ABHMS distributes OGHS grants in response to Midwest floods

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/25/19)—To help American Baptist regions and churches in efforts to assist survivors of recent floods in the Plains and Midwest, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has released $25,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) disaster-relief grants, on behalf of American Baptist Churches USA.

Grants were distributed as follows:

  • $10,000 to American Baptist Churches (ABC) of Nebraska;
  • $5,000 to Mid-American Baptist Churches of Iowa and Minnesota;
  • $5,000 to ABC of Wisconsin; and
  • $5,000 to ABC of the Dakotas.

Flooding caused destruction of homes among many members of First Baptist Church, Hamburg, Iowa, according to the Rev. Jacquline Saxon, executive minister of Mid-American Baptist Churches of Iowa and Minnesota.

“Some are losing their entire homes,” she says.

The downtown food pantry with which the church partners was also flooded.

While First Baptist Church, Red Oak, Iowa, was spared, Saxon says, the congregation requires support to aid survivors in surrounding communities.

“The church was not affected directly,” Saxon says. “But because their church supplies food to Southeast Iowans, they are going to see an increase in need and could use help with supplying food.”

How you can help

Please pray and consider donating to relief efforts in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

Donations can be made via your church; via credit card online through ABHMS’ website at abhms.org > Give Now; or check designated to “OGHS-2019 Midwest Floods” and mailed to the attention of Kim Wilkins at American Baptist Home Mission Societies, 1075 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406.

One hundred percent of donations go to relief efforts; no dollars are retained for administrative costs. To ensure that your church receives credit for your gift, write the church name on your check or, if giving online, in the “comment” box.

One Great Hour of Sharing is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.