Story number 2 for 20 Dec 1999

Next, workers at a Christian camp in Japan are cleaning up after a fire tore through one of their buildings. Send International’s Bob McKemey is the Director of Okutama Bible Camp. He says no one was injured in the fire that caused more than 700-thousand dollars in damage to chapel/dining hall. He says it is a blow to their ministry. “This camp has been operating for 39 years here and we’ve found it to be one of the most effective thing we’re doing here in Japan for evangelism and outreach. This is going to set us back a while. We estimate another half a year before we can get the building usable again.” According to McKemey, while the building was insured, they still need donations to help replace equipment that wasn’t insured. “We would appreciate any help that we can get. We know we need about $50,000 if the insurance will cover the whole building, but we don’t know that yet.” McKemey says the fire has provided opportunities to share the Gospel with their neighbors.