Thank You Week of Compassion

February 15, 2008

Dear Week of Compassion,

We were so blessed today when the postman brought us the check from Week of Compassion. May God richly bless you and your organization.

We are working diligently to raise the money needed for the repairs of the flood victims in Wichita/Archer Counties. Grants that we have applied for will take some time to be processed. It will be at least the middle of July.

We are doing what we can for the people who do not need as much assistance right now with the money we have in hand.

Again, let me thank you for you support of our program. God bless you.

Sincerely,

Mary Ward, Program Director
Wichita Falls (TX) Area Disaster Recovery Committee

January 16, 2008

Dear Week of Compassion,

I again want to thank you for partnering with us in response to the flood here in Watseka. Three years ago you and I talked about the flood that affected our community. You responded very quickly by sending a check that I might use with my fellow colleagues in ministry here in Watseka. I want you to know that money was used in a very significant way. Our Ministerial Alliance used the money in a wonderful way. Members of our community were amazed by what the money was able to do. We planted a seed of accountability and proactive ministry.

It was announced that Week of Compassion again responded to the flood of 2008. I want you to know that tonight our local Ministerial Alliance has been asked to use $100,000.00 from a local trust to respond to this disaster. Thank you for helping me to plant the seed. Our community is coming together and attempting to move through this disaster.

David Todd, Pastor
First Christian Church
Watseka, IL

December 20, 2007

Dear Members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),

When the ice storm hit Holton, Kansas, on the night of Monday, December 10, 2007, every minute, trees were breaking and crashing to the ground all around our rural Kansas farmhouse with the sounds of rifle shots.

Immediately our electricity went out. Almost everyone in Jackson County was without electricity. Gas burners on the stove top were all we had to heat the house, so we put big pots of water on and got out a kerosene heater. The pots and heater barely kept the house at 60 degrees and the kerosene smell was noxious, but we were much better off than many people. I had to go to Topeka to get kerosene and gasoline. All the Holton gas stations were without power.

Friday afternoon, Johnny Wray, Director of Week of Compassion in Indianapolis, left a message on the church phone: "I hear Holton has been hit hard by the ice storm. Can we help?" Saturday morning I had visited a hospice patient in his home with no electricity and at 59 degrees. After the visit I returned to the office, contacted Johnny, and told him that 6-10 electrical generators were needed.

Quickly, Week of Compassion authorized seven-5500 watt generators to be sent to Holton from Kansas City, at cost, through one of our Holton Christian church members, Mike Watkins. Week of Compassion consulted with Paxton Jones, Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kansas. When electricity was restored and the generators were no longer needed, Week of Compassion gave the generators to the Region, to be stored and maintained at Camp Tawakoni, so that in a future Kansas emergency, they will be available.

Whenever you give to Week of Compassion, as I have for the past 30+ years, I hope you remember this wonderful story and how Week of Compassion and the National Disciples of Christ Office rushed to the aid of many persons without electricity in the Name of our Lord and Savior.

Blessings,

Ron Cobb, Pastor
First Christian Church
Holton, KS

December 17, 2007

Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters:

It is with sincere gratitude that I write this letter of appreciation for your recent donation inthe amount of $25,000. Without your support and the support of many others like you, SETIO could not continue in our efforts to bring hurricane-stricken families in Port Arthur back up to decent living conditions.

To date, SETIO has been able to complete repairs to 58 homes. We currently have 232 cases on reports, and 146 of those cases are active (homes on which work is in progress).

Thanks again for your support!

Sincerely,

Jonnye WIlliamson, Director
Southeast Texas Interfaith Organization
Port Arthur, TX

November 21, 2007

Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters,

On behalf of the Center Point Christian Church family, we wish to thank you for your gift of $1,000. Certainly the contribution will help us build a new edifice for the Lord.

It is this type of generosity that helps us keep our faith and trust in God alive, in spite of the loss of our sanctuary. Our goal is to begin making plans to build a new sanctuary. Your support will have a profound impact on our future growth and development as we live out our church's mission.

We encourage you to continue to lift us up in your daily prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Revd C.L. Faulkner
Center Point Christian Church
Greenville, TX

November 6, 2007

Dear Week of Compassion,

Bucyrus, Ohio has just come through a very traumatic experience during the flooding of 2007. 60 homes were completely destroyed, 240 suffered minor to major damage and 1,000+ homes were affected in some way by the flooding.

Without contributions like yours we would not have been able to assist in meeting the immediate needs of those displaced by the flood, or the long-term assistance that will be needed as well. Your contribution of $2,000 is being used to help families get re-established in homes and begin the rebuilding process of their lives.

Thank you for your generous support.

In Christ's Service,

Timothy J. Higgins, Major
The Salvation Army
Bucyrus, Ohio

November 7, 2007

Dear Week of Compassion,

Let me just say to you and your church, thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for your benevolence.

We continue to serve the vulnerable and less fortuante with love and compassion, offering them a hand up in the tough times of their lives.

Your offering comes at a most crucial time of the year. The holiday seasons always bring greater numbers to our doors and require more of the ministry financially. Each month we allocate a given number of dollars to help clients with their utilities, rent and other special needs as we feel we can reasonably afford.

First Christian Church of Baton Rouge is one of our most regarded partners. Your gifts, and more importantly, your volunteers who are so capable and productive, have made and continue to make the ministry a leading example of ecumenical, faith-based ministry in our city.

Sincerely,

Larry Clanton
Public Relations
Southeast Ministries Association, Inc.
Baton Rouge, LA

In all my 76 years, I have never had so unusual, unexpected, and severe a situation as that which occurred when my home flooded. In those first few days, I was almost overwhelmed with the multitude of things that needed to be taken care of, but my church family rushed out to help me move furniture to the attic (out of the water) and rescue family heirlooms that couldn't be replaced. Always in the back of my mind, however, was how far my savings would go in getting things back to normal. Not far enough, for sure.

I've only cried three times since then, and the first was when Rev. Cobb told me that Week of Compassion wanted to help me with immediate needs. In years and years of contributing to WOC, I never imagined being the recipient of our church's generosity, and I was deeply touched and incredibly grateful. Everyone wants to help, of course, but when they ask, "What can I do?", you don't want to say... "Well, I really need a bit of extra cash right now." Having so many other things to think about does not need to be compounded by worrying about where the money is coming from for immediate needs.

The flood insurance company has paid me in full, so now I can pay all my bills and send back the money to help someone else in similar situations.

"Thank you" is a most inadequate expression of my gratitude. Your kindness on behalf of all our churches will never be forgotten.

With the blessings of Christ,

Maxine Cornwell
Magnolia, TX

September 18, 2007

Dear Week of Compassion,

What an awesome mission trip we had! Our travel and work went smoothly. We enjoyed great fellowship among ourselves, and we "grew in understanding and commitment in discipleship," as one of our mission team members shared.

We owe a great big thank you to Week of Compassion for its grant of $500. We used it to rent a car, which we packed to the gills with equipment, luggage, people and gift bags that our CWF ladies prepared for the people of Greensburg, KS. Receiving the grant from Week of Compassion enabled us to focus on other aspects of our trip rather than trying to pull enough money together. Our gracious congregation provided $800 in gas money to fill the tanks through the trip of the rented van and another van we used.

Thank you for the blessing of your involvement in our opportunity to go and minister to people in need.

Your fellow workers in the kingdom,

Rev. Susan Lassalle and the congregation of FCC, Slidell, LA