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In the wake of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the ��ݮ��Ƶ community is collaborating to support and pray for those affected, including Biola alumni and those concerned for family in Japan. The university plans to raise funding for Japan by repurposing its upcoming Women’s History month celebration concert, featuring Michael Jackson’s former backup singer Judith Hill, as a benefit concert. All proceeds from the March 24 benefit concert — named after the song “For My Sister,” which Hill, who is half-Japanese, wrote with Japanese pop star “Ai” — will go towards emergency relief efforts.

As the death toll rises to nearly 7,000 with an additional 10,000 people missing, financial support and prayer are equally craved as reported by Biola alumni currently in Japan.

Biola’s alumni relations department reached out to the nearly 90 Biola alumni currently living in Japan, some near the epicenter and others far from the devastation. As of yet, no alumni have been reported as injured. Many alumni have asked fellow Biolans to pray that “the hearts of the Japanese people be softened to know the name of Christ.”

“Pray for the affected families of Biola alumni as well as current students, faculty, staff,and the nation of Japan during this time of sorrow and uncertainty,” said ��ݮ��Ƶ President Barry H. Corey. “May our prayers reflect the hearts of Christians in Japan which is for the people to know the God of comfort and peace in this most trying time.”

Corey is meeting next week with the 21 current Japanese students attending Biola to hear from them and pray for them. Meanwhile, students continue to respond to the disaster throughout Biola’s Missions Conference Week taking place through Sat., March 19, by gathering for moments of prayer and organizing a second benefit concert. At the first session of Missions Conference on Wed., March 16, Japanese students had the opportunity to share emotionally about the disaster.

Freshman Matthew Little, who was born and raised in Japan, has already raised more than $800 for relief efforts by collecting donations from Biola students outside Biola’s Café. Little has partnered with the organization CRASH — Christian Relief, Assistance Support, and Hope — Japan, endorsed by the president of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, who is Little’s father.

Several alumni living in Japan have reported the devastation and hardship the country is suffering with hope their countrymen will turn to the Lord.

“More than the buildings falling apart, it was the tsunami which simply swept cars, houses and hospitals,” said alumnus Akira Endo, living in Tokyo.  “The disaster is large, the psychological affect is extreme and we hope that this might be an avenue to open the spiritual thirst of the people.”

Alumnus Al Juve, living in Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands, said they did not feel the earthquake, but did have a 1.6-meter tsunami come in the harbor near them. Recently, they have also had a multitude of volcanic activity in their area from Mt. Shinmoe.

“In the 27 years that we have lived in Japan we have never experienced anything like this,” said Juve. “The mile-after-mile damage we are seeing on TV staggers the imagination. Please pray that we will be ready for those who may begin to look for answers.” 

Reporting the positive way many of the Japanese people have responded to this tragedy, alumnus Jerry Endo, living in Tokyo where there are blackouts every few hours and mass transportation has been running with less intervals, praised the sacrifice many Japanese are making.

“As you may have read or seen, the Japanese people are incredible. Under this stressful period of great hardship, they have behaved incredibly well — people lined up for hours to wait for trains to come, waiting at gas stations, going to work as before,” said Endo. “The nation is willingly sacrificing themselves for those who have been directly impacted during the tsunami, earthquake and nuclear reactor heating. Though the radiation impact is a real fear, most have decided to wait and support the effort to contain the radiation.”

��ݮ��Ƶ invites you to assist in emergency relief efforts through the following avenues:

• Financially give to through student Matthew Little’s ministry or through JEMA
• Attend Biola’s benefit concert “For My Sister” on March 24
• Support other organizations assisting in relief efforts:
  • Saddleback Peace Relief
  • Redeemer City to City
  • IFES - International Fellowship of Evangelical Students

Please check back for further updates on alumni or support opportunities.

Professor Erik Thoennes commented on God's part in natural disasters in The Los Angeles Times article "" Professor Doug Geivett also commented on natural disasters and faith in USA Today's article, "Poll: Most in U.S., except evangelicals, see no divine sign in disasters."

Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator.
Jenna can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna [dot] l [dot] bartlo [at] biola [dot] edu.