A very present help

By Bishop Jonathan Holston

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”—Psalm 46: 1-3

South Carolina once again has felt the brunt of a powerful hurricane that has caused widespread property damage across our state. Many of our fellow South Carolinians have had their lives disrupted.

I simply remind you that we are a connectional church and we are not alone as we respond faithfully to communities in crisis. In fact, the United Methodist Committee on Relief and United Methodist Volunteers in Mission have begun to help us by providing assistance as recovery efforts unfold.

Led by our Disaster Response Coordinator Matt Brodie, the South Carolina Disaster Response Team is assessing needs, as well as coordinating with state and local authorities to respond in a timely way.

Please know that our specialty trained Early Response Teams are coordinating with emergency management authorities in offering assistance in the areas of need. While there is tremendous evidence of God’s faithfulness in our midst, we recognize that these are trying times that are overwhelming and often lead us to think there is nothing we can do to help. I ask you to again consider these opportunities to assist our neighbors in the recovery process:

Pray: Pray for the families who are impacted by this disaster through the loss of property and livelihood. Pray that these communities will continue to come together to forge stronger relationships and connections in the recovery process.

Give: Give generously of your compassion and financial resources. You can donate to support our relief efforts through the United Methodist Committee on Relief at www.umcor.org.

Volunteer: Consider being trained and volunteering for recovery efforts through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission. Consider offering your time and talents by going to www.umvim.org.

This will continue to be an anxious time for all who were affected in this weather event. As people of faith, we know God’s love will triumph in the midst of loss and destruction.