Navigation Back Search

Video: ‘Look what God can do’

Video and photos by Annette Spence, Holston Conference; produced by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

An East Tennessee pastor says God guided her congregation to respond to the needs of families displaced by Hurricane Helene. The Rev. Sarah Varnell, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, says the church’s response started small and has grown into a community-wide effort, with the church becoming a safe place for people to come and get supplies. “Look what God can do,” she said.

Learn more

Elias Torres cleans up flood damage from Hurricane Helene at Cedar Key (Fla.) United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. 

Florida churches begin Helene recovery efforts

United Methodists across the southeastern U.S. are responding in communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. UM News photographer Mike DuBose traveled with church leaders and relief workers in Florida this week to document as they began assessing damage and planning relief efforts.
SEE STORY
A view of Valle Crucis United Methodist Church in Valle Crucis, N.C., shows water over the stairs of the entryway after flooding caused by Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina and other parts of the southeastern United States last week. Bishop Ken Carter, who leads the Western North Carolina Conference, said it’s estimated that more than half of the 44 counties in the annual conference have been affected. Photo courtesy of the Western North Carolina Conference. 

United Methodists offer relief after Helene

Church members are beginning the long, slow recovery following Helene’s devastating storm surge and flooding in the southeastern U.S. Conferences are busy supporting survivors.
SEE STORY

Related Tags

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Disaster Relief
Philippine Coast Guard personnel evacuate residents in the Bicol region on Oct. 24 after floodwaters rose quickly due to heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Trami (called Kristine in the Philippines). United Methodists are among those rallying to help survivors in the wake of Trami and several other tropical storms that battered the region. Photo courtesy of the Ako Bicol Online TV Facebook page.

Church responds as typhoons batter Philippines
Filipino United Methodists are rallying to help survivors of a series of tropical storms that have caused massive flooding, washing out roads and destroying homes and crops.
Disaster Relief
Church member Sherrie Mayotte views damage to the kitchen at Pensacola United Methodist Church in Burnsville, N.C., after it was flooded by storm runoff following Tropical Storm Helene. The nearby Cane River overflowed its banks and drove a wall of water packed with mud, trees and parts of destroyed homes into the church fellowship hall and kitchen. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Hurricane Helene recovery in N.C.
United Methodists are among those helping in the mountains of Western North Carolina after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding. Mike DuBose offers a photo essay of that work.
Disaster Relief
Al Tompkins and Carolyn Koontz talk with Anita McKinney on the porch of her home in Newland, N.C. Screengrab by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

‘I’m blessed’: Church crews respond to storms
United Methodists from Moneta, Virginia, got to work in Western North Carolina, helping with recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene caused massive flooding in the region.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2024 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved