​In the last few days, devastating floods have impacted communities across Texas, with more rain forecast for the week ahead. As local officials and organizations begin the long process of assessment and response, Week of Compassion is in frequent communication with regional leadership, local church pastors, and ecumenical partners across the state.

Disciples congregations — including First Christian Church in Kerrville and Grace Christian San Angelo — are assisting in the response efforts, including through supply distribution, cleanup assistance, and support of existing ministry partners. Grace Christian (a shared ministry First Christian and Grace Presbyterian churches) gathered donations at worship yesterday and is working closely with local ecumenical partners, including the campus ministry at Angelo State to sort and distribute supplies. In Kerrville, Rev. Josh Desteiguer is "absolutely humbled and moved by the outpouring of support from the wider church and individual congregations. We are beaming with pride seeing the ways our small tight-knit denomination is going to have a profound impact on the recovery and continuing healing after such a profound disaster."

Many efforts remain in the planning or assessment phase due to continued weather concerns. With support from Week of Compassion, Children’s Disaster Services is deploying a Critical Childcare Response team to the area. As needs emerge, Week of Compassion stands ready to offer immediate solidarity grants and long-term support for recovery.

The full extent of the damage is not yet clear, and cleanup efforts are being complicated by continued rains. While no losses among Disciples churches or members have been reported so far, the emotional and spiritual toll of this disaster is already being felt. We join our prayers with countless others across the United States, especially those in the Texas Hill Country, for all who are on the front lines of relief, rescue, and recovery, and for those families still waiting for word and hoping against hope.

In moments like this, Disciples seek to embody compassion, hope, and faithful presence. Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum, Regional Minister of the Southwest Region, led a moment of prayer over the weekend and offered these words Sunday morning: 

God of Sleepless Nights and Anxious Days,
Our hearts break for our neighbors—the ones whose homes, loved ones, and
lives have been destroyed by floods; the ones who fear deportation or
imprisonment; the ones who tremble with uncertainty. We cannot know the whole
story of any other person’s life, and we really cannot take in all the different
experiences that knock on the doors of our empathy. Yet, the parts that we do
know break our hearts sometimes. We plead with You, most Holy One, that You
would not forget us or abandon us. We need Christmas in July: Emmanuel, God
with us. God, be with us.
Amen.

In the coming days, Week of Compassion will continue to monitor the situation and respond as needs become clearer. In the meantime, Disciples are encouraged to give to Week of Compassion (US Storms & Fires) in support of ongoing and future responses, and to continue holding the affected communities in prayer.

On this World Refugee Day (June 20), the Refugee Resettlement Program in the United States is in a completely preventable crisis. Since the US Refugee Admissions Program was put on hold on January 20, more than 10,000 refugees worldwide have been left stranded, many having sold all their possessions in preparation for their journey to the United States when their flights were abruptly cancelled in January. A further 124,000 refugees were approved to come to the United States but had not yet had their travel booked.

Among those refugees are the Richard family and Ékutschou family, both families who are members of the Disciples of Christ in Congo and were being sponsored by Congolese Christian Church in Indianapolis to come to the US after escaping war in their own country. While we cannot tell the story of every refugee currently facing this crisis, we are grateful to Pastor Jean-Baptiste Ilondo for his willingness to share his own story with us, in conversation with Rev. Sandra Gourdet.