Blog Archives
Celebrating Ecumenical Efforts
In April and May of this year, Disciples Volunteering and Week of Compassion invited Disciples to participate in a special project sponsored by Church World Service. Dubbed “Neighborhood: Cedar Rapids,” the project brought together more than 500 volunteers from 10 denominations to rebuild 12 homes severely damaged in the Iowa flood of 2008. Lutheran Disaster Response has now released a short video celebrating that effort. As we continue to look for ways to work with our partners in faith, we give thanks for projects like “Neighborhood: Cedar Rapids” that bring us together to serve and witness in Jesus’ name.
More On Haiti
The big news from Haiti this morning is that a rescue crew pulled a 16 year old girl from under the rubble of a building that was destroyed 15 days ago. Meanwhile, this article continues, survivors are desperate for the breakthrough of food aid. Reports continue to suggest that the problem, at this time, is not a lack of aid; rather, it is the distribution of aid that is facing serious challenges. From receiving all that is being offered, to sorting and distributing over a broken infrastructure, to the challenges of setting up distribution centers, relief organizations, aid agencies, and the government have many structural and logistical hurdles to overcome.
afternoon update: Just found this npr post with a video of the rescue.
Meanwhile, Week of Compassion shares, “While it is true that the delivery of aid has been hampered by many factors, including infrastructure-related challenges, Week of Compassion can assure you that aid is reaching many of those who need it.” Aid is being distributed effectively through our mission partners and many agencies in that region that are supported through Week of Compassion giving. Week of Compassion participates directly in the ACT Alliance, an international ecumenical partnership, which offers this video highlighting their response:
After a Disaster
Over the past week, I have been a part of or heard about several similar conversations. They all start something like this: “My friend (or church or work) is collecting food (or clothes or medicine) to send to Haiti. They say it doesn’t matter what you give (or what condition it’s in or whether it’s used or even expired) because the people of Haiti have nothing right now. So anything we give will help.” Simply put: that’s just not true.
As well intentioned as most people are, now is not the time to clean out your pantry, your closet, or your medicine cabinet. The people of Haiti do not need your canned soup or the five or six water bottles in your fridge. They do not need your faded t-shirt and well worn jeans. They most certainly do not need your half-empty bottle of Tylenol or your medication that’s only a little past its expiration date. They do not need it, they do not want it, and, right now, such a “gift” will only make things worse. The best any of us can give, the most important thing that relief organizations need to provide the most help they can, is cash. Pick the charity of your choice, make sure it has an established presence in the affected region and has experience with disaster relief work, and give cash. Anything else at this time will only make the recovery more complicated. Unless and until established recovery organizations begin asking for other types of donations, do not send your cans of mixed veggies, your winter parka, or your arthritis medication.
And please, please, DO NOT go to the disaster zone. Unless you have specific skills that have been requested by a recovery organization, you are traveling with that organization, and you are able to bring in everything you need to meet your needs while there – food, water, bedding, etc. – stay home. Organize a fundraiser for earthquake survivors. Educate others on the importance of giving cash only. Pray for the people of Haiti. But do not go.
This feels redundant but it cannot be said enough. If you want to help the survivors of a disaster, send money. Week of Compassion is the funding ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that focuses on disaster, development, and refugee needs. Week of Compassion has established relationships with organizations that are on the ground in Haiti. Best of all, 100% of gifts to the Week of Compassion earthquake fund will go help the people of Haiti. These gifts are already making a tremendous difference in a recovery that will last for years. The time will come for making other donations. For now, please pray for the people of Haiti. And give generously – just give cash.
Devastating Earthquake Rocks Haiti
A 7.0 earthquake yesterday hit Haiti near Port Au Prince, the capital. Early reports lack specifics but detail widespread destruction. This morning, there is little new reporting as rescue workers and relief teams are only beginning the long, arduous task of responding. No doubt the search for survivors, through debris and collapsed buildings, will go on for days. In a country with poor infrastructure and extreme poverty, a disaster of this magnitude will have a deep and dramatic impact on survivors. Our prayers continue to be with the people of Haiti and their loved ones, as well as with folks who are visiting them. I am aware that the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a team from the Tennessee region in Haiti, and another from the Oklahoma and Great River Regions in neighboring Dominican Republic. Gifts are being gathered for the recovery – please consider making a donation through the Week of Compassion Haiti Earthquake Relief fund. Thank You!
Erin McKinney, a Global Mission Intern currently serving in the Dominican Republic, recently shared this update: “Thanks for all the concerned messages and calls. We are doing fine in Santo Domingo. But prayers are needed for those in Port Au Prince and for the many people living here that have … family in Haiti and have been unable to communicate with them.”
Another friend, Felix Ortiz, shares these words. “It was in Haiti that I learned that God is not in the commotion of violence, the howling of hurricanes, or the rumbling of earthquakes. God is in the whisper of a prayer, the grasp of a helping hand, and the roar of Hope. Send Prayers, send Hope, send aid to Haiti in this dire hour.”
Galveston Blitz Build a United Effort
*The following report is shared via a Week of Compassion update. To sign up for these updates, visit http://www.weekofcompassion.org/
The Rev. Rebecca Hale, Week of Compassion Advisory Committee Chair, recently represented Week of Compassion at the Blitz Build in Galveston, TX. She sent us this dispatch:
In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated many buildings and homes in Galveston, Texas. The substantial stone building of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) escaped significant damage, and the members of that congregation rapidly mobilized to begin using their building as a central aid station for the area. As the congregation began opening its doors to offer compassion for its neighbors, along with other Texas congregations, Week of Compassion, Disciples Volunteering, the Southwest Region and the Coastal Plains Area of the Christian Church (Disciples) joined with them in efforts to provide relief in the forms of food, companionship, funds, clothing, and volunteer assistance.
In those very early days, members of Central Christian Church realized that their nearest Disciples neighbor, Second Christian Church (just five blocks away!), was having a very different experience. Shortly after the storm, Carl Zerweck, Director of Disciples Volunteering, a ministry of Disciples Home Missions, heard about Second Christian Church and went to take a look.
He described the damage as “devastating.” The building was almost completely destroyed and was in the process of being condemned by the city of Galveston.
Carl’s visit started a journey that ended with the dedication of the newly rebuilt church building of Second Christian Church on November 22, 2009. Volunteers from Texas and Louisiana congregations worked to gut the majority of the building in the fall of 2008. Volunteers from across the country, working with Disciples Volunteering throughout the summer and fall, rebuilt the worship and fellowship space of this congregation. During the rebuilding, First Christian Church, Texas City, TX, and Central Christian Church, Galveston, opened their doors to house and feed volunteers with the help of congregations from across the Coastal Plains Area. During the dedication, prayers of joy were offered, songs with words like “If you can’t make it through the storm/how can you say that God’s your captain?” took on an added significance, and tears fell in hope and gratitude.
The new building looks beautiful. Second Christian has a wonderful new space in which to live out its mission and ministry for many years. Many people and organizations made this happen – WoC, Reconciliation Ministry, the Coastal Plains Area, Disciples Volunteering, the Southwest Region, and scores of volunteers from across the life of our church. Maybe the most significant partnership that emerged was the relationship between the neighboring congregations of Second Christian Church and Central. One refrain echoed throughout the week: “we had lost touch with each other as sister congregations and now we have found a relationship that has the potential to sustain us both and expand our ministries.”
That was the spirit of the build: great joy at friends found and commitments made to stay in relationship with one another. There was also a deep sense of gratitude for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and what can happen when we come together to care for those who are devastated by events far beyond their control.
On another note, a woman came up to me to thank Week of Compassion. Immediately after the hurricane, she received some WoC funds through her pastor. She said without those funds she did not know what they would have done. Her house was flooded, and while insurance paid for most of the repairs, her husband could not work for four weeks and they would not have had money for food or basic needs during those early days. She said she was already planning on how she would be giving an increased amount to WoC so that others could experience the relief she experienced.”
