i sent this out as an email, feel free to comment here, if you did not receive the email, i apologize, i'm still updating my email lists.
hi everyone, apologize for the mass email, but I feel the need to ask for some discernment. this is the first attempt at online discernment, let's see how it goes.
for the past three weeks, i like many of you, have been deeply affected by the catastrophe in the gulf area of our country. many of us have given in many ways to help support the people affected. i am wondering if we should consider something a bit different to show our support. the different is what i would like us to consider.
pastor ben mentioned this at one of the staff meetings, but it was already on my heart. is it a feasible idea to not do an asp mission trip with the youth this summer, instead pulling together a church wide collaboration in sending a disaster response team to misssissippi or louisiana? we all know that the money and effort to participate in asp is an investment, and an investment that i feel is valuable. however, in the wake of this disaster, could our investments, in passion, energy, enthusiasm, monetary, and love come together to help those affected by this disaster?
there is quite a bit to putting together a disaster response team, which i don't mind being the point person in making that happen as part of the missions of the church. i plan on talking with jason brock, who is our conference representative that oversees this type of response from our conference with more details. till then, i can imagine that as a church we could bring a potential of 65plus people in varied work teams to put together homes or community buildings that would be springboards to putting back lives. it could be similar to the red bird mission team where we are a sufficient group some are working, some are cooking, some can do vbs for local children, some are setting up contacts for long term relationships..
as far as going into this, we would need to raise funds for everyone and develop a self-sufficient team, i would assume that by early june (when i could imagine this happening) there would be water and electricity, but housing might still be up in the air. we would be staying in similar type facilities as we do with asp, or maybe even tents. there would most likely be the need for a small team to go in ahead of the full team a few weeks or maybe months before the group (to take from star trek, an 'away team').
these are just thoughts and there are logistics that still need considerations, but i'd like you all to consider this prayerfully. is this something that we should consider and do? either way we would need to make a decision in the coming week or two, so that we can obtain an optimal work week with asp or begin preparations for a large disaster response team from FUMC Hendersonville.
shalom
gavin
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