W. Derrick Lea (left), shares with NAD president G. Alexander Bryant what the local ACS Disaster Response team has been working on in St. Louis, Missouri, during the General Conference Session's impact! st. louis community service project. Photo: Caleb Durant/Iowa-Missouri Conference/Mid-America Union, for North American Division
After the deadly tornadoes in May of this year, which caused widespread damage in Missouri and Kentucky, the Adventist Community Services (ACS) team continues to provide active support. In St. Louis, Missouri, there was significant property damage, and several lives were lost.
After gathering information about the affected areas, ACS Disaster Response launched relief efforts and continues to operate under the leadership of the local church. Neighboring churches will support recovery efforts in the coming weeks. The NAD president and other leaders visited the distribution center located at the Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church.
In Texas, relief services are underway following deadly floods from early July. Flash floods along the Guadalupe River left at least 119 dead, reports of missing individuals, and caused catastrophic property damage. Kerr County was hit the hardest, where the death toll is the highest, including dozens of children.
ACS has been in contact with the Kerrville Seventh-day Adventist Church, where the pastor and pathfinder club have mobilized to distribute goods to the community.
Adventist Community Services volunteers and local Adventist youth group of Pathfinders load boxes of supplies onto a pickup truck to help flood victims in Kerrville, Texas. Photo provided by Adventist Community Services
According to Bo Genke, Southwestern Union ACS director, “During our visit, we established a connection with the State Regional Voluntary Agency Liaison. Plans are in place to deploy our mobile disaster unit to the Walmart parking lot in Kerrville on Thursday morning. This unit is being stocked and prepped for transport. Once operational, it will be capable of serving up to 2,000 individuals with clothing, hygiene kits, blankets, diapers, and wipes.”
ACS has been collaborating with local officials to ensure the response aligns with the greatest community needs. A volunteer sign-up page has been launched to prepare for the upcoming debris removal phase. Once authorized, teams will begin mucking and gutting homes.
In preparation for aid, ACS has replenished inventory with an additional 500 cleanup buckets to support community needs. Additionally, trained Pathfinder Master Guides — many of whom previously served during Hurricane Harvey across Houston and the Gulf Coast—are on standby and ready to deploy as needed.
To provide further support to those affected, Emotional and Spiritual Care services are scheduling outreach services. Key operational activities are progressing to provide critical support for both survivors and volunteers.
“The North American Division remains committed to supporting these vital response efforts,” said W. Derrick Lea, ACS executive director. “We ask for your continued prayers as we minister to affected communities through relief, recovery, and compassion.”
Visit the Adventist Community Services website for updates and to donate.
Adventist Community Services is the official community outreach ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the North American Division territories which comprises the United States, Canada, Guam and Micronesia, and Bermuda. ACS serves the whole person, a concept known as holistic ministry whose mission is “Serving Communities in Christ’s Name.”