 On Tuesday, December 14, Kentucky Regional Minister Rev. Dr. Don Gillett visited several communities in Kentucky that were impacted by the recent storm. Week of Compassion staff accompanied Dr. Gillett on this pastoral visit as a sign of solidarity, sharing the prayers and words of support that have been offered by so many from across the wider church. They travelled to Mayfield First Christian Church and Second Christian Church, and to Princeton, where they visited with leaders from First Christian Princeton and First Christian Dawson Springs. They also went to the site of a church member’s home that was destroyed in the storm. Members from FCC Princeton and other nearby Disciples churches were already there, helping to sift through the debris and recover personal items.
Dr. Gillett reflected, “In my visit today, it was hard to see the devastation that the storm had left… to see homes wiped out and families displaced. But in that, I felt the spirit of God moving in the resilience and strength of the people. The resilience of the church to continue to be the church by sending out crews...by being a presence. Even with the church that was destroyed, FCC Mayfield, I saw hope. I saw joy. Even in the midst of the despair, I saw Christ being displayed. We know it’s going to be awhile, but we know that with Christ, all things are possible. We’re just doing whatever we can to come alongside churches and the people that have had such devastating loss.” In the midst of so much destruction, it can be hard to envision a path forward. This early in the process, communities are still in the assessment stage. The journey of recovery ahead will be a long one. But through Week of Compassion the church, as always, will accompany these communities for the long term and help rebuild. Please continue to “stay, pray, and give,” as we respond to emerging needs in these and other communities affected by the tornadoes. Local volunteers can connect with cleanup teams through First Christian Church, Madisonville (follow them on Facebook, or reach out to the church office). If you are interested in volunteering at a later date, once communities have had a chance to organize and assess needs, please fill out this interest form. Please designate your gift for “US Storms,” and 100% of your gift will go toward responses in tornado-affected communities. Comments are closed.
|
|
Follow Us
|
