Please continue to pray for those who have suffered loss through hurricanes Harvey and Irma. There is much to rebuild, and many do not have the means to do so.
Hurricane Irma
There continue to be reports of more homes and Alliance churches that have been affected by Hurricane Irma. Many of these churches were unable to purchase hurricane insurance because of the financial burden. This will lead to some complications in the recovery process. Please continue to pray as these churches decide how to proceed.
Power was restored to the Alliance Community for Retirement Living (ACRL) in Deland, Florida, on Saturday afternoon. Bill Anderson, director of ACRL, writes, “The team went way above the call of duty to meet the growing needs as the heat took its toll on both residents and staff. Thank you for your prayers which were felt through this entire ordeal.”
The Alliance Southeast District Conference begins today. Pray for Holy Spirit guidance as district leaders and pastors share stories of Irma’s destruction and make plans to address the immense need in its wake. Pray also for a time of healing and encouragement, as many pastors come to the conference exhausted and burdened by the suffering in their congregations and communities.
Hurricane Harvey
Because of the toxicity of flood water, Alliance teams have acted quickly to clean up homes that were affected by the storm. Unfortunately, there are still some that have not been cleaned either because the homes were empty or the owners had not yet returned from evacuation. These homes will most likely have to be demolished. Mark Searing, Southwestern District superintendent, explained that, “there is still a long road to recovery, and we need your continued prayer and support.”
The Alliance family and the greater church community continues to demonstrate His sacrificial love through giving and hands-on help. A statistic reported this past Saturday on a Houston radio station claimed that 80 percent of the relief work being done in that city is by Christians and faith-based organizations.
If you would like to help, there are specific ways that you can get involved. People who have experience hanging sheet rock or with HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, and flooring are needed. Financial help to purchase supplies or hire contractors is also needed. If you or your church would like to help financially, you can do so through the CAMA Services Disaster and Relief Fund by visiting camaservices.org. If you’d like more information about volunteering to help in Texas, visit camaservices.org/volunteer.
Hurricane Maria
Please pray for those in the path of Hurricane Maria, which is gaining significant strength in the Atlantic and on course to hit Puerto Rico and the other Caribbean islands recently devastated by Irma. Pray for God’s miraculous intervention to tame or redirect the storm, and that those whose lives and livelihoods were decimated by Irma will find shelter and suffer no further calamity.