Here in our little corner of NW Ohio, we don’t often experience earthquakes. When we do, it’s minor. The last recorded earthquake that occurred in Ohio was in 1983 with a magnitude of 1.2. In 2024, Defiance had a 3.3 rumble. However, Ohio has experienced 86 earthquakes in 2025 according to Ohio DNR. The majority (69) were felt around Washington County on the Ohio and West Virginia border. Marietta is the county seat for Washington County.1
On this day in 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal to the ground, killing thousands. The initial earthquake occurred just after noon, but thousands of aftershocks occurred, contributing to more deaths and over 16,800 injuries.
“By the time the tremors stopped, more than 800,000 homes were destroyed and more than 298,000 were damaged. The quake also damaged several iconic monuments, like the capital’s Durbar Square. In all, 2.8 million people were displaced, made homeless by the devastation—or by their fear of more tremors. Of these, countless numbers moved into “tent cities,” too afraid to return to their homes. The United Nations estimated 8 million people in total—nearly a third of Nepal’s population—were affected by the quake and its aftershocks.”2
In California, the San Andreas Fault has contributed to many devasting quakes. On April 18, 1906, residents of San Francisco were violently awakened at 5:13 a.m. by an 8.3 earthquake. There were 3,000 killed.
San Francisco has definitely had their share of quakes. One that happened more recently was during the 1989 World Series when Game Three was stopped by a 6.9 earthquake. Because the game was being televised, it became the first major earthquake to be broadcast live. This earthquake only caused the deaths of about 60 people. Why so few?
Candlestick Park was hosting the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants, two Bay area teams. If people weren’t at the stadium, they were home watching the game. Therefore, streets and bridges that collapsed had fewer people travelling. It’s safe to say that baseball saved the day!
On Friday, March 28th of this year and at 12:50 p.m., another earthquake made the news
.
“Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and also referred to as Burma (the official English form until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has a population of about 55 million. It is bordered by India and Bangladesh to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its south and southwest.”3
The earthquake that hit this area registered at 7.7 magnitude and the death toll has reached over 4,000. Estimates are that nearly 10,000 could be found dead as excavation efforts continue.
For our church family, Myanmar should sound familiar. Bringing Children Hope (formerly Baptist Children’s Homes) has five ministry homes located in this area. With permission from BCH, I want to share a portion of their letter dated March 31st:
All five of our ministry locations in Myanmar, including the children, families, and houseparents of which we serve alongside, are safe and accounted for! Our homes are located 400 miles from the epicenter, helping to keep our families safe!
A ministry partner in Myanmar identified only as “T” writes:
“According to the latest reports, over 4,000 people have died, more than 4,000 have been seriously injured, and around 3,000 are missing. The true extent of the disaster is still unknown, as many more people have yet to be found.
Despite this horrific natural disaster, military jets bombed seven towns today, making life even more unbearable for civilians—it feels like hell on earth.
By God’s grace, our missionaries and church families are safe so far. However, many of our brethren are suffering.
The people of Myanmar continue to endure darkness upon darkness. As children of God, our only hope is in the Almighty.
Myanmar is already war ravaged. Such a devasting earthquake should shake people awake and cause them to seek God or, if nothing else, get them to work together instead of fighting each other. This isn’t the case. “T” reported to BCH headquarters on April 4 that the military are like Pharaoh and his response to the plagues. All the earthquake has done is harden their hearts and they do and take what they want.
This devotional is our call to pray! As we pray, let’s receive strength from God’s Word and Psalms 46:1-3. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (2) Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (3) Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”
1https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/land-water/earthquakes/ohio-earthquake-database?=undefined
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-25/magnitude-7-8-earthquake-kills-thousands-in-nepal
3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar
Tomorrow is National Richter Scale Day in honor of Charles F. Richter, the inventor of the Richter Scale.
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
