"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
(Psalm 46:1 & 11)
August 27, 2011
Dear United Methodists of the New York Annual Conference:
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, the Prince of shalom, Healer of our brokenness, and Hope of the world!
As presently forecast, our area is about to be hit by a storm that could be one of the most devastating natural disasters of our time. To be sure, this is a time to put our trust and hope in God as our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. I would like our pastors and congregations to know that you are in my dearest thoughts and prayers for safety and strength. As a community of faith, we need to lift each other up in prayer and be ready to offer whatever help is necessary. Especially I urge our pastors and church leaders to look out for the most vulnerable among us.
Please know that our Conference will respond to the best of our ability to the needs of our churches and people. In collaboration with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), our Conference will engage in damage assessment, early response relief works and long-term recovery efforts. I would like to thank Rev. Joseph Ewoodzie, our Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, the Conference Disaster Administrative Committee, the District Disaster Response Coordinators, the Disaster Response teams, and many other volunteers who have been trained and are now standing by to offer themselves and their resources to us. It is a great comfort to know that our connectional church will work faithfully and effectively.
Our Conference Call Center is now set up and will be in operation by this evening. The call number is 914-615-2226. As much as possible, someone will respond to your call and will connect you to available resources for help. Please visit the "Hurricane Irene Disaster Response" page on our website at www.nyac.com/response for more information.
Although we are naturally anxious in the face of an enormous storm and the challenge it may throw at us, as people of faith, our faith remains confident. Indeed, our refuge is God who is with us, cares for us, and as always, will guide us through the storm.
In Christ,
