NASHVILLE, TN (ANS) -- One of Christian music's most celebrated groups, The Katinas, located in Nashville, TN, is feeling the aftereffects of the recent Tsunami that swamped their native Samoa half a world away earlier this week. They lost both friends and family in the disaster.

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The effects of the 8.2 magnitude earthquake and resultant walls of 15-20 foot high tsunami waves that ravaged Samoa this past Tuesday, Sept. 29, were personally felt by the group in Nashville, TN, who can claim Samoa as their native homeland.

In the wake of waves of death and destruction that surged more than a mile inland on the tiny island nation, the band is already organizing a relief effort for their homeland -- a 'Hope For Samoa Benefit Concert' to be held next Wednesday, October 7 at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee -- just outside of Nashville. The church is located at 1210 Franklin Road in Brentwood.

Among the famous friends in music already set to join them: GMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant and American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle.

Nationally known radio personalities, Doug & Kim, from Salem Broadcasting’s popular 'Doug & Kim in the Morning' will emcee the event.

Salem’s Nashville anchor station has also denoted free radio spots for the event. The benefit concert is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. with additional artists to be set.

In an open letter on Wednesday, the Katinas noted:

"As most of you know by now, an earthquake that registered at 8.2 on the Richter scale and tsunami that hit yesterday morning has devastated our homeland of Samoa. Our Dad, 4 sisters, brother and 2 nephews that live there are okay. However, some of our friends and close family members are still missing.

"We have confirmed news that one of our cousins from the village of Leone (our Mother's birthplace and place where our Dad pastors) died yesterday in the aftermath of the tsunami. The latest death toll has surpassed 100 and many are still unaccounted for."

The Katinas said they have been planning their 3rd annual missions’ trip to Samoa this November.

"Yesterday’s events have made us even more passionate to go and help our people," they wrote..

"Samoa is dear to our hearts. Growing up there prepared us for what we’ve been doing for the last 20 years. We have been blessed to travel the world and minister the message of Jesus through music. Now we are blessed to give back to the very place we come from.

"We need your help. We have set up a 'Samoa Relief' fund to assist with some of the immediate and long term needs on the island. We are still gathering information on what those needs are. However in the meantime we are doing whatever we can to help.

"Here’s how you can help:

**Pray for the comfort of our people. Pray for the search of those who are still missing. Pray that God would heal our people both spiritually and physically.

**You can go to our website at www.katinamissions.org and make a monetary donation. All donations are tax deductable.

"Thank you so much for your time and love for Samoa."

The letter is signed by Sam, Joe, James, John and Jesse Katina.

_______________________________________________

For additional benefit concert information, and for interviews with the Katinas contact:

Dianne Rogers
Brimstone Services
Phone: (615) 941-8207
E-mail: dianne@brimstoneservices.com  

** 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,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany, 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 of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649,at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.'