With the flooding rains that came this week, there are many in our communities who have experienced significant damage to their homes. Even as the waters are now receding, feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated or afraid are beginning to rise. This is a prime opportunity for us as a church to embrace what I said this past Sunday: We must be a church where everyone stands together and nobody stands alone.
We are acting within our body to hopefully match people with significant needs with those who have the capacity or ability to help meet those needs.
If you and your family sustained damage to your home or property, please know we have been and will continue praying for you. To make the process of hopefully matching your need with someone who can help, please keep the following in mind:
- Give a brief but detailed description of your situation.
- Think in terms of specific actions that would help you…"need to have carpets pulled up" or "could use a shop vac" or "need to get mud cleaned out."
- Provide contact information that you are comfortable going "public" with - email is usually a pretty safe bet.
- Our heart in doing this is to facilitate communication within the body. Please understand that while we are praying that every need can be met in a full and timely manner, the church cannot promise that your specific situation will be addressed.
If you did not sustain damage or your damage was minimal, please take this opportunity to respond to our brothers and sisters in need. When so many have been impacted, if your home was spared, perhaps you've been blessed so that you can be a blessing to someone else. For someone who's facing overwhelming needs, giving a few hours of help, loaning a few tools or even bringing over a cold glass of iced tea can be a wonderful gift. Please follow the Lord's leading to provide any help that you can.
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:10-12
And remember, in the midst of unforeseen challenges and difficult circumstances, our Lord Jesus is still on His throne…He still cares...He remains in control…He still loves. May we as a body respond to one another with the kind of love and care that He abundantly gives to us.
Dr Crawford W. Loritts ι Senior Pastor