Christians play lead role in Katrina disaster response

  The disaster that took place in late August in New Orleans, La., and the Gulf States as a result of Hurricane Katrina defies description, it was so massive.
   But the level of response by concerned agencies — including countless churches and ministries right here in the Pacific Northwest — also is hard to summarize because of its size. Virtually every gathering of Christians sought to show Jesus’ love in some tangible way to the victims of the hurricane.
   Here — as examples — are brief news items that came to Christian News Northwest in the weeks following the devastating hurricane:
Forward Edge International
   Based in Vancouver, Wash., the local relief/mission agency Forward Edge International announced Sept. 24 that it has been awarded a matching grant of $1 million to be used exclusively for rebuilding efforts in the hurricane area.   The agency is mobilizing hundreds of volunteers from not only Oregon and southwest Washington, but from around the nation, to travel to the disaster zones and participate in direct relief efforts there. For more information, go to forwardedge.org.
   Forward Edge also is playing a key role in the faith-based Katrina Response Initiative, a nationwide coalition of churches and relief agencies. For information, go to www.katrinaportland.com.
Northwest Medical Teams International
   Always a leader and very visible in response efforts, the Tigard-based ministry lived up to its regional reputation by responding rapidly. Volunteers and staff went immediately to Louisiana, caring for hundreds of victims of Hurricane Katrina. Bill Essig, vice president of international programs, provided logistical support in the New Orleans Convention Center. That center was evacuated earlier, but was then used by the military to treat sick and injured evacuees. Four Washington medical volunteers joined Essig and were caring for survivors as they were being rescued in the surrounding area.
   Several medical volunteers from Washington state cared for patients at the Special Needs Shelter at the Heiman Center in Lafayette, La. The volunteers also relieved exhausted local medical workers at the center who had been working around the clock. Northwest Medical Teams’ Mobile Health Care van, stocked with $255,000 in medical supplies, arrived in Baton Rouge with 8,000 lbs. in supplies distributed to church-based shelters in Baton Rouge.
  “The need for medical help continues to be critical,” says Bas Vanderzalm, president of Northwest Medical Teams. “Our staff and volunteers have seen disasters around the world and report that the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is as vast and severe as any they have ever seen.” For details go to www.nwmedicalteam.org.
Living Hope Church, Vancouver, Wash.
    Living Hope Church sent four truckloads of supplies and 15 volunteers to Louisiana last month (See www.livinghopechurch.com). The children at the church sought to help the children affected by Hurricane Katrina by sponsoring a Reading Incentive program where at least 125 percent of pledges sponsored will be given to needy children in Louisiana and Mississippi in new Usborne Publishing books. Additionally, Living Hope Church is sponsoring an online book fair with Usborne Books. Donated books will be sent to directly to shelters. Books also can be purchased for personal or gift use and Usborne will match 50 percent of all purchased books in new books for children in Louisiana and Mississippi. Go to www.alearningadventure.com for more information or to purchase and donate a book. Click on the Katrina Fund in the top right corner.
Hinson Memorial Baptist Church, Portland
   Hinson Church on Oct. 7 hosted a “Bread Upon the Waters” silent auction to benefit Katrina victims. All proceeds went directly to on-site churches involved in the rebuilding/healing process. Many recognized professional artists offered original, quality prints at the auction.
Open House Ministries, Vancouver, Wash.
    Open House Ministries, a Christian shelter program, was invited by the American Red Cross to be a part of the solution to the homeless situation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The agency became part of the relief structure ministering to the victims and was holding open some of the shelter’s apartments through the end of October to serve the victims relocating to this part of the country. In addition, one of Open House Ministries’ professional family counselors was sent to Louisiana at the request of the Red Cross, and one of its case managers applied to go to Texas for a couple of weeks to serve in the shelters there.
Concordia University, Portland
    Concordia University has provided free tuition, housing and meals to three students displaced by Hurricane Katrina and was offering up to three more packages to similarly-affected students. Ashley Dunn of Tacoma, Wash., was to begin classes at Tulane University in New Orleans last month when Katrina put her future in doubt. About the opportunity to come to Concordia, she said, “I’m really excited. I have a lot of friends who are freaking out, and I didn’t know where I could go.” Michael Upchurch, a sophomore pre-med major at Tulane, also accepted Concordia’s offer. An alumnus of Beaverton's Sunset High School, Upchurch is relieved to be able to continue his molecular biology studies.
    Concordia is able to extend free tuition, housing, and meals for the fall semester to two more female students whose education has been interrupted due to the crisis in Louisiana. Concordia’s total aid package is valued at more than $75,000. Concordia’s food service partner, Sodexho, is contributing the free meal plans to help the students adjust to the abrupt change in their lives.
Crossfire World Outreach Ministries, Springfield
    Crossfire Pastor Aaron Taylor said the ministry was reaching out through an “Adopt A Hurting Family” program focusing on displaced families in the Baton Rouge area. “What adopting a family means is that we will work directly with our sister churches to find the truly needy families that have been displaced,” he said. “We understand that anyone’s efforts at this point don’t seem like enough, but for the families we help it will be life-changing aid. We will begin with one family and expand it as we have the gifts come in.” Crossfire also was sending a truck filled with bottled water, non-perishable food, blankets, quality clean clothes, chain saws, diapers, boxes of new Bibles, and more. For details, contact Taylor at aaront@4crossfire.com or 541-686-5433.
One by One Kids, Portland
    Rick Christman of One by One Kids said a candlelight vigil and fundraising event for the hurricane victims was held on the evening of Sept. 5 on Northwest 23rd in Portland.
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene
    Harvest House Publishers and its employees sent a combined gift of more than $10,000 to World Vision, an international relief organization, to assist in their efforts to transport food, water, and other supplies to those in need. For those taking shelter at the Houston Astrodome, Harvest House sent out hundreds of books ranging from children’s titles to titles on prayer and God’s comfort. Harvest House also participated in the “Pastor’s Library Replacement Kit” project, spearheaded by Purpose Driven Ministries, to gather books for pastors who lost their church buildings, homes, and resource books in the storm.
The Salvation Army Cascade Division
    The Portland-based Salvation Army Cascade Division geared up to offer support to any displaced residents arriving from Hurricane Katrina affected areas. Salvation Army Social Services was prepared to give assistance to people who are in need of everything from clothing to housing and medical needs as a result of losing their homes to the hurricane and flooding. Salvation Army emphasized that cash donations were the best way to help the agency respond. To give, phone 503-238-GIVE.
Winds of Praise Broadcasting, Newport
   This ministry, which operates KWPB-LP radio in Newport. offerd several boxes of new Christian praise and worship recordings and books to those donating $15 or more to the American Red Cross.
Luis Palau Evangelistic Association
    A team from the Portland-based Palau team that is preparing for the CityFest Houston festival in Texas next October dispatched its “Livin’ It Action Sports Team” to bring a truck and trailer full of food, water, diapers, Bibles and more to the stricken area. The Livin’ It director, Rick Weigele, is a former batallion fire chief from Arizona who has helped with other relief efforts.
“Amazing Grace Gospel Fest”
    A group of Portland-area churches joined together Sept. 9 to hold an “Amazing Grace Gospel Fest” benefit concert for hurricane victims. Featuring performances by local church groups. it was held at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church in Portland. Attendees brought donations of money, non-perishable food, and clothing to benefit the hurricane survivors. The gospel show was the first of many fund-raising and outreach efforts by the pastors and a local organizing committee.
Powerhouse Temple Church of God in Christ, Portland
    Pastor Mary Overstreet, spiritual leader of the Powerhouse Temple Church of God in Christ on 4525 N. Williams Ave. in north Portland, mobilized a “private army” to move a dozen families to Portland from hurricane-stricken Gulfport, Miss. Some of the survivors were young families with babies and children and young adults, while others were frail seniors, some in wheelchairs, who came across country by car, plane, or even a Greyhound bus.
    How quickly the Powerhouse church members kicked their relief effort into action astounded local workers and leaders. The church found apartments and was assisted by Goodwill Industries, which donated furnishings. The evacuees also were lined up for job training and placement options.
   Overstreet told The Oregonian she will cover the cost of rent—reduced by the landlord—and utilities in a southeast Portland apartment complex. She also cashed in two certificates of deposit and sold her Arizona vacation home for money to help people from her hometown of Gulfport to become self-efficient again.
Tree of Life Bookstores
    Tree of Life stores are holding a Bible Drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Churches in the stricken area said they are in need of 30,000 Bibles immediately. Tree of Life is going to match every Bible purchased as it did for a Bible drive to Africa last October. Those interested may come to any Tree of Life Store to purchase a Bible for $5 to be donated to Katrina victims, and for every $5 donation, there will actually be two Bibles donated in their name.
CityTeam Ministries
    A team of Portland staff members and volunteers joined CityTeam Ministries’ disaster relief effort as it sent people to the South last month. The Portland team flew out in mid-September to join other team members already on the ground. CityTeam is providing services and resource support in Baton Rouge, La. and Hancock County, Miss. CityTeam’s response plan is a long-term four-phase approach that is expected to last for six to 12 months.