Church Wide Appeal for Disaster Funds Issued
CLEVELAND, TN—Devastating fires have been consuming regions of northern and southern California, displacing thousands of people, including more than 100 Church of God families.
“Over the past several months, the Church of God and its members around the world have been impacted by multiple disasters that simply cannot be described,” stated Church of God General Overseer Tim Hill. “From volcano eruptions in Guatemala, to hurricanes and flooding in Florida, Virginia, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and now the most recent fires in California, the disaster relief agencies of the Church of God have responded to more than twenty-five global disasters within the past twenty-four months. With prayerful support and assistance, Church of God organizations were among the very first to arrive on the scene at many of these disasters.”
Led by Operation Compassion and assisted by Men and Women of Action, God’s Pit Crew, the Chaplains Commission and a host of other Church of God related organizations, the Church of God has been there to assist in each of these disastrous situations. However, to be able to respond – and to respond quickly – to new disasters, especially the fires in California, additional resources are needed immediately.
“It seems as though we have not been able to completely respond to one natural disaster before another one has occurred,” Hill stated. “Because of such, our disaster response funds are running alarmingly low. And with the California fires, we have already lost one church, at least two parsonages, and hundreds of members have lost their homes and workplace. So, I am calling on each church – and each Church of God member – to help us build our funds back quickly so that we can respond to the California fires and all that may lie ahead. You have heard me say over and over that when life is at it worse, God is at His best.”
A video from Hill concerning the disasters over the past few months has been emailed to pastors for viewing by local churches this coming Sunday, November 18. In it, Hill makes an appeal for everyone to help in giving a generous offering to help replenish the disaster relief fund. To access the video, please follow the link: https://vimeo.com/301067642.
To respond personally or as a church to assist in providing funding for the Church of God’s efforts to assist those impacted by the California fires and other natural disasters, please visit www.cogdisasterresponse.com. To donate through Church of God World Missions, please use Project # 765-0036-060.
