Update from Don

Work feeding and careing for people in Galveston is progressing well. There were 884 meals served today. As you can imagine the cost of preparing these meals everyday is most expensive, but "Disaster Assistance"is able to provide this service because of so many christians like you sacrifically helping in this great work. Christians from Bayou La Batre, Al. came over to help. They are Daphne, Billy, Tina, Judy, and Pam. Christians from El Campo came over to help also. They are Larry, Jane, and Judy. Of course Mike and DD work everyday preparing and serving these meals. The Church of Christ is greatly appreciated in the area for showing their caring concern.

Today we served 858 and yesterday was 796. Below is photo of the volunteers we had today from Kingwood, Pearland and Alvin, TX

Today another big day 809 meals. Also it was nice to have Royce and Carol Ogle here with us today. They are with Whites Ferry Road Relief Ministries

Yesterday was the last day for the Salvation Army & Red Cross to serve meals here in Galveston with that said we served 909 meals today

Below is update from Don.

Just talked with the Director of "Disaster Assistance", Mike, who reports that there were 909 meals served today. There is still a great need for this service in the Galveston area. Several Christians from the Lake Jackson Church as well as some Sojourners were there to help today. It was still a very full day. This work, including the opportunity to reach people with the message of Jesus, is made by not only your prayers, but also your sacrificial financial support. You can imagine the cost of serving 7,8,900 meals a day, seven days a week for this period of time. This work could not be do without you. God is being glorified, Christ is being magnified and His Church is being greatly appreciated and recognized for the caring concern Christians are showing. You are making a great work possible. We are doing our best to live up to the confidence and trust you have placed in us.

Just got back from dinner with Dick & Nita Stockton they are Sojourners that are here to help us for a few days

Don's Notes

Another attitude that can greatly diminish our effectiveness in out-reach, goes something like this, "People are not interested in the bible, church or religion anymore." May I tell you this, as a christian, I have found people are very interested in spiritual relationship with God. But don't just take only my experience, just look at the TV. Turn on any religious program. What do you see? Generally a building filled with people listening to a preacher, isn't that right? Now ask yourself this question, how many of those folks that you saw in the church house on TV got up in the morning and said, "I believe I'll go down to the church and get some false doctrine". I dare say none of them did. They thought they were going to hear a message from God's word. The point is today there are people who are not interested in spiritual things. There were those even in Jesus' day. Today, however, there are thousands, no doubt millions who are looking for relationship with God, and we have the "treasure in earthen vessels". You see the devil wants us to believe that people are not desirous of being right with God, but what did Jesus say? He said, "say not you there are three months and then comes the harvest? Behold I say unto you, lift up your eyes and look unto the fields for they are white already to harvest." Jesus teaches us to see the possibilities. The formula is simple. See the possibilities (goal), determine the price(needed effort), go to work.
Our next lesson will be, we can do it. We will look at how God helps us. Don

Photo is of volunteers from Kingwood CoC, Kingwood, TX they brought 35 people down to help today

Today 6 members from Lake Jackson CoC came to help serve the meals

683 Meals served today which brings our total to 21,112.

Notes from Don

It was our privelge to speak at the West Fayetteville Church of Christ last night and to be able to tell them some of the results accomplished by the workers of "Disaster Assistance". Well over 12,000 meals served and over 500 bible studies set up. As a supporter of "DA" we wanted to personally bring them up to date. The elders expressed appreciation in learning first hand the results of their efforts.
This is the first year of operation for "DA" and those of us associated with it are appreciative and really over whelmed by the support so many of you and so many congregations have given us. With your continues support we will continue to reach out to the hurting and those that do not know Jesus thru this ave.

Another attitude that sometimes we hear expressed concerning church growth is, "they got to be doing something wrong to be growing that fast." This attitude will certainly not contribute to the growth of the congregation from where that remark is made. It has been my experience that when a congregation makes a real concerted effort for out reach, people respond, bible studies take place, people become christians and the church grows numerically. This should come as no surprise, didn't Jesus teach us to see the possibilities when he said, "look unto the fields they are white unto harvest". Now we never want to practice anything unscriptural nor do we want to encourage anything unscriptural, but a growth attitude might be, I want to see what they are doing that leads to their numerical growth. When I find out, if there is anything unscriptural, I don't want to do it, but if there is something a growing church is doing that is scriptural I want to see if I too can put it into practice. Now out reach takes work, it takes study, it takes prayer. It is my opinion that only seeing the faults of others is often an excuse for doing little. That's my opinion anyway. On the next lesson we are goingto discusss some church growth principles and attitudes. Don

Windy Night

We had 35 mph winds last night. I was sure we were going to lose our canopies but they stayed in place. Everything was covered with dust and had to be cleaned before I could start cooking. We served 809 meals today.

752 meals served today. I was able to get 3 local Galveston residents to help serve the meals today

Message From Don

Let's discuss some methods which we use in getting a bible study. We especially use these method in "Disaster Assistance". We try to adapt our methods to the situation we face. Remember when we are working with "Disaster Assistance", under the eldership ot the Alachua Church of Christ in Alachua, Fla. (near Gainesville) , it is not difficult to go to where people are. It is obvious. Distress, in need and often in sorry. A good meal and supplies for the house are greatly appreciated.
When we go in to the community with food and supplies, we have pad and pen ready. We ask, " my I write you name so that we may check back with you to see if you can use further assistance"? If they give their name and almost always they do we then ask, may I have your telephone number please"? We assure them that someone from the church will be calling them in the next few days checking on them and ask them could we come by and visit, could we pray with you, could we read the bible with you, could we study the bible with you? Again the answer is almost always yes. In fact it is not unusual, if we miss someone for them to come to me and say, "can I sign up for bible study"? If we have the opportunity we, ourselves set up the bible study with them. It is good, however, when members of the local church go to these studies as that gives people at opportunity to meet members who obviously care about them and that they will see when they attend the local church. It is a good idea when you visit with people to let them know you will be looking for them when they get to church and you want them to sit with you. We have found that people want to belong to something they appreciate and admire. We have also found the people do not want to leave where they feel like they belong.

Disaster Assistance Galveston 2 week update

We have been here in Galveston, TX for two weeks. In that time we have served 10,204 meals. I have cooked all of those using only 8 rosters and all meals have been cooked and served outside while fighting off these huge Texas flies. Most everyone of the locals tell us each day that the meals that they are getting from us is the only food they are getting and without them they have no idea how they would have made it. I met with leaders from Lake Jackson and El Campo on Friday to review how much longer we will be able to continue serving these meals. The funds are running low. We feel we should be able to continue until the end of the month. At that time we will review again and see if we have the funds to continue if needed. I am sure it will be needed. I know a lot of you have helped us with donations. Lake Jackson, El Campo and Goodwood Church of Christ have been the main source of funds. If you have been waiting to help in some way now is the time before we are forced to leave due to lack of money. Volunteers are also needed.

Well we can tell the weekend is over we were back to 752 meals served today

Lake Jackson CoC was here today to help serve and cleanup. El Campo CoC went shopping for us and came back with a truck and trailer full of food and paper products.

Busy day today many meals served and lots of food boxes, clothing and supplies passed out

Today just after we were finished serving the meals another semi load of supplies arrived from Disaster Relief

Thank goodness the group from Lubick was still here to help unload.

Another feel good story

Today we had a lady come by for her meal. She is here each day but this time she said she had $80.00 saved to pay her electric bill but sense she had no electric service this month she wanted to give that money to our Disaster Assistance work because we were here everyday serving meals to her and others in need.

The above photo is of volunteers from Lake Jackson CoC and some of the stuidents form Lubick Christian serving lunch today.

732 meals were served today.

Another busy day 834 meals served

Each day when the volunteer that are helping us leave they ask if we have any help for the next day and most of the time we have no idea. But each day someone shows up to help. Like today a group of students from Lubick Christian University. They help us serve all the meals and clean up. They will be here until Sunday.

Today we served 787 meals.

Many thanks to the volunteers from Churches of Christ on the mainland who have been helping us serve meals. Lake Jackson and El Campo have been helping with fund raising and bringing us supplies along with continued support form Goodwood CoC.

757 Meals Served Today

We Were Back To Cooking From Generators Today But Still Served 865 meals

This Weekend We Served 1306 Meals With The Help Of The 120 Stuidents From Oka Christian College

We Served 642 Meals Today, Unloaded Semi From Disaster Releif and Passed Most Of It Out Today

Many Thanks To Don & Rosemary Hudson For Their Tireless Help Over The Past 4 Weeks. Below Is Update From Don

Rosemary and I will be leaving Galveston, Tx. tomorrow morning, Sat. for Marshall, Tx. and our workshop with the Sojourners. This is a real opportunity to better learn how to be more effective in evangelism. Mike, our Director of "Disaster Assistance" has led us in serving people in Baton Rouge, Lake Jackson, and Galveston. All together, up to the present moment, we have, with your sacrificial help, served 11052 meals and have set up 505 bible studies. The churches where we have worked have been thrilled with these efforts and some have already started with these bible studies. Thus far I am aware of 6 baptisms and am confident there have been and will be many more as we receive the reports. I do know the brethren where we have been are very busy with these bibles studies. Disasters can be very sad and yet it does turn some people to the importance of spiritual things. People have been very thankful for the quality of the food you have helped provide and have been very receptive to the invitation, for visitation, prayer and bible reading and bible study. " People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care and when you go to where people are you can take them to where you are going." It has not been difficult in showing our care and concern for them and it has not been difficult in determining where they are. This has been a great opportunity to show the love of Christ to people. It was especially impressive to me as I read in my early morning devotions the other morning that Luke would write Acts 1:1, The former treatise have I written unto thee excellent Theophilus of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. What an eye opener that passage was to me. We can really get peoples attention as we are " doing Christianity" Jesus set the example and this is what we together have been doing in this disaster work. No wonder so many people signed up for visitation, prayer, bible reading and bible study. Yes we are a little tired, but what a privilege it has been to have this opportunity for mission work. Again a very special thanks to my wonderful brethren at the Howell church who not only support this work, but with " gentle insistence' want it to be done. You have made a real difference for the Lord on this mission and Christ has been magnified and God has been glorified, and the church, the body of Christ, has been edified. Good Night Don & Rosemary

Urgent Need For Funding

Today I was informed by Broadway Church of Christ that they have no more funds available to assist us in buying food used to cook meals here in Galveston. They are going to use there funds for members and to repair the church building. We served 816 meals today. These meals went to workers, families who are homeless and families who have no gas or electric. Many times each day we hear that if we weren't serving them a meal that they would not eat. Disaster Assistance will use funds sent in to us and with help from Lake Jackson, El Campo and Goodwood Church of Christ to continue feeding as long as we are needed or until we are no longer able to purchase food. Please help us if you can. Donation information is on the left.

Disaster Assistance, Lake Jackson and El Campo working hard in Galveston

Today we served 757 meals even though a BBQ place just opened and was giving away free meals also. Lake Jackson CoC is planning another trip here with volunteers and supplies for us. El Campo CoC has been here 3 straight days with food, supplies, large refrigerated cooler and a golf cart for me to get from place to place. The two things we need most now are volunteers during the week and funds to buy the food that we are serving. Don and Rosemary and another Sojurner couple will be leaving us this weekend to go to the Sojourner meeting in Marshall, TX. They will be greatly missed.

Our first day cooking here in Galveston we served 731 meals

Photos below are of our serving station, cooking area, one tent for cooking supplies and one for volunteer to live in & the unloading of semi

Update From Don

"Disaster Assistance" completed a wonderful work here in Lake Jackson today. We fed nearly 200 people today. Now that electricity is back on and the supplies are here for people here at the church building, we will leave tomorrow morning to help the church in Galveston help the people there. Rosemary and I plan to work a few days before we are due at the sojourners workshop in Marshall, Tx. this coming Mon. As I am teaching three days about methods in doing personal evangelism, we plan to leave this coming Wed. week, in the afternoon to head home. It is our plans to be preaching at Howell the third Sunday of this month. I wish you could know this church, Howell. Often people get the idea, because a church is small in number, it can't do much especially by way of evangelism. This church fully supports us when we are on a mission as we are now and they have made it clear to us that " they would be disappointed if we did not continue the mission work when we moved our residence to Howell." This support is something churches might consider as there are great opportunities for evangelism in this work. To date we have served just over 10,000 meals and have set up well over 500 bible studies. People have responded to our invitation to help in the name of Christ with a willingness that I once could only dream about. Believe me people do respond to an invitation to talk about the Lord, they do respond to our invitation to worship, they do respond to our invitation to bible study. " When you go to where people are, you can take them to where you are going." People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." People have seen the caring concern that Christians can have and they have responded willingly and openly. Many of you have been so sacrificial in your support of this work, the work of " Disaster Assistance". We are doing our best to merit your trust. Many of you have had us in your prayers. It has helped motivate us greatly. Thank you so much. One last thing. If you have e mailed me, I have not answered you because my computer is not plugged up. I am using Mike's computer, but as soon as I get home, I will get on line and answer. Again thank you for your help. This mission has had the longest hours and more constant work of all the missions we have been on. We finished washing dishes last night at 5 til 9. but it has all been worth it to see people make a turn toward to the Lord because they saw our faith, yours and ours, with our works. Good Night Don

Today While Serving Lunch At Surfside We Past The 10,000 Meal Mark In Less Than A Full Month Of Cooking

Right now we are in the process of packing everything up for the trip to Broadway Church of Christ in Galveston, TX. Everyone is meeting here at 11 AM tomorrow morning to make the drive there and get things setup. Please keep us in your prayers. There is still no electricity at the Church so we will be doing everything with generators.

Disaster Assistance, Lake Jackson CoC and El Campo CoC will be working together to assist the Broadway CoC in Galveston

Well it has been a long day today and it is only 4:20 PM. The day started off cooking than serving 200 meals in Surfside. Followed by church service on the beach at Surfside. Than meeting with Ministers and Elders of Lake Jackson and phone calls back and forth with El Campo and Broadway CoC in Galveston. We have arrived at our next mission venture. Disaster Assistance along with members of Lake Jackson and El Campo CoC will be traveling to Broadway CoC on Tuesday. Hopefully we will get setup and be serving hot meals from Broadway on Wednesday. As most of you know the Galveston area was in the direct path of Ike. Much work and assistance is going to be needed there now and for a long time to come. If you would like to help us as a volunteer or with funds it would be a blessing. Contact information is located on the left side of this blog.

Today at Lake Jackson CoC we had a large group of youth making food bags to take to Surfside

Today at Surfside we served 330 meals at lunch and handed out supplies

El Campo Church of Christ Helping Out

The above photo is of ladies form El Campo CoC and Rosemary serving meals today. El Campo brought 2 trailer loads of supplies here today. They asked what our needs were and will bring more supplies to help with the assistance effort here and at Surfside. We really appreciate the help they are giving us.