Black Mountain, North Carolina was among the towns hardest hit by Hurricane Helene—the unprecedented storm that swept through western North Carolina two weeks ago. Just fifteen miles east of Asheville, the town saw bridges washed away, roads left impassable, and widespread power and water outages. At least twelve people from Black Mountain tragically lost their lives.
One of those affected by the devastation is Pastor Chandler Ragland of Black Mountain UMC. Though we haven't known each other long, I now consider him a friend.
It was about a year ago when Pastor Chandler and his family welcomed my son August and me into their home. Despite never having met me, he responded to my email request for a place to stay for a couple of nights before August and I went to the nearby National Bible Bee. Without hesitation, and simply because of our shared faith as Christians and fellow United Methodists, he offered us his guest bedroom and showed us extraordinary hospitality.
When I asked Pastor Chandler on October 1 how things were going, he told me that most of his church members had evacuated. At that point, they were in search and rescue mode, and he indicated that the rebuilding effort would be a long process. He also sent pictures of the roads in his town, with parts completely washed away.
I watched their worship service on YouTube, and it appears that some people were able to return this past Sunday. While they had electricity, there was still no running water. You can watch their service as well at this link: YouTube Service. In the video, you'll also see short clips of Black Mountain UMC members volunteering at Old Fort UMC, located just nine miles east of their town. The scene was an unbelievably muddy mess.
During the service, Chandler explained that UMCOR—the United Methodist Committee on Relief—is the humanitarian relief and development arm of the UMC. Whenever there is a natural or human-caused disaster, UMCOR volunteers work to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for those in need. They send in teams for the long-term work of rebuilding neighborhoods, and Black Mountain UMC is planning to establish a base for UMCOR workers at their church.
Here is a brief video from UMCOR that shows the early relief efforts: UMCOR Relief Video.
For those who feel led to help the hurricane victims, you can give to UMCOR, or you can donate directly to Black Mountain UMC. Just include a note in the memo that the gift is for hurricane relief efforts: Black Mountain UMC Relief.
Let us be in prayer for the people of Black Mountain UMC, and for all our Christian brothers and sisters dealing with the aftermath of the hurricanes. As I watched the video, I was deeply moved by hearing them sing "It Is Well with My Soul" at the end of their worship service—while images of the destruction in Black Mountain and Swannanoa played on the screen. Our God is faithful, and may His love flow through us to those around us, both near and far.
Comments