As you know, Hurricane Katrina is the worst natural disaster to strike our nation in recent history. Although at first it appeared that many areas would escape the worst effects of the storm, we have all watched with horror as the reality of the devastation caused by the hurricane became clear. You have probably received a voicemail asking you to bring bottled water and non-perishable food for us to make available for the relief effort. Our response as the First Methodist Family needs to go much further.
Effective today, we have accelerated the process of organizing our congregation to help meet the needs of our neighbors on the Gulf Coast. To maximize our efforts, we have asked Mike Warren, a member of our congregation and valued lay leader, to coordinate our congregational response and serve as the communications point for connecting volunteers to where they are most needed. Your can contact Mike at 832.668.1883 or email him at mwarren@fmhouston.com. He will get your message and call you back as soon as possible.
As you can imagine, our church will need to respond to a variety of needs in the future ranging from immediate help for refugees to rebuilding communities. We are already working with the Christian Alliance Ministry to provide medical services and relief supplies where they are needed most.
Here are things you can do immediately:
1. Pray for those whose lives have been devastated. 2. Pray as well that God will guide the relief efforts of our church and move the hearts of people to step forward to do a mighty work of mercy. 3. Call Mike Warren and offer your services as a volunteer. We will need people to package medical supplies, load trucks, provide pick-up and deliveries, and work with refugees. 4. We will have semi-trailer trucks at our Westchase Campus and vans Downtown on Sundays and weekdays to collect donations. 5. First Methodist has established The Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Your tax-deductible donation will be used for direct relief efforts. For example, the Health Kit mentioned in #6 will cost approximately $15. We have a goal of 10,000 health kits. Checks can be made payable to First United Methodist Church/memo: Health Kit. 6. The things needed immediately are: bottled water, nonperishable food, and bars of soap. In addition, we are asking for donations of homemade health kits. (see below)
HEALTH KIT: 1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27") 1 washcloth 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket sized) 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)] 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz or larger) 1 toothbrush (single brush only in original wrapper. No child-size brushes) 1 large tube of toothpaste 4.5 oz. or larger) 1 tube of antibiotic ointment 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
Please place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. For refugees these health kits, while simple, become crucially important.
I have asked Mike to provide the church family with regular emails updating us on the progress of the relief efforts and what we can do to help. The needs will change as we go along and we will adjust our efforts to meet those needs.
Thank you. In a time of great crisis, it is such an honor to serve a church filled with people who want to make a difference for God. Remember that I love you and pray that our efforts in this great hour of need will honor Him.
Steve WendeSenior Pastor
Aug. 31, 2005.