As the catastrophe of Hurricane, now Tropical Storm, Harvey continues to develop, American Presbyterian branches are responding with aid and prayers. Here are links to the latest information I am aware as well as a brief summary from each branch that I have found has posted online: [Update with MSM links and some church info 8/30/17; more MSM links and church updates 8/31/17]
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
In a pre-landfall update they named the leaders and members of Good Shepherd ARPC in Houston, Hope Presbyterian ARPC in Pearland, and Faith Fellowship in Cypruss TX for prayer. A post-landfall report yesterday gives an update and a link to donate through their Good Samaritan Relief fund.
Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
Nothing obvious on the web site but an email/Twitter bulletin when out before landfall seeking prayers and updates. After landfall they have retweeted to help with relief through World Renew. You can get updates from World Renew on Twitter from @WorldRenew_net.
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Information on donations is in both an EP Connections article as well as on their Emergency Relief page.
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
They have posted a number of resources for prayer and contributions including the article on the main site, the OPC Disaster Response Facebook page, and the OPC Short-Term Mission and Disaster Response web site. They ask us to keep in prayer the leaders and members of Cornerstone OPC in Houston and Providence OPC in Kingwood, TX. For updates keep an eye on the Facebook page.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is deployed on scene and beginning their work. There is PC(USA) coverage in a couple of articles posted on that site – Aug 27, and Aug 28. The Presbyterian Outlook has just posted a detailed article about PDA’s work there and options for supporting the efforts. The PDA site also includes worship resources for churches including a bulletin insert about the recovery work. Updates from PDA can be seen on their Twitter feed @PDAcares. Update: New article from PC(USA) on the work by PDA
Presbyterian Church in America
The PCA’s Mission to North America (MNA) Disaster Response team is also deploying to the area. There is a page with Disaster Updates that also has information for Prayer, Giving, Sending Supplies, and Preparing to Go to serve. Updates can be found on the Twitter feed @pcamna. Update: New update added to the Disaster Updates page.
That is the information I have found at this point. Let me know if you have additional resources and I will update as appropriate.
Our prayers and support go out to all those affected by this disaster.
UPDATE: Adding some links from the mainstream media that involve Presbyterians. Plenty that mention Presbyterian disaster relief organizations in where to give lists, but beyond that, some others I have seen:
- FEMA had a short-term shelter at Presbyterian Pan Am School in Kingsville, TX; from KRISTV.com –Kingsville, Kleberg County issue evacuation orders
- Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas will serve as a repackaging point for food shipped from a Naples, Florida charity; from the Naples Daily News –Naples-based Meals of Hope sending packages of food to Texas
- Louisville coverage of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and other local groups helping out; from WHAS11 – Local groups stepping up for Harvey recovery
- A religious news article from Baptist News mentioning PDA along with other religious relief organizations that are responding – Religious groups, with more to come, already assisting Harvey victims
- Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, NY, is collecting and organizing material for hygiene kits to be shipped to Texas; from syarcuse.com – Help for Hurricane Harvey: Syracuse church collecting hygiene kits
- Detroit Presbytery mentioned in an article that it is lining up volunteers to go to Texas when PDA is ready for them; from Detroit Free Press – Metro Detroit mobilizes for Harvey victims: Here’s how you can help
- In Houston, St. Thomas Presbyterian Church providing shelter and support; from Austin American-Statesman – Houston church greets flooded residents with tacos, mattresses
- Another local church, First Presbyterian of Athens, TX, is a collection center for relief supplies from that community; from KLTV – How to help: ETX lends a helping hand to victims of Harvey
- Elsewhere in Texas, St. Paul Presbyterian Church in San Angelo is sheltering evacuees. The story of one family from the San Angelo Standard-Times – Family sheltering in San Angelo learns fate of coastal home