During this Christmas Season, please make prayer for the Gulf Region a high priority; as most of us celebrate in comfort, pray for God’s special grace to those who still face much hardship, that they will be greatly encouraged even in the midst of hard times. Merry Christmas, Jim Bland, MNA Coordinator

Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina Update – Thursday, December 15

These two needs continue to be urgent; please pray for good responses:

1. Volunteers in the Gulf Region: Biloxi is in special need of those who can work in repair and rebuilding of church families’ homes. Individuals and teams are both welcome. In addition, we are working in Gulfport and New Orleans. All skills are needed in all locations – roofing; repairing and rebuilding homes; debris clean-up; tearing damaged materials from inside homes; evangelism; praying and counseling. In Biloxi and Gulfport, PCA families, as well as many others in the community, continue living in very substandard and damaged housing; they need your help. To sign up as a volunteer, go to: www.pcarelief.org. Click here to read this report from a volunteer.

2. Hurricane Wilma donations: Please prayerfully consider a gift to Hurricane Wilma relief. Over $322,000 has been given thus far. A number of the PCA church buildings in southern Florida sustained significant damage. Designate your gift for Hurricane Wilma, or if you designate Hurricane relief, your gift will be used for relief where most needed. For credit card giving, donate by credit card on the MNA web site. El Shaddai Presbyterian in Miami (Dony St. Germain, pastor) sustained significant damage to their church building, especially their school offices. Donations may be made by giving to MNA and designating for El Shaddai, or indicate Haitian Ministries if giving by credit card on the MNA web site. To view a list of their needs, please click here. Volunteer needs for the Florida churches are being addressed by Florida PCA members. Click here to read the full report on Florida churches.

Please consider participating in our Hurricane Recovery Church Sponsorship (also referred to as adopting or partnering with a church): Several PCA churches and ministries in the Katrina damage area thus far have been identified as needing outside support in order to continue even their minimum ministry programs, and in order to maintain full support of their pastor and other critical staff. They face these challenges due to a combination of storm damage to their buildings and loss of income through members moving or losing their jobs. As damage assessments continue, the losses to most of these churches are proving to be even greater than we thought initially. Please consider taking on the support of missionaries, campus ministers and other benevolent support to which these churches are committed; this will provide ministry both to these churches in reducing their financial obligations, and will also ensure those who were under their support will not fall short. MNA has a list of these churches and will keep the list updated as to needs and support committed for each. For the list of the churches and further details of sponsorship, please email:

MNAChurchRecoverySponsorship@pcanet.org.

Your email must include your name, the name of the church in whose behalf you are inquiring, and your position as a member or officer of your church. Out of a desire to protect these churches from potentially problematic contacts, MNA will not send this information to parties whom we cannot identify as credible inquiries. Our hope is that these sponsorships will supply additional financial support to these churches, so that the relief funds may be used primarily to address the needs of families affected by the disaster.

Financial Donations: As of December 15, over $3.7 million has been given for Katrina and Rita hurricane relief through MNA, in addition to over $322,000 for Wilma relief. MNA does not take administrative or general fund support from the gifts; the moneys are used for PCA family and church needs, and a small portion for the expenses of relief operations. Checks should be made to MNA, designated for Hurricane Relief. Please mail checks to MNA, 1700 N. Brown Road, Suite 101, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043. You may also donate by credit card on the MNA web site, or by sending your credit card donation information in writing to MNA or by fax to 678-825-1201, attention: Michael Hutcheson.

Use a PCA Foundation Advise and Consult Fund for your giving to hurricane relief.