The Work Continues

This past year, ReachGlobal Crisis Response hosted over 1600 volunteers in New Orleans, New Jersey, Staten Island, Haiti, and Colorado. Our Mobilize Initiative is working as churches are trained to serve with us in a crisis. Two churches have joined the initiative, and a third is currently checking out the process.  God continues to provide faithful partners in the form of churches, individuals, and companies who donate funds and supplies to meet the many needs in different crisis locations. We received our largest donation yet this week to help with our general crisis fund. This fund is important, because it allows us to react quickly when a disaster strikes and provide immediate help for those in desperate need.

We have seen God work in amazing ways at each of the sites where we have ministered this year. Brigantine Bible Church
is restored and reaching out to their community in New Jersey with the love of Jesus Christ. Below is a photo from their fall baptism.

 
Beacon Church continues to supply lodging and food as well as relational ministry workers in New Jersey. Lenny and Jen will be working there with teams this spring.  A number of homeowners are back in their homes, but workers are still needed for many remaining work orders.

Salem Church in Staten Island has made a long-term commitment to help with crisis ministry.

We have rented a former convent to house teams.  There are many homeowners on the list waiting for help, and the church members are partnering with us.  Salem Church has baptized around 80 new Christians this year as God uses the crisis to draw people to Him.  Teams are needed to continue the fruitful outreach.  The church is building a relational team with Ella Miller's help to reach out to their neighbors.

Crisis Response is working closely with Pastor Sam, leader of 5 church plants in East Samar since Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines. Waves washed away homes, schools, boats, fields, and trees. The coconut and banana trees and boats now strewn across the ground were the main

income of many. Families have no choice but to send their kids off to other regions or countries to find low paying jobs to help support their family. This makes the kids susceptible to trafficking and exploitation. Our plan includes clearing rice fields and repairing fishing boats to help protect kids and their families. We are helping church par-ners develop teams to deal with emotional, spiritual, and physical needs long-term. They are setting up safe places for kids to gather, receive care, and learn. We are also providing chain saws to convert downed trees into lumber for homes. So many trees are down, and the lumber from these trees is being used to rebuild homes.

In Colorado, we are organizing a response involving churches and secular groups.  We match secular groups to Christian homeowners and Christian groups to secular homeowners for Gospel outreach.