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FM Aid for Hurricane Katrina
While
the situation is one of the most desperate in our nation’s history,
response is also immense. Outside of the eyes of the media cameras
there are thousands of relief teams at work. Hundreds of thousands
of meals are being served daily; many cities outside the stricken
area have doubled in size by evacuees. It is very possible that over
a million people are now evacuees. What you see in New Orleans is
beyond our ability to comprehend; however, about 90,000 sq. miles
have been devastated and the job is enormous and the response is mammoth
and it is taking time to catch up to the colossal situation.
What can we do? At this point we are developing strategy to help with evacuee camps, help in some of the flooded areas cleaning out homes left standing and helping support some families who have taken in evacuees. We may be able to develop lists of families who could be given a home for a period of time but this could best be done through organizations who are establishing a data base for this. As we make more discoveries in this area, we can establish our own data base. One problem is that we are 300 miles from the edge of the devastated area and it is almost impossible to get in and travel there and get gas within 120 miles of the area. Any contributions should be sent to the Gulf Coast Conference, PO Box 660834, Birmingham, AL 35266 or give online to the Bishops' Famine and Relief Fund.
I have been in Mobile, AL and along the coast as far as I could go with water and food and ministering to hurting people. I have talked with others in Mississippi and Louisiana who have traveled in the area. Please pray as we seek ways to minister.
More concrete information will be shared as it becomes available.
Lewis
Bunn,
Wednesday, August 31st To our Church Family: Thank
you for your interest in the
While all the Free Methodist Churches in the Gulf Coast Conference and our Free Methodist people are safe, our hearts are heavy as we witness the suffering of our brothers and sisters around us. The only damages to our Free Methodist Family were slight property damages and power outage.
It is easy to see those on the coast are in a tragic situation. Because of the media coverage, no one needs to be told of how big this problem is. The one thing that may be lost is the devastation in small towns as far as 100 miles from the coast that will receive no media coverage. Also, setting up shelters for the huge number of people displaced will be massive.
I attended morning worship last Sunday (day before the hurricane) at Edgewood Free Methodist Church in Pineville, LA (160 mikes from New Orleans) on Sunday. My heart was warmed by the concern and action taken by this congregation as they made plans to care for those who had to flee the storm.
We are developing strategy on how we can best bring the ministry of the church to this devastated area. Please pray with us as we seek God's wisdom on how to best share, care and show the Love of Jesus. This is a long term problem. These people are hurting and are in shock. Matthew 9:36 gives us some direction.
Continue to pray and be ready to serve in His Name. |
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