Stories

House Blessing in Newport

Stories Published on
December 24, 2019

Hurricane Florence caused severe flooding and wind damage across North Carolina. The Wallace family was one of many whose home was flooded due to Hurricane Florence.

A family member found the home under 2 feet of water. The roof and ceiling were also damaged due to high winds. Once the flooding subsided, the damaged materials were removed from the home.

Volunteer teams began to install new floor joists and insulation to repair the roof. Other local organizations contributed appliances, materials, and furniture. Some of the organizations include: Carteret Warriors for Recovery, Carteret Long Term Recovery Alliance, Endeavors, One Harbor Church, Reach Global Crisis Response, Ann Street UMC, and the American Red Cross. With the help of the Newport Disaster Ministries Center, volunteers, and partners, the Wallace family was able to return home for Christmas.

Earlier this month, family, friends, volunteers, and the Disaster Ministries team gathered together to bless the Wallace family’s new home. The celebration began with song, as family and friends sang “This is the Day the Lord has Made”. The Disaster Ministries team thanked all of the volunteers and partnering organizations who helped the Wallace family return home.

The Newport Disaster Ministries team then presented the Wallace family with the keys to their newly repaired home. The homeowners also received a quilt and prayer shawl crafted by two churches. The celebration closed with prayer and scripture reading from 2 Corinthians.

The Wallace family is so grateful for all of the volunteers who helped their family return home. Thank you to all of the partners and volunteers who have donated their time and gifts to those in need.

Join Disaster Ministries to help restore hope for the hundreds of disaster survivors still waiting for assistance. Call 888-440-9167 or email disaster@nccumc.org to learn how you can help others in need.

An Encouragement for December

Stories Published on
December 10, 2019

A recent email from the Center for Courage and Renewal, led by Parker Palmer, asked the question, “What song is in your heart today?”

That question made me pause. As we move through Advent toward Christmas, our fingers touch pages of hymnals with worn corners, on them live songs remarkable not only for celebrating the birth of Christ, but also for the memories and feelings they evoke. Singing a Christmas hymn may nudge our memories to Christmases celebrated with grandparents. The next hymn might prompt thoughts of a relative or relationship lost. Perhaps in this season more than any other, music impacts us unexpectedly…and the juxtaposition of joy and sadness can be a spiritually disorienting space.

Read (or sing!): “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to all,
From heaven’s all gracious King!”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Reflect: What songs of Christ’s birth fill your heart with compassion and joy today? What is God whispering to you through lyrics and music? Where does your spirit feel the push and pull of the season? And where do you see the peace of Christ that is beyond comprehension?

Take Action: Reach out to a woman who struggles during this season. Text her, email her, or send her a note to let her know that, although “life’s crushing load” might be a reality for her, you hold her heart in tender friendship and love.

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

We are grateful to Leah Wiebe-Smith 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.

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

Stories

Main Navigation