This past Wednesday, U.S. Alliance President John Stumbo and two others from the National Office returned from Puerto Rico, where they toured the island to assess damage and to be with, encourage, and pray with the Alliance family there. The team also distributed monetary assistance and much needed supplies to those most severely affected.
The team noted that, despite the widespread damage on the island, God has again proven Himself merciful in protecting the Alliance family from catastrophic devastation. Although many areas remain isolated, here is the team’s initial assessment:
- The island’s electrical infrastructure has been decimated; mile after mile, pole after pole, the grid will have to be rebuilt from the ground up.
- Stores and business with generators are up and running—and bustling.
- Most gas stations have no gas, as tankers—often with police escorts—struggle to reach them with limited supplies. Stations with gas have lines of up to 100 cars.
- Generally, homes that were built for hurricane readiness (most with concrete roofs) weathered the storm without significant damage; homes with tin or wood roofs, common among the poorer populations, suffered extensive damage or total destruction.
- An estimated 20 of the 63 Alliance churches on the island suffered damage of varying significance. Many of these churches are insured, but deductibles range from $10k–$30k. Cleaning and restoring these churches has been challenging without water and electricity, forcing members to remove mud and debris with brushes, brooms, and shovels. Despite these obstacles, most pastors opened their churches’ doors for worship and ministry within days of the storm’s aftermath.
- Early reports indicate that up to 10 Alliance family members’ homes per church suffered damage.
- Alliance Theological Seminary’s Puerto Rico campus suffered broken windows and shattered glass throughout the facility. Strong winds blew large amounts of water into the building. Wet carpeting has been professionally dried but the overall dampness of the building remains a concern. To expedite the drying process, ceiling tiles and insulation have been removed. Despite the dampness, books in the library suffered little or no damage, for which faculty and staff are praising God. While enjoying record fall enrollment, the campus has been able to conduct only one or two classes per course because of the damage from hurricanes Irma and Maria and the loss of power for its evening classes.
- Many people are leaving the island because not only their homes but also their places of employment have been destroyed. Up to 500,000 Puerto Ricans could leave the island over the next few months. Puerto Rico District Superintendent Javier Gómez notes, “The greater loss we are experiencing right now is the huge number of people (including supporting members of our churches) leaving the island. It’s heartbreaking to see them leave even when we know in most cases is the right thing to do.”
“The Puerto Rican people are resilient, close-knit, and determined. Rather than wallowing in victimhood, they are eager to resume their lives and return to work and school. Despite losses of their own, our Alliance churches are helping those in their communities who have suffered devastation,” notes President Stumbo. “These churches are showing biblical faith, character, courage, perseverance, and compassion in this crisis.”
The president also assured pastors, district leaders, and laypeople of the prayers and support of the U.S. Alliance family. And the family is responding. As of October 5, nearly $45,000 has been raised for the Puerto Rico relief effort from donations through the U.S. Alliance and its affiliated ministries.
In addition,
- The Alliance Puerto Rico District Office has waived all District Operating Budget fees from its churches to help them get back on their feet.
- The Alliance Development Fund, which financed the construction or expansion of 20 of these churches, is waiving their October loan payments.
- The Alliance Great Commission Women, during their recent executive committee meeting, allocated $7,000 from their Readiness Emergency Management Fund to the relief effort.
- CAMA Services, the relief and development arm of The Alliance, is playing an active role in immediate relief and long term development efforts. In addition to the financial aid it has already provided, CAMA has sent water filters and solar panels to help residents resume their daily lives.
The C&MA National Church in an African country—one of the world’s poorest—collected an offering of $1,000 to assist with hurricane relief efforts. “We have been hearing about the hurricanes in Texas and Florida and that CAMA Services is trying to help the people affected,” the national church president commented. “CAMA has done a lot for us in the past so our church committee believes that we should now help them help others.”
Report on Puerto Rico for Alliance Churches
In this video from an recent trip to Puerto Rico, U.S. C&MA President John Stumbo reminds the Alliance family that we don’t grieve the impact of recent natural disasters without hope. Rather, with the love of God flowing through us, we will overcome.