Disaster Assistance Combating Natural Disasters With Acts Of God

Please Visit our New Web Site

2009-11-19T19:36:00.000-05:00

www.disasterassistancecoc.com

Talked with our contact at Disaster Relief in Nashville, we will stay in touch and let each other know if anyone needs our help

2009-11-13T07:32:00.001-05:00

2009-11-12T11:00:00.001-05:00

Don has talked with the Minister of Bayside CoC, Mike Lucas in Virginia Beach. Mike said that they are watching the conditions there and will not know what they need until later today or tomorrow. He will stay intouch with us.

EX - Ida Pounding Virginia Beach and other Areas

2009-11-12T08:51:00.003-05:00

Forcast is for 12 plus inches of rain in some areas. Our Director of Evangelism Don Hudson is on the phone as I write this to his contacts in those areas to have them keeps us updated on the conditions and if there is any need for our help.

2009-11-11T13:12:00.000-05:00

A NEW LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS CURRENTLY FORMING NEAR MYRTLE BEACH
SOUTH CAROLINA...WHICH SHOULD BECOME THE DOMINANT CENTER OF
CIRCULATION LATER TODAY. THIS NEW LOW PRESSURE CENTER WILL TRACK
SLOWLY EAST-NORTHEASTWARD OFFSHORE THE CAROLINAS THURSDAY
NIGHT...BEFORE DROPPING SOUTHWARD ON FRIDAY.

Hurricane Ida weakens, heads toward U.S.

2009-11-09T07:26:00.002-05:00

Hurricane Ida weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico early Monday, forecasters said.
Its maximum sustained winds are 90 mph (145 kph), with higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said.
Additional weakening is forecast for the next 24 hours, but Ida is still expected to be a hurricane when it approaches the Gulf Coast on Monday or early Tuesday, the center said.
A hurricane warning is in effect from Pascagoula, Mississippi, eastward to Indian Pass, Florida, forecasters said. The warning means hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours.
Measures to protect life and property should be undertaken, forecasters said.
Ida is moving toward the north-northwest near 16 mph (26 kph). It is expected to bring a total of 8 inches of rain across the central and eastern Gulf Coast.

La. under state of emergency as Hurricane Ida strengthens

2009-11-08T17:11:00.000-05:00

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Sunday as the U.S. Gulf Coast braced for the arrival of Hurricane Ida, which was making its way across the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 storm.
A hurricane watch was in effect from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, meaning hurricane conditions were possible in the next day and a half. New Orleans was not included in the watch area.

The emergency declaration is a precaution that frees up state resources for any emergency situations. The National Guard and state agencies have been put on high alert so personnel and vehicles are available if needed.

Coastal stretches of southeast Louisiana, particularly areas outside levee protection, are the main concern. Forecasts indicate those areas could see winds, rains and high tides that could create localized flooding.

CRUISE LOG: Hurricane Ida forces cruise ships heading to Mexico to alter course

Officials in Florida, Mississippi and Alabama were also keeping a close eye on the storm's track, though no emergency declarations or other measures had yet been issued.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ida's winds are now near 100 mph, and Ida could get stronger later Sunday.

Hurricane Ida is getting close

2009-11-08T09:13:00.002-05:00

Don Hudson is on the phone right now with our friends in Bayou La Batre to let them know we are watching the storm and will be there if we are needed.

Late Season Hurricane Ida Giving Us Something To Watch

2009-11-05T07:36:00.003-05:00

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUED ADVISORIES ON RECENTLY
UPGRADED HURRICANE IDA...LOCATED ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF
BLUEFIELDS NICARAGUA.

Rossville Mission Recap

2009-10-08T12:53:00.001-04:00

Our mission work in Rossville, GA is complete. The following is what we accomplished.
Don setup over 300 Bible studies and conducted several each day we were there. We made arrangements with Cox Blvd Church of Christ to send a team to Rossville to help with the studies if the Elders of Rossville CoC want their help. Two semi loads of food, cleaning supplies, cloths, water and other item from Nashville were handed out and another semi load of water was also delivered. One semi load of bed frames, box springs and mattresses were unloaded for distribution. 1285 meals were cooked and delivered in the community.

On Thursday and Friday Don delivered 78 meals to the people he is conducting Bible studies with.

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conducting

Thursday we received 110 bed frames, box springs and mattresses

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Photos are of people waiting in line for food and than picking it up. If you look close you can see Rosemary in the orange shirt helping

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Wednesday we prepared and delivered 357 meals.

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Channel 3 Called Me Today Than Came Out and Did Story While We Were Handing out Meals. Should Be on News Tonight

2009-09-29T20:52:00.002-04:00

Don has over 100 Bible Studies setup now. We delevered 415 meals today.

2009-09-29T20:49:00.000-04:00

Last night and today Don has setup over 30 Bible studies. Today we served 177 meals.

2009-09-28T20:15:00.002-04:00

Don said he need 400 meals tomorrow at one complex that has over 500 people living there. Also we were contacted today by the Red Cross telling us that there is a apt complex that has been condemned. All of the people must be placed in shelters until they can find a new home. They asked if we can help with meals while these people are in shelters. We need your help to do this. We need funds to buy the food.

Don and Rosemary arrived hare today around 4pm. We had a meal after church service tonight and Don already has 7 Bible studies setup.

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We also found another area about 7 miles from the church here where around 600 families were affected by the flood waters. We delivered food boxes and what cleaning supplies we had left. We most likely will get another semi load from Nashville.

Today we served 140 meals and passed out almost all of the cleaning supplies we have

2009-09-26T16:30:00.000-04:00

We served 114 meals today and unloaded another semi from Nashville Relief

2009-09-25T20:17:00.002-04:00

Above are photos of the distribution area after we were finished unloading the semi.

We Served 70 Meals Today for Breakfast at Heritage Christian University

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After we cleaned everything up we were off for Rossville Church of Christ. I arrived there mid afternoon, had meeting with Elders and than went grocery shopping. The semi load of supplies that they received yesterday is almost gone and we have another comming on Friday.

Flooding in Georgia

2009-09-23T13:19:00.003-04:00

We are heading to Rossville Church of Christ in Rossville, Ga to assist them in the flooded areas. They are unloading a semi of supplies from Nashville at this moment and will be receiving another load over the weekend. I am at Heritage Christian University and will leave here after we serve breakfast tomorrow so I will arrive in Rossville Thursday afternoon. Will post more later. If you can help us with any donations to buy food and supplies please send to the address here to the right of this blog.

Heritage Christian University

2009-09-22T18:07:00.002-04:00

Don, Rosemary and I just arrived here and have our RV's setup. Don will be speaking tomorrow and on Thursday we Disaster Assistance CoC will be sponsoring, cooking and serving the breakfast for all who want to attend in the college cafeteria starting at 7 am.

2009-09-21T15:31:00.002-04:00

Don has talked with Phillip Satterfield, Pastor of the Macland Road Church of Christ of Marietta, Ga. Bro Satterfield is in the process of assessing the needs and will get back with us.

Two Dead Due To Flooding; Flood Warning Remains In Effect

2009-09-21T11:53:00.002-04:00

At least two people have died as thunderstorms rumbling across north Georgia Spawned heavy downpours that flooded roads and homes.

Don Hudson our Director of Evangelism has been talking to churches in the area to find out if there is anything we can do. Will keep you posted.

Heritage Christian University 38th Annual Evangelism Workshop

2009-09-16T09:52:00.002-04:00

Our very own Director of Evangelism Don Hudson will be speaking on Wednesday 9/23 at 2 pm. Don's topic will be (Disaster Assistance) Sometimes the best opportunities for evangelism come in the worst times in people's lives. Through work with Disaster Assistance CoC, people are being helped through natural disasters and taught the gospel of Jesus.

Still Watching Bill

2009-08-20T17:55:00.000-04:00

Tornado Touches Down in Minneapolis

2009-08-19T17:29:00.001-04:00

A tornado has been reported in downtown Minneapolis Wednesday afternoon and there have been reports of damage in south Minneapolis.
The weather services said it received reports of the tornado at 2:11 p.m. Wednesday. Radar showed the storm moving north at about 20 mph.
It reportedly damaged Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis.
A witness at the church said, "We saw the tornado, it was turning, real fast, it got real black out here and had the trees coming to us on the left, the windows were shaking real bad and all this stuff across the street in the church, they had a little dinner there, it tore it all up, and it was just lifting off the ground. And it just disappeared. It just disappeared."
In response to damage and severe weather reports, Minneapolis has partially activated its Emergency Operations Center. There have been no reports of injuries.

Sudden tornado cause damage in West Beaumont, TX

2009-08-18T16:28:00.004-04:00

The Beaumont Fire Department is responding to a report of several injuries at Kohl's Department Store on Dowlen Road.

Officer Crystal Holmes with Beaumont Police said a possible tornado touched down at Kohl's, jumped over to Wal-Mart, and continued to Parkdale Mall.
The primary damage at the scene, as reported by Ashley Rodrigue was to the roof at Kohl's Department store.
Rodrigue also reported large pieces of debris in the parking lot. She reports that there's one vehicle on top of another vehicle in the parking lot across the street at Wal-Mart.
A dispatcher first told KFDM News after 2:00p.m. there was a report of some type of weather-related damage to the building.
Police are shutting down Dowlen Road and wanting people to stay away from the area.

Bills Path

2009-08-18T11:05:00.000-04:00

Surprise Tropical Storm Claudette threatens Fla. Panhandle

2009-08-16T15:09:00.000-04:00

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — Brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, Tropical Storm Claudette threatened to bring heavy rain to the Florida Panhandle later Sunday, likely becoming the first tropical storm to strike the U.S. mainland this year.

Claudette had winds of at least 50 mph, but was not expected to cause significant flooding or wind damage. Lurking more ominously in the Atlantic were tropical storms Ana and Bill, which was quickly turning into a powerful storm over warm waters in the open Atlantic.

At This Time Ana Is Not Expected To Reach Hurricane Speeds

2009-08-15T10:27:00.002-04:00

THE WAVE BEHIND ANA IS ONE WE WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS OR SO

2009-08-13T10:46:00.002-04:00

This past weekend I drove up to Don's house in TN and dropped off the Disaster Assistance cooking equipment trailer. I attended church with him on Sunday and gave a short recap of our first years work to his congregation. I than left for KY to spend some time at my parents house. If a storm approaches we will meet at Dons and head toward the projected landfall.

It is that time of year again

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Above is a photo showing 3 possible storms just two days ago there were none.

Because You Asked

2009-07-19T08:41:00.001-04:00

Don's name gets brought up often in my emails and many of you have asked me who is that guy. Below is a little about Don.

Don Hudson, Director of Evangelism for “Disaster Assistance” lives in Middle Tennessee, where he preaches for the Howell Church of Christ when he is home. The Howell Church is very interested in evangelism and supports him in the many weather related disasters that he and his wife of 46 years, Rosemary, help in each year. This is their fifth year in helping in natural disasters. Don, a graduate of David Lipscomb University ‘63, is responsible for helping in visitation and setting up bible studies as “Disaster Assistance” works in feeding those who are affected by various storms. During last years hurricane season, due to the work of “Disaster Assistance”, many bible studies were established. Don states, “While tornadoes, floods and hurricanes are often horrible, we can share in the heavy loads people bear by helping them with a good hot meal and a good word about Jesus. When we meet people in this sorrowful time, we want them to know that Jesus cares and we Christians care too.”

Here is Don's contact information:

donhudsoncoc@gmail.com 931-698-3150

Don would be glad to talk with you about the Disaster Assistance Mission anytime.

Disaster Assistance CoC First Year Recap

2009-07-09T08:50:00.000-04:00

A little over a year ago plans were put in place to start Disaster Assistance CoC. Here is a recap of our first years mission work. On September 6, 2009 I left Florida for Goodwood Church of Christ in Baton Rouge. We spent a little over 2 weeks there setting up bible studies, handing out food boxes and supplies and cooking meals for the people affected by Gustav. Then Ike hit Texas and we move to Lake Jackson,TX and setup at the Lake Jackson Church of Christ. There we did the same things we were doing at Goodwood. Serving meals at the church, taking to go meals out into the community and than preparing meals and taking them to Surfside and serving them there. We held church services there at Surfside two Sundays. From here we moved on to Galveston, TX and setup up at the Broadway Church of Christ. This turned out to be a real challenge. There still was no electric there at the church and everything in the church building had been removed because of the flooding. We setup outside on the street and sidewalk than started cooking with the power of generators using roasters. El Campo Church of Christ brought us a refrigerator/freezer that ran off a generator also. This effort quickly grew until we were serving between 800 and 1000 meals each day. This was made possible only because of the help of many volunteers and churches two numerous to mention because I wouldn't want to leave anyone out. From there we headed over to Port Bolivar and setup up at the Bolivar fire station. The Church of Christ there at Crystal Beach was totally destroyed by the storm. Many truck loads of supplies were passed out and many meals were served. I headed back home on December 6. Our next mission was in Murfreesboro, TN where we worked with the Kingwood Heights Church of Christ after the tornado there. Than a few weeks later we were off to Hemly Road Church of Christ in Bayou La Batre, AL, to spend a week of follow up Evangelism work there. The results of these missions were hundreds of Bible Studies were setup, numerous Baptisms, 11 semi loads of food and supplies were passed out and over 40,000 meals were cooked and served. Now the next couple of months Don has a lot going on at his home church in Howell, TN and I will be mowing, taking care of the pool and picking up supplies for the summer youth camps sponsored by the Church of Christ which starts the 2nd week of June and runs for 6 weeks. I will also continue to update and add new email address to the Disaster Assistance mailing file which now stands at over 10,000 email addresses. We also plan to get everything serviced and be ready for the upcoming Hurricane season. This will probably be the last email you will receive for a few weeks unless a mega disaster happens that would require us to change all our scheduled plans.

If you would like to help us prepare for the upcoming hurricane season you can send donation to:
Disaster Assistance CoC, C/O Church of Christ, 14505 NW 145 Ave, Alachua, Fl 32615.

You can reach Don Hudson our Director of Evangelism at 931-698-3150 or donhudsoncoc@gmail.com

The Sojourner Story

2009-05-31T07:44:00.002-04:00

The Sojourner program was a dream of Paul and Peggie Scott. Paul was a carreer Navy man and as such, had been in many places where the congregations of the Lord's people were small in number and struggling. It was his dream to do something to alleviate the situation by helping these congregations to become self-supporting and strengthen the Church.

While living in California they worked with congregations of all sizes and conducted workshops statewide. At the time he retired from the Navy, he was serving as an elder of the Pacific Beach Church of Christ in San Diego, California. He still had the dream and hope of a particular type of mission work, but had not fully decided just how this would be accomplished. They moved to Lubbock, TX and attended the Sunset School of Preaching to better prepare themselves. They worked for a short period in Wyoming and Kansas. While in Kansas, Richard and Georgie Jones joined them. They had a RV as did some others and an idea began to grow that this would be the way to accomplish what had become known as "Paul and Peggie's Dream".

The Conroe Church of Christ in Conroe, TX sent them to a mission field in South Carolina where they worked for three years. When they completed the work there, they went to Staten Island, NY for a 3-month mission effort before returning to Texas. Another couple shared in the dream with Paul and Peggie. They were Marvin and Linda Hall from San Diego where Marvin was serving as an elder with the Pacific Beach congregation. They left San Diego and attended the Sunset School of Preaching to participate in a study course for which Paul had made arrangements. In 1978 these two couples held the first workshop in Weslaco, TX. In January 1979 the group adopted their identifying name of NATIONAL EVANGELISM WITH SOJOURNERS. The number has continued to grow year after year. However, there are always more requests for help than there are Sojourners to do the work.

The congregation in Conroe, Texas sponsored the Sojourner program of work for 13 years. From 1991 to 2005 the work was under the oversight of the Elders of the Church of Christ in Burleson, TX . It was sponsored by the Eastern Hills Church of Christ in Marshall, TX for 2006. It is now back under the eldership of the Burleson Church of Christ in Burleson, TX. However, individuals are encouraged to remain under the oversight of their local elders, whenever possible. Every effort is made to maintain a scriptural mission of the Church of Christ and always do everything to the glory of God.

Above information is a reprint from the Sojourner web page http://www.sojourning.org

Goodwood Church of Christ

2009-05-29T21:16:00.001-04:00

Building Up the Faith
By Doug Burleson

Last week was one of those weeks when it was easy to count our blessings. We rejoiced that two souls were added to the Lord’s church through baptism. Sydney Rametta was baptized by David Gregor on Wednesday evening after Bible classes. Sydney did not come to class that night anticipating being baptized, but in Katie Hedglin’s high school girls’ class she was involved in a discussion on baptism and was convinced that she needed to have her sins washed away. We give thanks that Katie Gregor brought her friend to class and that Sydney responded to the Lord’s invitation. We also rejoice with Rickey Garrett who was baptized by Bob Bayham on Friday afternoon. Rickey grew up a preacher’s son in rural Alabama and through the study of God’s Word on Friday determined that he needed to be baptized. Isn’t God’s Word powerful? Let’s give thanks for the power of the message and the reality that when the seed of the Word is planted it will come to fruition. Let us make sure to welcome Sydney and Rickey to our church family.

As of Wednesday morning there are over 35 TEENS AND ADULTS heading to Camp Maywood this coming Sunday. I wish that all of you could see this beautiful campground operated by the churches of Christ in Northwest AL. Summer sessions of Camp Maywood have been going on there since 1965 and the camp has been expanded to hold up to 400 campers at once (three new girls cabins will welcome us this year!). But even more beautiful than the camp or the cabins is the Christian spirit that is evident when young people from all over the SE United States come together to grow in faith through the study of God’s Word. This year I will be teaching a morning Bible class, speaking on the summer series at the Hamilton Church of Christ on Wednesday evening, and speaking at the camp devotional on Thursday evening. I especially appreciate Brian Egerton (the summer youth intern), Marcine Lanier (member at Zachary), Terry Peeples, Nicholas Stacks (the preacher at Zachary), and of course Kristi and Eden for going with us this year. The group will leave at 6:00 AM on Sunday morning and return on Saturday evening, June 6.

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I just got off the phone with Larry Cline, Minister Holly Hill Church of Christ. He called me to follow up on the conversation with Don. They are still reviewing the needs in their area and will get back with us if they need our help.

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Don our Director of Evangelism has been intouch with the Holly Hill Church of Christ in Holly Hill Florida and they have cancelled church tonight because of the weather. They are checking to see if there is a need for our help and will be getting back with us.

Keeping an eye on the storms and flooding here in Central Florida

2009-05-20T12:30:00.003-04:00

Update from Don

2009-05-14T09:03:00.002-04:00

"Disaster Assistance" has just completed a short mission with the Hemly Rd. Church of Christ in Bayou La Batre, Al. Just a couple of weeks, ago Brs. Dave Neal and Doug Oaks from the Somerset Church in Somerset, Ohio spent time in BLB. There they taught and baptized 5 people. A call came to us, to come and help teach these new converts as well as several new Christians more about the doctrine of Christ. This church does not have a regular preacher. Thanks to your support in these spiritual matters, we were able to go there and really be a big help to this young growing church. As you may recall, prior to hurricane Katrina, the only congregation in BLB had ceased to meet some 2 yrs before the hurricane. When "Katrina" came to BLB, shortly thereafter, several Christan's came there to help. Out of this help, the church began to meet again, Christians bought another building, have a dynamic outreach program, are now a center of activity in the community and this past Sun. had 80 people in worship service. Your help greatly aided in the development and growth of this congregation. Br. Mike Baumgartner, Director of "Disaster Assistance", with the help of Rosemary and others cooked and fixed some really good meals, 460. The church invited the community in and was the community ever impressed by the friendliness of this church? We inter mingled with them and talked them about the Church of Christ at the supper time meal. We invited them to worship with us Sunday.Several of them who had not visited the church before came to worship that Sunday morning and I personally know some that have expressed an interest in studying God's word. This was an excellent outreach project that you helped make possible. With our spiritual outreach arm of "Disaster Assistance", while there we had 21 in attendance during 12 different bible studies. Now while our effort there was to help "ground" new Christians, one was baptized and I believe two more will be baptized shortly. We left the Hemly Rd. Church of Christ with a renewed appreciation for the outreach of this church, esp. with young people. Of the 80 people who were in attendance at worship Sun. I believe over half of them were young people. I went around to the Sunday School classes Sun. morn. and was deeply impressed with the dedication of the teachers. Sun. Ev. we went to the Creekwood Congregation in Mobile. Br. David Sargent had an excellent lesson on Christian's caring We had an opportunity to renew old acquaintances there from our work in Katrina.
As we are back home now for awhile, I think, we have a lot of activity planned this summer at the Howel Church where I preach and which sends and supports Rosemary and I on these various home missionary trips. Our gospel meeting is in June, I am in a meeting at the Mc Burg Church in July, we have our Super Sat. Bible School in July and then there is the upcoming Sycamore Bible Bowl in Cookeville, Tn. in early Sept. then I speak at the Heritage Christian Un. Lecturship in late Sept. In between all of these activities, "Disaster Assistance " remains ready to "Drive at Dawn"to help organize and work for the local church should disaster strike. We can always use volunteers "at the ready". I must tell you, this is work. We start early in the morning and it is usually nearly dark, when we finish. That's 7 days a week, with time off to go to worship. While it's work, it has, I believe, the greatest reward of all on this earth, the knowledge that you helped make a difference in someone's life physically and you also and at the same time had and used the opportunity to show and teach people about Jesus. If you would like to be a part of this Home Mission Work, email me or call me at 931 659 6643 cell 931 698 3150 or email Mike at disasterassistance@gmail.com

Bayou La Batre Mission Trip Recap

2009-05-11T19:59:00.002-04:00

1 Baptism, 21 attended bible studies and 460 meals were served. We also attended church services at Creekwood Church of Christ in Mobile Sunday night. Don gave a good presentation to the congregation about Disaster Assistance.

Sunday 1 Baptism and 144 meals served

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Saturday 3 more attended Bible studies and 44 meals for dinner

2009-05-10T07:32:00.003-04:00

Members of Hemly Road Church of Christ went to Mobile today to work at the local food bank. They help unload trucks from 2 until 5. Because they were gone we only had one bus picking up kids so our total number of meals served was down.

Friday 4 Bible studies and 78 meals served.

2009-05-08T23:08:00.000-04:00

Thursday we had 6 Bible studies and served 87 meals

2009-05-08T08:24:00.000-04:00

Update from Bayou La Batre

2009-05-07T09:27:00.002-04:00

We arrived at Hemley Road Church of Christ on Tuesday. Yesterday Don had Bible studies in the AM and PM with a total of 8 involved. We served 107 meals last night and 75 to 80 stayed for singing. Above photos are of the meal and the singing.

Update from Dave Neal

2009-05-04T12:43:00.002-04:00

Tuesday April 21

Doug and I left Tuesday morning about 7:00am and drove to mid-Alabama before stopping for the night. It was a lot of windshield time for us to talk about almost anything you can imagine. It was an easy drive, but yes long. As we entered northern Alabama Chris called us about Rosemary’s request to be baptized. This was great news. Doug and I called Larry’s cell following the baptism and congratulated her.

Wednesday

We talked with Daphne on Tuesday and decided to be at the Church building by 9:30 to help with food distribution though their pantry. What a program they have in place as an outreach. Lord willing, you will hear much more about this when we return home. We drove to the food bank just north of Bayou La Batre and purchased food for distribution at the Church building. Wednesday through Saturday, we distributed approximately 500 pounds of food to the community. While people were waiting for their food to be packed, we asked them about having Bible studies.

How can I begin to express the emotion and appreciation for what the Bayou La Batre Church is doing? Bottom line, the Lord must be so pleased with their dedication and commitment to the lost. I am humbled beyond expression. This small group of faithful followers of our Lord, work where extreme poverty abounds. Yet, we see the attitude of Jesus in these faithful Christians that compels me to do more. Hemley Road church of Christ is truly that City on a Hill, that Light to the world that cannot be hidden. Let me give you an example of a new convert since I was here last year. I know only a little of her past but she answers the question daily of “What Would Jesus Do?” She has had a difficult life to say the least. Last summer she came in contact with this Church who led her to Jesus. She works at the building it seems every day, calling people to invite them to church, cleaning the building, driving the church bus, contacting people who need food, whatever the need, this lady is there. I gave her a break from driving the church bus this evening. She went with me to find all the homes of probably 35 kids and all the while I was driving, she was calling people inviting them to Church.

With Daphne’s help, we visited (4) families late in the afternoon inviting them to Church and set up two Bible studies for Thursday.

Wednesday night Church was challenging because there were more non-Christian than Christians (what a “great” opportunity). I have so much admiration for the leadership of this congregation. Surrounded in Bayou La Batre by unemployment, hunger, and human suffering brings me to my knees, yet they are certainly focused on the objective of Heaven and leading people to Jesus rather than the obstacles. I have a Bible study scheduled for Thursday morning.

Just when we thought the day was over, Daphne called and asked me to turn-on the heater for the baptistery because she is expecting a baptism on Thursday.

Thursday

Pictures are worth a thousand words: two new sisters in Christ. Both studies were set-up by the congregation (thank you), not Doug or I. These were the first of five baptisms this week.

Praise God and the power of the scriptures (Rom 1:16) for these two new sisters. You also need to know the effort made by the congregation here to set up the studies. Church members here are regularly calling people to come to Church or setting up a Bible study. When other Christians work like this, the actual study of God’s Word becomes much easier.

This evening, we had an adult Bible study with 22 people. Church, this was a Thursday evening after we already had the regular Wednesday evening study. Daphne and others (I helped a little too-made ice tea and opened cans of food-big help ha ha) cooked dinner before the study with the understanding that a Bible study would follow. People were very eager to study. That’s when the sister (above right) asked to be baptized.

Well, today is gone and we now look with anticipation for more Bible studies on Friday followed at 6:00pm by a meal and devo with the teens. Doug and I miss you very much, but are also praising God for this opportunity: our spirits are full tonight. Hopefully you can see why we continue to be excited about the work at Bayou La Batre! By-the-way, the Church here is planning TWO vacation Bible schools THIS year. More tomorrow.

Friday

Something I didn’t mention in Thursday’s brief is that one of the above ladies baptized was lead to Jesus by her daughter. Needless to say, it was a great day.

Friday night was teen night: food and devo. I am not as young as I used to be, but don’t tell anyone. Leslie, does this bring back memories?

We went to the food bank earlier today to get more food for distribution at the church building. What a great outreach program. I hope we can duplicate it at home. Some of the BLB members went door knocking to invite people to our Super Saturday. With the invitation to Super Saturday came a pastry. The picture below is our load of pastries purchased for this purpose.

We had one Bible study today. She is coming back for more study tomorrow with her husband: expect both to be baptized. A third study is also scheduled for tomorrow. That’s all for today.

Saturday

Friday afternoon, Billy, Daphne, Doug, and I made a schedule for today. This is what Billy and Daphne usually do every Saturday over breakfast. This one went something like this: check-on this person who is in need of help, arrange a ride to church for a sister, deliver a tool trailer to a group of volunteers working on a house, schedule people to pass out flyers for the Super Saturday event this evening (Gospel sing and meal for those attending- an outreach program), schedule Bible studies (There are 3 people scheduled), and cook/clean for the sing this evening. These Christians have a zeal for teaching the lost. It’s 6:35am as I write this update. Doug and I will be leaving soon to meet Billy and Daphne for breakfast to confirm the schedule for today. We are excited about what is planned for the day, but we look forward to tomorrow worship and starting our trip home.

At 10:00am I started a Bible that one of the members scheduled. The lady had been encouraged by one of the members to study and had the desire to learn. Within a few hours of study, she was ready to be baptized: it was my privilege as pictured below.

Two more Bible studies were held-one a continuation from the night before. The study was with a husband and wife (Doug taught the study) who decided to be baptized during the Sunday worship.

The sing was well attended. We had a great fellowship.

Praise God! Another great day of service.

Sunday

I taught the Bible study and Doug had the sermon. Worship was great accented by the baptism of the husband and wife pictured below.

We started our journey back to Ohio following the AM service. One regret, we learned Sunday about another request for a Bible study. My God forgive us that we couldn’t get to it. But here is what we have planned. I talked with Don Hudson about a follow-up trip to BLB. Don and Rosemary along with Mike Baungatner are planning to go to BLB next week to follow-up with additional Bible studies with the new Christians and hopefully conduct new Bible studies. Follow-up for the new converts is critical and the focus of the next week. I know that the congregation in BLB does follow-up, but it is small and they are limited in time and people with all the work they do. As I said earlier, this congregation is truly a Light to the community. It is a blessing to us to know them and learn from them.

Disaster Assistance's Director of Evangelism Don Hudson will be speaking at Heritage Christian University's 38th Annual Evangelism Workshop

2009-05-01T21:47:00.007-04:00

Don will speak on Wednesday morning September 23 at 10:30 AM. If you are planning to attend the workshop or in the area please stop by and say hi to Don.

Houston Flooding

2009-04-30T22:23:00.002-04:00

We are keeping an eye on the flooding and storms in Texas. We have numerous churches in that area that worked with us during Hurricane Ike last year.

Headed Back to Bayou La Batre

2009-04-29T08:48:00.002-04:00

All of us realize the importance of follow up teaching with new converts. It is absolutely essential. Sometimes, however preachers and other church workers are so very busy that this does not get done. We all probably know of many cases where follow up could have made the difference to a new Christian. We in "Disaster Assistance" are working to help fill this vital need. Evangelism is a vital part of this mission and we want to improve in this area of service. We want to help. You have placed a lot of trust in our mission and we want to help spread the borders of God's Kingdom. We will be contacting churches which we have worked with in disasters and have helped "teach much people there"to see if they could use our help as opportunity is granted us. As Mike, Rosemary and I have worked in disasters in Bayou La Batre and there has been many new converts due to the work of many, we plan to go to BLB May 5th - 11th to work with several new Christians. This new church is looking forward to our coming and our work in helping in this area. Bro. Dave Neal and his preacher Doug from the Somerset Church of Christ in Somerset, Ohio have just completed a weeks work there and there have been, I believe, 6 baptisms. Follow up teaching is needed as soon as possible and we are going to do our best.

How did we decide to do this followup?

We have thought of many things: we could hold personal evangelism seminars, attend various meetings where we could set up a booth about "Disaster Assistance", publicizing our work, or other worthwhile activities. We have chosen to use our "spare time" in helping churches do follow up with new converts. As time allows, and no disasters are occurring, we plan to make ourselves available to congregations to do follow up teaching after a person becomes a Christian, just as we make ourselves available in disaster work. It is our hope this effort will be of help in "grounding "new Christians in the faith "that was once delivered to the Saints." Please pray for our efforts together in this mission.

2009-04-24T22:06:00.000-04:00

South Carolina Wildfires

2009-04-24T09:09:00.002-04:00

Don Hudson our Director of Evangelism has talked with Elder of the Myrtle Beach Church of Christ and he tells us that they have brought in more fire fighters and with the winds being calm overnight that things are in better control. He said that most everyone that had been evacutated were being taken care of. He will let us know if there is anything we can do in the area.

Recap of Kingwood Heights, Murfreesboro TN from 4/11-4/18

2009-04-21T08:35:00.002-04:00

193 Family Care Packs Delivered, 15 Different areas work in during the week, 19 different homes worked on Saturday 4/18, 1804 meals prepared and delivered, 519 volunteers helped from 14 different churches. Thanks to everyone

Update from one of our wonderful volunteers today

2009-04-18T19:51:00.001-04:00

HAD A GREAT DAY. GOT IN A GOOD CREW WITH A BOBCAT AND 3 CHAINSAWS AND 3 COLLEGE KIDS. I RAN A CHAINSAW QUITE A LOT. THE GUY WITH THE BOBCAT, FROM MY COUNTY AND THE CHAPEL HILL CONGREGATION IS A HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD. THE CITY LEFT A GREAT BIG JOHN DEERE WITH AN EIGHT FOOT BUCKET NEARBY FOR THE WEEKEND. HE HAD A KEY THAT FIT IT AND WE USED IT ALL DAY AND DUG UP SEVERAL HUMONGOUS TREES THAT HAD BLOWN OVER IN A COUPLE OF YARDS. THEN I HAD A GREAT LUNCH YOU GUYS MADE. I'M WORN OUT AND KNOW I WILL FEEL IT TOMORROW, BUT WE GOT A LOT DONE WITH A GREAT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. I WENT WITH A FARMER ABOUT MY AGE FROM MILTON, A LITTLE PLACE THERE IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY AND HE AND I WERE A GOOD MATCH. HE WAS AN EXCELLENT COMPANION AND WORKER. HIS NAME IS LANIER LESTER.(LANNIE) JUST HAPPENED THAT ONE OF THE PLACES WE WERE SENT TURNED OUT TO BE A LADY WHOM HE HAD GRADUATED WITH. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND TAKE CARE. RANDY

646 Meals Delivered Today

2009-04-18T13:40:00.002-04:00

Today we have over 225 volunteers along with chainsaws and 5 Bobcats working in multipule areas. Photos below are of the volunteers signing in, volunteers by Bobcat and other equipment and volunteers packing lunches.

253 Meals Today

2009-04-17T14:16:00.002-04:00

We are expecting 250 volunteers here tomorrow to help with the cleanup. We are buying enough food to prepare 600 meals to be delivered tomorrow.

250 Meals taken out today

2009-04-16T20:34:00.002-04:00

This afternoon we had meeting here at Kingwood Heights which was attended by members of 7 different Churches of Christ and 1 rep from the Red Cross. The meeting was planing and review for this weekend. There will around 150 volunteers here working with us. They will be divided up into groups and sent to different houses for cleanup, chainsaw and some tractor work.

260 meals delivered out to the affected area today

2009-04-15T13:50:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow we have a meeting here at Kingwood Heights with several local Churches of Christ to review plan for the upcoming weekend. Many volunteers will be coming into the area to help. Today Elders from Kingwood Heights are out surveying the area to know what is needed.

Photos are of the distribution area, kitchen and 2 of Kingwood Heights Elders.

Assistance Work at Kingwood Heights CoC

2009-04-14T13:51:00.002-04:00

Today we served 185 meals out in the areas that cleanup work is being done. Last night I contacted some of the TV stations and this morning Fox was here at 8AM with a crew to film and talk about what we are doing here. Should be on Fox Nashville tonight at 9AM. Also last night at 9PM there was a knock at my door and it was 3 deacons from one of the area Churches of Christ. They wanted to know how they could work with us. We went back into the church and I gave them a overview of our work. They will probably be working with us starting this Friday.

Disaster Assistance and Kingwood Heights CoC

2009-04-13T14:43:00.002-04:00

Today members from Kingoowd Heights and other churches delivered 155 meals and other food boxes and supplies out into the community. So far today the bad weather has missed us. Don and Rosemary Hudson just arrived and are setting up their motorhome.
I have a meeting setup for 3PM today for Don and the Elder here that oversees the Spiritual outreach program. They are going to review how they want to handel the Bible Studies that we setup.

Arrived at Kingwood Heights in Murfreesboro Safely

2009-04-12T23:39:00.002-04:00

I arrived around 4PM local time and was given a tour of the church and review of what they are already doing. Got RV setup and than went to church. After church we had Elders meeting witch was attended by Walter Hill Church of Christ. They are one of the Churches of Christ that we are also working with. After meeting I headed to Walmart with one of the Elders to start planing our meals. Tomorrow morning starts off with early trip to Sams Club and than a 9 AM meeting with city officals to review when all streets will be open and get passes if needed. There is 80% chance of heavy rain and stomrs here tomorrow so not expecting to have many workers out. We plan on delivering some meals tomorrow and meeting with several churches that are wanting to help. Kingwood has their distribution center open from 8AM to 9PM. Also they have members taking supplies out to the areas.

Disaster Assistance Headed to Murfreesboro TN

2009-04-11T20:42:00.004-04:00

I will be arriving tomorrow for Kingwood Heights Church of Christ, Murfreesboro TN. They have a load of supplies from Disaster Relief already there and another one will arrive on Monday if needed. We are also going to serve meals to the people affected, volunteers and workers that are in the area. With all the areas in need around the country we realize that we can't cover the entire US at the same time. So what we have done is contact over 50 Churches of Church in the Murfreesboro area and let them know that we will be cooking lunch and if anyone from their congregation wants to help deliver meals around the affected areas that all they need to do is give us a call and tell us how many they need and what time they can pick them up. If we could get 15 or 20 Churches of Christ out delivering hot meals that would be wonderful.

Waiting this morning to hear from our spotters in AL, TN and GA

2009-04-11T07:07:00.004-04:00

Tornado kills 2, injures 41 in Tenn.

A tornado killed a woman and her 9-week-old infant and also injured dozens Friday in central Tennessee as a line of storms lifted homes, ripped off roofs and dumped hail in the Southeast.

I have talked with Don Hudson several times today about the tornadoes in his home state TN

2009-04-10T17:48:00.002-04:00

Colo. Hurricane Team Now Predicts Average Season

2009-04-07T17:30:00.000-04:00

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Hurricane experts at Colorado State University have scaled back their prediction for the Atlantic and now say this will be an average season with 12 named storms, including six hurricanes. They say two of them could be major.

Researchers William Gray and Phil Klotzbach earlier predicted an above-average season with 14 named storms -- seven of them hurricanes and three major.

Gray said Tuesday the forecast was dialed down because of improved chances of El Nino conditions that suppress hurricane formation.

This is Gray's 26th year of forecasting hurricanes.

His predictions are watched closely by emergency responders and others but critics say such long-range forecasts have little practical value beyond focusing public attention on the danger.

Flooding

2009-04-03T14:09:00.002-04:00

I have talked with 4 churches in Louisiana, 1 in Texas, 2 in Alabama and Don
has been in touch with Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. So far most of the
flooding is mainly street flooding. We let everyone know they can give us
a call if things change and we are needed.

Because You Asked

2009-03-31T21:21:00.001-04:00

There are people on a regular basis that stop me and ask, "exactly what does Disaster Assistance do? We are always glad to answer their questions. May I again talk with you about what we do and how we have been so successful in signing up so many people for bible study?
First of all, it is getting to be spring time and this can be a time of weather damage. We are ready to go. We go into an area, meet and work with the local Church of Christ, prepare and cook a good hot meal for often hundreds of people. This meal is served to them and they are told and know it is from the church of Christ. We are now able to give bible tracts out to the people where ever we are. We keep several on hand so that we can immediately give them out. We want them to know that the meal is made possible by caring Christians in the Churches of Christ. People often reply with such thanks as "Thank God for the Church of Christ".
We also help the local church unload supply trucks. When a supply truck pulls up to a congregation who has never been in a disaster before, everything can be overwhelming. We offer not only to help them unload the truck, but also show them how to store and distribute the supplies. Churches we have worked with are very pleased that we help them do this, because as I say the supply situation and how to properly get them out can be overwhelming.
The other effort in this evangelism work is to sign people up for a study of God's word. Believe me when you are there helping to supply them with food and other necessities, they know that these Christians really care. Actually,we have people that hear about our bible studies and come asking us to be signed up for a bible study. We have their names, address and telephone numbers and we work with the local church in setting up the bible studies. We have found that when members of the local church conduct the study or at least go with us on the study, students have a better connection with the local church and this helps them in there beginning days with the church.
Last summer during hurricane season, we set up over 500 bible studies for local churches.
Now a logical question, and I was asked this question today from a Christian in Florida, how do you get funds to do this? The only answer is from sacrificial Christians like you who are interested in helping people and have a special interest in evangelizing here at home. This is a great work. We don't have a paid staff, no paid advertising, etc. We are under the elders of the Alachua Church of Christ, 14505 N.W. 145 ave. Alachua, Fl. 32615.
If you would like to volunteer to help, we would love to hear from you. You can certainly email me. donhudsoncoc@gmail.com I would be honored to hear from you. I hope you will tell your local congregation about this work too.
If weather disaster strikes, you will be hearing from us, and we really mean this, if you can add this work to your prayer list, we would appreciate that too. Don

Flooding and Tornados in Louisiana

2009-03-27T21:22:00.002-04:00

Don talked with the Church of Christ in Houma, LA today. They had has some flooding and now a second storm has just went thru the area below is one report. The church in Houma had inquired about us coming there and helping them after Gustav but we had just arrived in Lake Jackson so we couldn't go at that time. Don told them to call if thing got worse and we would be there.

A second night of storms in the South battered southern Louisiana, toppling power lines and trees, damaging homes, and injuring at least one person.

The National Weather Service received reports of at least two possible tornado touchdowns in Louisiana late Thursday and early Friday. In Terrebonne Parish, the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center for those whose homes were threatened by flooding or were without power.

Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet declared a Parishwide State of Emergency early Friday morning. The Parish received more than eight inches of rainfall overnight.

Storm/Flood Watch

2009-03-25T08:36:00.002-04:00

Don Hudson (Disaster Assistance Spiritual coordinator) talked with the Fargo Church of Christ over the weekend. They thought that all of the sandbags they were filling and putting in place was going to help. The church there is not in the flood area. Don told them about Disaster Relief Nashville and also to let us know if they needed anything.

2009-03-22T16:44:00.001-04:00

Sojourners were great help working with me during Gustav and Ike last year.

New Email Address disasterassistance@gmail.com

2009-03-20T09:16:00.003-04:00

please code your server to accept emails from this address.

Email Server Problems

2009-03-17T10:14:00.003-04:00

My email server is having some problems. If you are trying to email me and it is not going through or if I haven't replied back to you that is why. If you need to get a message to me you can send it to Don Hudson and he will get the information to me or you can call me at 407-739-4963. Sorry for this problem I will have it fixed as soon as possible.

Flooding in Ohio

2009-03-13T09:02:00.003-04:00

Don Hudson and I have been in touch with our Ohio contacts and the report back is that the flooding at this time doesn't warrant a trip by Disaster Assistance CoC into those areas at the present time. We will continue to monitor the conditions.

Disaster Assistance We have been preparing and are ready for our next mission

2009-03-06T14:12:00.001-05:00

Update from Royce

2009-02-26T08:33:00.002-05:00

Hemley Rd Church Puts New Baptistry to Use.

This past Monday I received an excited phone call from our partner in the gospel, Daphne German from the Hemley Road church of Christ. On last Sunday they had their first baptism of the year, and in the church’s brand new baptistery. A 51 year old widow was baptized by brother Billy Spalding. What joy the church shared as they witnessed this event.

The baptistery is not trimmed out yet, but it held warm water (a very positive thing since the church has no heat, or A/C for that matter) and this was the first of what will be many, many baptisms at HRC. The baptistery was a love gift from a sister church at La Place, Louisiana. When they learned that their brothers and sisters in Bayou La Batre were in need they responded. Many thanks to the church in La Place for their expression of charity.

Since its inception after Hurricane Katrina, the Hemley Rd church has had no less than 10 baptisms each year. For a congregation with only a few mature believers they are doing a wonderful job of getting out the gospel and loving the people of the Bayou. They have an on going food pantry, still repair citizens houses and give tons of clothing, food, and furniture each year, facilitate an on going Grief Share ministry, and put the gospel in shoe leather in their community.

Never have I met any Christians who are more determined, live more sacrificially, and are more filled with faith than Christ’s ambassadors at HRC. Against overwhelming odds and in the face of severe opposition they have continued straight ahead. They live by faith and are bringing hope and deliverance to the folks of the bayou through their Christ centered ministry and message.

I thank God for our friends at Hemley Rd church in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. They have many needs, not the least of which is an air conditioning unit for the church building, the fellowship building, and the house on the property. Last summer when the temperatures were in the high 90’s they fed children, had classes, and worshiped with only a couple of fans to move the air. They have ministered all winter without heat, but have continued because of the warmth of their hearts.

Do you know an HVAC contractor who loves God? Tell him about the needs at HRC. Why not stop fretting about the decline of the DOW index and invest that money in something with an eternal benifit? At a minimum, please put these dear people on your prayer list and lift them to our Father.

I couldn’t be prouder of my forever family at the Hemley Rd church of Christ in Bayou La Batre. Many thanks to them for being examples of what a church should look like. May God continue to bless them and you.

For the very good news about Jesus,
Royce Ogle

Bywater Church of Christ New Orleans

2009-02-22T20:37:00.001-05:00

I had the privilege to attend church serve at the Bywater CoC in New Orleans this morning with Brother Jones and his family. They had aprox 25 people in attendance. I spent about 3 months there after Katrina working with Brother Jones at the mission. It sure was nice to get back there and visit with them. Nate and his family have been serving the community for many years. This week they are making repairs on the roof of the church building that was damaged by Gustav. Photos below are of the main entrance, meal being served after church service and the new building that has been built just across the street. I am going to try and have lunch with Nate and his wife Yvette before I head back to Florida. It is amazing to see how much work has been done but also more amazing to see homes and business that look about the same as they did the day after Katrina hit.

2009-02-22T20:17:00.004-05:00

Update from Don

2009-02-16T20:53:00.002-05:00

The Howell Church, for which I preach and serve in a missionary capacity, had a wonderful period of fellowship, last Sun. Ev. On the third Sun. Ev., at Howell, after our evening worship, we engaged in another period of fellowship in which we enjoyed a common meal together. Sun. night, we went to the Catalpa Church of Christ, had evening worship with them and then joined them for another period of fellowship in sharing a common meal with them. It was certainly a great period of exhortation. I was asked to speak on the mission efforts of "Disaster Assistance" . This congregation which is only about 10 miles away, had greatly helped us in the disaster work last summer and fall. We wanted to tell them first hand of the great effect that they had in helping feed so many needy people and setting up so many bible studies. I also explained what an opportunity we have in reaching Hispanic people and that I was spending an hour a day in trying to learn the language so that we can better serve and help in mission work.
The Catapa Church is very interested in helping in the mission work of "Disaster Assistance" as we stay in contact thru email, phone calls and when possible personal visits and updates as to the numbers of people we are helping not only physically but also spiritually in our success in setting up bible studies with people.
Some of the members of Catalpa also told me that they would like to volunteer and go on some missions with us. We can sure use volunteers who want to help people both physically and spiritually.
Mike, our Director, is keeping a very watchful eye on weather reports and forecasts. We certainly hope that there won't be any weather related incidents this spring, but if there are, we want to be ready to help. And because of your prayerful support, we expect to be ready. When people see us pulling up in our rigs and our Orange Shirts that reads "Disaster Assistance" Church of Christ, they know the Church of Christ is there to help. They are thankful and grateful for Christians showing they care. Don

2009-02-05T11:31:00.002-05:00

It is not an overstatement at all to say that those who worked with "Disaster Assistance" during the hurricane damage of last year helped greatly in introducing people to the Church of Christ. Many people who knew nothing about the Church of Christ signed up for bible studies and members of the church from across the country joined in helping, spiritually and physically this great work in introducing the love of God by helping feed people in time of need and by showing and teaching God's word to them.
Because of your generosity we in "Disaster Assistance" are going to be able to greatly expand this ministry in helping and reaching even more. We are in preparation right now for any disasters that may occur because of spring floods and other weather related incidents in which we (you & us) may be able to help in an effective way. It is always our aim not to just feed and care for people physically, but to also use this time to teach people the word of God. We have found that as we provide meals and other necessities, that they are appreciative of us and want to know more as to who we are and to study and learn God's word. Hence over 500 signed up for bible study during our work in the hurricane season of last year.

Remember, "Disaster Assistance" is under the elder ship of the Alachua Church of Christ in Alachua, Fla. 14505 N.W.145 ave Alachua,Fl.32615 Thank you for your involvement and we will do all we can to live up to your faith and confidence in us and this work for the Lord. Don

The Buzzard, the Bat and the Bumblebee

2009-02-02T18:15:00.000-05:00

THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash .

THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing all we have to do is look UP!

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and trust in our Creator who loves us.

Update from Don

2009-01-31T19:58:00.000-05:00

We had a great mission in Key West. We found many people there receptive to our out reach. We went into many homes inviting them to the "Super Saturday" VBS and to worship with us the following day.
Our main goal as we went on this mission trip was to strengthen the new brethren which we had baptized in the previous years. This we worked at with due diligence. We were pleased however at the efforts the church is making in out reaching to the community. They wanted us to develop a program and plan to involve the church with the community. We developed another "Super Saturday" . For three days leading up to Sat., many of us went door to door with fliers telling about the "Super Saturday" We offered transportation to those who needed it. Many of us worked hard. When Sat. arrived we didn't know if anyone would show up. The teachers were very well prepared, but would the people come? THEY DID COME. We had 52 for VBS that morning. Around half of them came back for services Sunday morning and some of them brought their parents. Who said people are not interested in church anymore? The church has names and addresses to do future follow up. Due to all of our efforts there, there have been 5 baptisms. It was a good mission. Thank you so much for your prayerful support of this mission.
In our future reports, we will be reviewing our efforts at the lectureship at the Florida School of Preaching. Don

Disaster Assistance Gustav/Ike Mission Recap

2009-01-31T15:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks to you, the first "Disaster Assistance" mission was a tremendous success. This mission started Sept.5th with Hurricane Gustav in Baton Rouge, and ended Dec.9th on the Bolivar Peninsula with the results of Hurricane Ike. There were 39083 meals prepared and served. There were just over 500 people signed up for bible study. We helped unload and distribute 10 semi- truck loads of supplies such as food boxes, cleaning supplies, mattresses and appliances, furnished by "Churches of Christ Disaster Relief" of Nashville and other churches. We would like to especially thank the Churches of Christ at Goodwood, Lake Jackson, El Campo, Broadway, Cox Blvd, Whites Ferry Road and many of the Churches of Christ in the Houston area. not only for their financial support, but also for providing volunteers to help in serving and bible studies. Now we have singled out these churches, but truly churches from all over the country sacrificially donated and continued to donate the funds that were so necessary to accomplish this great mission. God was glorified, Christ was magnified and the local churches were edified.

Now for some more good news. Quite frankly, when we started this mission under the oversight of the elders of the Alachua Church of Christ. Our hope was that we would receive enough donations to at least help people close to home. Gainesville, Fl. Boy were we surprised!!! You made it possible for us to minister to people well over 800 miles away. Churches from all over the U.S. were so helpful, that now we can say we are prepared to go almost anywhere, anytime in the whole country to help in most disasters. Everywhere we go people see our "Orange Shirts" which tells them, "the Church of Christ is here helping." Thank you so much for making this possible.

As you may wish to continue supporting this mission, a special separate Sunday contribution, ear marked "Disaster Assistance", will enable us to be "ready to roll" at a moments notice. We found that this was an excellent way for each person to give if able and as they see fit.

Remember you and we together are "Combating Natural Disasters with Acts of God"

Donations should be mailed to Disaster Assistance, Alachua Church of Christ, 14505 NW 145 Ave,
Alachua FL 32615

Below two photos are Gene Burgett and Don Hudson speaking at Lectureships

2009-01-22T16:02:00.003-05:00

Disaster Assistance at Florida School of Preaching Lectureships

2009-01-19T09:58:00.001-05:00

Florida School of Preaching Lectureships Jan 19-22

2009-01-09T09:58:00.004-05:00

I will be setting up a booth for Disaster Assistance at this 34 annual lectureship. My good friend and Disaster Assistance coordinator Don Hudson will be speaking. This years topic is "Do You Understand Restoring the Erring?" Please stop by and talk with us between the sessions. Here is the link to their web site if you would like to view the schedule and speakers. www.fsop.net

Update from Hilltop Rescue and Relief

2009-01-08T21:21:00.001-05:00

Hilltop Rescue volunteers spent the month of November working on the Bolivar Peninsula. Conditions there are very bad. The landscape is bleak. Parts of the area look like a giant hand has come down and smashed all the buildings flat. Part looks like that giant hand just swept everything away. Other areas look like "normal" flood-damaged land--ruined homes with a bizarre variety of debris littering house and yard. The water is not safe to drink. Electricity is still out in many neighborhoods. The only aid available on the peninsula has been at the Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department, where three volunteers from other states have been giving out cooked meals, bottled water, and any other donated supplies on hand. They have spent time not only cooking and running the distribution center, but also sitting and talking with anyone who came in, letting people cry out their despair, and sometimes offering to help with clean up. Mike and Eva 1 and Eva 2(Disaster Assistance), thank you. Thank you for the example you set for everyone who crossed your path. Thank you for your servants' hearts. Thank you for feeding the Hilltop Rescue volunteers hot lunches. We will miss you as you pack up and leave for home. The volunteer camp has been quiet for a few weeks. In a few days we will be gearing up for another week of work. We will be closed for Christmas. If we get volunteers who have committed to come and serve between Christmas and January 2, we will work during that time and then close the camp. God has truly blessed us with the people we have met and worked with over the past three months. The Clear Lake church of Christ and the church staff have been amazing, and we have been privileged to partner with them. To all of you who have worked side by side with us, cooked us meals, helped with paperwork, made donations, offered up prayers for this ministry . . . thank you. May God bless you all for the love you have shown and the seeds you have planted.

New Years in Cambodia’09

2009-01-01T08:28:00.000-05:00

On the week-end after Christmas we had the privilege of participating in seven baptisms. Four were on Saturday at Toul Trails and involved an 86 year old Lady. She was bent and hardly could walk, needing to be lifted in and out of the four foot diameter well casing used as a baptistery. Such is the condition of most of the older women of Cambodia. There is a calcium deficiency in the Cambodian diet that causes a weakening and distortion of the bones as people, especially women, grow older. There is no dairy industry in Cambodia and I believe milking cows would help solve that problem. Maybe someday, in connection with some of the orphans that seem to be accumulating at the Lord’s various congregations, we might be able to begin such an industry.

Semoun, a Cambodian youth we have been taking care of and training at our Kampoung Cham facility, traveled with us and visited his mother who lives behind the Buddhist Temple at Toul Trails. He has three sisters there and brought each a new change of clothes he purchased with money he was rewarded for memorizing a large number of Bible verses. He won the $10 in a memorization contest held on Christmas Day at Kampoung Cham. Semoun has no father that he remembers and his mother is struggling caring for his three sisters. During the time there he visited with a Buddhist monk who asked about the possibilities of coming and studying with us at Kampoung Cham. We will see how that develops.

On Sunday we visited Chan-un-Date where three were baptized after services. An eighty year old lady was among those baptized. She too had to be lifted in and out of the baptistery. Both of the older ladies mentioned in this report, were baptized with family members. That is good as it normally indicates a family decision to embrace the Christian Faith.

One of the four officials required to give permission for the Medical Mission scheduled to come to Kampong Cham on the 20th of January has refused to sign. Pauley says he may want a bribe, but we don’t do that. So we are making arrangements to take the mission with its free medical services and medicine to Koh Dach. The facility and access is better at Kampoung Cham, but at least Koh Dach has restroom facilities for the doctors. Pray for that official to repent. He is hurting the poor of his area and causing us some inconvience. Pray God to continue to bless us with the increase and thank him for the blessings he has given.

In Christ's service.......... Bill Singleton

Update from Don

2008-12-29T21:48:00.001-05:00

Our next mission begins Jan. 5th, next Mon. Rosemary and I plan to leave rather early in the morning for the 3 day trip to Key West, some 1100 miles south of here. This is our third year working with the Key West Church. There will be a group of us sojourners there highly involved in evangelism. During the past two missions, we have taught and baptized about a dozen people. We will give special emphasis on this mission in teaching more material to these new converts. Our team leader is Doug Shepherd and his wife Maxine. This couple has been doing this type of mission work for over 10 yrs. They are great leaders. They are great servants. Rosemary and I count them among our very best friends. We are planning to have a "Super Saturday" on Jan. 10th. We will be teaching lessons on the life of Christ. There will be a break for refreshments and at the conclusion of the three hour teaching sessions, we are planning to have a cook out. We will be using this occasion of pleasant experience for the children and adults who attend to set up further bible studies with them. We hope to sign up a lot of people for bible study. The Key West Church is looking forward to our coming as we are looking forward to this effort. Good progress is being made in the area of community evangelism, I really believe good things will be occurring with the church. This is a mission that is developing into a real success story.
Am looking forward in speaking at the Fla. School of Preaching Lectureship in Jan. We will be teaching methods in helping get people back in church. We have had some real success this year in this area of evangelism at Howell. One reason is the very interested friendly brethren that make up the congregation at Howell. There is a great desire for teaching and also a great desire for fellowship. "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." When you go to where people are, you can take them where you are going." More on the lectureship in the next report. Don

Carol Ogle(On the Home Front)

2008-12-28T16:04:00.002-05:00

I n my work as the Relief Ministry coordinator I have met many people who have learned this ancient di-rective well. In the dozens of phone calls I take and on our visits to churches on the front lines of hurricane re-lief, again and again we receive what we intended to give. Our purpose is to encourage and bless the de-voted workers and in every case we are the ones who are encouraged and blessed by their courage, love and servant spirits.
What a joy and unique blessing to see first hand my brothers and sisters in Christ living out the grace of giving by devoting themselves to others as they use every means to serve the hurting. The heroes among us are too numerable to mention by name but I am forever thankful to God and to those who live out His life by giv-ing themselves freely to the needy.
Without you, our faithful supporters, the work of helping the hurting could not be accomplished. Your generosity does not go unnoticed by WFR Relief or our faithful Lord. Thank you for all you have done to help us help those who lives have been forever changed by dis-cree

2008-12-28T10:53:00.002-05:00

A Pendleton County town in mourning the loss of a man who lost his life in a Christmas Eve crash.

Jason Carr was killed on December 24 when the car he was driving collided with two other vehicles on the AA Highway just south of I-275 in Wilder, Kentucky.

Thirty-year-old Carr was a resident of Falmouth, Kentucky, and a father of two girls, ages 9 and 11.

A friend of Carr's, Brian Owens, says, "He did anything he could for the girls, and even with the rough schedule he would get them through the week to go do something fun like going to the pizza place in Falmouth, taking them to soccer games, playing basketball out back of his house, soccer in the living room with the girls and his dog Dutch when it was cold and wet. Really anything that a Dad does. There are so many people whose lives he touched with his smile and twinkle in his eyes, he loved life and made it so much better for his family and friends."

Carr worked for the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Services for Carr will be on Saturday December 27 at noon at Peoples Funeral Home in Butler, Kentucky. Visitation is at noon with the funeral service immediately following.

Update from Bayou La Batre

2008-12-21T22:18:00.002-05:00

2008 has been a good - if challenging - year at the Hemley Rd. Church of Christ in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. We now have an average of 60 people in attendance and have had ten precious souls baptized this year. Our teens and children's classes have outgrown our classroom facilities but we give God the glory that the children love to come to church and learn more about Jesus.
Our summer intern, Tyler Cope, a student at Oklahoma Christian University, was a great leader for our kids. With the help of our dear friends and partner church in El Campo, Texas, our teens attended Camp Bandina in Bandera, Texas last summer. It was a time of great growth and fellowship with our friends from the congregations in El Campo and Lake Jackson, Texas, along with many other churches. Two of our young men were baptized at camp.
We had a great Vacation Bible School in July which was conducted by members from the White’s Ferry Rd. Church of Christ in West Monroe, La. Their Jr. High group taught our kids many new songs and activities. We have 3 new families in our church as a result of their children attending the VBS.
After Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, we were able to serve hundreds of hungry people through our Food Pantry. Our Hemley Rd. group has also coordinated activities with the local city council, the Local Lions Club, the Fire and Police Departments, and many relief organizations. This is a church that is known around the coast of South Alabama for its love and compassion for those in need. \
Church members recently participated in a day of Christmas time activities. We had Friday night Christmas banquet for team members and parents of children who are active in the Sunday school program. Saturday activities included Bayou Recovery Project workers involved in the Christmas toy Drive sponsored by the New York City Firefighters at the Bayou LaBatre Community Center. Over 2000 children received gifts and got to sit on Santa’s lap. Afternoon festivities in-cluded sponsoring a float in the annual Bayou La Batre Christ-mas parade, complete with “Mr. and Mrs. Claus” (aka Ken and Ann Bolden of the White’s Ferry Rd. where Ken is a direc-tor of the World Radio ministry)
Evening activities included a Christmas play involving over 50 children with more than 150 community and family members in attendance. For information about opportunities to participate in numerous volunteer service projects for 2009, please contact: Daphne German, at daphneger-man@hotmail.com or phone 251-609-0448.
Thank you for all your prayers and support of the Hem-ley Rd. Church and the Bayou Recovery Project. We give God the glory for all His blessings!

Disaster Assistance Gustav/Ike Mission Recap

2008-12-18T19:07:00.009-05:00

Thanks to you, the first "Disaster Assistance" mission was a tremendous success. This mission started Sept.5th with Hurricane Gustav in Baton Rouge, and ended Dec.9th on the Bolivar Peninsula with the results of Hurricane Ike. There were 39083 meals prepared and served. There were just over 500 people signed up for bible study. We helped unload and distribute 10 semi- truck loads of supplies such as food boxes, cleaning supplies, mattresses and appliances, furnished by "Churches of Christ Disaster Relief" of Nashville and other churches. We would like to especially thank the Churches of Christ at Goodwood, Lake Jackson, El Campo, Broadway, Cox Blvd, Whites Ferry Road and many of the Churches of Christ in the Houston area. not only for their financial support, but also for providing volunteers to help in serving and bible studies. Now we have singled out these churches, but truly churches from all over the country sacrificially donated and continued to donate the funds that were so necessary to accomplish this great mission. God was glorified, Christ was magnified and the local churches were edified.

Now for some more good news. Quite frankly, when we started this mission under the oversight of the elders of the Alachua Church of Christ. Our hope was that we would receive enough donations to at least help people close to home. Gainesville, Fl. Boy were we surprised!!! You made it possible for us to minister to people well over 800 miles away. Churches from all over the U.S. were so helpful, that now we can say we are prepared to go almost anywhere, anytime in the whole country to help in most disasters. Everywhere we go people see our "Orange Shirts" which tells them, "the Church of Christ is here helping." Thank you so much for making this possible.

It is our hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to the great doors of opportunity to serve God in the coming year.

As you may wish to continue supporting this mission, a special separate Sunday contribution, ear marked "Disaster Assistance", will enable us to be "ready to roll" at a moments notice. We found that this was an excellent way for each person to give if able and as they see fit.

Remember you and we together are "Combating Natural Disasters with Acts of God"

Donations should be mailed to Disaster Assistance, Alachua Church of Christ, 14505 NW 145 Ave,
Alachua FL 32615

Merry Christmas and please continue to keep us in your prayers

From the Goodwood CoC Bulletin

2008-12-18T13:01:00.001-05:00

This past year has been a year of blessings. This congregation has been able to serve the Lord in a variety of ways in 2008. Our Bible classes, benevolent outreach, mission efforts, fellowship with one another, and worship to God have been a blessing to each of us. As the elders of this church, we are doubly blessed by these opportunities and by the wonderful people with whom we serve. Let us commit to increasing our service to the Lord in 2009. The Elders

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It has truly been a blessing to have served alongside of you in 2008. We have rejoiced as many have been added to this congregation and said goodbye to many others, reached out to our community in the wake of Gustav, mourned the passing of a few of our members, spent much time together in the study of God’s Word, and experienced several transitions in our leadership. Kristi, Eden, and I thank you for loving all three of us and for continually overwhelming us with your support and encouragement. During our fifth Christmas in Louisiana, we truly have much for which to give thanks. We pray that the Lord will bless you with a wonderful holiday season and an even better new year.

Love, Doug, Kristi, & Eden

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What a busy year 2008 has been at Goodwood! It was fun to watch the new wall calendar in the office fill up with the year’s events. Some changes were made this year – Camp Maywood, new formats for VBS and Bible Bowl – and all were a great success! We will miss our many friends who moved away this year, but will never forget them. Plans for 2009 are underway, and will bring new opportunities for us all to do the Lord’s work. May you all be blessed with a joyful holiday season and happiness in the New Year! Love, Peggy

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This year has been a mixture of both happy and sad: So happy that we’re here at Goodwood and able to be a part of this wonderful congregation of the Lord’s family; sad that we had to tell so many sweet brothers and sisters goodbye this year as they moved away or passed on to be with our Lord. I’m so thankful for the chance to serve our Lord in such a loving environment with such wonderful people. Clayton and I and the boys wish everyone a heartwarming holiday this year and then safely return to continue the Lord’s work in 2009! Love, Clayton, Chris, Samuel & John