ReachGlobal Crisis Response

Crisis creates a mission field where we can share the love of Christ with those in need.

‹ Posts

More than the Storm

When we go into a new response, we always prepare to hear traumatic stories from the crisis. Stories like Jim's,* who rigged a system of straps from the neighbors' house to escape the rising water, or like Linda's,* whose insurance didn't start until the week after a hurricane flooded her entire home. We remind our staff and teach our volunteers that listening to these stories could help a homeowner as much or more than any work we may do at their house.

But many times, what we find is the stories go far beyond a single crisis event - people want to talk about more than the storm. While talking with homeowners in North Carolina, we met a woman whose house flooded, and then found out she also lost her mom the day before the storm. In Florida we gutted a home for a second time after Hurricane Milton flooded a house we had repaired from Ian, but we also came alongside the homeowner who had lost his brother in the two years since the first flood. In Kentucky we continue to serve families who flooded two years ago, and are also supporting and encouraging a community that was recently rocked by the loss of a young girl. Rebuilding may bring us access to the homes, but these stories and the conversations that follow are where the disciplemaking ministry happens.

Stories like these are why ReachGlobal Crisis Response is focused on building our trauma care team, equipping churches with trauma care basics, and developing resources for our staff and your church to minister to people who are hurting. There are a lot of hurting people in the wake of a storm, but there are people in crisis all around us. We want to help your church reach out to the hurting in your own community. Email crisisresponse@efca.org for more information on our trauma care basics, or to schedule a training for your church.

*names changes for privacy

Send a Response

Share your thoughts with the author.