Cleveland, TN—Church of God benevolent agencies Men and Women of Action and Operation Compassion are on their way to staging areas and relief locations in central Texas in response to the devastating floods that have claimed the lives or dozens in and around Kerr County.
General Overseer Gary Lewis was joined by Assistant General Overseer and liaison to the Division of Care Wayne Dority to receive updates from Kelvin Page, executive director of OC and Phil Thompson who leads MWOA. The four were joined by phone by Rob Bailey, administrative bishop for the Church of God in Texas.
Bridges and roads leading into the primary disaster zones have been destroyed or heavily damaged hampering immediate relief efforts.
“As always, the Church of God is stepping up in this tragedy, and both MWOA and OC are mobilized, loaded and just waiting for the go ahead into affected areas,” Lewis stated. He asked Dority the best way for the Church of God family to assist and Dority explained the most effective method is through giving, funds of which will be funneled directly to OC and MWOA to increase relief efforts.
Thompson stated they have trailers that will provide showers, shelter, and sanitation, while Page said a stocked 53-foot trailer of supplies is on the way. Thompson also stated the availability of 1,000 cots needed for both victims and volunteers.
A staging area is being set up at Vision Heights Church of God in Brady, Texas, and at the Leander Church of God in Texas, about 30 miles north of Austin, and one of the hardest-hit areas.
The worst came early in the morning on July 4, between 3:30 and 4 a.m., when a flash flood emergency was declared as the Guadalupe River surged over 20 feet in less than two hours.
Bailey has been in touch with the leadership at both OC and MWOA and expressed appreciation in a communication to Texas pastors and leaders.
“I deeply appreciate their steady leadership in moments like these,” Bailey said. “Right now, we have disaster relief teams staged and ready, along with shower trailers, laundry units, water and filtration systems, and full cleanup crews through God’s Pit Crew and our Texas Men and Women of Action.”
Bailey said search and rescue efforts are still active. Rains have started falling again, and another flash flood warning is in effect.
“We’re in close contact with emergency management and will be working with them to distribute relief to those impacted. We’re asking for continued prayers, for the families who’ve been impacted, for the first responders who are still searching, and for wisdom as we navigate this situation.”
In closing Bailey shared a personal request for prayer:
“The pastor’s wife at Leander Church of God, Rosa Shelnutt, is facing unthinkable tragedy. Around 3 a.m. on July 4, her parents’ mobile home was swept away by the floodwaters. They are now among the 30 or so families still missing. Please keep them and all other affected families in your prayers.”
Further updates will be posted as warranted. Please follow the Church of God on Facebook and Instagram (@COGHQ) to receive updates, including a soon-coming video update with Lewis, Dority, Page, Thompson, and Bailey.
To give to Church of God relief efforts, please visit coggive.com [1] and designate your gifts to Disaster Relief.
“One hundred percent of donations will be applied toward Texas flood relief,” Dority stated.