(PNS) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) sent three National Response Teams (NRT) into North Carolina and South Carolina in the wake of severe flooding caused by Hurricane Florence. The teams deployed into the presbyteries of Coastal Carolina, New Harmony and New Hope to make initial damage assessments, meet with presbytery staff and pastors in the affected areas, and be a presence for those affected by the storm’s extreme rainfall amounts and wind damage. Flooding and loss of housing, particularly for those most vulnerable, are the biggest short-term concerns for residents of the impacted areas. Florence dumped an estimated 30 inches of rain onto some areas of the Carolinas, resulting in 45 deaths, more than 500 rescues, and damage to roads and infrastructure including low-lying water and sewage treatment facilities. Flooded hog lagoons and coal ash dumps contaminated soil and rivers used for drinking water. “PDA reached out to presbyteries in the path of Hurricane Florence … [Read more...]

LOUISVILLE (PNS) – Princeton Abaraoha was a carefree 13-year-old boy when he was snatched by soldiers and taken to a military training camp. Two weeks later, he was carrying a gun as a soldier in Nigeria’s civil war. “I was going to fetch water for my mom when they grabbed me, and I didn’t see my family again for two and a half years,” he said. The secessionist state of Biafra had conscripted him for service in its unsuccessful war to gain independence from Nigeria during the 1960s. As the war in Nigeria progressed, Abaraoha was trained as a munitions and explosive device specialist. One hot sunny afternoon, his unit came under heavy fire and an unexploded rocket that landed nearby. While Abaraoha attempted to diffuse it, the rocket denotated, and he sustained multiple wounds. He endured six surgeries without anesthesia over the next year and a half. He came home at age 17 and started high school, but his wartime experience left him angry and rebellious. Abaraoha drank … [Read more...]

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (OGA) Pastor Richard Rojas describes walking into his sanctuary at Puerto Nuevo Presbyterian Church after Hurricane Maria and sitting down and crying. The Category 4 storm hit his church in Puerto Rico hard. Roofs were torn off adjacent buildings, a metal fence lie twisted on the street in front of the church, and there was water damage in the sanctuary. Rojas, like most pastors across the island, were left to pick up the pieces. With no power, little food, water, and other essentials, he and others learned quickly that working together was better than working alone. Over the next few months, pastors and church leaders within San Juan Presbytery began a program called “Rise and Shine,” an opportunity for residents impacted by Maria to gather for a time of rest, recreation, and support. San Juan Presbytery hosted one of its monthly “Rise and Shine” events at the Bayamón Presbyterian Church. Photo by Rick Jones. A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) delegation … [Read more...]

ST. LOUIS (PNS) – “Stewardship is about the joyous discipline of giving thanks,” says Robert Hay Jr. of the Presbyterian Foundation. Comparing joyous discipline with a “runner’s high” where the mind body and spirit start clicking after months or even years of disciplined training, Hay says the discipline of stewardship can bring true joy in giving. Hay is a Ministry Relations Officer for the Foundation who assists congregations with financial matters, including changing the conversation about stewardship in churches. Hay spoke at Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference on generosity and giving in churches, on September 24. His Creating a Culture of Generosity workshop references Clif Christopher’s book, “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate.” Hay encourages congregations to look at all they’ve been given instead of what is lacking, changing that narrative from scarcity to abundance. A generous culture develops from the recognition of stewardship as gratitude and giving our … [Read more...]