On April 16th, over 20 tornadoes spread destruction across the North Carolina Conference. Some of us were impacted directly, losing our homes or businesses. Some of us lost family members and neighbors, and now we lean on one another and the sure love and promise of Jesus Christ as we seek to find solace in our loss and grief. All of us have felt the pain of such devastation as we have listened to the stories and been horrified by pictures or what we experience just beyond our front doors.
Now is the time for us to act, to be the hands and feet and voice of Jesus in our world. Now is the time for us to bear the burdens of our neighbors who have lost so much.
Bishop Gwinn, Connectional Ministries, and the Disaster Response Team request that congregations of the NC Conference receive an offering for responding to the victims of the April 16th tornadoes that devastated many of our NC Conference communities. Please receive this as soon as possible on any appropriate Sunday. 100% of every gift for this offering will go directly for storm response.
Gifts should be designated for NC Storms Emergency Response – Advance #S-00176.
Gifts can be mailed to: NC Conference, P.O. Box 60053, Charlotte, NC 28260. Please be sure to note Advance #S-00176.
You can download a bulletin insert here.
You can also donate now, on-line at: An Offering of Love for Storm Response
For more information on response efforts please see NC Conference Volunteer Needs and Response
Wow! The NC conference finally did something I can brag about. MERCI should have never been abandoned as it was the one conference program and /or committee that people in the pews recognized, understood and responded to eagerly. I always thought it should have funds from the conference, in spite of the fact that CF&A always seemed to be in opposition.
When the conference received a grant of $75000 for disaster relief during the time of Bishop Gwynn, I along with others, was dumbfounded that none of it went to MERCI!
I also found it very ironic that on the day we celebrated the ministry of Bishop Edwards, who had died recently, MERCI, a part of his legacy, was killed.
Fantastic news about the MERCI Center! All of us have a share in the history of NC Conference Disaster Relief and MERCI has been an essential rally point for volunteers and material. The name does not make the ministry, but Marion Edwards was a faithful and capable leader for our Annual Conference. Bravo!
I join in the chorus of others who thank God, Bishop Hope’s leadership, and the efforts of others who are bringing about the re-dedication of the MERCI Center. Bishop Marion Edwards had a servant spirit. How wonderful it was to hear this great news!