Reflections from Super Storm Sandy

The following post comes from Ronnie Adams, a CBF field personnel serving in New York City. Ronnie is reflecting on the response to super storm Sandy.

Metro Baptist Church has always been a congregation ready to minister to people in need. Whether it is a homeless person at the door or a newly arrived immigrant, Metro responds to meet needs. Just as after 9-11, the church once again was called to be the presence of Christ in a major disaster after super storm Sandy devastated New York City and the region.

Metro’s first response was to provide shelter for individuals without power and heat, serve soup on site, provide hot meals at residential and social service sites throughout the city, and assemble emergency food bags and toiletry kits for storm evacuees. In an ongoing response, Metro has partnered with the New York Disaster Interfaith Service to coordinate with other groups seeking to assist people and neighborhoods affected by the disaster. Metro collects items needed by faith-based organizations ministering in the devastated areas of Far Rockaway (Queens) and Staten Island. Metro staff and volunteers organize the donations and rent vans to transport supplies to the sites where they are needed.

This level of response has been possible because CBF and other communities of faith were so quick to support relief efforts. The CBF Resource Center in Atlanta responded immediately sending $5,000 to assist with the great expense of responding to the enormous number of needs and requests for assistance. Churches around the nation prayed, and collected and shipped supplies making it possible to help hundreds. Metro anticipates having an ongoing role in the response due in large part to the financial resources provided by partners throughout CBF.

How wonderful to be a member of such an incredible church and to have the privilege to be part of the wonderful fellowship of the Cooperative Baptist family!