In the midst of organizing hurricane relief to secure the physical well-being of neighbors, PC(USA) leaders recognize the spiritual effects of trauma. With back-to-back hurricanes striking Florida within less than two weeks and disasters in general becoming more intense because of climate change, “there is so much loss of life, so much stress,” said the Rev. Dr. Kathy Riley, Associate for Emotional and Spiritual Care for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).
In the midst of the devastation from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church (BMPC) has become a refuge for those seeking food and comfort in a time of crisis.
When word began to circulate that western North Carolina had suffered massive damage from Hurricane Helene, one of the landmarks that came to the mind of many Presbyterians was Montreat Conference Center.
Nearly a week after Hurricane Helene made landfall, communities that sustained damage are still reeling from the consequences of the storm that tore through a major swath of the southeastern United States and caused an estimated 160 deaths.
Despite rhetoric to the contrary, there are many people making positive contributions to their communities after migrating to this country, and churches can do more to serve as allies.
As Hurricane Helene hurtled toward Florida and neighboring states, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and others in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) were monitoring the storm and calling for prayers amid predictions of catastrophic storm surge.
The inaugural Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage met in New Mexico last [month], creating a well-resourced community for Christians wishing to end gun violence.
Gathered online Wednesday night for their quarterly meeting, members of the Presbytery of the Pacific’s Immigration and Refugee Task Force heard from the Migration Accompaniment Ministries of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Nearly 30 people attended the meeting to hear from PDA’s Susan Krehbiel and Omar Salinas Chacón, as well as local advocates.
As then-tropical storm Ernesto neared Puerto Rico earlier this week, the director of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance briefed colleagues on the storm that was to come.
