In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, many who weren’t greatly harmed by the storm, me included, were wrestling with a question. God has been kind to us and blessed us; how can we show His kindness to others who were not so fortunate?
On Wednesday, October 5, we found an answer. Ten students from our student ministry along with ten adult volunteers showed the kindness of God to a family that had suffered extensive flood damage. In two hours, we ripped out four feet of drywall throughout the home and hauled it outside along with most of the appliances and cabinetry. We even had enough extra hands to remove furniture from another flooded home.
The experience was a shaping one for our students.
“It really opened my eyes,” said high school sophomore Lucas Vasseur, our First Church Youth Elder. Another student, Mei Wu, agreed, “Even though we did see these terrible events live on TV, it really showed us how much this affected our community.”
As many of you know, flood damage can be repulsive— it’s smelly, slippery, and heartbreaking to see—but this group was undeterred. Mei said, “We really tried our best to help these people in Jesus’ name. It also showed us not just to work by ourselves but to work together with others to spread Jesus’ love to our community.”
“I’d like to do something like that again,” Lucas told me afterward. Lucas wasn’t alone, and many joined us at another home on Saturday. It turned out that giving teenagers a crowbar and telling them to destroy a house makes for a fun time! We hope to continue these service days in the coming months and welcome any others who wish to join us.
Some days later, I received a text from one of the home- owners’ children. “I don’t know how to thank the church family for all they’ve done for our mom and dad. We simply would have been lost without [the First Church family].” Other church members had lent a vehicle, provided friendship, and aided with insurance questions.
We might not always know how to show God’s kindness, but we can always try. And sometimes, it turns out that goes a long way… in others’ lives and our own.
by Pastor Steve Clark
