Two Presbyterian church buildings affected by disaster
Please pray for two Presbyterian congregations whose church buildings were damaged/destroyed this past weekend.
Tornado in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
A line of storms, including 10 tornadoes, moved across Mississippi the night of February 10, 2013. Thankfully no lives were lost in the storms. About 82 people were reported as injured and more than 200 homes were damaged or destroyed, as were buildings on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church suffered severe damage, and the Presbytery of Mississippi offices were virtually destroyed. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has been in touch with the Presbytery and stands ready to provide all appropriate assistance to the affected community of Hattiesburg in collaboration with the Presbytery. Members of the PDA National Response Team (NRT) may be sent to Hattiesburg to help provide support to church leaders, connection to denominational resources, and assistance in planning the assessment of next steps.
See photos of the damaged church on flickr. →
Fire in Honey Grove, Texas
The historic (1901) Main Street Presbyterian Church in Honey Grove, Texas, burned to the ground in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 10, 2013. It is believed that the fire is the result of a lightning strike. PDA is attempting to contact leadership in Grace Presbytery to determine how best to respond.
More information can be found on the Grace Presbytery web site →
How you can help
Give. You can help respond to disasters in the United States through your financial gifts to DR000015 – U.S.A. Disasters and Emergencies.
Act. Sign up to receive PDA RIN (Rapid Information Network) emails to be aware of current responses and urgent needs you can share with your congregation. Assemble Gift of the Heart Kits for those affected by disasters in the United States and around the world.
Pray. Please pray that through the response of the faith community, the people and communities affected by these disasters and those offering assistance will be reminded of the faithful hope found in Christ.
