Hurricane Katrina
Moravians Pulling Together to Make A Difference For Fellow Americans in NeedAt point of this writing, images of devastation from Hurricane Katrina are vivid and omnipresent. On August 29th, the landscape of the United States as we know it was forever changed. Areas of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi were ravaged by the hurricane wind, rain, and storm surge, leaving what appears like a war-zone in its wake.
The reports are heavy laden with emotion. There is a great sadness that is traveling through every means of media. Our United States has turned into a refugee camp of our own people and amidst the chaos; we’ve seen humanity at its worst, humanity at its best, miracles of life preserved, and devastation of death uncontrolled. It would be impossible to adequately cover the ranges of emotion or impact in this writing.
The outreach of people is amazing. Many want to help but don’t know how. More and more people are saying, “here, take what I have to give, money, shelter” – the tangibles. The people of the affected areas can’t yet feel the outpouring that is amassing. They are too busy struggling to stay alive in the heat, humidity, garbage, lack of food and water – conditions we can’t even begin to fathom.
In the days after the disaster, our Moravian denomination is doing our best to respond. Already emails, memos, requests are coming out daily from the Provincial Offices on how to help. While there are no Moravian churches in that area of the United States, the desire to help is great. Already starting in September, during Sundays after the disaster, congregations began taking up special offerings for the victims, many of whom were at poverty level before the hurricane and who now own nothing but the clothes on their backs. September 2005 was declared “Katrina Relief Month” with great emphasis being placed on using whatever means to raise funds for the needs of our brothers and sisters in the Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi regions.
Even though the needs are changing daily, at this moment, here is how you can help:
“Be constant in prayer.”
- Intercessions in Time of Crisis, p. 117, 1995 Moravian Book of Worship
- The following links are to prayers and worship resources from our sister denomination, the Lutheran Church (ELCA), which may be adapted:
- http://www.elca.org/disaster/download/05-09-02-katrinaprayers.pdf
- http://www.elca.org/disaster/download/05-09-02-katrinaworship.pdf
- Similar resources are available from the United Methodist Church:
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14793
Financial Contributions:
- Board of World Mission - The Board of World Mission is receiving funds for hurricane relief. Some of the funds received will be set aside for to support work teams over the next weeks and months. At least in the near term work teams must be self-contained and self-supporting, including food, water, housing, etc. (see below) The Board may use the funds for Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery in other ways as well.
- Northern Province - please send contributions to the PEC Office, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245
- Southern Province - please send contributions to the BWM Office, 500 S. Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
- The Northern and Southern Provinces also endorse Church World Service
as one of several Christian relief ministries in which we have confidence.
Material Needs:
- Health Kits made up of the following: One hand towel, one washcloth, one comb, one metal nail file or nail clipper, one bar of soap (bath size), one toothbrush, one tube of toothpaste (4-7 ounces), six Band-Aids. Seal all items in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure. Add a Processing/Shipping donation of $2.00 per kit in a separate envelop. Kits may be taken to Christ Moravian Church in Winston-Salem (PLEASE CALL 336-722-2007 before coming) or contact a BWM office for instructions. Church World Service distributes the kits.
- Clean-up Items: We are gathering the following items to be taken in early October to a distribution center in Jackson, MS: Work gloves, rubber gloves, latex gloves, and heavy-duty garbage bags. Contact a BWM office for drop-off instructions.
Volunteers:
- We are currently in the early or “crisis” stage of response, in which professionals and highly skilled volunteers are in action.
- There may be opportunities in the short-term (2-3 weeks) for clean-up work in association with Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). These teams will need to be completely self-sufficient as to lodging, food, water and equipment.
- We anticipate deploying crews of volunteers for the recovery stage, which will begin in about one month and continue for several months and years.
- We are in close consultation with established agencies such as LDR and Samaritan’s Purse to develop definite situations in which volunteer teams may serve.
- We ask all Moravian volunteers to register with the BWM. Mark Ebert, volunteer coordinator for the Board, will provide for training for all volunteers before deployment.
How to volunteer:
The Board of World Mission asks that pastors, mission reps, or another designated congregational representative develop a list of interested persons from the congregation. The list should include the following: name, address, phone, and email for each interested volunteer, along with dates and length of time available. Please send the lists to the Board.
Board of World Mission contact information:
Southern Province office: 336-773-1732 or mebert@mcsp.orgNorthern Province office: 610-868-1732 or lisa@mcnp.org collection sites are Schoeneck in Nazareth, Great Kills on Staten Island, Lititz, and (tentatively) Northfield and Lake Mills in the Western District.
Responses we know about as of September 8, 2005 (this probably just scratches the surface):
- At least two congregations have made contributions of $5000. Most congregations have made contributions or received special offerings.
- The September Children’s Rally at Laurel Ridge Camp included activities in support of hurricane relief.
- At least two pastors have expressed an interest in volunteering two weeks’ time for Spiritual Care Response through the Red Cross. The Lutheran Church also seeks pastors for Spiritual Care Response.
- At least three congregations have made church facilities available for evacuee housing. Well over a dozen families have also volunteered space.
- A few North Dakota congregations along with the local community assisted in filling an 18 wheeler with necessities from coloring books to food and hygiene products to send to the ravaged area.
The need for prayer is great. All congregations and individuals are encouraged to pray daily for the victims, volunteers, and personnel dealing with the results of Hurricane Katrina. Continue to hold prayer services and vigils as the needs from this event will continue for many months, even years to come. Let us not forget that as media coverage begins to subside the needs of the people do not.
As the Reverend Dr. Robert E. Sawyer stated in an email immediately following the disaster, “The likelihood is that the needs listed represent only a few of the ministries under way and planned. Let’s encourage and challenge Moravians across the Provinces to act together with compassion, energy, and resolve to make a difference.”
Deanna L. Hollenbach serves as the Director of Communication for the Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in North America.
