Great News from ARDF's Disaster Response Network!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Galatians 5:13-14
Disaster Response Network
Some amazing things are happening all across the province related to disaster response! We are so inspired by each piece of news below. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for and participated in this work!
Of the 28 dioceses in the ACNA, Diocesan Disaster Response Coordinators have been raised in 7, including the Diocese of the Central States, REC, The Gulf Atlantic Diocese, Diocese of the Living Word, Diocese of San Joaquin, The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, Diocese of the Southwest, and Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast.
We now have 24 Parish Disaster Response Coordinators.
Our first Diocesan Spiritual Care Coordinator comes from the Diocese of the Central States, REC. The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, Diocese of the Great Lakes, and the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast now have Spiritual Care Providers.
A team of 6 pastorally gifted individuals from 5 dioceses are currently developing a disaster responders prayer booklet, seeking to support responders in their ministry to survivors’ emotional and spiritual state.
A 15-member National Disaster Response Task Force has been formed, meeting monthly, with ministry members representing the Daughters of the Holy Cross, Youth Ministry, and ARDF, Diocesan Coordinators from 6 dioceses, and a partner representative from the North American Lutheran Church (NALC).
Over 120 Anglicans have become involved or expressed an interest in the disaster response network in the last 11 months.
Our first diocesan training event was held in Charleston, SC, ADOSC, on December 5, 2022.
A new national long-term recovery partnership has been formed with the Fuller Center for Housing Disaster ReBuilders, enabling our parishes to serve in the rebuilding of disaster survivors’ homes. The Fuller Center is led by President David Snell, a member of St. John’s Anglican Church in Americus, GA.
Since the ARDF National Disaster Network was announced at the 2022 Provincial Council, ARDF staff has represented disaster response at 11 Synods.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, two truckloads of disaster relief supplies were delivered from Houston, TX, to Ft. Myers, FL, with the support of the NALC and ARDF’s Disaster Response Coordinators from the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast.
ARDF’s first disaster response mission trip was held on November 6 – 12, 2022, in Ft. Myers, FL, with 11 Anglican missioners from VA, SC, TX, & FL. A second disaster response trip, in partnership with Adventures in Missions, is planned for June 10-16, 2023, in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Ft. Myers, FL. In addition, two more mission trips are scheduled, with the Fuller Center, in Madisonville, KY, the weeks of July 23 and July 30, serving survivors of the December 2021 tornadoes. The first week is full with 46 volunteers from the Catholic Diocese of LaCrosse Wisconsin, whose team leader found ARDF online and felt called to partner with us!
In partnership with the NALC, emergency response deliveries of supplies from Houston were made to Rolling Fork, MS, after the tornadoes of March 24-27, 2023. Personal hygiene kits were also delivered from Trinity Anglican, Lafayette, LA, to Amory, MS.
In partnership with the North American Lutheran Church, Anglicans have delivered disaster response supplies to 5 NALC warehouses as far as 1330 miles one way! These locations include Colorado Springs, Co, Tyler, TX, and Edmond, OK. Recent transfers of supplies have also been made in MD and NJ.
In January, 2023, ARDF kicked off the “Hitch a Trailer and Go” program to help support a parish’s disaster response program by granting 50% of the cost of a 16’ cargo trailer. Our first participant, St. Peter’s Cathedral in The Gulf Atlantic Diocese, held a disaster relief cargo trailer dedication and Disaster Relief Core Ministry Sunday on May 21, 2023.
A Provincial Disaster Response warehouse network is being built, with considerations underway in Baton Rouge, LA (Holy Cross), Owasso, OK (St. Paul’s), and Plano, TX (Christ Church Pro-Cathedral). One existing location is on John’s Island, SC (St. John’s), and one new location is under construction in Spring, TX (St. Timothy’s).
We are so excited for this opportunity to serve communities after natural disasters! If you want to get involved, contact our Domestic Disaster Response Director Tommy Lamb or complete the volunteer form on our website.
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