VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/20/18)—In response to the California wildfires, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), on behalf of American Baptist Churches USA, has released $15,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) Emergency Disaster-response grants.

To aid in relief efforts, $5,000 each has been provided to the following entities:

• First Baptist Church, Chico, part of the Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches, to assist in relief efforts to those displaced in Paradise, Calif. (Chico is the town nearest to Paradise, and the church is receiving the largest number of displaced individuals);
• Growing Healthy Churches’ regional office to assist in relief efforts to impacted communities in the Northern part of the state; and
• American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest and Hawaii to assist in relief efforts in Ventura and Malibu.According to news reports at the time of this writing, the Camp Fire in Northern California is 65 percent contained, with 993 individuals unaccounted for and 77 dead. The Woolsey Fire in Ventura and Los Angeles counties is 91 percent contained, with three confirmed fatalities.

How you can help

Your prayers are appreciated for survivors, many of whom were forced to flee their homes with little other than the clothes on their backs. Many have no homes to which to return and have lost all their belongings. Your financial gifts will allow survivors to purchase necessities.

Donations can be made via your church or check designated to “OGHS-California Fires” and mailed to the attention of Kim Wilkins at American Baptist Home Mission Societies, 1075 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406.

One hundred percent of donations go to relief efforts; no dollars are retained for administrative costs. To ensure that your church receives credit for your gift, write the church name on your check.

One Great Hour of Sharing is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and development assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches.

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.