GOD has truly blessed the ministry of DRT!! In June it will be 5 years ago that "DRT" was first established. Although Mark and I had 12 years experience in disaster relief prior to this, through much prayer and spiritual guidance we stepped out on faith and started what is now known as the Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team. It began in 2004 with Mark and I going full-time in this ministry, a handful of volunteers from our ho
me congregation in Troy, Ohio and (1) 8 x 10 trailer that was donated to the work and filled with Mark's personal tools.Fast Forward to 2009......
The purpose of DRT is to reach out spiritually to survivors of disaster by building relationships as we work alongside them helping to rebuild their lives and homes.
How Is This Done?...........
The Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team (DRT) is a 1st Response Organization dealing mainly with catastrophic disasters. When DRT first began, we would call the churches in the disaster areas asking if they needed assistance, etc. now as time goes on and DRT has helped in so many areas word has spread about the wonderful disaster assistance DRT provides to congregations in the disaster areas. Now congregations call DRT asking for assistance.
DRT has (18) trained volunteer coordinators. (we are always looking for more) :-)
DRT sends trained coordinators into the disaster area to work with the local congregation/s. We "help them" set up and/or run their relief effort. This includes cooking meals for the community and volunteers as well as providing the food. (DRT also has a mobile kitchen available if needed that can serve up to 3,000 meals per day) and a full-time cook/evangelist.(who has received his own support through COC congregations) Our coordinators are also trained in the distribution, clean up and rebuilding phases of disaster relief as well as evangelism which is our main purpose.
DRT also helps to purchase building material for those who are without/under insured.
DRT has over 6,000 volunteers in our database (and continue to seek more) :-) from all across the U.S. as well as several foreign countries that we pull from when a disaster strikes to come and assist DRT and the local congregations in all of the above mentioned phases.
Volunteers that come to work with DRT are always assured of housing (usually in the church building), hot showers (DRT brings a shower trailer with instant hot water), 3 daily meals, jobs already lined up and waiting for them :-) as well as the tools and building material to do the work. DRT brings several tool trailers completely stocked with all the tools needed for whatever disaster we are on as well as job site coordinators to work with the volunteers teaching and training certain skills if needed. This is all provided to the volunteers at no cost, thanks to the funding provided by congregations all across the U.S. that realize the need for the Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team (DRT).
"This is an excerpt from an email I received from a brother in Christ that has worked with DRT.
PS. Mark and Laura the fields are still being harvested in BLB (Bayou La Batre .ed)due to what you two started. Dave Neal and Doug Oakes were recently down there and more have been taught and baptized. Don, Rosemary and Mike are going down to do follow-up next week. We continue to pray for their efforts. Russ"
Lives are changed because of the DRT. Not because of Mark or I at all, there is no way we could have done this. THIS IS ALL A GOD THING!! Because of GOD, DRT has grown and continues to grow, the church has grown, we know this because of the many baptisms that have taken place all over where the DRT has been and served......YOU....the members of the churches in the disaster areas....the volunteers......those of you that are praying for this ministry.....
GOD is using YOU to bring the lost to JESUS through disaster relief!! PRAISE GOD and Let us not grow weary!
No comments:
Post a Comment