Episcopal Letter:
"We must continue to respond"
To the people of the Holston Conference:
I greet you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The outpouring of support for those whose lives have been damaged and forever changed by Hurricane Katrina and now, Hurricane Rita, is so inspiring. Our response is a witness to ourselves, to those affected by these hurricanes, and to others of the love of Jesus Christ that permeates and gives direction to our lives. We are indeed holding up the banner of Christ and lifting Him for the entire world to see.
I want to thank you for focusing your attention, your resources, your energy, your prayers, and your gifts in this time of crisis. I especially want to thank you for the $672,518 you have donated to UMCOR's hurricane effort (as of Sept. 27). I realize that the concerns of your local church's ministry in your respective communities can sometimes be overwhelming all by themselves, but you continue to prove to me that we are capable of performing multiple tasks with efficiency and effectiveness.
Let me also say this: Although the news coverage for Hurricane Rita has not shown devastation that correlates with Katrina, the devastation is just as real. As many of you know, I have children and grandchildren in Houston. I thank God that my family was spared, but I grieve for those families who lost so much. We must continue to respond.
The magnitude of this devastation means that we will need your ongoing support and help for some years to come. If your church has not given to this effort, I encourage you to do so. We must remember that when FEMA and others have left, we The United Methodist Church will still need to be there.
Our office pledges to continue to keep you informed of opportunities to serve as we receive the information. We would also like to hear from you if opportunities come your way to serve about which we may not be aware.
Again, thank you for your support and keep up the godly work.
Yours in Christ,
James E. Swanson, Sr.
Resident Bishop, Holston Episcopal Area
September 27, 2005
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