Saturday, September 3, 2005

8:51 PM Today’s entry in the Crosswalk weblog is called Encounter at the Farmers Market. 9:17 AM Several people have asked if Calvary will be sending a team or teams to help in rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We certainly hope to send several teams. We just received this notice from Samaritan’s Purse explaining how churches and other groups can channel relief efforts through them:

We need teams of at least five individuals. Construction skills are helpful but not necessary. Minimum age is 18. If your church or group would like to send a work team, call the Samaritan’s Purse disaster team at (828) 262-1980 or email disasterresponse@samaritan.org. Volunteers may be assigned to: *Cut fallen trees with chain saws, or clear debris by hand. *Cover damaged roofs with weatherproof plastic. *Set up generators to provide emergency electricity for the sick or elderly. *Pump water out of houses and clean out the mud and debris so they can be repaired.

God has opened a door for the church of Jesus Christ to rally round those who are hurting and need our help. Last night I spoke with Tom Phillips, Executive Director of Word of Life Florida. On September 12 classes begin at Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson (about 40 miles north of Tampa). Tom said that for the first week, the entire student body will stay at a church in Mobile and help rebuild a church in Gulfport. This is exactly how Christians ought to respond. In times like these, it is not words but deeds that count.