Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Katrina: Destruction! Response! Hope!
All are intertwined throughout the various pages of the 2006 Report for Katrina and Gulf State Hurricane victims recently released by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries(NCM).
Who can believe that soon it will be a year since the fiesty and full of fury Katrina blew onto the shores of the US and across the coast? Who can remember the unimaginable images flashing across the television screens? Yes, Hurricane Katrina reaked havok, mayhem and left a trail of destruction more than a mile long.
Our Heavenly Father will not forsake us and through Him not only Nazarenes arose and sacrificially gave of their time,money and skills but many others also. The response by those who are called Nazarenes by themselves was overwhelming--145,824 Crisis Care kits distributed to survivors, over 5,536 volunteers providing more than 282, 744 hours of service, and $4,347,790 donated directly to NCM.*
The response is ongoing with volunteers continuing to travel south and I am proud to say that I am part of one of those teams.
On Sunday July 30, Pastor Doug not only preached a sermon inspired by God but graciously asked Pastor Ernie Rhodes to bless the lives of each of the team members below:
Bill Astalos; Connie Bryant and grandson, Nico; Tom Dickson; Theron Gamble; Mark Ivy; Darlene Johnson; Steve Karhan; Bob & Mary Lord; Andrew Peckens; Larry Ries; Sharron Sankovich; Josh Smith; Arla Stadden; Becky; Nancy Steiger; and Marilyn Zeigler.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated and may you also be blessed through this site.
(*stats from the 2006 report for Katrina and Gulf Coast Hurricane victims )
