|
NCJ College appeal for the Dakotas
September 28, 2011 Pictures of the relief efforts
To all United Methodists in the North Central Jurisdiction:
At our most recent meeting, the College of Bishops of the North Central Jurisdiction approved making an appeal to all of the conferences in our Jurisdiction for help with the flooding in the Dakotas Conference. While we realize that many Annual Conferences continue to deal with various disasters and needs, the recent flooding in the Dakotas Conference deserves the response of all United Methodists in our Jurisdiction - due to the extensive nature of the flooding and due to the limited resources available to the Dakotas Conference to make a response. Minot, North Dakota is an example of the extensive nature of this disaster, with 4100 homes destroyed, 6 schools impacted, 3 area food pantries wiped out, and 24 congregations across 4 counties having their buildings destroyed.
So we, your bishops, ask you to respond in these ways:
Please pray for those whose homes, businesses, and churches have been flooded and damaged extensively.
Please ask your United Methodist congregations to take a special offering to help the people of the Dakotas. Gifts can be sent directly to the Dakotas Conference, PO Box 460, Mitchell, SD 57301, Advance #656.
Please ask for work teams to go to Minot and help on these dates: October 6-16 to "button up" homes for winter, and in the spring for rebuilding.
Please consider writing letters of prayers and support for the Faith UMC in Minot whose building was impacted by the flooding but continues to feed and help needy persons. Prayer messages can be sent to Faith UMC, c/o Rev. Debra Ball-Kilbourne, 1024 2nd Street SE, Minot, ND 58701.
As a College of Bishops we will also be working to create a Disaster Response Fund for future needs across our Jurisdiction. For now, we invite you to join us in focusing upon a loving, generous response to the disastrous flooding in the Dakotas.
God bless you,
Michael J. Coyner
Secretary, NCJ College of Bishops
|
Bishop Lee informed the members of the Wisconsin Annual Conference on Tuesday, October 4. 
