From Brethren Disaster Ministries
Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever appear in the Caribbean Sea. It caused extensive damage in Haiti before making landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 27 as an extremely powerful and destructive Category 5 hurricane. Melissa passed over the island nation heading north to make landfall in Cuba on Oct. 29 as a weaker hurricane with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.
The Church of the Brethren response to Hurricane Melissa is being coordinated by Brethren Disaster Ministries staff working with local partners and Global Church of the Brethren Communion member denominations.
In Haiti, Brethren Disaster Ministries is in communication with the leadership of the Church of the Brethren in Haiti, who are completing a comprehensive assessment of the storm’s impact. A response plan will be developed. The Unify Christian Church of the Brethren (1121 NE 205th Terrace, Miami, FL 33179, 305-384-8632) is collecting food and hygiene items for shipment to Haiti. Please be in contact with the Unify Church if you wish to make a donation.
In Jamaica, the response is through Church of the Brethren pastor Dennis Webb and the Caribbean-American Family Network (CAFN), a nonprofit based in Illinois, which he supports. Brethren Disaster Ministries plans to support the cost of shipping supplies that some Church of the Brethren congregations and CAFN are gathering to send to Jamaica.
In Cuba, a $5,000 Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) grant is providing some initial relief to a group of pastors and congregations. The Church of the Brethren in Venezuela has developed a mutual relationship with this Cuban group. The grant funds were sent to the Venezuelan church, which passed on the funds during a recent meeting between church leaders.
Longer-term response plans will focus on needs in Haiti, where the Church of the Brethen connection has been strengthened through disaster responses since Hurricane Matthew in 2008. Brethren Disaster Ministries tries to support responses that typically do not receive a lot of attention from others. There are many international organizations working in Jamaica, while few are providing services in Haiti.
Find out more about the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries at www.brethren.org/bdm
To give in support of the EDF grant for Hurricane Melissa relief, go to https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/bdm
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