2Serve hurricane Florence response September 21-October 10

OUR RESPONSE EFFORTS WERE FOCUSED AROUND NEW BERN, NC WHERE 4,200 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

249 students and sponsors from seven schools and five others responded and helped 150 families

Heritage Academy

Atlanta Adventist Academy

Highland Academy

Southern Adventist University

Tri-City Christian Academy

Harbert Hill Academy

Fletcher Academy

Don & Talene Howe

Tom & Pam Brito

Tom Chandler

Tri-City Pathfinders

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING WHO HELPED MAKE OUR RESPONSE POSSIBLE

Pastor David Graham Carolina Conference ACS Director

The New Bern Seventh-day Adventist head elder Mark Rankin and Treasurer Sam Ruis for allowing us to stay at their church

The New Bern Temple Baptist Church Family Life Pastor Bennett Halloway for sharing work order with us

Christ In Action team for allowing us to use their showers

Hurricane Florence Responder and Survivor Experiences

Elyse Knecht - Highland Academy Responder

“This was an incredible experience that I would definitely repeat again. The miracles that I was able to see and hear were incredible. This experience grew my faith in ways I didn’t expect. I’m so glad I could be part of this important mission work and play the role of serving the communities affected by loss.”

Bennett Holloway - Pastor of New Bern Temple Baptist Church October 24, 2018

When I was asked to write up what it was like to work alongside the 2Serve Disaster Relief Team, to be honest it is difficult to write into words. 2Serve was selfless and servant hearted in every aspect of the terms. They worked hard to serve a community they didn’t know because they were sent on a mission by God, only through the power of Jesus Christ.

Many families will never know their names, but will always remember their impact. These students showed homeowners the love of Christ while also being sensitive to the difficult season of life our community went through.

Let me share my personal experience with the leadership:

Jim Ingersoll called me at 8:30 on the evening of one of the toughest days I had personally had the entire hurricane. All day I had been at my house with my wife sorting through our children’s items and throwing away half of all we own. I had send everyone I could to other people’s homes and stepped away to work on mine. While I was there my phone kept ringing. Time after time it was a phone call of desperation and also frustration. Others were hurting and needing hope, but we were not able to help people fast enough. We were limited by our man power. I sat on my porch exhausted and very emotional, took our kids to the house we were bunking at, put them down and I headed back to my house to try to lock up and make sure nothing was left outside that shouldn’t be. On my way, as it got dark, I got yet another phone call. On the other side was a man’s voice who was calm, comforting, and simply asked if I could meet with him tonight up at the church.

Based on my day, you can imagine how I wanted to respond!, but I felt like I needed to meet with him anyway. So I stood in the lobby of the church when three people walked in and met with me in the WAR room. Jim sat across from me and asked me how things are going, how I am doing, and a woman named Debbie asked if my house was damaged.

This was a meeting I will never forget, and the beginning of an encounter from God. 2serve came into my church being an answer to a prayer I had not prayed yet. They were a blessing from the Lord and I will never forget that moment. From that night on Debbie, Jim and their team worked hard, served the people of our community and did it with such grace and love. They came into my life and ministered to me personally.

To you and your ministry, I tell you thank you. To your students, I tell you thank you.

I pray that all of those who served encountered God in your serving as I have experienced myself. I could write you another 10 pages about your impact and the imprint of Christ you placed on SO MANY home here in Eastern North Carolina.

Bennett Holloway

Family Pastor

Temple Church

1500 Kingdom Way

New Bern, NC 28560

252-633-3330

temple.church

John a survivor or Hurricane Florence

I am still shocked beyond belief! Jim and his crew showed up to my rental house today. I had several trees down in my yard. They said, “How about some free help?” They proceeded to get trees and debris out of my yard. People kept showing up to help. I was truly amazed at their kindness and willingness to help. It was one of the most touching experiences of my life. Thank you so much! Jim, Courtney, Brianne and the rest of the crew, you are angels!