KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (ABNS 9/27/24)—Hurricane Helene made landfall on Thursday, September 26, slamming into Florida’s Gulf Coast with high-velocity winds, flooding rain, and massive storm surge. The National Hurricane Center of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, reports that the Category 4 storm is the strongest on record to have struck the Big Bend region of Florida’s coastline.
By Friday morning, the deadly weather system had claimed the lives of one Florida resident and at least two people in Georgia, with additional storm-related fatalities expected, according to official sources. A flash flood emergency has been issued for metropolitan Atlanta as a weakening but still powerful Helene continues to track northward.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) requests prayers and donations for those affected by this catastrophic weather event. Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, ABHMS’ executive director, reminds us of our call to help our neighbors by “lifting up those in need with our prayers and financial support through OGHS [One Great Hour of Sharing]. Let us respond with compassion and generosity, reflecting the love of Christ in this time of crisis.”
While Helene was still gaining strength over the Gulf of Mexico, the Rev. Lisa Harris Lee, director of ABHMS’ Healing & Transforming Communities unit, communicated with Dr. James Harrison, executive minister of American Baptist Churches of the South, and other ABCOTS leaders to inform them about ABHMS’ plan of action, which includes working alongside these leaders as soon as is practical to coordinate needed assistance following the immediate support provided by FEMA, local agencies, the Red Cross and other first responders. Said Harris Lee, “This timely outreach demonstrates ABHMS’ commitment to both early disaster relief efforts and longer-term renewal of lives in the weeks, months, and years to come.”
Your donations to OGHS are directed to the designated disaster areas in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to address immediate needs and often long afterward as additional needs emerge. All your gifts will make a difference in the lives of people you may or may not know and show the love of God when and where it is needed most.
The World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA administers OGHS. The committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing the distribution of the annual OGHS offering received by churches.
How you can help:
Please join American Baptists in supporting the relief efforts directed toward those affected by the recent hurricanes and their aftermath. One hundred percent of designated OGHS gifts are allocated to domestic disaster relief.
You can donate via your church or directly online.
Checks designated to OGHS–Hurricane Helene should be mailed to ABHMS’ Office of Development care of Kim Wilkins, 1075 First Avenue, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406. If intended, donor checks should also include the name of the donor’s church and the name “Helene” in the memo section of the check to ensure that the church receives credit for the gift.
To learn more about ABHMS, visit abhms.org.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.