As we moved into the New Year we entered a new phase of mercy ministry in the areas devastated by the 2005 hurricane season. Significant rebuilding efforts are underway, and the focus of our ministry has significantly changed as well. Operation Disaster Response has become Operation Disaster Relief!

Two OPC teams have already led the way in 2006 in responding to these rebuilding efforts. A team led by Pastor Steve Igo from Cedar OPC, Hudsonville, Michigan led the first team to Key West, Florida where they began the hard work of cleaning the Keys Bible Chapel. Later in January, OPC deacon Kenley Lesley and his wife Sarah from Morgantown, West Virginia arrived on the scene to assist in the clean-up efforts as well. Deacon Bob Keys and a team from Columbus, Ohio have just arrived to help with tiling the first floor in the Bible Center.

Opportunities to help in 2006

As we look to the future months, there will be many more opportunities to assist those affected by the storms of last year. We continue to partner with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), our sister denomination, in providing the resources needed. In an effort to coordinate our efforts we encourage you to consider one of the following options:

1. Key West, Florida

March/April - Teams needed to assist in re-establishing the landscape and parking lot; team needed to make concrete repairs and then repaint the exterior.

If you would like to be part of one of these OPC teams, or if you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact our coordinators. You can reach Vickie Swann at 215-880-7606 or email her at swann.1@opc.org or David Haney at 215-284-1993 or email him at haney.1@opc.org.

2. Gulf Coast Region - Biloxi, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis and New Orleans

Information on opportunities to serve with these PCA teams is available on the PCA website, pca-mna.org. If you have a team of volunteers assembled and ready to schedule, please do so through the PCA coordinator Jocie Slepyan. You can either email her at mnashortterm@pcanet.org or call her at 678-294-3012.

3. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is hoping to send an on-site coordinator to help in one additional site to work with another PCA congregation.

We will update this information as soon as we are able. If you wish to become part of an OPC team to serve at this potential site, please contact Vickie Swann at 215-880-7606 or email her at swann.1@opc.org for the most up-to-date information.