(April 30, 2015 - by Darin Campbell and Harold Goerzen)  While Nepal and the world at large are caught up in recovery efforts in the wake of Saturday’s lethal, 7.8-magnitude earthquake, Reach Beyond is evaluating the most effective ways to provide immediate aid. The organization is also leading efforts to help ensure the gospel continues to be proclaimed via the airwaves in the region.

According to CNN, the death toll is more than 5,200 with over 10,000 injured, but these numbers are expected to double as search and rescue teams trek or fly by helicopter into remote communities that are nearly inaccessible due to mudslides and damaged roads.

Reach Beyond has worked together with radio partners to put eight community stations on the air in Nepal since 2009—the most recent in November 2014—with three additional stations planned for this year.

A four-member assessment team from Reach Beyond arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday, April 29, to determine how the organization can best help amid the situation and to check on the status of the partner stations—all located in the quake zone.

Team member Ty, executive director of the Asia Pacific Region, reported on Thursday that five of the eight stations are still broadcasting, and one is off the air. No word has been received from the other two, including one that is close to the quake’s epicenter.

Curt Cole, senior vice president of global ministries, says the assessment team is en route to hard-hit, rural areas. “Recovery and relief efforts in Kathmandu are strong and ongoing,” he explained. “Lots of help has arrived in Kathmandu. Our focus will be in the more remote villages. Main roads are opening slowly, but still many areas that are completely inaccessible.”

Meanwhile, plans are being made to send an emergency medical relief team to Nepal, including a doctor and two medical residents from Ecuador and three to four additional workers from the U.S., Sweden and Germany.

“We urge everyone first of all to pray for the suffering people of Nepal,” said Reach Beyond President Wayne Pederson. “During the past few years we have seen an increased openness to the gospel. We hope we can continue to reach those that need to know Jesus by providing for their physical and spiritual needs, especially during this devastating crisis.”

The ministry has begun raising emergency funds for the recovery efforts. After those needs are met, the overall condition of the partner radio stations will then be evaluated. Extensive rebuilding is anticipated.

After centuries of being closed to Christianity, and with virtually no churches, Nepal has begun to open up to the faith. According to Operation World, by 2010 there were more than 850,000 Christ-followers in nearly 10,000 groups.

In 2007 Nepal became more open to granting broadcast licenses to community radio stations. At one of Reach Beyond’s partner stations in a remote area of Nepal, the mission opened a birthing clinic that ministers to people’s physical and spiritual needs.

The mission and its partners have also trained local health workers to provide basic medical care. By demonstrating love for villagers’ physical needs, they have gained opportunities to care for spiritual needs and communicate the saving love of Christ.

“Jesus’ word to the disciples referenced in Acts 1:8 said they would be His witnesses ‘to the ends of the earth,’” said Pederson. “As believers, and as a ministry, that remains our call and cause.”

For updates on Nepal as the situation unfolds, visit www.reachbeyond.org. Donations can be made at www.reachbeyond.org/nepal.

Photo credit: Martin Harrison, Reach Beyond-UK

Sources: InChrist Communications, Reach Beyond, Operation World, CNN