Rev. Sam Loy with Elmer Hernandez, tornado survivor, at the dedication of the family’s new home.
Faced with natural disasters, we also celebrate God’s goodness in rallying the faith community to work together ecumenically to rebuild homes and restore lives. After the Faustino Castro Lopez family lost its home to the May 21, 2015 tornado near Bolton, NC, Rev. Sam Loy, a trained NCC Disaster Response leader, organized community efforts to raise funds and replace the family’s home.
The project was truly a multi-faith and community effort. In addition to the NC Disaster Response Ministry, funding and volunteer labor coming from the NC Baptist Men Disaster Ministry, Catholic Charities, local Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal and United Methodist churches, the Red Cross, the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe, the News Reporter, WECT, and many other local businesses, crafts people, and individuals. A more complete list of the donors and the rebuilding project are found in an excellent Whiteville NC News Reporter article, House Blessing Sunday, by Jefferson Weaver, published 11-18-15
Millie Freeman of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe blessing the new home
The new home dedication was held November 22, 2015, a day full of joy as the Castro Lopez family, friends, community leaders, and volunteers gathered to celebrate the dedication of the family’s new home and to thank God for blessing all involved. A second article by Jefferson Weaver in the News Reporter 12-1-15, Family Dedicates New Home in Bolton, captures the excitement and stories of this day.
For more information about the NCC Disaster Response Teams, including how you can be trained or volunteer for future teams, contact Ann Huffman, the NC Conference Disaster Readiness Coordinator at 888-440-9147 or email her at disasterresponse@nccumc.org. Please designate financial contributions for NC Storms Emergency Response to NCC Advance #S-00176.