Ron Haynes has been appointed as the Director of Disaster Response for Mission to North America.  He will work with PCA churches and presbyteries to provide assistance to people and communities across North America with special needs as a result of floods, fires, earthquakes, manmade calamities and other such circumstances.

MNA Disaster Response Vision
In the past, MNA has made financial appeals to PCA members and churches to provide for people affected by natural and manmade disasters.  Now MNA desire to be more prepared and coordinated to meet disaster needs. It saw the need to oversee and organize a more direct and personal kind of assistance in the form of a nationwide network of disaster response volunteers.

In April 2003, MNA approved establishing the Disaster Response ministry. Its vision is that this ministry will give members of the Presbyterian Church in America opportunities to offer relief to those affected by disasters. Through these efforts the love of Christ will be shared by assisting the immediate needs of victims as well as helping to rebuild their lives.

The Disaster Response ministry is in the process of recruiting and organizing disaster response teams, both skilled and unskilled volunteers who will be on call in every part of the country. It is also collecting the proper supply of tools and equipment for specific kinds of disaster response, which could include cleaning up, rehabbing and rebuilding. It is also seeking sources to provide counseling and medical services as well. 

How Will This Work Accomplish Be Accomplished?
When a disaster strikes, the Disaster Response ministry will immediately work with local churches and their presbyteries to assess the stricken community's needs, and then use a volunteer database to match the situation to volunteers' skills and their geographical proximity to the problem area. It will then contact volunteers to create and mobilize Rapid Intervention Teams who will travel to the disaster site to provide needed assistance. Additional follow-up teams will be delegated and dispatched later as circumstances warrant. Nearby churches and other willing support people will also be alerted and instructed.

Partnership and Involvement

Would your church or presbytery like to learn more about this disaster response ministry? Contact Ron Haynes at 636-227-2612. You can also complete the online Volunteer Registration form to indicate your interest. If you complete an online Volunteer Registration, you will not be obligated for any particular event.

Consider joining this ministry as the PCA engages in both disaster preparedness and disaster response. You may become involved by partnering with this ministry through prayer and financial support. MNA Disaster Response is supported only by designated gifts; every dollar given to MNA Disaster Response will go 100% to the ministry. 

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