During the May, 2013 F4 tornado that tore through Moore, Oklahoma, hundreds of homes were destroyed and badly damaged, lives were lost, vehicles destroyed, and there were countless instances of suffering. Yet there were also stories of heroism, miraculous recoveries, and thousands of people rushing in with food, water, blankets and supplies.
Churches in the area became staging centers to receive and distribute aid, and to pair volunteers with people in need of help. Cleanup crews came from every corner of the country.
First Methodist Church of Moore said they received checks from all over, from people they had not heard of, but who wanted to send money where they knew it would be best used. Many thousands of dollars was voluntarily mailed to the church. This was the experience of many churches in Moore.
Without being political, this is opposite to Federal help that was doled out, but by necessity it came through channels that delayed and complicated its use.
God does use us for His purposes. If we listen and respond, we are His servants to carry out His plans. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done this to the least of these, you have done it to me.”