito na sila'y maghanapbuhay nang maayos at huwag
umasa sa iba. 2Th 3:10-12

33. Red Cross Code of Conduct
6.Present & Future / Kasalukuyan at
Kinabukasan
 Meet basic needs
 Reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster
"Kung ang isa sa inyo'y nagbabalak na
magtayo ng tore, hindi ba siya uupo muna
upang magplano at kuwentahin kung magkano
ang magagastos niya upang matiyak kung may
sapat siyang pera para maipatapos ang
kanyang ipapatayo? Lk 14:28
Stage 3: Learn from Others

34. Red Cross Code of Conduct
7. Accountability
 To God
 To those we seek to assist
 To those from whom we accept resources
Stage 3: Learn from Others

35. Church
Government
People
NGOs
Devt.
Structure
INFRASTRUCTURE: Strategic Alliance
Knowledge & Concern
Knowledge
& Concern
Knowledge & Concern
Knowledge
& Concern
Stage 3: Learn from Others

36. Assignment
List the groups that exist in your
community that you can learn from.
When will you meet with them?
Stage 3: Learn from Others

37. Stage 4: Become a Specialist
Study the target & develop a strategy
Stage 4: Become a Specialist

38. Health
& Sani-
tation
Literacy/
Education
Policy
Advo-
cacy
Church-
planting
Holistic
Ministry
PROGRAMS: Holistic Model
Response &
Prevention
Enviro-
nmental
Laws
Knowing &
Making Known
Emergency
Response
Stage 4: Become a Specialist

39. Stage 5: Be Flexible
1Co 8:1 “Ang kaalaman ay nagtutulak sa tao
na maging mapagmataas, subalit ang pag-
ibig ay nakapagpapatatag.”
Disaster doesn’t follow a schedule!
Think “outside the box”
• Filipino ingenuity
Even though we are not OF this world,
we are IN this world
Stage 5: Be Flexible

40. Assignment
What limitations does your church face
in disaster preparation/response?
Think of three ways to overcome those
limitations.
Stage 5: Be Flexible

41. 5 Steps to Bring Hope to Disaster
1. See the Invisible
2. Listen to Holy Spirit
3. Learn from Others
4. Become a Specialist
5. Be Flexible

42. Responding to Disasters
Review

43. Transformational
Ministry

44. Acts of
God
Poor
Planning
Environ-
mental
Abuse
Terrorism
ANALYSIS: What causes Disaster?
Disaster
20 typhoons/year
Illegal
logging
Davao Airport
Tsunami
Stage 1: Seeing the Invisible

45. Reduce the risk
Determine biggest threat
Prepare beforehand
Respond effectively
Know minimum
standards for response
Rehabilitate to reduce
risk
Make disaster
management part of
development
Make people aware
Strengthen ability to
withstand disaster
OUTCOMES: Objectives & Goals
Emer-
gency
Plan
Capacity &
Local Ldshp
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Individual
Righteousness
Solutions

46. Church
Government
People
NGOs
Devt.
Structure
INFRASTRUCTURE: Strategic Alliance
Knowledge & Concern
Knowledge
& Concern
Knowledge & Concern
Knowledge
& Concern
Stage 3: Learn from Others

47. Health
& Sani-
tation
Literacy/
Education
Policy
Advo-
cacy
Church-
planting
Holistic
Ministry
PROGRAMS: Holistic Model
Response &
Prevention
Enviro-
nmental
Laws
Knowing &
Making Known
Emergency
Response
Stage 4: Become a Specialist

48. Basic Transformational Services: Community Development
COMMUNITY LIFE

49. SILUNGAN
COMM.ORG’G
MED’L/HEALTH
SPIRITUALCARE
RELOCATION
HYGIENE
LOC.GOVERNANCE
SIMBAHAN
CAPACITYBULIDING
MICROENTERPRISES
BUMASA'TSUMULAT
CULTURE/VALUES
COOPERATIVES
ECOLOGY
WOMEN/YOUTH
LEGAL/PROF’L
INFRSTRUCTURES
AGRI’L/AQUA
OTHERSERVICES
LIVELIHOOD
HOUSING/TITLES
CLINIC/HOSPITAL
PUBLICADVOCACY
DISCIPLESHIP
PINAG-ARALAN
JOBPLACEMENTS
MARKETS
FORMATION
MGABANCO
MOBIL-IZATION
CON-SERVATION
SER-VICES
ENERGY/ROADS
PAG-U-NLAD
OTHERSERVI-CES
*WALANGPAGKAIN
*WALANGBAHAY
*KAMATAYAN-KADUMIHAN
*SOCIALDISLOCATION
*SPIRITUAL/EMOTIONALDEPRESSION
PAGKAINFOODFORWORK
PAGBABAGONG-AYOS
Basic Transformational Services: Community Development
RELIEF SERVICES
EMERGENCY RELIEF
COMMUNITY LIFE