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In a dynamic partnership between Disciples congregations and regions, Disciples Home Mission's Office of Disciples Volunteering and Week of Compassion, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has launched a major, two-year "Disciples Disaster Recovery" program as part of the Disciples’ long-term response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and other recent tropical storms.
The initiative calls for 750 Disciples volunteer work groups to go to mission sites across the Gulf Coast between September 1, 2006 and August 30, 2008 to repair and rebuild hurricane damaged homes and participate in other recovery activities, and members of First Christian Church of Concord have been among the volunteers.
DHM has called Tod Iseminger to the position of Minister for Leader Development within the Office of Disciples Volunteering to recruit, coordinate and schedule volunteer work groups. We are hoping scores, even hundreds of Disciples congregations across the whole church will join this effort to bring at least 750 work groups to the Gulf Coast and insure a strong, caring and long-lasting Disciples participation in hurricane recovery efforts.
Disciples "Mission Stations" have been confirmed for the fall in partnership with Disciples congregations in Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; Metairie, Covington and Slidell, La.; Algiers, La.; and Gulfport, Miss. In addition, several Week of Compassion supported interfaith recovery organizations and local Habitat affiliates in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas have asked Disciples for work group assistance.
In addition to support of the Disciples Disaster Recovery, Week of Compassion will also continue to under gird the work of the "Mission Stations" as well as offer small grants to work teams participating in the program. Week of Compassion will continue to work with the regions of Alabama/Northwest Florida, Great River and Southwest to provide resources for pastoral care of pastors and care givers and revitalize and strengthen hurricane impacted congregations and work with local congregations to meet ongoing needs of families struggling to get back on their feet.
Ecumenically, Week of Compassion will continue to support the efforts of local interfaith recovery organizations, Church World Service, Habitat for Humanity, Camp Noah and other partners involved in long-term recovery. Hurricane work trip grant applications can be downloaded from the Week of Compassion Web site.
Visit the Disciples Disaster Response web page to find out how you and your congregation can participate in disaster recovery.
For more information on Week of Compassion’s hurricane response, contact Week of Compassion staff or at (317) 713-2442.
To schedule a work group or request information, contact Tod Iseminger or at (888) 346-2631 or visit the Disciples Home Missions Disaster Relief web site to register online.
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