At the end of every year, it is normal for everyone to look back at the highs and lows. Maybe your mind is like mine, where you almost have little pictures of the past on a reel that you can scroll through.
But while a flood of memories recently rushed into my mind—a literal hurricane was barreling up from the Gulf of Mexico into the Southeast. Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene brought high winds, tons of rain, and incredible devastation.
The counties of Washington, Tazwell, Smith, Wythe, Grayson, and the City of Galax were declared disaster areas. Tens of thousands were without power in Virginia alone. Raging flood waters washed homes right off their foundations. The town of Damascus, with a population of about 788 people in Washington County, saw 19.5 feet of flooding in the southern end of the New River Valley. The stories go on and on.
Because of our partnership in the Gospel, SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief volunteers traveled directly to southwest Virginia and, within hours, were assessing the damage. Within days they were providing hot meals and hygiene kits for those in need. SBCV churches held prayer meetings and reached out with donations. Many heard about the needs and went online for DR training and certification.
While many of the basic needs in Virginia were met within a few weeks … those who have lost all they own to raging rivers and mudslides in Virginia and throughout other states number in the tens of thousands. Disaster Relief volunteers will be needed for months and months to come. Thank you for all you’ve done to respond so far – and thank you for continuing to respond in the future. Please keep up to date on opportunities for training and service through our website: www.sbcv.org/helene.
It is truly amazing how God allows us to be His hands and feet to those we’ve never met and introduce them to the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Together, we can literally create new kingdom snapshots through these everyday acts of service. And while we serve— we let them know they are truly not alone!
