Contact: Oliver Asher, Advancing Native Missions, 540-456-7111 ext 119

AFTON, Va., Nov. 12, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Please help my people," cries Marlou Barredo, wife of the Co-founder and President of Advancing Native Missions in Afton, Virginia, who was born and raised in Tacloban City, Philippines, a city recently destroyed by Super Typhoon Haiyan. Marlou Barredo has many family members and friends in Tacloban and across Leyte Island, none of whom she has heard from since Typhoon Haiyan hit.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, also called Yolanda, made landfall in the Philippines on the morning of Friday, November 8. With sustained winds of 195 m.p.h. and gusts as high as 235 m.p.h., Haiyan was equivalent in force to an exceptionally strong category 5 hurricane in the US. It has been called the most powerful tropical storm ever to make landfall anywhere in the world. The results were devastating: thousands dead, many more thousands displaced, infrastructure ruined, homes and possessions swept away or destroyed.

Advancing Native Missions serves over 30 ministries in the Philippines and several of these ministries are in the areas where Haiyan's effects were greatest. One of Advancing Native Missions' partners reported in an email, "We are devastated. Tacloban is like a ghost town, but I am assured that the Lord will not leave us nor forsake us. There is no more water. I think we will still have food until Tuesday. Total blackout, many dead. I have been manning the health post for the past three days. Thank God we are alive. Pray for sustenance and the recovery period."

Advancing Native Missions is collecting funds to send to ministry partners who were already on the ground when the storm hit. There are two medical missions teams currently reaching out to those in need of medical attention as well as other teams searching for missing people, providing shelter, food, and other necessities. The need is great and they will soon run out of resources. Advancing Native Missions is asking Americans to be part of the recovery through their prayers and financial gifts.

For updates and prayer requests visit: advancingnativemissions.com/supertyphoon

Advancing Native Missions (advancingnativemissions.com) is a US-based agency called to seek out, evaluate, and equip indigenous mission groups throughout the world in order to hasten global evangelization.

To schedule an interview contact Oliver Asher at 540-456-7111 ext.119 or oliver@advancingnativemissions.com