Pastor’s Pen
February 25, 2009
Pastor Horace Light
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 NIV)
Two van loads of our Hollins Road men will leave from the church on Saturday, October 10th, and travel to Hammond, Indiana. We will spend that next week working on disaster projects in this urban area of the northwest corner of Indiana. The area, just west of Gary, was hit by a devastating storm caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ike last September. Floods damaged many homes and businesses and closed parts of I-80/94 for days. In the wake of the storm it was estimated that 17,000 residences were affected. Some homes received a lot of water damage and some only a bit. With nearly 900 homes in this lower income area still in need of assistance, Brethren Disaster Ministries has been assigned 30 homes for repair and is scheduling work as quickly as volunteers arrive. The work is typical of flood related repairs: insulation, dry wall, floor replacement, siding, carpentry, etc.
Brethren Disaster Ministries, a ministry of the national Church of the Brethren, depends upon volunteers from its 23 Districts. Each District has an appointed Disaster Coordinator who issues district-wide appeals for volunteers as the need arises. Volunteers are then assigned to specific projects that are overseen by disaster project leaders. Brother Wayne Garst is the coordinator for the Virlina District and Brother Wayne Bailey serves as our coordinator here at Hollins Road. Once we arrive in Hammond our project leaders will be Brothers Charles Snyder and Tom Sheen & Sister Nancy Sheen. All of these positions are filled on a volunteer basis.
Our denomination, as well as the Hollins Roads Church, has become known for providing capable, caring, and hard working men and women who go to areas where hope has been lost. Over the decades Brethren Disaster Ministries has diligently responded to hundreds of disasters, helped countless survivors, and engaged thousands of volunteers. Our Hollins Road volunteers continue this mission today.
Our Men’s Fellowship and the generous gifts of our members should cover all expenses for the travel to and from Hammond. We are grateful for the men who work so hard through out the year to make sure these funds are available. Please continue to pray for those who go and those whom we will serve in the Hammond community.
With Love & Blessings,
Pastor Horace
Comments
Got something to say?