The Ethne06 Crisis Response Strategy Group

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The Ethne06 Crisis Response Strategy Group

Posted by Justin Long ⋅ May 2, 2006 ⋅

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The Ethnê FCRN met over 3 days at Ethnê06 to discuss issues related to crisis/disaster response and how we can work together for a cohesive response in such circumstances in the future. Discussed at length were issues related to our experiences and lessons learnt in the past 2-3 years as a result of the relief work done in the tsunami areas and the Kashmir earthquake. Also discussed at length was the relationship between crisis response and the longterm goal of church-planting movement amongst Unreached Peoples. Various resources in terms of relief work, providing care to care givers, etc. were also shared, and we realised the huge amount of resources already available. Just within the group present, we saw and sense the huge potential for greater effectiveness, if we just worked together. Thus, consensus of the group was a firm ‘yes, we need to develop this network’.

A number of steps are being planned, as we move forward:

(i) a core team of facilitators will provide leadership to this network;

(ii) a mailing list will be built, to include those who should be included but were not there in Ethnê06. This mailing list is slowly taking shape, with close to 50 leaders already connected to FCRN;

(iii) resources, updates, etc. will be put out on a website. This is now being developed;

(iv) contact will be made with various UPG networks and national Missions Bodies to prepare a core team of crisis-responders in different parts of the world who will be part of the FCRN first-responders;

(v) over the next 2 years, training these groups (core team of crisis-responders) will be one of FCRN primary tasks.

One of the key things that came out of Ethnê06 was the “response & communication mechanism”. Whilst this will vary depending on the circumstances, a general response time frame of 72 hours was agreed upon, i.e. time in which FCRN will have someone on the ground to coordinate the core team. This core team will make arrangements as to logistics (receiving, warehousing and distribution of supplies), volunteers (medical, counsellors, etc.), communication system (FM transmission covering a radius of 30 miles), and most crucially, have a base set up for networking the various Christian NGOs coming to assist.

Two important points should be made. First, whilst CPM is our goal, FCRN is not about launching CPMs—we are focused on providing crisis/disaster relief with excellence and handing over the CPM part for local/near-local believers. Second, whilst we work with various NGOs, and churches, our central strategy involves empowering local Believers. They are the ones who are going to be there for the long term.

The Crisis Response Strategy Group was facilitated by Beram Kumar, Betsy Brown, and Kay Hiramine.