GMA Launches Project Restore For Tsunami Relief

The Gospel Music Association (GMA) has announced the establishment of Project Restore, an Asian Tsunami awareness, prayer and fundraising effort in coordination with World Vision, the international Christian disaster relief agency which has its staff on the ground and already responding in the stricken region, announced John W. Styll, president of the GMA.

Project Restore launches with the formation of a website, www.ProjectRestore.org and will serve as the industry's unified campaign for raising awareness of how the gospel music community and its fans can be involved, including encouraging financial donations to World Vision (www.worldvision.org ) and other Christian agencies which GMA has worked with and which are directly providing disaster relief for the countries and the victims of the Tsunami. Project Restore will focus its initial efforts on the Tsunami disaster, but will remain the industry’s official crisis response vehicle in the future.

“Tragedies like the Tsunami disaster can make individuals feel helpless. We believe that where two or more is gathered, God will be there. Project Restore is our opportunity to gather together all the constituencies in the GMA community to make God’s voice and heart heard on the other side of the world during this time of unimaginable suffering," said John Styll, president of GMA.

“The work to be done to heal lives, hearts and souls is overwhelming, but we can offer our prayers and our resources, and World Vision and other relief organizations are providing the hands and feet in this immeasurable task. Together, we hope to reflect the grace and goodness of the Gospel as God brings hope and restoration to the people of Asia.”

Among the artists who will be lending their support to Project Restore include Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day, CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns and the more than 40 artists who serve as Word Vision ambassadors. Links from the artists’ fan websites will includes links and information about Project Restore and World Vision. During the month of January, more than 45 concerts of World Vision artists will make an appeal to concertgoers for a single gift donation for Tsunami relief.