Why I Serve through ROA

I WAS BORN AND RAISED in southeast Texas, particularly the Gulf Coast. As a child, I can vaguely remember storms that hit our area. Still, it wasn't until Hurricanes Katrina (August 2005) and Rita (September 2005) that my heart was genuinely gripped with compassion for those devastated by the disaster.

My mother was in the last stages of cancer, on oxygen and a feeding tube, living in a mobile home when we received the forecast that Hurricane Rita was headed our way after Katrina's devastation of New Orleans.

I gathered her necessary gear and planned for generators to be set up at our church. We secured the church as much as possible before letting the seniors and disabled know that if they were planning to ride out the storm, I would rather that we all do it together at the church. A mandatory evacuation order had been issued, and no emergency services would be available until

the storm passed.

As you probably know, Hurricane Katrina was the most significant and third-strongest hurricane ever to land in the United States. We were about to discover that Rita would be the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Gulf of Mexico and the fourth most intense Atlantic hurricane.

We survived. The Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) arrived immediately following the storm. Along with the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army,

I saw Catholic Charities, Baptist disaster response agencies, Lutheran Disaster Response, and United Methodist Relief trucks

and trailers arriving.

Where were the Pentecostals

Where were our Apostolic men and women eagerly arriving to assist the hurting, the hungry, and those who had lost everything? This lack of response birthed compassion within me. I would not allow this kind of assistance and love for humanity to be shown by

everyone else but us.

Soon after, I contacted the Men's Ministry of the Texas District to begin a Disaster Response arm. My request was well-received, and we began to create disaster teams in the Texas District that would "come alive" in times of disaster.

A few years later, I discovered Reach Out America. This ministry began over twenty-seven years ago in the hearts of UPCI ministers and has now become an endorsed arm of the UPCI for North American disaster relief. Its core mission connected with my desire to see our organization step onto the national VOAD scene.

We now have established a large warehouse facility in the Gulf Coast area that can gather supplies throughout the year to facilitate immediate responses. We have a box truck for easy loading and unloading and a large trailer for distributing generators and more oversized items to disaster locations. These tools have enabled us to respond more quickly. We are pleased to have assisted in the most recent disasters, but we could be doing so much more!

I desire to see every man’s ministry team in the UPCI connected in disaster response. We can connect with, train you, and work with you to provide resources to communities in your area so the church can be the hands and feet of Christ when communities are hurting the most. Every state has a VOAD with which you can connect, learn from, and share resources.

When a disaster strikes, the closest team arrives immediately to establish a point of distribution (POD) and bring in men's ministry teams to assist the hurting, work on affected church buildings, and bring food and supplies to those affected. This is the ultimate in teamwork.

Do you want to help us? Contact us at info@reachoutamerica.org, and we will connect you to a team in your area. If your district still needs a disaster response team, create one. According to the Word of God, it is our responsibility. After all, the first disaster response is recorded in Acts 11. Can we count on you?

MIKELABRIE

Pastor, Gospel Tabernacle - Beaumont, Texas - Board Member - Reach Out America - UPCI

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