In the early morning hours of February 5, 2023, a major earthquake and more than 100 aftershocks ravaged the Middle East. Many along the border of Turkey and Syria were still asleep in their homes, leading to devastating death tolls, injuries, and destruction. Reports indicate more than 6,000 buildings were reduced to rubble, and the death count has eclipsed tens of thousands. Sadly, the numbers surrounding this catastrophe are likely to keep rising.
Great loss and grief rattles the region as winter weather poses an added threat to survivors and response teams. Our missionaries and national partners in the area have been in action since the disaster struck to help those in need, and you can join their efforts now.
By giving to our Middle East Earthquake Response fund, you can partner with our field teams and local Christians as they respond to this crisis. Your gift today will meet urgent, tangible needs for those who are injured and displaced while also bringing the gospel, the only source of true comfort and peace, to the hurting.
Your financial contribution to the general ministry of East-West allows our organization to fully support the various ministry endeavors to which God has called our ministry. Funds for the general ministry of East-West will be directed to the areas of most need with the purpose of supporting our daily operations, strengthening our infrastructure, allowing for the flexibility to respond to new or changing conditions, planning for the long term, and investing in staff and technology.
East-West Ministries International attempts, whenever consistent with its charitable purpose and budget, to honor preferences expressed by our ministry partners regarding the use of their gifts. However, East-West at all times maintains full control over all funds donated to East-West and ultimate discretion as to their use, including redirection to other ministry needs. This ensures that all funds will be used most effectively to carry out East-West’s religious and charitable purposes, as required for contributions to be tax-deductible in the United States.
East-West Ministries International adheres to ECFA Standard 7.2 that states: Occasionally, givers request a refund of a charitable gift they made previously. Since contributions must be irrevocable to qualify for a charitable deduction, there generally is no basis to return a charitable gift to a donor.” However, on rare occasions a donor may be refunded if a gift was made in error, and it was clearly not the intent of the donor to initiate the charitable donation in the first place. This will be reviewed by the Financial Services Department on a case by case basis.
