As you all may know, Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast as a Category 4 storm on Friday, August 25. Over this past weekend, the wind and floods caused a great deal of devastation for the residents of these cities. It will take months, and in some areas years, to restore. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of those who have called these cities home by praying, giving and providing our resources and influences.

We know that many of you want to help, and these are some of the ways we as a church can be involved in the relief and recovery efforts:

PRAY
Pray for the people who have had to leave everything behind, especially those with nowhere to go. Pray for those who were unable to evacuate, stranded in their homes. Ask for God’s provision and His presence during this difficult time. Pray also for the first responders, National Guard, disaster relief volunteers and all others working to rescue those who are stranded. And lastly, pray that the local church would be the hands and feet of Jesus, offering love, hope, resources and family.

GIVE
We will be partnering with SEND RELIEF, which is affiliated with the North American Missions Board (NAMB), to provide the necessary funds to mobilize volunteers and provide much needed supplies and care for those affected by Harvey. We ask that you prayerfully consider giving towards this effort. We will plan to collect a special offering for the next two Sundays (9/3 & 9/10). Although many of us are not able to help physically, we can provide aid through our generous giving. Please mark SEND RELIEF on the memo line of your checks when you give. All donations marked with SEND RELIEF will be sent directly to the relief efforts. For those of you who would like to contribute directly, you can give by visiting their website: www.namb.net/harvey.

NEXT STEPS
Along with your generous financial gifts, we ask that you prayerfully consider volunteering over the next few days and possibly weeks. Here are a few local organizations who are looking for volunteers and/or material donations:

Our Calling is a homeless discipleship ministry here in Dallas. Homeless evacuees have already contacted the ministry. Volunteers are needed M-F, 9-5. Clothing items needed are adult underwear, socks, reading glasses, men’s shoes size 9+, men’s pants size 30+. They DO NOT need women’s clothing.

Trusted World needs local volunteers to help sort donations. Material donations are also needed: clean clothing in good condition; toiletries/hygiene products; baby formula, wipes, bottles, diapers; nonperishable food. Drop-off location is 15660 N. Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75248.

Baptist Benevolent Ministries of Irving is accepting hygiene products and non-perishable food items for people coming to Dallas from the Houston area.