VALLEY FORGE, PA (10/7/22)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) grieves the lives lost and prays for God’s comfort to those who were in the path of Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm that killed at least 68 people on a devastating multi-state journey.
Tying a record as the fifth-strongest hurricane to strike the U.S, Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida, laying waste to Ft. Myers before inundating other beloved communities across the state and later in North Carolina. Ferocious winds, torrential rain and storm surge caused more than 3.4 million residents to lose electrical power and mobilized rapid responders to conduct numerous life-saving rescues of people trapped by flooding. While damage assessment and clean-up have begun, progress is slow, hampered by the magnitude of the destruction.
“We know people are ready and able to give and finding multiple ways to do so,” says Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, ABHMS executive director. “We consistently offer One Great Hour of Sharing with a designation to a specific disaster response. It is a reliable vehicle for you to get every dollar of your donation to the communities in need.”
ABHMS representatives have communicated with Dr. James Harrison, regional executive minister of American Baptist Churches of the South, and other leaders in the southeast. As is ABHMS practice, there will be ongoing coordination and relief efforts long after journalists and camera crews have turned their attention elsewhere.
How you can help
Please join us in supporting the relief efforts of those in the path of Hurricane Ian.
You can donate via your church or online.
Checks designated to “OGHS Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts 2022” should be mailed to the ABHMS Office of Development care of Kim Wilkins, 1075 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406.
Please include the church name on the check to ensure your church receives credit for your gift.
One hundred percent of your donation is allocated to disaster relief. No funds are retained to cover administrative costs.
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.