Hurricane Harvey Relief

All of us have seen the tragedy and destruction brought by Hurricane Harvey to the Texas Gulf Coast over the past week. And of course we are moved to compassion and desire to do something to help alleviate the suffering of our fellow human beings in the midst of this natural disaster. Accordingly many of you have asked what we are doing and what you can do to help. Here are several ways we can all consider helping both as individuals and as a church:

Praying

First and foremost please be in regular prayer for everyone that has suffered as a result of the storm. Pray for those in East Texas and Louisiana now feeling the impact of the storm. Pray for the rain to stop and the waters to subside. Pray for safety, health, healing, and wholeness. Pray for a restoration of life and property. Pray for emotional healing and restoration. Pray for the safety and provision of all those that are actively working in disaster relief in the affected areas. Finally, pray for the gospel to go forth as churches throughout Texas seek to minister to those in need.

Giving

We have set up a separate benevolence fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief. This fund will be administered by our Deacons, and the funds donated will go directly to relief efforts. You can donate online by clicking here, or on the Give Button above, and selecting Hurricane Harvey Relief in the pull down menu where it says General Fund. You can also donate by check to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church with Hurricane Harvey Relief in the memo line.

Currently we are looking to respond first to those in our own relational networks. If you have family or close friends in need, please contact our Deacons. After that, we will be working with other PCA churches in the affected areas, through our denomination’s MNA Disaster Response team, and other agencies like Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) to respond in meaningful ways.

If you wish to donate clothes, materials, etc… there are opportunities to do that through ADRN and MNA Disaster Response.

ADRN is collecting items for the needs of evacuees. For ADRN donations you should take them to their collection point in Austin.

MNA Disaster Response is collecting materials for Disaster clean up. For MNA you can prepare Hygiene Kits, Bedding Kits, and  Cleaning Buckets. Please bring them to Church on Sunday morning, and we will collect them for MNA for distribution.

Receiving

Please consider taking evacuees into your home. Many have friends and family that have been displaced by the storm due to damage to their homes. Please let us know if you are aware of specific people in need of a place to stay. In addition MNA Disaster Response will be looking to place evacuees in our area. If you have room to take some folks into your home for a while, please let us know how many you can house, whether you can handle any pets, or other limitations you may have. Contact us here.

Going

In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will be forming teams, along with other churches in the area, to go to the aid of those affected. We will coordinate these efforts carefully with churches and others in those areas to make sure that we are helping effectively. We will communicate these opportunities to you as they arise. If you have family or close friends affected, please let the Deacons know how we can help them personally.

Thank you for your efforts to extend the peace of Christ to all affected by Hurricane Harvey.