PHOENIX, ARIZONA (ANS) -- A Christian organization that helps believers prepare for emergencies and natural disasters is calling on Christians across America to 'Be Aware, Be Ready and Be There' for those who don't know Jesus Christ as Savior during the current outbreak of Swine Flu.

Mary Marr, Founder/Chairman of Christian Emergency Network (CEN) -- www.christianemergencynetwork.org  -- was responding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declaration of emergency preparedness resulting from findings of the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The CDC emergency preparedness statement documents incidents of swine flu in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. In cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), outbreaks have now been documented to have originated in Mexico and have spread to at least three other countries already.

In a media release, Marr says: "Is this the pandemic the CDC has been cautioning CEN about for several years? What should Christians do? Be Aware, Be Ready and Be There in any emergency by praying earnestly, caring compassionately, and sharing the Hope of Christ effectively and appropriately. It is what the church has always done best and should be doing now!"

Marr said: "Christians should be aware of accurate information regarding this outbreak and watch news reports carefully on the scope and rapidness of its spreading. If Christians are ready themselves, they are not a part of the burden that emergency management may face. Help your family, church and community to bring calm even now as the scope is uncertain, and then model and encourage quick response to any emergency directions."

In her statement, Marr continues: "Christians should be ready in their local communities to respond well together as they are called upon to bring calm to their community, and to assist their own families, church and emergency management as needed. For more information on starting a local CEN Chapter or a Ready Church Initiative in your area visit www.christianemergencynetwork.org. "

Marr says that Christians should be sharing with anyone God places in our path that being ready is more than physical readiness.

"We never know the day or the hour of any crisis. For the Christian this means we are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and not just physically ready ourselves, and then also ready to help others. Whether this outbreak is the beginning of a more serious pandemic or not, Christians are called to give an answer for the Hope within," she said.

Marr explains that ninety percent (90%) of those in any emergency will ask, 'Where is God in this?'

"Christians need to respond to the spiritual, emotional, mental as well as the usual physical needs of those affected. For more information on being ready, contact us at www.christianemergencynetwork.org. "

Marr states that Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented.

She adds: "From December 2005 through February 2009, a total of 12 human infections with swine influenza were reported from 10 states in the United States. Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the U.S. and internationally have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing. For more information on swine flu and how to respond visit www.cdc.gov. "

Marr concluded: "Swine flu viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flue can also occur through coughing, sneezing, and touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Precautions such as frequent hand washing and early medical responses to signs of fever, coughing, vomiting and dehydration and other flu-like symptoms should be taken."

Marr is Chairman and Founder of Christian Emergency Network, which was founded after 9/11 with several national ministry leaders and now has over 7,000 ministry, church and media organizations who partner to Pray-Care-Share the Hope of Christ together...before, during and after national disasters. To learn more about how you or your Christian organization may partner with CEN go to www.christianemergencynetwork.org .

For interviews with CEN Founder/Chairman Mary Marr, contact Judy Hannestad at 701-484-5028 judy.hannestad@christianemergencynetwork.org.  

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania and the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, Israel,and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.'