First Sabbath Offering for World Disaster Relief

Natural disasters are becoming more and more frequent and severe worldwide. These include—but are not limited to—earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. “Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given. . . . He scattereth his bright cloud: and it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy” (Job 37:9–13).

The Almighty One always has in mind the ultimate best interests of this beautiful planet and the creatures He has made—yet today, many strange and extreme weather occurrences are coming specifically from the arsenal of the archenemy of souls:

“While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, [Satan] will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast. ‘The earth mourneth and fadeth away,’ ‘the haughty people . . . do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant’ Isaiah 24:4, 5.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 589, 590.

Whatever may happen, how are God’s children called to respond to the tremendous human suffering that results from natural disasters?

The Lord bids us follow His own example on earth by reaching out to relieve suffering wherever found. The basic necessities of life are abruptly lost when a natural disaster occurs, so it is our Christian duty to help however and wherever we can. Your generous donation for World Disaster Relief helps make that possible. Thank you in advance!

Your brethren from the General Conference