We know a disaster isn’t small
. . . when it happens to you or your neighbors, and the church is often the first called when disaster hits.
Crossings Disaster Response Team provides assistance to our community in the event of a disaster. Volunteers support those affected by disaster in Central Oklahoma through feeding, sheltering and bulk supply distribution operations. No special skills or knowledge is required, but volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
The purpose of the Disaster Response Team: Responding to the needs of the community during times of crisis or disaster by compassionately serving in the name of Jesus Christ.
Want to join the team?
A team of Crossings members (Red Cross certified) focuses its efforts primarily in the OKC metro area but are ready to serve wherever they are needed. If you are interested in this opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by assisting people during their time of critical need, contact Michael Milligan, Pastoral Associate of Missions and Outreach Ministries.
mmilligan@crossingsokc.org (405) 302-1250
Join the Crossings Disaster Response Team
—by Jim Killackey
(Article from the October/November 2009 Crossings News)
Crossings Disaster Response Team
Living in Oklahoma all too frequently puts us face-to-face with disasters that are cruelly deadly and incredibly destructive. Such sudden misfortunes can be manufactured by Mother Nature—or by man himself.
The Murrah Federal building bombing killed 168 people in 1995. … The 1999 tornado that cut a one-mile swath through central Oklahoma killed 44 people, damaged or destroyed more than 7,000 buildings, and caused $955 million in damages. … In 2002, 14 people plunged to their deaths when a tugboat slammed two barges into the I-40 bridge piers at Webbers Falls. The youngest victim was 3.
With such disasters so close to our hearts and minds, Crossings Community Church, working closely with the American Red Cross has decided to start its own Disaster Response Team to respond to disasters in the central Oklahoma area.
This is a good opportunity for our church. When disaster strikes, people often feel helpless because they don’t know where to turn. This can be a very scary time,” said Jason Nieuwenhuis, co-leader of the church’s forming response team. “In many cases, just a cup of coffee, a blanket, a place to get warm and rest, or a smiling face to talk to are sometimes all a person needs to feel a little better,” he said. This opportunity to cross paths with people who have had adversity gives us the opportunity to share Christ’s love in a demonstrative way. From our actions, those people can see the love and compassion of God’s people.
Being on the response team allows church members to “get out into the community when the community needs us most and to do it in fellowship with each other,” he said. “From our actions and encouraging words, people who may have never felt they needed God before might open a door.”
“We want to encourage people to be a part of this Crossings’ team,” Nieuwenhuis said. “The Crossings’ team will have an opportunity to help our Oklahoma brothers and sisters during times of disaster. Also in these stressful times, there will be great opportunities to see Jesus in action through others.”