"Pastors usually know their community better than the government officials do... While the government talks about systems and infrastructure problems, faith-based organizations are able to provide immediate assistance thanks to established relationships with churches on the ground."
Franklin Graham
Preparing for Disaster
A church can have a place in disaster relief committee with a leader in charge and prepared to give direction. The committee can
- survey church members' skills, gifts, talents, and willingness to serve;
- provide regular up-to-date training; plan for making facilities and equipment
available when disaster strikes;
- begin and maintain a crisis closet and food pantry;
- build links with other churches and civic groups, local government officials,
and the American Red Cross; and
- develop a database of cars, vans, pickup and dump trucks, and boats
that might be available for use during a disaster.
Churches can be prepared when there is a disaster to provide or purchase cleanup or repair products and make grants or loans for emergency needs. Members can offer legal or business advice regarding insurance, repair contracts, and applications for loans or grants.
- Members can care for children, the elderly, the ill, or the disabled;
- provide temporary housing and community orientation for those who
have been displaced;
- assist with those who have language or literacy limitations; and collect,
sort and distribute clothing, bedding, bulk food, and household supplies.
Churches can provide food, housing, and other help for out-of-town volunteers, and organize cleanup, salvage, security, or repair crews.
As churches organize, there's a lot to think through and pray about. Churches need to consider the risks their community is most likely to face and to recognize that it is more likely that a disaster will occur far away - in church case a church facility can be a
- gathering point for food, supplies, building materials, and other items;
- an orientation center for untrained people who have volunteered to
help in the disaster area; or
- a staging area for mobile units en route to the disaster site.
Many churches will want to link with others in their denomination or area.
Churches also need to consider finances: both how to maintain a low level of disaster ministry during normal times and how to pay for what could be urgent escalation with very short notice. Many Christians do what they feel called to do regardless of the economic costs, but those realities can increase or decrease effectiveness. Some churches in hurricane areas, for example, could have chain saws and tree removal equipment; those located near homes for the elderly might have some wheelchairs and walkers available. What's key is a desire to serve, and that often begins with preaching and teaching.
Excerpted Marvin Olasky's book: The Politics of Disaster
back to Men's Ministry page
