Hurricane Sandy—One Year Later

October 31, 2013

The following is adapted from a recent newsletter written by Mike Sohm, president of CAMA (Compassion and Mercy Associates), the relief and development arm of The Alliance.

On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed into the northeastern United States. Thousands of homes were destroyed and millions of Americans affected. With your help, CAMA sent donations from our Disaster Relief Fund to the Metropolitan and Mid-Atlantic Districts of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) to provide relief to those hard-hit areas.

One year later, I visited these districts and met with pastors and other key leaders who have led CAMA’s disaster response efforts. The stories I heard are a testimony to God’s goodness and provision:

•  Lighthouse Church in Tuckerton, New Jersey, offered its facility to host and lodge many short-term teams of volunteers.
•  King of Kings Church in Manahawkin, New Jersey, used its building as a relief distribution point for food supplies and clothing. Tensions that existed previously between the church and the local community disappeared when the church welcomed its neighbors.
• Building on the Rock Church of Manchester, New Jersey, employed insightful development principles to ensure that relief work has a lasting impact.
•  The evangelical churches of Staten Island, New York, joined together to gut and clean 1,500 houses and rebuild 40–60 homes.

“When these people came to help, I saw God.”

On Staten Island, I accompanied Dave Beidel, pastor of New Hope Community Church, and his relief coordinator, Tom Basile, as they visited homes that had been rebuilt by volunteers from New Hope. I had the opportunity to meet some homeowners who received help from the church.

One woman was very glad to see Pastor Dave and Tom. When I asked her to tell me her story, she almost pounded the table to emphasize that when no one else came to help, it was the church that came. She spoke with tremendous gratitude for the work done to clean out and restore her home.

Not knowing where she stood spiritually, I asked her how this whole experience had impacted her thinking about God. She paused for a long moment and said, “When these people came to help, I saw God. I saw God at work through them.” We often talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus, but hearing this woman speak was a concrete reminder that how we act often speaks louder than the words we say.

We rejoice with those in New York and New Jersey who experience God’s sustaining grace. We trust He will continue to provide strength and endurance through the long and difficult recovery process.