You are currently subscribed to the PCUSANEWS listserv of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
============================================================
This story available online at: http://www.pcusa.org/ga217/newsandphotos/ga06105.htm
GA06105
Assembly celebrates relief work along Gulf coast Recovery official proclaims effort to be 'the most tangible example of the peace, unity, and purity of the church we have ever witnessed'
by Corey Schlosser-Hall
BIRMNGHAM, June 20 — The disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have led "to a new power for mission and energy in the Presbyterian church," declared Susan Ryan, coordinator of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), during a celebration Monday night of PDA's recovery work.
The celebration featured the Rev. Ted Roeling from South Louisiana Presbytery and Dr. George Bates from the Presbytery of Mississippi, who reflected on recovery efforts in their regions.
"We are finding the world at our doorstep in new ways," Ryan told the crowd gathered to celebrate God's work in mission. She said that "thousands from 40 different states…along with people from Mexico and Canada," among other countries, have gone to the Gulf Coast to help bring relief and rebuild. A sea of hands went up when Ryan asked how many people had been part of a work team bringing relief and recovery to people and property in Louisiana and Mississippi.
"Barriers are being broken," she said. "Survivors are finding hope."
Ryan announced that the relief work following last year's hurricanes has led PDA to recognize a "new national mission model through Presbyterian volunteer villages. We want to be known as people who provide hospitality to work teams after disaster, and that this becomes a national witness for our church."
Roeling, chair of Disaster Recovery in South Louisiana Presbytery, described the unprecedented level of destruction to people's lives and homes, adding that "35 of 68 churches in our presbytery are significantly damaged."
The destruction, combined with a "lack of info from all areas of government, have created an anxiety level that is off the scale," Roeling said. "The storm season is upon us and August 29 is the deadline by which buildings must be gutted or be planned for demolition."
Juxtaposing these descriptions with the words of Scripture from Jeremiah, he said, "I have plans for your welfare, not for destruction. Plans for a future and a hope." Roeling then asked, "Where is God?"
"God is being found in homes that are being opened to those who are evacuees, in the people coming to help us," he answered. "God is found in our sister presbyteries and churches who have come to our help."
Roeling concluded by sharing how the Presbytery is using this time of recovery and rebuilding to refocus their mission priorities. "This might be an ideal time to relocate congregations, to merge congregations, to share pastors. This might be a great time to look at new church development sights. Amid anxiety and continued indecisiveness, with God's help and through the connectional church, we will do so. We will re-create the Reformed presence in South Louisiana."
"Christ's light has never shined so brightly on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as it shines now," declared Bates, coordinator for Disaster Recovery in Mississippi Presbytery. "If we had the power to undo Katrina we would. Yet we marvel at God's infinite capacity to bring forth good things out of such an evil situation."
Bates told the crowd that 20,465 volunteers in 1,340 teams from across the nation came to be God's hands doing God's work.
He recalled the example of Al, the youth pastor from First Presbyterian Church of Mayville, FL, who gave his work team a pep talk by saying, "What we do will only be a drop in the bucket, but it's OUR drop." Extending Al's image Bates said, "We have witnessed God's people each adding their drop in the bucket, and the bucket is not yet full, but soon it will overflow."
Bates also told a story about Josh, a young man who led a recovery team from a community college that stressed in their planning that they were a secular group. Josh told the person coordinating their work team that "he didn't do the God thing."
"Well, he may not have done the God thing," Bates said, "but what he didn't know was God was doing the Josh thing. By the end of the week, Josh's life had been changed forever. He was overtaken by the God thing."
Bates discussed the relief efforts in tiny Pearlington, MS, where PDA recently set up a volunteer village. "There isn't a church in Pearlington," Bates said. "But now some are asking us 'When are you going to start having worship services here.' "
Overflowing with gratitude, Bates declared, "This has been our finest hour since reunion. And I thank God for the connectional church. This is the most tangible example of the peace, unity, and purity of the church that we have ever witnessed.
"Hurricane Katrina was not an act of God. The act of God is what we are doing now."
Ryan closed the celebration of PDA's recovery efforts by announcing PDA's intention "to walk with these presbyteries for seven years in the Gulf," and invited the crowd to join in the effort.
============================================================
You are currently subscribed to the PCUSANEWS listserv of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to
mailto:PCUSANEWS-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org.
To update your email address, send your old email address and your new one to mailto:PCUSANEWS-owner@halak.pcusa.org.
For questions or comments, send an email to mailto:PCUSANEWS-owner@halak.pcusa.org.
To learn more, visit http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202 (888) 728-7228