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1. Hurricane Katrina
Updates
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Open Bible Churches
2500 Casady Drive
Des Moines,
IA 50315
Phone: 515.282.6491
Fax: 515.282.9216
www.openbiblecentral.org
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From the Heart
Ken & Nadine Groen, Regional Superintendent
Hurricane Katrina Updates
In the
midst of the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has brought to New Orleans and many other areas of the
Gulf Coast, our Central Region Open Bible Churches have had a chance to shine!
Many churches have collected offerings, prayed, sent supplies,
offered to care for familes, and shown the compassion of Christ.
I wanted to share a few of the reports that I have received via
email:
Our community is developing
a relief fund for people coming to our area from the
Gulf States....so far about 4 families. Our church will be helping
with that effort.
(Bill Niebuhr, Pastor, Church of the Open
Bible, Streator,
IL)
I know that you are very interested in the region helping with Katrina relief. 2000
survivors have been sent to Camp Gruber which is about 45 min.
from Tulsa. I decided that I want to do a healing service there.
Sept 22- Thursday morning. I announced it Sunday and already
have 14 lay people who have signed up to go with me. They are all
taking off work to go. It will be very easy to get these people
healed. We are also going to take items to them. One of the
little girls that was raped in the Superdome has been sent there..
She is 7 years old. I will be able to minister to that from
experience.
In addition we have joined with
the larger churches in the city in an effort called TEAM RELIEF.COM.
We will be sending down truckloads of things for 6 months.
In addition we will also be teaming with our missionary friend from Mexico, David
Hogan and his team. They have already gone and taken in a team
with all of their big rigs. We are sending donations to them to do
this as well. David and his men have raised 500 people from the
dead to date in their ministry.
Just to let you know what is
happening with this since you have been involved in communication
with it. Thanks. (Linda Budd, Co-Pastor, Open Bible Fellowship,
Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Just read your message.
I thought I would give you some other information to you.
Ellen is working with the Red Cross in Jackson, MS
and says that many of the people that are coming through there are
really still in a state of shock. There are many stories of
dispair at losing contact with loved ones and seeing people deador
dieing. I just heard on the radio today that there is
a possibility of 400 refugees coming to the
Galesburg area on
Sunday.
She has suggested that
each church adopt a family. We could help several people t
his way and hench make a great impact for Christ in the
process.
(David Haage, Credentialed Minister and member, First Church of
the Open Bible, Galesburg, IL)
Other
additional stories are: The churches and ministers of the Central
Region have given $1119.41 to the David Collier family. David is currently in Georgia
where he awaits discharge from the Army to be with his wife in her
medical need. His wife and child have been relocated to Houston
in temporary housing. David will leave soon to
retrieve what belongings they can in New Orleans
and join his wife in Houston.
First Church
in Des Moines loaded a 26-foot Penske
rental truck with all kinds of supplies and three membersof the
church drove it to Alabama
where several hundred evacuees were located. The church also
raised several thousand dollars to help in this effort.
Scott
Emerson in Chippewa
Falls,
WI has a family in his
church who has offered a home for evacuees to live in. They
are awaiting word to see if a family is willing to relocateto the
area and will extend support to them if they come.
Thanks
to all of you who are leading your churches in these and other
efforts. In Matthew 5:16, we read, "Let your light shine
before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father
who is in heaven." As we serve those affected by Katrina, may
the glory go to God and may people be drawn to Him.
Ken Groen, Regional
Superintendent
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