By Matt Looloian, September 2007

Members of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Mali, an association of evangelical churches started by Avant in the 1960s, provide an emergency food supply to Malians hit hard by recent flooding. PHOTO: KEVIN RONALD

BAMAKO, Mali, West Africa - Severe flooding in Mali has left many without homes, food and fresh water. After extended periods of drought earlier this summer, flooding has swept across the country in the past month.

According to Col. Mamadou Traoré, the head of Mali's civil protection service, more than 32,000 Malians have been made homeless by this flooding.

In the most recent flood, the region received in excess of 8 inches of rain in an 18-hour period between August 27-28. The village of N'Jifina was one of several hit especially hard.

"The flooding has caused extensive damage to personal goods and material things," said Siraba C., treasurer for the National Council of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Mali (EPCM). "Around 75 families have lost their homes and many personal belongings disappeared with the flow of the flood waters."

Food and clean water are also in short supply. Mud carried by floodwaters has polluted wells throughout N'Jifina that serve as villagers' only source of drinking water. Granaries and food storage facilities have become sponges, absorbing floodwaters and completely ruining N'Jifina's food supply.

"Most of the villagers spent August 28 without food," Siraba said. With food supplies ruined and the harvest of new crops three months away, it could get worse.

N'Jifina (pronounced gee-FEE-na) is located 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Bamako, Mali's capital city. A bush village of approximately 2000 people, N'Jifina is home to a local pastor, Etienne, and his church of more than 350 believers.

A 1987 graduate of the Mana Bible Institute, Pastor Etienne has ministered in N'Jifina with his wife and six children. On August 28, Pastor Etienne informed the EPCM that the church, his house and many other buildings in N'Jifina were completely gone. Mud brick buildings can only take so much moisture before they soften and cave in.

The crisis comes at a difficult time for the EPCM, as nearly the entire National Council is traveling to conferences, seminars and camps - completely out of communication with the EPCM's offices in Bamako. In their absence Siraba, the National Council treasurer, is coordinating the relief effort.

"The most urgent needs are for food, clean water, blankets and tents," Siraba said.

Siraba and the reachable members of the National Council held an emergency meeting August 29 to discuss distributing any available funding to those most affected by the recent flood. The EPCM recently distributed 100-kilogram sacks of grain to the residents of N'Jifina.

"Pray for these needs and all the families in this desperate and delicate situation," Siraba said. "If the Lord lays it upon your hearts to help the people of N'Jifina, don't hesitate."

Avant has been ministering in Mali since 1919. In the 1960s, Avant was instrumental in successful church-planting that resulted in the EPCM, an association of evangelical churches.

Today, with Malian leaders like Siraba at the helm, the EPCM reports membership of more than 20,000 believers, over 250 churches and has sent out 10 national missionary couples cross-culturally.

While ultimately seeking to make disciples and plant churches, the EPCM ministers to Christians and non-Christians alike by meeting physical needs like those created by this recent flood in N'Jifina.

Support the efforts of Avant and the EPCM.