Kentucky Ice Storm Disaster Response - February 2008 CATALYST is moving to mobilize help.
CATALYST Mission had it beginnings in Martin, Tennessee, just a scant 10 miles from the Western Kentucky border. We have recently been overwhelmed at the spiritual and physical needs coming in from all over this nearby region. There has also been an overwhelming response from people wanting to help in Jesus’ name. On Monday, February 2nd, Director Andrew Brown will be surveying a local need in partnership with Crosswind Church of Union City, Tennessee. Crosswind discovered displaced families are camping out in a local hotel lobby and are in need of food, water, and prayer. Authorities are predicting it could be March before some Western Kentucky homeowners receive power, and many of the people left homeless have crossed the Tennessee border seeking relief. We feel, along with Crosswind and other local churches, there will be continuing ministry needs throughout the next few weeks.
CATALYST will also be in contact with Baptist volunteer coordinators, Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, and Samaritan’s Purse, which has set up a base near Popular Bluff, Missouri. We will be posting needs and points of contact here on our website.
If you are interested in receiving an e-mail about local and regional outreach teams and how you can help, please e-mail us. CATALYST is praying about coordinating teams to respond by meeting physical and spiritual needs for God’s glory. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
We have run into a need of literally refugees that have come to Union City, TN from the Clinton and Hickman Kentucky areas. I talked to a couple last night, Mike and Betsy, they were told by authorities that it would be at least March 1 or later before power is restored on their road, much less their home. Their kids have been told school is off indefinitely. Mike said his house was spared damage, but his property is a mess. With no power (or water) they are displaced. They are kind of stunned looking- not knowing what to do.
Thanks to the owners and management of the Hampton Inn in Union City, people without resources have not been turned away. They are staying in the lobby, in the weight room, wherever. Since last Tuesday, the Hampton staff and owners have been buying food to provide something hot for the displaced folks, regular guests, out of town electrical workers, etc. even the paying guests are 90% displaced and tired of fast food!
Crosswind Church and a few Catalyst folks kicked in last night to feed the people. Big thanks to Andy Blackwell, Karl Johnson, and Sandy Mehlhorn for pointing CATALYST to this need. After talking to Manager Kathy Garner, I volunteered our CATALYST connections to:
• Provide hot food for 50-75 people
o pizza casserole or your favorite casserole (casseroles be made in disposable pans)
o any kind of bread
o any kind of drinks
o desserts (Jana and Catalyst College Students have this covered)
o Provide some folks to go over and just visit/encourage/listen
Our Catalyst Collegiate Director Jana Ogg 731-514-2007 and student club President Kelsey Sigman are the points of contact for food pickup and delivery. They will be taking the food over leaving Martin at 5PM.
You can bring food to Kelsey and Jana or another designee who will be in the parking lot of FBC Martin from 4:30- 5PM (near the rear doors to the church in a black Chevrolet SUV)
Please sign up with Sondra Todd 731-587-9797 if you can handle a menu item..I have meetings today so cannot be the POC. Our CATALYST folks can mobilize once they know the need!
If you’d like to go over and just encourage people, hear their stories, they would LOVE that. We don’t need to overwhelm them just 5-8 people something like that. The manager’s name is Kathy Garner? Eden and I plan to personally go over for a few minutes tonight and thought some of you might join me.
Folks, it is the right thing to do. It is an opportunity to show grace to folks in need.Jesus showed us grace in a time of emptiness. I think the CATALYST connections will come through and pray the witness of our Lord Jesus will be shown. Matthew 6:33
There may be other opportunities to serve. We have been digging through the requests and connections. We know that Samaritan’s Purse and KY Baptists will be coordinating efforts we could possibly join.
I am also asking Jan Ingram to open a Disaster Relief account that we will designate to jump in on this or other similar disasters. If you’d like to give to this or to other CATALYST needs please send to Catalyst Missions/Receipting Office PO Box 485 Martin, TN 38237
