An Open Letter to Kansas Disciples Congregations
Kansas Disciples,
Regional ministers across the country are advising their churches on how best to respond to the tornadoes and high wind damage of recent weeks. Here is that wisdom, adapted for Kansas churches:
Every noble urge to help is worth considering. We want to go and help however we can! It is best to send money at this time. In every disaster, the first instinct of others is to try to help right away or to send material items that are believed to be needed. However, what often happens is that these well-intended material items end up creating the second disaster as the communities are overwhelmed with clothes, washers, dryers, refrigerators, and other items.
Co-Regional Minister Larry Ross experienced this a few years ago after the tornado missed his Dallas home by three blocks. In the beginning, sending cash to a trusted group was definitely the best way to help!
- Please prayerfully consider sending money directly to Week of Compassion – and indicate it is for tornado relief (100 percent of your gifts go to ministry as WOC administrative costs are covered by endowments).
- There are other partner organizations/denominations that have immediate disaster response teams, and they are best equipped to handle this part of the recovery. We are glad to have them as partners.
- The Disciples part of the Disaster Recovery process are the teams that arrive 3-6 months after the event is out of the news, as we set up mission stations to provide for the 2-3 year ongoing rebuilding period.
- Kansas churches that want to send mission teams under the auspices of the Disciples can contact Week of Compassion or Disciples Volunteering.
Let the Regional Office (785-266-2914, [email protected]) know of your plans and we will circulate that information so other churches could partner with you if they have room. This way, churches with a few individuals might join with other churches in the effort. We hope you will help us make the biggest impact in the long-term recovery for all these communities that have been impacted.
Faithfully,
Larry Ross & Ken Marston
Co-Regional Ministers