General Overseer Calls on Churches to Aid with Flood Relief
Church of God General Overseer Tim Hill travelled with a delegation to flood-ravaged Louisiana to assess first-hand the critical needs of churches, pastors, and their congregations.
The floods of the last week have been compared to the 2005 devastation of Hurricane Katrina, with some areas receiving even more water this time. The floods are nothing new to several of the congregations, some of which have only recently recovered from previous storms.
Organizations such as Operation Compassion and God’s Pit Crew have already been on site providing supplies and commodities and more is on the way, including more than a dozen semi trucks of supplies from Operation Compassion. State Administrative Bishop Melvin Shuler reported that churches from at least five states have contacted him and committed to send teams to help rebuild the churches, which, due to the frequency of occurrence, are unable to secure flood insurance.
With debris from the flooded church behind them, General Overseer Tim Hill addresses congregants and volunteers at the Life Church.
Among those accompanying Hill were Secretary General John Childers and Director of Youth and Discipleship David Blair. In the six hours Hill’s team was on the ground the entourage toured five churches in the Baton Rouge area, all with various levels of flood damage. The five included Bethel Worship Center in Amite, Life Church at Central, New Beginnings at Baker, Robert Church of God and Savannah Branch at Folsom.
“It meant so much to them that the top leader in the Church of God would take the time to visit them,” Melvin Shuler said of the reactions of the affected pastors and their congregations. “It was a real pick-me-up and a shot in the arm.”
The delegation also met with the district overseer Mario Barahona and the leadership of the Southwest Hispanic Region. Regional Administrative Bishop Fidencio Burgeuno reported several churches were impacted and many members lost their homes.
General Overseer Hill, in an appeal video to pastors emailed on Friday, August 19, stated that this disaster has not gotten the headlines of other storms because of other breaking news such as the Olympic Games and presidential election.
“We need your help,” was the simple plea to pastors as Hill made the request of pastors to announce the great need to their congregations. “We will need teams from multiple churches committing to travel and work, because these churches are not going to be able to afford the labor to rebuild. All that is left in some of them is a roof and bare walls.”
Churches, individuals and organizations are asked to also give sacrificially in this crisis by giving in one of four ways, including online, by text, or mail. A disaster relief graphic is located on the Church of God website (www.churchofgod.org) with information on where and how to donate.
