It will soon be a week since tornadoes ripped through several communities in close proximity to us and the level of damage and destruction is staggering. What is equally staggering is the willingness of people to jump in to help those effected. There are food and water drives, folks making food to help others who are helping to clear out debris and assist in the initial stages of recovery, and organizations both local and national that are stepping up to coordinate the efforts.
One such organization that has been on the scene is IDES. IDES stands for International Disaster Emergency Services. Based in Indiana, the organization has been on the front lines of helping people around the globe to deal with crisis and destruction. Their roots are the Christian Church and their impact has been profound. I spoke with a representative from this organization to inquire of ways our congregation could become even more engaged in the efforts to help and their perspective was very helpful and insightful.
First, he confirmed that the community of Amory is being helped in major ways from all sorts of groups and organizations. Right now, everybody is sensing the desire to help our neighbors and show the love of Christ in very practical ways. As I am writing this, a group of ladies from this congregation are trying to coordinate some hot meals for victims as well as aid workers. It is really neat to see people jump in and help and their efforts won’t soon be forgotten.
Second, my contact reminded me of the nature of such crises. Sometime in the next few days, much of the assistance that is in great supply right now, will evaporate. The short term needs will have been met and now the recovery shifts to the issues of insurance, decisions of whether or not to rebuild, and the process of construction. These needs will go on for months and perhaps years and in the meantime, the collective attention of the rest of the world will be focused on something else, perhaps even another crisis that has just happened.
As a pastor, it makes my heart feel good when people in the congregation are marshaling their efforts to help and jumping right in. My hope is that as the immediacy of this crisis subsides, our attention will not turn away from our neighbors to the south, especially within the congregation of North Boulevard Christian Church.
Would you keep this community and crisis in your prayers before the Lord? Would you seek to find a way to keep their struggle within your continued attention so their struggles won’t be forgotten? Perhaps a commitment to check the situation for new developments and opportunities every week and every month for the next 12 months would be a way to discover opportunities to really be a blessing but that really aren’t envisioned today.
What was destroyed in a few minutes will take perhaps years or even decades to restore. Let’s remember that as we seek to honor Christ and love our neighbors, for the long haul.
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