ABHMS reminds of ongoing need for prayers, donations to help weather-ravaged regions
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 05/13/2024)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) renews its call for prayers and donations during this season of deadly weather across the continental United States that has resulted in at least seven deaths and vast property loss since late April.
As of Monday, May 6, residents of 39 states came under the threat of tornadoes, severe winds, torrential rain and the flooding that ensues. The most severe storms manifested May 8 and May 9 in Tennessee, North Carolina and Florida, killing at least three people. This tragedy occurred approximately one week after the Central U.S. was devastated by recent weather that killed four, including an infant.
“Our generosity is the answer to someone’s prayers,” says the Rev. Lisa Harris Lee, ABHMS’ director of Healing & Transforming Communities. “We work to disburse resources and volunteers, months and years after storms because the needs for recovery and rebuilding often remain long after the initial impact. We are still supporting rebuilding efforts in western and eastern Kentucky since 2021 tornado and 2022 floods.”
Your donations to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) are directed to the designated disaster within weeks of the event and then long after, sometimes for years, as neglected needs emerge. All your gifts will make a difference in the lives of people we may or may not know and show the love of God where and when it is needed most.
The World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA administers OGHS. The committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing the distribution of the annual OGHS offering received by churches.
How you can help:
Please join American Baptists in supporting the relief efforts directed toward those affected by the tornadoes and their aftermath. One hundred percent of designated OGHS gifts are allocated to domestic disaster relief.
You can donate via your church or directly online.
Checks designated to OGHS – Spring Tornadoes should be mailed to ABHMS’ Office of Development, care of Kim Wilkins, 1075 First Avenue, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406. If intended, they should also include the name of the donor’s church to ensure that it receives credit for the gift.
To learn more, visit abhms.org.
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.
