Stacey Gagne

Over the weekend an outbreak of violent storms and tornadoes impacted communities from Texas to Iowa with some communities suffering catastrophic damage.  At least 5 people lost their lives and thousands are in the process of sifting through debris and recovering.

Please join us in praying for all that were impacted and those lending aid.  A few ways to pray:

• We pray for God to be close to the broken hearted and discouraged.
• We pray for relief efforts to help those who are suffering loss.
• We pray for protection over these communities as they work to recover.
• We pray for strength for local churches in these areas who are ministering to their communities while also suffering losses

Samaritans Purse has teams on the ground and disaster relief units heading to lend aid.  Opportunities to volunteer and lend support can be found at their website.

Mennonite Disaster Services is currently gathering information on where there might be needs for MDS volunteers.  Your donation can be made online – please select “2024 Spring Tornadoes” in the drop-down box. You may also send a check to Mennonite Disaster Service, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543 and enter “2024 Spring Tornadoes” as the designation.

We will provide additional information on other relief opportunities as information is provided to us.

The fire that devastated the historic town of Lahaina is among the deadliest US wildfires in over 100 years.  As Maui residents continue to sift through the ashes, they are in need of our prayer and support.  The following organizations are providing various types of relief.  We will continue to update this list as we receive additional information.

Samaritans Purse  “Our DC-8 cargo jet airlifted a volunteer team and 17 tons of relief supplies from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Maui, Hawaii, on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Among many other items onboard were solar lights, cooking kits, hygiene kits, and plastic tarp to provide immediate relief to survivors of the deadly wildfires. The plane also carried tools and equipment that will help our volunteers sift through ashes to recover valuables and treasured mementos for devastated homeowners.” To sign up to receive updates about volunteer opportunities on Maui, visit spvolunteer.org.  Contributions are being accepted here

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is also on the ground ministering to the spiritual needs of people who have suddenly found themselves in displacement centers due to the fires. These chaplains are also assisting local law enforcement offices with a variety of duties. So far, there have been two reported salvations. Please pray for the suffering people of Maui and for Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Rapid Response teams as they extend the comfort and hope offered in Jesus Christ.

Harvest Christian Fellowship   Greg Laurie’s church, Harvest Kumulani, is located on West Maui.  The church building was unharmed by the fires but the church family has been dramatically affected.  They have set up the Harvest Maui Relief Fund   They are there as a community of believers to bring hope, relief and the gospel to the hurting people of the island of Maui at this critical time.

The Salvation Army  The Salvation Army provides food, emotional and spiritual care to survivors of the Maui wildfires.  The Salvation Army has been providing feedings, food distribution, safe havens and other services at their local community centers.

Mennonite Disaster Service: Currently praying, monitoring and assessing the needs.  “MDS has been communicating with its partner organizations—including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster—about potential long-term needs on the ground in Maui. “Please pray for emergency responders as they continue to face an unprecedented situation in their communities,” said MDS Executive Director Kevin King. “As we assess needs, please be aware that, particularly in the aftermath of a wildfire, MDS may not send volunteers for another nine to 12 months, as fire cleanup and relief operations will be unfolding during that time. ” Look for updates at mds.org.

A series of tornadoes moved through Mississippi on March 24th and resulted in the loss of lives, immense damage and destruction to communities across the state.  Another weekend of tornadoes from March 31 thru April 1st has impacted The Mississippi River Valley region with storm damage reported all the way from Wisconsin to Delaware.  Please join us in prayer for those that have been impacted by the storms as well as the local first responders, churches, and volunteers assisting with recovery and support.

There are organizations sharing opportunities to contribute toward relief work or to volunteer.  We will update the list below as we receive details.

Samaritans Purse: Volunteers are working in Rolling Fork and in Amory – locations on the east and west sides of Mississippi. Teams are helping in Jesus’ Name tarping damaged roofs, cutting up fallen or damaged trees, and clearing debris from yards and homes.   They have also now deployed to Little Rock, Arkansas; Covington, Tennessee and Sullivan County, Indiana.  There are opportunities to volunteer or provide financial support.

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are working alongside of Samaritans Purse volunteer teams.  They will be offering emotional and spiritual care to residents in these devastated communities.  They’ve also deployed Mobile Ministry Centers in each town providing chaplains a quiet place to pray, share God’s love and comfort to those who need it.  Please pray for these teams to have insight and wisdom from the Lord as they care for individuals.  Financial support is also needed.

The Salvation Army has mobilized teams to assess the damage and to begin distributing meals, snacks, and water to survivors and first responders. They also have staff offering emotional and spiritual care.  Giving Opportunities are Available 

Please keep the people of Syria and Turkey in your prayers.  Please also pray for those being deployed to lend aid and wisdom for all who are leading those efforts.

The massive Feb 6 earthquakes and aftershocks have been devastating to the region are resulting in widespread fatalities and injuries.  Freezing temperatures are also affecting relief and rescue efforts.

As we learn of opportunities to provide aid, we will post links here.

Barnabas Aid      Sending containers of food, blankets and medical supplies.  Supplies of rice, lentils, beans, chickpeas, bulgar and noodles were sent 3 days after the earthquake and distributed immediately.

Do Something – A group with Do Something/Petra Church is going to Turkey in May through a partnership with Dwell Global.  They will be helping to build sheds to house 2 families per shed, provide practical needs and spend time playing with children.  Opportunities to give toward trip expenses at Petra.church/give  or DwellGlobal.kindful.com and following the link to give a tax deductible gift.  Questions can be directed to Dosomething4christ@gmail.com  Lin Fisher will also be our guest on the Morning Show on Monday March 6.

Food for the Hungry  is rushing clean water, sanitation, hygiene training and kits, shelter, and other emergency aid to victims to help children and families survive.

MCC is working with partners in Aleppo, Syria to provide emergency assistance such as food baskets, clothing, hygiene supplies, winterization supplies and water resources. MCC will also be providing partners with psychological and trauma training.

Samaritans Purse  Staff are on the ground working along side partners to assess needs and share the love of Christ with those who are hurting.  They are deploying a 52 bed Emergency Field Hospital and staff to address immediate medical needs.  They also will be airlifting in critically needed emergency supplies.

Tying Vines crisis response team is working with partners on the ground to bring relief to those in need. All donations to this campaign directly support the effort to get vital resources and supplies to these communities.

Please join us in praying for everyone impacted by Hurricane Ian and those still recovering from Hurricane Fiona.  In addition to the very clear needs that need to be met in relief efforts and clean up, there are many that need the Hope of Jesus to sustain them.  Please also lift up all the first responders and those preparing to be deployed.

As we learn of relief efforts in the days to come, we’ll share those with you.

Mennonite Disaster Service

Christ in Action

The Salvation Army 

Samaritan’s Purse

The conflict in Ukraine has left many people vulnerable and in need of aid.  As we continue to pray for all that are impacted by the invasion and unrest; there are organizations providing opportunities to lend critical support.

MCC is accepting donations for a response in Ukraine.  From their website: “MCC’s response will be focused on longer-term scale up of existing programs that support vulnerable people and extending those services to internally displaced populations. It will likely include psychosocial support and trauma healing, temporary emergency housing, emergency distributions of locally purchased emergency supplies such as blankets, and distribution of food packages. MCC also plans to resume shipments of material resources once the in-country conditions are stable enough to do so.”

Samaritans Purse is operating multiple medical facilities in various parts of Ukraine and providing food and non-food relief items through church partnerships in both Ukraine and Moldova.

Hope International has created a Hope Ukraine assistance fund

World Vision  is on the ground in Eastern Europe preparing to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families who have been forcibly displaced due to the escalating crisis in Ukraine.  Your donation can help provide children and families searching for a safe haven with protection and psychosocial support including Child-Friendly Spaces in neighboring countries in the Middle East and Eastern European region.

Mission Eurasia    Has established a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund to help provide for the urgent, immediate needs of Ukrainians still living in the country, as well as refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.  Hear Fred’s interview with Don Parsons, Director of the Unreached People Groups Initiative here

Barnabas Aid   Sending funds to churches in the neighboring countries as they care for Christian and other refugees.  Barnabas supporters in the United Kingdom are donating food items, blankets and winter clothes, to be transported by van or truck across Europe to the borders of Ukraine to supply the local churches caring for the refugees from Ukraine.

World Without Orphans has established a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund to support the work of their Ukrainian staff and partners in the country serving those who are internally displaced or fleeing to neighboring countries. A specific focus of their ministry is on safety and provision for orphaned children and their caregivers.

BCM International  Providing food, shelter, and medical supplies as well as aiding the displaced in their journey to western Ukraine and other international safe-havens.

Tying Vines  Vice President Melissa Mitchell is working with the Polish ambassador to help in organizing aid to the thousands of refugees flooding into Poland.

Compassion International has some helpful prayer targets published for times of turmoil around the world.

The Pocket Testament League is providing Ukranian Gospels through Blessings of Hope food containers and are also providing gospels to other ministries providing relief.

Tomorrow Clubs International is coordinating with local churches and Christ followers to provide basic needs for Ukranian refugees including hot meals, food packages, mattresses and medications and more.

Friends in Action International   University of Divine Grace (FIA ministry partner) Faculty and Bible school students are distributing blankets, hot drinks, food, and hope. The Chișinău university campus and support facilities have become a haven for refugees while providing an opportunity to learn about Jesus, our Prince of Peace. UDG also supports those traveling by vehicle with free maintenance and repair services, enabling stranded travelers to continue on their way into Western Europe.

Missions International is the organization Tommy Iceland partners with. This non-profit organization that directly helps those in need who are impacted by the war. All donations made will benefit the families in Melitopol and all over Ukraine.

Sunrise4Ukraine:  A global initiative encouraging churches to host an additional Sunrise Service on April 24 to join together in praying for Ukraine & Russia.  April 24^th is Easter Sunday for the Orthodox and for most Eastern Christians.

A little encouragement can go a long way. Today we received a one sentence note in the mail and it made my day. It was a very simple thank you that was jotted down on a piece of note paper and sent along with a donation. It brought joy to our staff.

Sometimes when we think about being being an encouragement or even a good neighbor; we get visions of a huge time investment or imagine having to bake cookies that live up to some Instagram worthy photo. The reality is that a word, a smile, or a sentence can be enough. I have some thoughtful coworkers that leave post-it notes on my desk just to let me know they were thinking of me.  😀 Those “little” things can make a persons day!

Sometimes we receive encouragement from others and sometimes we need to encourage ourselves! Tough days sometimes stack up more frequently than we like. Reminders of truths from God’s Word, scriptures, songs and even beautiful art or things from nature can inject life into dry bones on any given day.  Recently I jotted a few very simple sharpie written reminders onto some scrap paper and hung them where I could see them at my desk.

• be positive
• be joyful
• be encouraging
• be thankful

Don’t discount your “little” attempts at bringing light to the world around you.  Each one of us is a difference maker.   

STACEY GAGNE –  Lisa Landis and Stacey Gagne were honored to attend the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters 2019 Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting Luncheon today, held at Hotel Hershey.  Lisa accepted the award for “Outstanding Station Sponsored Event” for Kids Cookie Break Fest 2018.  It is always wonderful to be among so many talented broadcasters from across the state!  Lisa and Stacey enjoyed having lunch with Dennis, Michelle and Billy from FUN101.3 and meeting Kayla Molczan from Butler Radio News.   It was also a privilege to witness Broadcaster of the Year Awards being presented to Harvey Holiday from WOGL FM, Philadelphia and Vernon Odom from ABC Philadelphia. Congratulations to all the winners!

Local and national ministries and organizations are assembling ways to help those affected by Hurricane Florence.  Here are some that we are aware of or that have reached out to us.

Christ In Action has options to give and will be ready to accept volunteers beginning tomorrow (Tuesday 9/18).  They also plan be live on WJTL at 8:20 on 9/18 to talk about ways to get involved.

Mennonite Disaster Services  Has options to volunteer and to give.  Kevin King, Executive Director,  will be on the air with Lisa this Friday (9/21) just after 3:30 pm with updates.

American Red Cross  is accepting funds for relief efforts

Samaritans Purse:  Accepting funds and volunteers

GAIN:  Global Aid Network has information about how you can pray or give to partner with their relief efforts

If you are aware of other ministries that we could add to our list, please email contact@wjtl.com for review and consideration.  Thanks.

Please join us in prayer and partnership with flood relief efforts in Texas.  

Christ In Action, God’s Pit Crew, Samaritan’s Purse, and Mennonite Disaster Service are a few ministries already at work in Texas where you could invest your resources.