In the spring of 2002, I was a senior at Morehead State University (MSU), which is nestled in the Daniel Boone National Forest of Eastern Kentucky. At this time, I was finishing up my bachelor’s degree in communication and I was part of a campus news station that covered all things MSU and the surrounding area of Morehead, KY. And as spring often brings, we had a pretty heavy storm one week that brought a lot of rain in a very short period of time. And many parts of the city of Morehead flooded.
I can remember being called and asked to go and capture images and video of the aftermath of the storm. As we drove around and saw entire neighborhoods under water, a local grocery store flooded halfway up the front doors, and families displaced, I could feel the heaviness of the situation. We interviewed a young woman from our school who lived in town, and she shared how it happened so quickly and that they were forced to leave their house in the middle of the night. The disaster had come with no warning.
Today, 22 years later, I feel some of that same heaviness as I look at images and hear stories of the impact from Hurricane Helene. As I write this article, there are already over 128 confirmed deaths across six states. And there are hundreds more people who cannot be reached or confirmed of their current situation. Over 1000 people are being housed in shelters because they have nowhere else to go. And the damage caused is estimated to cost up to $38 billion. This storm will go down as one of the worst in our country’s history, and it seemed to come as a surprise to so many.
While the storm was predicted for people near the coast, it was not predicted to cause the damage it caused in places like North Carolina. Because of the path it took, the damage in the western part of the state has been unprecedented and disastrous. Of the 120 plus people killed, almost a third of those deaths have occurred in one North Carolina county, Buncombe. Buncombe is the home of Asheville, NC. A city that Pam and I love to visit, the home of the Biltmore Estate, and also the home of the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cover. Looking at pictures of the devastation there has been chilling and heart-breaking.
Storms like this can often be unexpected. We can be moving through life, doing our normal day-to-day, when disaster shows up to upend everything we know. When this happens, we are reminded of the brokenness in our world. That, either be it by the broken nature around us or the brokenness in our own lives or the lives of others, we can deal with struggle and pain. And this should remind us of what Jesus prayed for us in John chapter 17 when he said,
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:14-18
We are not of this world, and yet we still have to live in this world and deal with the fear of disaster. And that can be really difficult to understand or accept. Because we don’t want to live with a spirit of fear in this world or be afraid of what may happen to us. Instead, we are called to live with hope for the future. To put our faith in God and his power. In Psalm 46, the Psalmist writes:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Psalm 46:1-2
In the face of danger or disaster, we have a hope for the future. Our God will provide us a refuge and a strength. Many people have lost their lives or the lives of ones they love, and we will grieve with them and come alongside them. Even in the midst of these life-altering seasons, we can have a God who loves us and calls us into him for strength. And, we have a God who calls us to help be part of that refuge.
A few weeks ago, in our current series, we read what Peter wrote in 1 Peter chapter 2 when he said, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12.
This is what we are called to do in times like these. This is time for our good deeds to shine for others to see. For us, as believers in Jesus and the gift of mercy he gave us, to go out and give grace and mercy to the people who are suffering as a result of this disaster. To literally be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. This world, though not our home, is our current encampment and the place we are called to serve. I am challenging you to serve God for the sake of glorifying his name.
You may be asking, “how can I do that?” I want to encourage you to a few ways you can help. First, if you want to donate supplies or monetarily, White Oak encourages you to do that with Matthew 25. You can see how to donate online or supplies that are needed here. White Oak will also be donating $2000 to this organization to help with the relief efforts.
Secondly, fervently be in prayer. We are called as believers to lift up the needs of others to our Father in heaven. Be praying for those impacted, for the first responders, for those who have lost loved ones. Pray that they will be comforted and supported. That they will feel the love of Jesus in their lives. That they won’t lose hope for the future. Today, and every day, this is the most important way we can help those in need.
Chris Emmons
Ross Campus Pastor