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101 Ways to Help People in Need
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Caring Criticism: Building Bridges Instead of Walls
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Hurricane Katrina
Ways You Can Help
Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers have often been on the front lines when disaster strikes, responding quickly and effectively to the needs of those devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, and human-caused tragedies such as the Oklahoma City bombing, 9-11, and school shootings.
The best way Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers can help is to work under the guidance and direction of experts in disaster relief. By working apart from these experts you could inadvertently impede the efforts of others or even put yourself and others in physical danger. By working with and under their direction, your help and care can be directed to where it is needed the most, and you can add to the work of others a deeper level of emotional and spiritual care.
Relief Organizations
If you would like to be involved in providing assistance, contact one or more of these organizations.
- The American Red Cross*
- The Salvation Army
- United Methodist Council on Relief (UM-COR)
- Catholic Charities
- Lutheran Disaster Response
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (North American Mission Board)
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
- Other denominational relief organizations
- Area hospitals and medical clinics
- Local or regional denominational offices
- Local social service and relief agencies
- Local ministerial alliances
Many of the leaders in these organizations have worked with Stephen Ministers in the past and deeply appreciate their caring ministry skills. These experts will also know what needs exist, where the greatest needs are, when help is needed most, and what ways you can best help.
In the past, Stephen Leaders, Stephen Ministers, even entire Stephen Ministry networks have assisted relief organizations at the local level in many different ways.
- Canvassing neighborhoods to assess needs
- Helping connect people to government assistance programs
- Ministering at relief shelters
- Organizing fundraisers and gathering supplies
- Providing physical assistance during the clean-up process
- Cooking meals for victims and relief workers
- Helping to deliver food and supplies
- Holding special prayer services
- Providing long-term Stephen Ministry care to people
Long-Term Follow-Up
One area where the expertise of Stephen Ministers can be especially valuable is in long-term care. Too often, within a month or two after a disaster the rest of the country has moved on, forgetting about the event, assuming the needs are no longer there, or focusing on another tragedy. Yet those traumatized by the crisis often have physical, emotional, and spiritual needs that go on for many months and sometimes for years.
If your congregation is near the disaster site, contact local congregations, hospitals, and social service organizations to let them know that your Stephen Ministers are available to provide long-term care to victims. Make the offer again from time to time because victims sometimes are in shock and don't realize their need for help until much later. Stephen Ministers are at their best in providing one-to-one care, so providing long-term care for those deeply affected by a tragedy is a powerful way to witness to Jesus' love.
Read how Stephen Ministry congregations provided care to thousands who fled Hurricane Katrina.
Read about how Stephen Ministry congregations have helped provide relief following other disasters.
*Note: Clicking on any of the hyperlinks above will take you to another organization's Web site. Stephen Ministries St. Louis provides these links as a service to you but has no control over the content you will find there. Click here for more information.