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US Storms and Flooding - Urgent Prayer NeededExecutive Director From IDES Visits The Joplin Site For A Second TimeThis past weekend Rick Jett, the Executive Director of IDES, and his wife Nancy visited the Joplin area and met with leaders in the area. Progress is hapening in both Joplin and our work in Mississippi but funds and prayer are still needed. Please pray this week for our volunteers in both Joplin and Mississippi.6-17 - Important Notice For Volunteer Work TeamsThe IDES ministry has developed a network of volunteers around the world - Christians who are willing to donate time & energy & resources to demonstrate God's love whenever disaster strikes!Many volunteers have already come to Joplin and northern Mississippi. Work teams have helped with immediate clean up and distribution of supplies. Christians have offered compassion in working alongside homeowners to salvage what little, if anything was left of their personal belongings. Many more volunteers are also ready to come and give assistance. One of the hardest things to do in times of crisis is to wait. . . on God, on assessments of need, and on local governments. And yet waiting sometimes enables us to be more effective in planning long-term ministry. Joe Luttrell is coordinating the IDES relief efforts in Mississippi. Joe has established a base camp in Okolona, MS. He has had volunteers build storage sheds for the people who have lost their homes and need a place to secure their belongings. He is hoping to be able to build a house for an elderly couple once he gets a go-ahead from local officials. Joe has indicated that he could use between 20 to 25 skilled workers for what he is doing in MS. He has scheduled several teams already for July and the first of August. Rick Chesnut is coordinating the IDES relief efforts in the Joplin area. He is currently setting up a base camp at the West Side Christian Church to house volunteers. Rick has indicated when the base camp is ready he could accommodate 15 to 20 volunteers. The kind of work these volunteers will be doing is yet to be determined because we have not received the guidelines for rebuilding from the local officials. We have a list of more than 2 dozen churches that are eager to send teams. We understand the frustration in waiting to respond. When you see people suffering, our desire is to immediately rush to their aid. Unfortunately, we have to wait for government officials to decide on requirements for rebuilding their area. So, we ask for you to pray. Pray for the IDES staff as they navigate new territory in discerning how to help best in each of these situations. Pray for the Christian communities in Joplin and northern Mississippi as they try to utilize this opportunity to share Jesus in meeting practical needs of people. Pray for local government officials as they make decisions about requirements for rebuilding. Pray for volunteers to be patient in waiting on God's timing. If you wish to be added to our list of workers, you may call the IDES office and give your information to Debra Tinkle, our Administrative Assistant. The phone number is 765-947-5100. The office hours are 8 AM to 4PM Monday-Friday. You may also email your information to dtinkle@ides.org. We ask that you call or email the IDES office because Joe and Rick are busy and do not have reliable internet service at this time. Thank you for your willingness to help and for your cooperation as we discern God's direction. 5-27 - 5-30 - The Executive Director Of IDES Is In JoplinRick Jett the Executive Director Of IDES and his wife Nancy Jett are in Joplin surveying the damage, working with the local churches, and working on a strategic plan of action. They encourage us all to keep praying for Joplin and other US disaster areas that God will open doors for IDES relief and that they people in need will be helped.5-26 - An Update From Our Disaster Relief CoordinatorWork has begun in northern Mississippi in areas devastated by the recent tornadoes. We need work teams to assist in this effort. If you would like to organize a group from your church or churches in your area, please email Joe Luttrell jluttrell@ides.org for available dates and other details. We also have a list of building materials you could donate if you would prefer to do that. At this point, there have been so many donations of clothes, food, household goods, baby supplies, and furniture that there is no place to warehouse any more. However, financial donations are still needed to help advance the work there.We are still working to organize work for our teams in Joplin. Our DART team from Mt. Home Arkansas has been working there this week, but it will probably be a couple of weeks before we bring in any more work teams. We need to make sure we have things in place so we can work safely and without being a drain on resources already stretched thin. Rick and Nancy Jett, and Ryan Chapman are in Joplin. Rick Chesnut and Tiffany Jett have been in the area since the tornado struck making contacts and working out the details that will allow us to operate effectively in the area. We appreciate your patience, and we will need work teams soon. Please continue to check our web site for updates. 5-25 - Joplin, MO and Recent US StormsIn the aftermath of the devastating tornado which struck Joplin, MO IDES is partnering with local churches and organizing volunteers to start immediate clean up. We will be working for the next couple of weeks to set up our base camp. If you have a group that would like to go and help in Joplin or to join the ongoing work in Mississippi then call our office at 765-947-5100 to be put on a work team waiting list.Our ability to deploy volunteers is limited at the present time, but will increase over the next several weeks. Once our base camp is ready to house teams, we will begin contacting those interested with a list of available dates. We will be working for a long time to help rebuild people's lives in Joplin and other disaster areas around the United States. At this point we are trying to find the best way to address immediate needs without placing too great a demand on local resources. Before bringing in large groups of volunteers we must be able to house them and supply them with the materials they will need. Each location and situation is different when it comes to disaster relief. In Smithville, MS the Corps of Engineers is continuing the task of clearing debris from the area and they are still not allowing volunteer groups to enter after more than three weeks. What we need most at this time are funds designated for "US Disasters". We have partnered with local churches and volunteers to distribute food and water and will continue to do so. Everything that IDES does is to bring help and hope in Jesus name. Funds are needed now to prepare for the long term relief effort, and to start developing relationships with people who need help as we work with area churches to address their immediate needs. We invite your church to join us this Sunday for a world- wide prayer day. Pray for the victims and the volunteers that will be helping. On that day take up a love offering for IDES marked "US Disasters". Can you or your church conduct a fund raising event? When the earthquake and tsunami happened in Japan earlier this year, we were impressed by all of the creative ways God's people worked together to raise funds for Japan. IDES still has ongoing projects in Japan, New Zealand, Myanmar (Burma), and Haiti after their earthquakes and expect to help in the United States in the same way. We love hearing about these types of fund raisers so if you have an idea let us know. If you are looking for ways to raise funds in your church or community or need help with this contact Ryan Chapman at rchapman@ides.org Give. Please pray about giving. If you do not feel like you can give right now think about doing a day long fast for the people who have lost everything and then giving that money through IDES. You can donate online by clicking here. Designate your gift for "US Disasters". You can give by check or money order by mailing your gift to: IDES PO BOX 60 Kempton, IN 46049 We thank you for your support. Please continue to pray as a new outbreak of tornadoes killed at least 13 people in the past 24 hours and many homes were destroyed in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. 5-24 - Joplin, MO and Recent US StormsIDES' Disaster Assistance Response Teams have been dispatched to Okolona, MS and Joplin, MO, after deadly tornadoes completely destroyed Smithville, MS and nearly one-third of Joplin, MO. At least one hundred sixteen people have been confirmed killed in Joplin with the expectation of that number rising as the search and rescue teams continue their work. Thousands more have been displaced after their homes were swept away. Randy Gariss, Senior Minister at College Heights Christian Church in Joplin, said, "Rick, it is beyond words. We will probably have over 70 College Heights Christian Church families with total home loss. We have over 50 now..." Matt Proctor, President of Ozark Christian College, listed over a dozen families related to the college that have lost their homes. Tragically, one of their students was among the fatalities. There are similar needs in northern Mississippi as well.We want to be able to partner with the Christian Church/Church of Christ congregations in these disaster areas to offer immediate relief supplies, rebuilding materials and other essentials. The need is enormous. We are thankful for the many volunteers that have volunteered their time to go to the disaster sites and physically help others in Jesus name. We are grateful for others who have collected water, food and other supplies and have shipped and distributed those items. IDES is dedicated to offering help and hope to those who are suffering from catastrophic events be it overseas or here in the United States of America. It is only because of generous and caring friends like you that we are able to meet the urgent needs of the tornado survivors in Mississippi and Missouri. Please join us in prayer for the survivors, the relief workers, and the grieving families impacted by these historic tornadoes. And please give today to help IDES help our brothers and sisters in Christ to reach out and help their neighbors with the love and compassion of Christ. Together with God's help we can turn these tragedies into opportunities to bring Glory to our God and our Loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Rick Jett Executive Director Of IDES 5-23 - Tornado Flattens Joplin, MO - Updated(Find the full list of damage to churches and ministries below)A tornado ripped through Joplin, MO flattening and damaging most of the town. At least 89 people have been killed but that number is expected to rise as many are trapped and or missing. IDES will be helping in Joplin and continues to help in other areas in the United States where storms and floods have destroyed lives and homes. With IDES 100% of your donation will go to help the victims of the storms so please pass this along to your churches and people that may be able to help. If you would like to donate you can online by clicking here. Designate US Disasters If you would like to give by check or money order you can by mailing it to: IDES (US Disasters) PO BOX 60 Kempton, IN 46049 Thank you for your support UpdatedIDES has received a heavy volume of inquiries concerning how churches and ministries located in Joplin, MO were affected by the recent tornado.This is what we have learned as of noon on Monday, May 23, 2011. Churches and Ministries Which Sustained Property DamageThe Blendville Christian Church property has suffered extensive damage.Churches and Ministries with No Significant Property Damage*AIM (American International Ministries)ARM (American Rehabilitation Ministries) CIY (Christ in Youth) College Press Good News Productions LATM (Literature and Teaching Ministries) Ozark Christian College *The status of most ministry personnel has not been reported to us at this time. Here is what we have learned: Four CIY staff members report the loss of their homes. Known Relief Efforts Among Area Christian Churches / Churches of ChristThe Christian Church of Carl Junction is working with AIM (American International Ministries) to set up a distribution point for relief supplies a few blocks away from the Blendville Christian Church. IDES is helping to cover the transportation costs for a donated shipment of bottled water, juices, and ready to eat foods that will be distributed to people in need. IDES is coordinating teams of volunteers who are able to assist with emergency repairs to damaged homes. At this point we do not have a definite location to house relief teams from outside the area, but are exploring the possibility with two area churches.A Series Of Storms and Tornadoes Cause Massive Damage In Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama and Elsewhere. Also Flooding Threats Are In Many Areas. - CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINEUpdate - 5-9-2011 - IDES Works In US Disaster AreasThank you for your prayers and support for those affected by the recent tornadoes in the south. We will be working in northern Mississippi, helping with clean-up and repairs in an area that was hit pretty hard. Over the next three of four weeks, we will be using our DART teams to get a couple of bases established for our other teams to use, as well as doing some clean-up and starting some repairs. At that point, we should be able to start working in another near-by area as well. We have to wait until the Corps of Engineers finishes some work there so we can get our teams in. The biggest question now is how much money is donated to pay for building materials for those that have no insurance, or at least not enough to cover the cost of rebuilding. If you or your church would like to give to this need you can donate online by clicking here to donate online. Designate US Disasters We will continue to post updates and schedules on our web site. Thank you and please keep praying for all of those suffering in these disasters. Update - 5-6-2011 - IDES Works In US Disaster AreasIDES will be able to do some work in Northern Mississippi and areas that were devastated by the tornadoes. If you are interested in bringing a work team watch the website for details. We will be posting more info as soon as it is available. We will need funds to carry out the work in these US disaster areas if you or your church would like to give to these disasters you can donate online by clicking here to donate online. Designate US Disasters If you would like to give by check or money order you can by mailing it to: IDES (US Disasters) PO BOX 60 Kempton, IN 46049 Thank you for your support Please keep praying for all of those suffering in these disasters and check back next week for more details. Update - 6-11-2011 - Showers Go Up In Base CampClick here to see the showers going up at our base camp in Joplin. We will be able to take more volunteers soon. Update - 6-5-2011 - Work Continues In Joplin and MississippiWork continues in Joplin and at our base camp at West Side Christian Church. Thank you to all the volunteers who have come to help so far. Thank you to Greentree Christian Church from Rolla, Scott Robinson and Damian Jones for all that you have done for Joplin. Thank you to Edinburgh Christian Church for their work and donated items. Thank you to Iberia Christian Church for you help as well. Also thank you to all the volunteers who are helping in Mississippi and in Joplin. We could not do what we do without you. If you or your churh would like to help in Joplin or in our work in Mississippi call the IDES office at (765) 947-5100 they will put you on a work team waiting list. They will call you when a space opens up. We also want to thank all of our donors thus far because without you we would not be able to make this happen. May God bless you. If you would like to donate online you can by clicking here. Designate your gift for "US Disasters". You can give by check or money order by mailing your gift to: IDES PO BOX 60 Kempton, IN 46049 Update - 5-3-2011 - US Storms and FloodingRecently the United States has been hit with tornadoes and floods that have caused massive damage in Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama and elsewhere. In North Carolina a D.A.R.T. team (Disaster Assistance Response Teams) went in to help with the clean-up effort. Our D.A.R.T. teams are made up of IDES volunteers who want to help after a disaster. Our D.A.R.T. Coordinator, Joe Luttrell, will be leaving today to head down to Alabama to assess the situation. He hopes to know by the end of the week or early next week if we will be able to take work teams into Alabama, and possibly other areas. St. Louis was also hit with tornadoes and Ferguson Christian Church's roof was taken off during a night service where people were watching The Passion of The Christ. IDES has pledged $10,000 to help them with their rebuilding. We will do everything we can to help organize teams and to provide aid to people and communities who have lost everything. If you are interested in joining a possible work team email Joe Luttrell at jluttrell@ides.org One of the best way you can help is to pray that God will use these disasters to open doors for His love to be made real to the people who have lost so much. If you would like to give to these many needs click here to donate online. Designate US Disasters If you would like to give by check or money order you can by mailing it to: IDES (US Disasters) PO BOX 60 Kempton, IN 46049 Thank you for your support Please keep praying for all of those suffering in these disasters. |