ABC Great Rivers Region: Pontiac Flood of January 2008 - One Great Hour of Sharing Response

From Executive Minister, Dwight Stinnett:

Friends,

You may have seen the flooding in central Illinois on national and/or local news. First Baptist Church of Pontiac is right there. While the church building is safe, they have had a major ministry opportunity thrust upon them. I have authorized a One Great Hour of Sharing grant to help the church as it feeds and cares for people who have lost their homes. As the water subsides, there will be opportunity for the ABMen of GRR to participate in cleanup operations.

Please include the people of central Illinois in your prayers Sunday.

Please lift up the First Baptist Church of Pontiac as they engage this ministry opportunity.

And THANK YOU for your contributions to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering that made this quick response possible.

Dwight Stinnett
ABC Great Rivers Region

More on Pontiac Flooding:

ABM Trailer To All AB Men's Disaster Relief Team Members;

As you are probably aware, there is some serious flooding in Pontiac, Illinois. Illinois Emergency Management Agency has already asked us to be on call for the disaster there. We can not go until the water recedes and we are told by IEMA to begin relief efforts. We will probably not go until next week some time. There are some things we can do in the meantime to prepare.

First, we can add the people of Pontiac to our daily prayer list.

Secondly, we can begin to prepare personally to respond if possible.

I am sure we will be pumping out basements, cleaning up downed trees and debris, and possibly power washing walls and other items. Warm, dry clothing and boots made to stand up to very wet conditions will be most useful. I will try to keep you informed as we learn more. Blessings.

Dave Comstock
Area III Disaster Relief

More about this from GRR Associate Minister, Richard Ricks

Dr. Jim Wolfe, Pastor of FBC Pontiac, notes that there is a great need for food that will be handed out by way of the community food pantry to victims of this flood. Contact the church as to how you can help in this effort (815) 842-4321.

From Pontiac Fellowship Baptist Church:

We were just able to get into the church for the first time yesterday. Thanks to some hard working folks sandbagging and other prep work, we made out pretty good. The carpet is a little wet, but everything was up and nothing got damaged. Also I've been in contact with the members of the congregation and no one has suffered any damage or injury thankfully. We are going to let the church dry out and have to have the furnace checked just to be safe. Other than that all is well. Thanks for the prayers. The community will need plenty as well. God bless!

Pastor Kevin Houberg
Pontiac Baptist Fellowship