Stories

Stars of HOPE

Stories Published on
December 2, 2019

Disaster Ministries recently received a gift of hope from First UMC in Chattahoochee, Florida. Members from First UMC painted 15 Stars of HOPE to share with those affected by Hurricanes Dorian, Florence, and Matthew. First UMC wanted to share the gift of hope that they received following Hurricane Michael.

Stars of HOPE was established in 2007 by the New York Says Thank You Foundation as a healing arts program. The organization strives to “empower children of all ages to transform individuals and communities in need of hope through the power of art and messages of healing”. There have been over 80,000 Stars of Hope created, impacting 200 communities in the United States and internationally.

Disaster Ministries will give a star of hope to each of our centers across Eastern North Carolina. Thank you First UMC in Chattahoochee, Florida for sending hope to those in need in North Carolina.

Braswell Family Farms

Stories Published on
November 27, 2019

On Saturday, October 19, NC Conference Disaster Ministries received $100,000 from Braswell Family Farms, a leading producer of eggs and agricultural feed based in Nash County. Other organizations, including Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministries (WARM) and NC Baptists on Mission, received donations as well. Ann Huffman, Disaster Ministries Volunteer Coordinator, and Rev. Jaye White, Director of Outreach Ministries for the Conference, accepted the award.

In a press release from the company, Trey Braswell, President of Braswell Family Farms, said that “Braswell Family Farms is a gift from the Lord, it’s His business, that we have the great responsibility to be good stewards of.” He went on to say that “It’s because of God’s blessing and the hard work of each and every teammate at Braswell Family Farms that we have resources to give. We are so grateful for our folks and their dedication.”

The presentations were made as a part of Braswell’s Family Day event at Hill Ridge Farms. In remarks made at the event, Mr. Braswell shared how, following the devastation of recent storms, he was moved to do something to help in the work of recovery. The previous year had been a good year for the company, and so funds were set aside and a process set up for organizations to apply for awards. Mr. Braswell thanked the employees gathered at Family Day for their hard work in making the company successful, and in turn making it possible for the company to give back to the organizations represented.

NC Conference Disaster Ministries is grateful for the generosity of Braswell Family Farms and its employees, and for their contribution to the work of recovery and rebuilding homes, lives, and communities across eastern North Carolina.

Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.

Stories Published on
November 25, 2019

Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. has generously supported Disaster Ministries in Cumberland County. Disaster Ministries has been awarded several grants totaling over $90,000 that have supplied safety equipment, materials for home repairs, and staff. There have been multiple homeowners in Cumberland County that have been able to repair their homes due to the help of the Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.

Employees at the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church volunteered in Fayetteville to help a homeowner remove furniture, flooring, baseboards, doors, and crown molding. Salvageable items were sorted from those that were completely damaged. Within an hour, the storage bin provided by the Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. was almost completely full of debris and memories that could not be saved.

The volunteers continued to fill the bin throughout the rest of the day. The homeowner was very thankful for the help of the volunteers. This volunteer team marked the beginning of the homeowner’s journey to return home.

Disaster Ministries is grateful for the volunteers and partners who have helped us repair homes for those in need. Thank you to the Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund of the Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. for supporting Disaster Ministries’ recovery projects in Cumberland County.

Islamic Relief USA Visit

Stories Published on
November 20, 2019

On October 7, members of the NC Conference Disaster Ministries team met with representatives from Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) at their offices in Alexandria, VA. IRUSA is one of our vital partners in the work of recovery in eastern North Carolina.

IRUSA is a large, multifaceted organization, working around the world to alleviate suffering and improve the lives of men, women, and children through a variety of initiatives. They are active in disaster and emergency relief, programs for women and children, feeding programs, and health and sanitation efforts.

One of their newest programs, titled “Virtue Reality,” is an interactive game based on real IRUSA projects from around the world. According to IRUSA’s website, the game is designed to help players “discover the reality behind saving and transforming lives and the impact you can make in some of the most vulnerable communities worldwide.”

Al Miller, Director of Disaster Ministries, and Ed Rutenkroger, Early Response Team Coordinator, met with members of IRUSA’s staff to discuss how Disaster Ministries can work with IRUSA’s disaster relief programs. Specifically, Disaster Ministries would work with IRUSA on developing training for case management and implementing a program similar to Connecting Neighbors. This work would be done in conjunction with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), one of our strategic partners.

We look forward to strengthening our relationship and partnership with Islamic Relief USA and give thanks for their work here in North Carolina and around the world. To find out more about IRUSA, visit their website. To see more about IRUSA and their work with Disaster Ministries, you can watch our anniversary video or you can read about them in the recent “Restoring Hope” publication

Eat for Relief Update

Stories Published on
November 15, 2019

At a Conference Council on Youth Ministries (CCYM) meeting in September 2018, Bishop Ward challenged the youth in the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church to raise $500,000 for hurricane relief. The North Carolina Conference would then match those donations in the Youth Storm Fund up to $500,000. Over the past year, the youth worked to help others in need.

As part of the Youth Storm Fund effort, NCC Pilgrimage 2019 hosted a luncheon titled “Eat for Relief” that would help raise money for hurricane relief. Haymount UMC’s United Methodist Men and Hopkins Barbeque prepared hamburgers and hotdogs for the luncheon. Bishop Ward and members of the Cabinet served lunch for over 600 people.

Following lunch, Hannah McMillan, Pilgrimage Missions Team lead, welcomed and thanked the attendees for participating. Kallie Gregg, a youth from Kitty Hawk UMC, spoke about her efforts to help those in her community affected by Hurricane Florence.

Jay Locklear introduced the Disaster Ministries program and impact the program has made across Eastern North Carolina. Disaster Ministries currently has 9 centers and 6 satellite housing centers. With the help of volunteers and donors, Disaster Ministries has been able to return families home; however, there is still a great need for volunteers to help hundreds of survivors still on the waitlist.

The luncheon raised $6,979 for hurricane relief, with all proceeds going towards the Youth Storm Fund. Saturday night at Pilgrimage it was announced that the youth had surpassed Bishop Ward’s challenge last year! A total of $567,361 has been raised for hurricane relief through the Youth Storm Fund over the past year.

Disaster Ministries is extremely grateful for the North Carolina Conference, youth and their churches, and donors who have supported the Youth Storm Fund and our hurricane relief program. Thank you to everyone who attended and planned Eat for Relief! Your gifts will help many families return home.

An Encouragement for November

Stories Published on
November 13, 2019

I drove down I-40 cussing and crying. Our oldest child was a baby at the time and had contracted some variety of the latest daycare funk. He was headed to after-hours at the pediatrician and I was headed to a church meeting. I cannot tell you now what kind of meeting or why I felt like I couldn’t miss it, but there I was, driving toward it, feeling equal parts delinquent mother and embittered pastor.

When I recounted this story to my mentor weeks later, crying all over again at her kitchen table, she said something that I have never forgotten. While I expected her to pat my back and rage at the indignities of pastoring while mothering or mothering while pastoring, this mentor (saint and unapologetic truth-teller) said, “You’re going to have to let that go. When my boys were young, I spent most of my ministry doing that same dance. If I was at home, I felt guilty for not being at the church. If I was at the church I felt guilty that I wasn’t at home. Be where you are. It doesn’t serve anyone for you to be in one place, but thinking about the other.”

“Be where you are” is perhaps the single most helpful piece of encouragement I have received when it comes to navigating ministry and mothering. When I have stood at a hospital bedside wishing that I was standing next to their crib, deep breath, “be where you are.” While I hollered at a soccer game and felt neglectful for not adding my voice at a church meeting, deep breath, “be where you are.”

Do these words fix the sometimes inevitable heart-tearing that comes with serving as a parent and as a pastor? No. I still drive under the influence of cussing and crying from time to time (add in singing at the top of my lungs and these moments are practically sacramental). But I am learning that both my children and God’s church somehow survive even when I am fully present in another place. Thanks be to God.

Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens:
a time for giving birth and a time for dying,
a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted,
a time for killing and a time for healing,
a time for tearing down and a time for building up,
a time for crying and a time for laughing,
a time for mourning and a time for dancing,
a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones,
a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces,
a time for searching and a time for losing,
a time for keeping and a time for throwing away,
a time for tearing and a time for repairing,
a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking,
a time for loving and a time for hating,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Reflect: What are the phrases or practices that help you to navigate parenting and pastoring? If you do not have children, or do not have children at home, what helps you with the push and pull of full-time ministry?

Take Action: Think of a time when a mentor spoke to you just the words you needed to hear. In this month of giving thanks, write a note of gratitude.

In partnership,
Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women

We are grateful to the Rev. Laura Fine Ledford for writing this month’s issue of Encouragements. If you are interested in contributing to a future issue of Encouragements, please email josey.snyder@nccumc.org.

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