Responding to the Needs after the Storm

I have heard from the MNA Disaster relief network of our denomination and they are meeting right now in Tuscaloosa to provide guidance, support and advice. Volunteers are already pouring in, but there is a need to provide structure and strategy as not to overwhelm the churches capability to resource the work teams.

I have spoken to people at both Trinity and Riverwood PCA churches in Tuscaloosa. They know we will be ready to help in any way we can. Both churches will be receiving donations to help with the cost of their relief work. You can look at the website of Riverwood to see updates on their relief work (www.riverwoodchurch.org) and they also have a facebook page. I am waiting to hear back from the Pruets to hear about the work going on at Trinity. MNA is at Trinity today helping them respond. I am grateful for the tremendous response of these two churches.

There is also the report on the Lee family, a homeschooling family of 13 kids who lived on a farm in Ashville, AL (known as Shoal Creek Valley). Tom Lee, the father of the family was killed as their whole house was demolished. Matt Chancey is there now helping with the family. This family is a member of Briarwood Presbyterian and there is a moving account of what happened told by the oldest son in an interview. It is well worth looking at. (click on the Title of this blog).

Matt Chancey will plan to be with us at church Wednesday night. Chris Gill was there this weekend helping with relief and reported to me of the unbelievable damage, but more importantly the Body of Christ coming to help. Thanks Chris!
Wes and Katie Britt lost their home, but all were unhurt. Two of Katie’s sisters were there as well. So there are reports on property loss, but praise God no one was hurt. Tracey Pangallo is in her final year at Alabama and is well. As you probably know, the University is closed until the Fall. The city’s infrastructure is badly damaged. Even Covenant College in Chattanooga had to close over the weekend, because of water and electrical problems.

For those of you who want to give a financial gift to the effort, you can give to our Tornado Relief fund here at First Presbyterian Church. Our Session will decide on the way it will support the Body of Christ in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, but it will go 100% to this need. Our primary focus will be to partner with other PCA churches so that we can be unified in meeting physical needs and maintain a witness for the Gospel. We are also interested in taking a team to work. Let me know if you can help and if you can work a week or a weekend.

For the glory of Christ an His Crown,
Pastor Todd
P.S. We also had a busy weekend with hosting the cookout for the church officers and families, and hosting a dinner with the Pohls from Ecuador and hearing of their work at church. I think the sign of a healthy church is that a mission is always happening in some form. That is true of us!