Community centers comfort people displaced by Japan earthquake

Texas Baptists helped provide comfort and joy—and a sense of peace—to a community of people displaced by last year’s Japan earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster.

Chris Liebrum, director of disaster recovery for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, presents a plaque to Makoto Kato, executive secretary of Japan Baptist Convention, that notes Texas Baptists’ role in making a community center at Koriyama possible. (PHOTOS/BGCT)

A community center financed by Texas Baptists’ disaster recovery gifts recently was completed in Koriyama, and a community center in Otsuchi was expanded thanks to the help of Texas Baptists. The new structures provide a place for earthquake survivors living in cramped temporary housing to gather for a respite of hope.

Chris Liebrum, director of disaster recovery for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, choked with emotion as he described time he and Yutaka Takarada, pastor of Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas in Dallas, spent with people gathered for the Koriyama center’s dedication. Many residents of temporary housing there fled Tomioka following the earthquake, leaving all their belongings behind.

In the temporary homes, residents have no space of their own, Liebrum explained. They have no roots and feel isolated from each other. Gathering in the community centers provides an escape from the oppressive environment.

Makoto Kato, executive secretary of Japan Baptist Convention, speaks at the dedication of a community center in Koriyama. (PHOTOS/BGCT)

Baptist churches from Koriyama and Morioka who serve in the centers provide meals, clothing and a relaxing atmosphere.

“If ever there were an example of Luke 2—peace and goodwill among all men—it’s in these community centers,” Liebrum said.

In Japan, relationships are keys to sharing the gospel, he added. The community centers give Baptists a place to interact with nearby residents and build those relationships.

Liebrum met an elderly woman who shared her story of hurriedly leaving Tomioka. She described how depressed she’d been. Then the Baptists built the community center and began holding events, which she sees as weekly rays of sunlight. She gushed about the impact people who follow Jesus were having on her life and those around her.

“The community centers have provided Baptist laymen and pastors a facility where people who have a great deal of needs can meet,” Liebrum said. “Through meeting needs, they can share the gospel.”

Chris Liebrum, director of disaster recovery for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Yutaka Takarada, pastor of Japanese Baptist Church of North Texas in Dallas, participate in the dedication of a community center at Koriyama, Japan. (PHOTOS/BGCT)

Residents in Koriyama and Otsuchi repeatedly expressed gratitude for Texas Baptists’ caring spirit and desire to help, he noted. Texas Baptists originally planned to build one community center but found a more efficient way to use the funds, employing Japanese workers to build one and expand another that needed it.

Texas Baptists’ investment in Japan will continue to change lives for generations to come, he insisted.

“Thank you, Texas Baptists, for opening your heart and your resources to help earthquake survivors here in these cities,” Liebrum said. “We shared the need, and your generosity was overwhelming.”

For more information about Texas Baptists’ disaster recovery efforts around the globe, visit www.texasbaptists.org/disaster. To give to disaster recovery, visit www.texasbaptists.org/give.