Update from the President
This is the third week that we are preoccupied with and concerned about victims of the violent hurricanes in Texas and Florida and other natural disasters around the world. Our earth and its inhabitants are suffering and awaiting the relief that will come from an emancipated world. This year's Feast of Tabernacles will have special meaning, coming on the heels of the natural catastrophes that have just occurred. I am including the latest reports from our pastors living in the affected regions about conditions in their areas.
Regional Pastor Conference
The six U.S. regional pastors along with Chris Rowland and myself met in Omaha, Nebraska, for a conference this past Sunday and Monday, Sept. 10-11. We thank pastor Mitch Knapp and his wife Linda for hosting this event and thank several members of the Omaha congregation who helped with transportation and arrangements. Bev and I attended services with the Omaha congregation on the Sabbath and reconnected with several friends from our past.
A number of significant changes have recently been made to the role of regional pastor. Most noteworthy is that the position of regional pastor is now a line function between Ministerial and Member Services and the field ministry. Pastors will now report to the regional pastors instead of directly to the Operation Manager for MMS.
We feel this change will be healthy and improve communication and advocacy for our ministers' needs. Some of our pastors have wished they could have more communication and someone to talk to more directly and frequently.
In our conference we emphasized that the regional pastor is first a servant to the men in his region and is responsible to get to know the ministers and their wives. As representatives of the field ministry, regional pastors advise the home office on needs and urgent priorities.
The essential responsibilities are to develop a team concept with the region as well as to be a consultant. He will mediate in areas of conflict. Also, he is an advisor to MMS through regular conferences and will assist with the men in his region so they can better do their jobs.
In our meetings we discussed each region and the manpower needs. Also, we talked about the new ordination approval process which was discussed at our last Council of Elders meeting, which will involve more vetting and education of ministerial candidates before ordination.
We all agreed that the meetings were instructive, cordial and most helpful. We plan to meet via web conference and further face-to-face conferences.
Reports from Our Pastors
From Mario Seiglie—Mexico Earthquake, Sept. 8:
I thought I would let you know that, thankfully, the earthquake that hit the southern Pacific side of Mexico did not harm the brethren who live in the area, notably in Chiapas. We don't have members in Oaxaca, the closest land to the epicenter. Those in Mexico City felt the quake but it was more of a horizontal and not a vertical movement, so it was softer.
From Stan Martin—Irma, Sept. 13:
The members in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Vero Beach and Ocala, Florida, were very blessed that Hurricane Irma did minimal damage to the area. There were a number who lost power (some of which still do not have electricity) and many fallen trees and tree limbs, but no one was injured and to my knowledge, no homes were significantly damaged. The forecast early in the week predicted major damage toward Vero Beach, but then the hurricane changed course toward a direct hit on the St. Petersburg/Tampa area. Devastating destruction was predicted up until late Sunday afternoon when the path changed course again and went further inland. The members were able to see the power of God and answered prayer despite the issues that Hurricane Irma caused in the area.
There does not appear to be any major damage to Jekyll Island that would impact our ability to enjoy the Feast of Tabernacles there in a few weeks. Power should be restored to the island in the next few days, and clean-up efforts are progressing well.
From Rick Shabi—Irma, Sept. 14:
Along with the rest of the state of Florida, Hurricane Irma battered the Orlando and Jacksonville areas with high winds and heavy rainfall this past Sunday and Monday.
I am happy to report that all church members in the area that I've been able to contact are safe and well, with no reported injuries as a result of the storm.
In the Orlando area, wind gusts of up to 80 mph and rain totals of 6-12 inches caused minor damage to some member homes, but has not left any home uninhabitable. Mobile homes are always vulnerable in these storms, but in this area, we have seen God's protection as no member mobile homes suffered significant damage.
The biggest impact of the storm was widespread power outages. Just about all members were without power for some period of time. Today, there are several who are being advised that power will likely not be restored to their homes until Sunday or later.
Jacksonville had high wind gusts of 85 mph and rainfall totals of 15 inches or more around the area, including into southern Georgia, where several members live. One member had a tree fall onto their kitchen area, but no one was hurt. Others had only minor damage, if any. Power outages are widespread but most seem to have had power restored by today.
When it seemed the worst was over, historical flooding developed quickly downtown and all along the St. John River. One member commented that floodwater came within a half block of her home and then receded.
Just a few blocks from my own home, it was quite a sight to see the river rushing over its banks like ocean waves and a rescue boat traveling the streets we often drive. I am happy to report, though, that to my knowledge no member in the Jacksonville (or Orlando) church areas suffered any water intrusion in their homes.
The magnitude of this storm was enormous and reminded us of the power that God has built into the universe and the power and commitment He has to protect His people. We all learned lessons of faith and reliance on God from this experience, and we all have much to be thankful for as He has watched over all of us and truly seen us through this storm.
From Chuck Smith—Irma, Sept. 11:
The winds finally began to calm here in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area late Sunday evening. I have contacted most of our brethren in this area. All are safe and have minimal damage. A couple are still without power.
In the Caribbean, our brethren were spared, as well. However, some islands were practically demolished, including St. Maarten, Barbuda and St. John. We don't have members there, but those people need our prayers. It will take them years to fully recover.
From Braden Veller—Irma, Sept. 13:
Greetings from the Tallahassee and Ft. Myers congregations. God was extremely merciful to the western side of Florida with the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Before coming here, Irma was heralded by the experts in the highest superlative language possible: "Worst hurricane in a century", "More Powerful than Katrina" (New Orleans), "Worse than Hurricane Andrew" (Miami), "Equal to or Greater than any other Category 5 Hurricane on Record" and "Devastating Storm Surge Projected on Sea Coast."
As Irma hit Cuba, just south of south Florida, its greatest inner winds around its center swirled around the tight eye of the storm at a sustained speed of an unprecedented 225 m.p.h. Most other Category 5 storms never reach such high wind speeds. This implied that the outer bands of the storm would smother all of Florida at minimum wind gusts of 75-120 mph, hundreds of miles away from its center.
Hours later it crossed the Florida keys and rammed into the towns of Key West, Naples and Fort Myers—but as a Category 4 with a projected bee line over the Fort Myers, Tampa-St. Pete, and Tallahassee church areas. One fourth of the state of Florida evacuated. A number of our brethren in the direct line of fire in south Florida drove 200-600 miles to escape far enough to secure safety and available lodging.
No doubt, with the supportive prayers of many people during this trial, the key component of the hurricane, the eye of it, began to wobble and become loosely oval shaped instead of a very tight, compact circle. This oblong oval shape managed to create increasing wind shear and pulled Irma's winds down to a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds at its center. Here it slammed in Naples and Fort Myers, doing its worst damage. Five hours later it drifted north near Sarasota as a Category 2 storm, and 5 hours after that it dropped to Category 1 with occasional 70 mph winds when it hit Tampa Bay. Just past Tampa, what was left of the eye of Irma had disintegrated. Also at this point the storm turned enough east to further alleviate the populated regions on our west coast since the worst hurricane damage always occurs on the north and east sides of the storm.
During the projected "zero hour" when the storm passed east of our home, I marveled that the winds had died down to an eerie silence only to be interrupted by an occasional patter of light rain. Later, the winds north of us were no higher than gale force of under 70 mph. By the time Irma reached between Tallahassee and Jacksonville the storm carried substantial rain in places that caused flooding but wind became a non-factor.
The brethren in the state give a collective cry of thanks to the Great God who spared so many from devastating destruction.
In summary, 60% of Floridians temporarily lost their electricity. Ft. Myers and Naples may not have electricity for another 10 days. There are still flooding issues there and considerable tree damage plus beach erosion in certain places. Our members seem to be okay but enough inconveniences including safe highway travel may force us to cancel church services in Ft. Myers this coming Sabbath.
From Gary Smith—Harvey, Sept. 12:
Houston as a whole is in many ways up and running, but various areas are still dealing with the after effects of the storm. For example, my son's home was spared but the office where he works is inaccessible because of the flooding. He doesn't expect to be able to get back in until after the first of the year. Fortunately, he can work from home. A number of large employers and businesses have been impacted in this way. Most of the roadways are open again or will be soon.
