CONVOY OF HOPE SENDS AID TO NORTHWEST FLOODING VICTIMS

Convoy of Hope, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, is once
again on the road, this time to flooded areas of the Pacific
Northwest. The international compassion organization, affiliated
with the Assemblies of God, is sending a disaster response team and
semi-truck loaded with more than 42,000 pounds of relief supplies
from America's heartland to a far corner of America.

Members of Convoy of Hope's US Disaster Response Team will arrive in
Oregon today and begin preparations to distribute cleaning supplies,
bottled water, PowerAde, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and N-95 paper
facemasks to flooding victims in Washington and Oregon.

The organization anticipates establishing distribution sites in
Chehalis and Centralia, Washington upon arrival, and will also
assess additional locations throughout the region. The governors of
both Oregon and Washington have declared a statewide state of
emergency.

Emergency operations centers are activated at the highest levels;
Washington has opened 10 shelters and Oregon has opened 6. There are
five confirmed fatalities; two in Oregon and three in Washington.
Widespread power outages are still being reported with several
hospitals operating on generator power. Washington is reporting an
estimated 45,700 customers still without power. Oregon is reporting
an estimated 56,000 without power and two to seven days before
repairs are completed.

While responding to a request for assistance from partners in the
Pacific Northwest, Convoy of Hope is also bracing for its first
winter storm of the season.

One to two inches of ice is predicted to freeze a wide-spread area
of the Midwest, reminiscent of the January 2007 ice storm that left
hundreds of thousands of residences in several states without power
for weeks.

A First Responder, Convoy of Hope is a National VOAD (Volunteer
Organizations active in Disaster) member and works within FEMA
guidelines during U.S. Disaster Events.

To donate to Convoy of Hope and its efforts, or for the latest
response update and other information about the organization, visit
http://www.convoyofhope.org/.

--Kristin Kubitschek

Convoy of Hope responds to Katrina-like flooding

Images of the Mexican state of Tabasco are reminiscent of Katrina's damage to the Gulf Coast in 2005; in place of the lush, tropical landscape the area is known for, are huge brown lakes with only the treetops visible above the waterline. An estimated 300,000 people are trapped in their homes with helicopters and rescue boats plucking victims from pockets of refuge. President Felipe Calderon calls it one of the worst natural disasters in Mexico's history.

Responding to a request for assistance, Convoy of Hope staff has been in regular communication throughout each day with local partners there. Convoy of Hope disaster responders are laying the groundwork for a full-scale response once rivers have crested and flooding subsides.

"We refer to this as a compound disaster - though the flooding and the threat to life is the primary concern at this point, there will be long-term implications such as severe economic issues due to the loss of agriculture and industry," says Convoy of Hope's International Project Director Gary Higgins.

"The amount of water is incredible," says Tabasco Governor Andres Granier. "We have lost 100 percent of our crops and 70 percent of the state is under water."

One million people, about half of the state's population, with an estimated 500,000 homeless are seeking relief from the worst disaster in the state's history.

"We are just like New Orleans. All the water that comes in has to be pumped out," Granier says.

Despite the throngs of sandbags placed along waterways, several rivers overflowed their banks last week, pouring over into hundreds of villages and towns, including the state capitol of Villahermosa.

President Felipe Calderon flew to the oil-rich state on the country's Gulf coast to assess the damage and promised more soldiers and rescue workers. Residents had refused to leave their flooded homes because of reported looting in the absence of police protection.

To donate toward Convoy of Hope's international disaster relief efforts, or for more information about the organization, visit www.convoyofhope.org.

— Kristin Kubitschek, AG News

Caribbean flooding impacts ministry

Following heavy rains over a 12-day period, Tropical Storm Noel has added insult to injury causing severe flooding throughout the Caribbean and Central America. The devastation in several countries has captured the attention of the Assemblies of God-affiliated compassion ministry, Convoy of Hope.

Convoy of Hope Public Relations Director Kristin Kubitschek told AG News that staff members are on location distributing relief supplies in Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador. Also, in-country partners in the Dominican Republic are assessing needs there.

Reports from the areas state damage includes loss of life, damaged and destroyed businesses and homes, hundreds of contaminated wells, mudslides, significant crop damage and sanitation issues that accompany flooding.

Among those caught in the powerful Caribbean storm are Assemblies of God World Missionaries Larry and Dee McNeill of Latin American Theological Seminary. On Thursday, McNeil said Noel had been pounding the Dominican Republic classroom where he taught for several days.

“The normally peaceful brook behind the dinning room is now a raging river,” McNeill reported. “Electric power has been off for two days. Although water is flooding the entire campus, there has been no water for showers for days, making the hot, humid Bible College almost intolerable.”

However, students on the island – all seasoned ministers – aren’t complaining.

“In spite of the hammering rain and violent wind, ministry leaders of Dominican Republic are studying a master’s degree program in ministerial leadership,” McNeill reported. “They are pressing on to get every drop of benefit from their courses of study.”

— Dan Van Veen, AG News, and John W. Kennedy

AG churches somewhat spared by wildfires, so far

Although hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated and
thousands of structures lost due to the wildfires in Southern
California, so far not one Assemblies of God church has been lost,
though there are reports coming in of damage done to churches by the
fires.

According to the office of Ray Rachels, the Southern California
District Council superintendent, at this point, they are only aware
of one pastor losing his home. Lupe Hernandez, who pastors Rincon
Chapel Assembly of God on the Rincon Indian Reservation, had his
home destroyed by the fire.

However, a number of churches have experienced fire damage, and
almost all AG churches in the area have been affected by the blaze
as church members, family members or friends have lost homes.

Although the fires are not as wide-spread now, they are still
burning on three different fronts. Rachel's office asks for prayer
for moderate rainfall (to avoid mud slides) and that the powerful
Santa Ana winds expected this weekend will not materialize.

Convoy of Hope is working with the district and churches to help
assess and meet needs in the area. To assist Convoy in this
ministry of compassion, see http://www.ConvoyofHope.org.

For updates from the Southern California District on the relief
efforts, see http://www.socalag.org/disasterupdate.

— Dan Van Veen, AG News

Reaching out, making a difference

Saturday, Oct. 27, volunteers from the Assemblies of God headquarters, Evangel University and Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Mo., partnered with Convoy of Hope for a neighborhood outreach in observance of Make A Difference Day.

About 2,700 guests were in attendance. Volunteers distributed 2,500 bags of groceries and prayed with more than 1,000 guests.

Make A Difference Day is a national day of helping others. The annual event, created by "USA Weekend," takes place the on the fourth Saturday of every October. In 2006, more than 3 million people participated in various projects nationwide.

If you, your church or business participated in this year’s Make A Difference Day, tell us about it. We’d love to hear how you are making a difference in your community.

Photos by Dan VanVeen

Convoy of Hope sends team to Southern California

With more than half a million people displaced by the Southern
California wildfires, the need for food, water and shelter is
critical. In order to help meet this need, an assessment team from
Convoy of Hope, based in Springfield, Mo., was dispatched to
Southern California Tuesday afternoon as wildfires, fanned by Santa
Anna winds, continued to whip across the region.

"Because we felt it was important to get an assessment team in
place immediately, our team arrived in California Wednesday to
assess the situation and determine how Convoy of Hope can be of the
most help," says Kary D. Kingsland, U.S. Disaster Response director.

So far, hundreds of homes have been destroyed and more than a half a
million people have been forced to evacuate their residences and
places of business. Many evacuees have made their way to local
churches, schools and even Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

President Bush declared a federal emergency for seven counties, a
move that will speed disaster-relief efforts. Convoy of Hope
representatives plan to enlist the help of corporate partners to
speed relief supplies to organizations and people in need. Though
the fires have been blazing undeterred for three days, containment
of the fires will be difficult as the ground is tinder-dry, high
winds aren't forecasted to abate any time soon, and temperatures are
expected to rise in the coming days.

Kingsland believes Convoy of Hope's role will grow even larger after
the fires have been contained. "There is a lot of need right now,"
he says. "But we expect that need to become even greater after the
fires are contained. That's when people will have time to assess
what they have lost and what they need."

More information on how Convoy of Hope is working to bring
relief to the victims of the Southern California wildfires is available at http://www.convoyofhope.org or by calling 417-823-8998.

— Kristin Kubitschek, AG News

Hurricane Dean Hits Mexico - Team Readies to Go

Representatives of the TPE, Convoy of Hope and HealthCare Ministries are preparing to go to areas of Mexico (and perhaps Belize) affected by the massive storm. Hal Donaldson and Ken Horn of the TPE are scheduled to make the trip.

Convoy of Hope on Final Day of General Council

The Convoy of Hope in Indianapolis today was a resounding success. The Convoy involved 1,331 volunteers from 56 churches and 47 organizations. They served 4,275 guests; 317 received Christ as Savior.

Photo 1: Convoy Director Mike Redmon coached the volunteers prior to opening on Saturday morning.



Photo 2: Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson with Indiana District Superintendent Don Gifford and his wife.

Photo 3: A few of the 4,275 to receive free groceries ... and a lot more.