October 3, 2022
Hurricane Ian was still pressing in on the Florida coast when Bob and I received a simple message: “Pack Your Bags!!” We were being asked to travel to Florida soon after the storm to help establish the work of Reach Global Crisis Response in aftermath of Hurricane Ian. There are three EFCA churches in Fort Myers, the area most impacted by Hurricane Ian. Thankfully, none of the church facilities sustained significant damage, but you have seen the pictures on the news – the area surrounding Fort Myers has been devastated!
I will be leaving for Florida tomorrow, and Bob will follow later in October, when he “just happens” to have some vacation time scheduled. We are both delighted that the Lord has extended our ministry into work with Crisis Response, and we are especially delighted when we can serve together!
What will Gail be doing in Florida?
My primary responsibilities with Crisis Response are in the area of Trauma Care. The physical needs of the communities impacted by Hurricane Ian are evident, and we want to meet those needs as we are able, but a storm like Ian does more damage than meets the eye. Not only are homes turned upside-down, people’s lives are turned upside-down. Our desire as a crisis response ministry is to come alongside people, to help meet their emotional and spiritual needs as well as their physical needs. Reach Global Crisis Response does a lot of work rebuilding homes, but an equal part of our focus is rebuilding lives. This focus is the primary reason I have joined Crisis Response, and it is this reason that compels me to pack my bag and drive toward the disaster.
If you would like to follow my journeys in Florida (and beyond!), please sign up for my blog at jesusourhelp.com or follow me on Facebook Gail DeGray. I will do my best to keep you posted with pictures, prayer requests and opportunities to give praise to the Lord for His work in the mission field that follows every crisis.
How Can You Help in This Time of Crisis??
There are three ways:
PRAY!
Pray for me as I head to Florida, not being sure exactly how I will be called upon to serve when I arrive. Pray for the families in Florida who have been impacted by the storm. Pray for their physical strength, their emotional resilience, and for provision of their financial needs. Pray for EFCA leadership and local church staff as they discern the best ways to minister to these hurting people and communities. Pray for safety and protection as workers gather from across the country to do the hard physical work of cleaning up the mess! Pray that even as doors are open to receive physical assistance, that hearts will be open to receive the good news of Jesus who truly is our help, our hope, and our healing.
SERVE!
Once we have our feet on the ground and some basic accommodations in place, we will be inviting others to come serve with us. If you would like to come as an individual, as a small group, or as a church team, please contact respond@efca.org for more information.
GIVE!
The EFCA Hurricane Ian Relief Fund will enable Reach Global Crisis Response to show up, to serve, and to help others serve alongside partner churches in both Florida and in Cuba, which was also heavily impacted by the storm. Give to Hurricane Ian Response Fund
If you would like to partner with me personally, you can make a one-time donation to help cover my living expenses while I serve in Florida for the month of October. I would also like to invite you to sign up to partner with me on a monthly basis. The Lord is opening doors for me to travel to various places around the globe as a trauma care worker and trainer. Your recurring donation would help me step through those open doors. Either way, thank you in advance for your support. Support Gail DeGray
If you have any questions about the Hurricane Ian response in Florida, or about the ministry of Reach Global Crisis Response in other parts of the nation and the world, please send me an e-mail at gail.degray@efca.org. I would love to hear from you!!
Praying that Jesus would be your help, your hope, and your healing today and always,
Gail DeGray
Trauma Care Associate
Reach Global Crisis Response
gail.degray@efca.org
In prayer….
Thank you, Caroline. Your prayers are both needed and appreciated!
Rick has a new email address so you should delete his old one. Also, I would like you to add mine so I will put it in the fields below. Love you and praying for you and Kat.