“…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
There are two distinct phases of disaster recovery. The first phase is the immediate response. For the first several weeks or months following a natural disaster, impacted communities benefit from being in the national spotlight. An outpouring of support floods the community from far and wide. Great relief organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse and the Red Cross quickly descend to offer much-needed aid. However, the attention quickly fades either because the national attention span is relatively brief or because the next news event emerges and takes center stage. Relief organizations depart, effectively ending the first phase of recovery. Next, the community enters the long-term rebuilding phase. During this phase the church, in God’s wisdom and sovereignty, provides an enduring presence to walk alongside the community.
Though Southwest Florida is not new to experiencing a major hurricane, each storm is unique, and Hurricane Ian was a different storm than Hurricane Irma five years ago. Irma made landfall in the center of the state’s southern tip, impacting particularly vulnerable communities located inland from the coasts and affecting nearly the entire length of the state. Hurricane Ian buzzed the Gulf Coast until making landfall on the barrier islands. While wind impacted many during Irma (a minority experienced flooding from rain saturation), Ian impacted the coastal areas and upstream waterways like the Imperial and Estero Rivers with extreme storm surge and severe winds. Because water intrusion was such a significant issue with Ian, countless folks in the community have been displaced, and CarFax estimates that over 350,000 vehicles were waterlogged. So, while lessons were gleaned from Irma, our church’s response to Ian is tailored to this storm’s impact.
Staging area at First Church.
In the immediate aftermath, a Hurricane Ian Relief Fund was established that has been generously supported by our church family and other churches across the nation, including congregations and businesses in California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia. Beyond monetary resources, the church established a network of additional provisions including, but not limited to, temporary housing options, helping hands for clean-up, loaner vehicles, transportation to appointments and errands, insurance and claims advice, laundry services, meal and grocery preparation and delivery, clothing, furniture, bedding and linen donations along with personal necessities and various other pressing needs. Well over 100 church members and friends of the church have offered assistance. Staff member Lana Myers, along with Deacon Margie Zenor, have functioned as a clearing house connecting the needs presented with the available provisions. In addition, First Church served as a staging site for Platinum Property Restoration, a Christian organization specializing in the recovery process for hurricanes, and Ranco Response, a FEMA subcontractor providing laundry services, bathrooms, and clean water to our community.
As of the writing of this article, just shy of $300,000 has been raised, and roughly one-sixth of these funds have been distributed to individuals, families, and local mission partners to meet their immediate needs. More than sixty families have been assisted, along with six First Church local mission partners.
Today, Southwest Florida continues the first phase of a long road to recovery. First Church is committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus, persevering while fixing our eyes on Jesus, praying that, just as unforeseen blessings came from the COVID-19 pandemic, God will bring serendipitous blessings through Hurricane Ian relief efforts.
Learn more about how you can help at fpcbonita.org/ian.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21
by Pastor Brad Rogers
