In response to the continuing need and the passage of Frances, on Thursday, September 9, the Disaster Relief Committee of Church of God Ministries authorized an additional $15,000 for Florida hurricane relief, bringing the total thus far to $30,000. These funds are disbursed by Florida Church of God Ministries, under the direction of Dr. Greg Wiens, to meet people's immediate needs. At the request of Wiens, Obadiah Smith, coordinator of Compassionate Ministries, will be traveling to Florida to help the state office set up an integrated, long-term strategy for relief and recovery efforts.
The needs in Florida and in the Caribbean are great. Compassionate Ministries, a ministry of Church of God Ministries, Inc., is collecting money to meet the relief needs created by the recent hurricanes. If you would like to help with hurricane relief, please send checks made payable to "Church of God Ministries" to Church of God Ministries, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018-2420. Please write "Hurricane Relief, Project 45.04502" on your memo line.
Even as Hurricane Ivan has moved across the Caribbean, leaving nearly total devastation in its wake, updates continue to arrive from Florida. With two hurricanes behind them, the Church of God in Florida is assessing damage and the cost of the storms. Recent reports indicate that more than sixty Churches of God have sustained damage. Many churches and homes damaged by Hurricane Charley sustained further damage from the rain that Frances dumped on the state. At Warner Southern College (WSC), insurance adjusters last week estimated the total repair costs at more than $2 million. HEART Missionary Training Institute, a freestanding organization of the Church of God located on the WSC campus, estimates that it will cost $65,000 to rebuild the training center.
In an update on September 7, 2004, Wiens reported that in the three weeks following Hurricane Charley, crews of workers coordinated by the state office in Lake Wales repaired or replaced more than sixty-five roofs, as well as removing fallen and damaged trees from more than sixty homes. The state office of Florida Church of God Ministries served as a staging area for the work crews, supplies, and meals. More than 243 volunteers came from Florida churches and churches across the nation. In excess of one thousand meals were served out the state office to volunteers and to those in need of a hot meal. Thousands of pounds of ice and water were distributed in the immediate aftermath of the first storm to the Lake Wales community. Coordination of disaster services has been the responsibility of DeLynn Imel.
Wiens's report indicated that Frances caused damage to churches in South Daytona, Vero Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Pearce; others had yet to respond at the time of his report. Frances has created further problems in that the state office has been forced to shut down due to water damage and mold, leaving disaster services with no staging area. Repairs will have to include a new roof, as well as extensive drywall, carpentry, carpet, and electrical work before the office can reopen. The timetable for that is dependent on insurance coverage and the availability of qualified contractors to do the work.
While damage at Warner South College has been assessed at more than $2 million, the most pressing need has been housing for incoming students. With many of the residence halls severely damaged, college president Greg Hall has been exploring the school's options. Due to the extreme saturation of the soil, modular units cannot be brought in at this time. However, Hal Reynolds, a WSC trustee, indicated in a recent conversation that the school has been able to lease two dorms at a local camp meeting ground until mid-December. New students are due to arrive Thursday, September 16, with classes beginning Monday, September 20.
Church of God Ministries is also collecting money specifically for repairs at Warner Southern College. If you would like to designate a contribution specifically for Warner Southern College, please send your check made payable to "Church of God Ministries" to the address above. Please write "Warner Southern Relief, Project 99.WSC" on your memo line.
