Tornado Relief Efforts
Dear Church and Friends: It seems that the over-night shelter is not where our Church relief focus is; but, rather it is on one-on-one go-where-they-are servanthood. God has given us many divine appointments where He has supplied needs for people in miraclous ways. There is no need for any recognition or pats-on-back to you who have unselfishly served.
Our focus is clear and we thank God for what He is doing. We need to continue to spread the word that we are available to help individuals, families and communities. God is sending us supplies and people to fill every need. (A pastor from Ohio called Dale this morning and offered to bring a truck load of supplies next week.) As the shock begins to wear off survivors, the need for counseling will increase.
Please keep in mind that we also offer this service. Pastors and certified Biblical counselors are not the only ones who can counsel people during this time of tragedy. If you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ you are qualified to share Jesus. (which you are doing!) We are being HIS REP as we go out into the world to serve Him. One of the things we also need to request when people ask how they can help is, we need Bibles. We sent hundred of Bibles to Honduras for the upcoming mission trip, so we need to repenish the library with Bibles.
It would be wonderful for all the supplies to go out just as soon as they are received, we do not stock-pile. God will supply. Another way some of you can help now is - If you are free to help prepare meals in the kitchen, the hours you are most needed is 8-9:30 AM in order to help with the lunch and 3-5:00 PM to help with the night meals. Just drop by and see what you can do.
As many of you already know, Dale and I are members of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. We have been in training for this service for two years with the Billy Graham Evangelism Center in North Carolina and we are scheduled to finish this certification in June of this year. Dale was called this morning to actively serve with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team May 15-21 in Tuscaloosa.
He will leave on Sunday afternoon and be back on Saturday. This is a wonderful opportunity for him and wonderful for us in that he can come home and better lead us in how we can more effectively do what we are doing. As your pastor and wife, we know you daily lift us up in prayer and earnestly expect you to continue to do that. We feel it. It is a great privilege to call you all our church family. We are so proud of each of you for rallying around our community and the world in mission work. We love you all! :) Brenda