When disaster strikes, the Church must be prepared to minister to those inside and outside its walls. Here’s our plan.

Of all the named storms in 2020, only one briefly touched Florida, while four have hit Louisiana. Churches must rise up to address gaps in the system. Our friends in Lake Charles specifically need our help still, so here are some updated ways to serve them.

You probably remember the time after Harvey—when the news cycle moved on, the first volunteers tired out, and so much work remained. This seclusion is even more palpable in Lake Charles, where power and water are just now being restored and the disparity between served and underserved neighborhoods is becoming clear. Let’s remind our Cajun neighbors that we’re in this together.

Now it’s our turn to help those affected by a devastating storm and to employ what we learned from that experience. There is no infrastructure to support even high-level volunteers. The best way to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura is to give financially and connect with people who are currently on the ground.

Coming as a shock to no one, 2020 is living up to forecasts for being one of the busiest storm seasons on record! Should a significant hurricane hit Houston—this year especially—there will be a palpable sense of hopelessness in the city. The Church must be prepared to minister to those inside and outside its walls.

‘Tis the season that no one wants to talk about: hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—pronounced “Noah,” ironically enough—issued its 2019 major storm forecast, calling for an average year. That means 2-4 major hurricanes. Of course, we’re praying that none of those of major storms make landfall in our beloved Houston area, but if they do, we want to capitalize on some of the lessons we learned from Harvey. And we're asking all our churches to join us.

There's no denying Hurricane Harvey was devastating. Many people lost everything and for months, the trash and debris along the side of the roads was a reminder of the devastation this city had experienced. But, those first rays of sunshine after days of rain brought a glimmer of hope. For disasters, though terrible, often bring out the best in humanity.