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*Note: The UMVIM training has been closed. Please contact Russell J. Atkinson, Disaster Response Coordinator, at drc@epaumc.org if you have any questions.

You may still register for the ERT training.

 

You Can Help!

The news in early September is flooded with stories about Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 hurricane, which struck the Bahamas on Labor Day, and threatened Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and other points on the United States’ East Coast. Help will be needed as The United Methodist Church responds:

  • Pray God’s peace for those affected and their families and friends
  • Make a monetary donation to UMCOR
  • Assemble flood buckets
  • Volunteer? Yes, yes, yes! You can be God’s hands and feet.

Saturday, October 19, @ 8:30 am - 4:30 pm | $45
Lansdale:Christ

The Eastern PA Conference’s Disaster Response ministry team will sponsor two simultaneous training events for UM Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) October 19, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, at Christ UMC, Lansdale 1020 S Valley Forge Rd, Lansdale, PA 19446.

One training will be for people wanting to be UMVIM Team participants. The other will be for people wanting to serve on Early Response Teams (ERT), whose mission is to provide skilled support to disaster survivors as soon as communities allow response teams into disaster-impacted areas.

Leading the two trainings will be:

  • The Rev. Russell Atkinson, new Eastern PA Conference UMVIM Coordinator
  • Robert Simcox, the conference’s new Disaster Response Coordinator, who will lead the ERT training.

We have managed to keep the training costs at $45 per person again for 2019, which also provides the book Mission Journey, the updated VIM Team Leader Resource Toolkit, and a light breakfast and lunch.

  • For UMVIM training information contact: Russell J. Atkinson at ratkinson@epaumc.org or 610-675-7187.
  • For ERT training contact Bob Simcox at drc@epaumc.org or 610-427-0470.

Early Response Teams are “background-checked, badged, trained and motivated to be a caring, listening Christian presence,” said Simcox. “You will learn how early responders prevent further damage by tarping roofs, stabilizing structure, and clearing out debris and water-soaked materials. ERTs know how to prepare a structure for VIM recovery teams to do their work and how to provide hope to desperate survivors that God’s people do care about their lives and their homes.”

“Great passion and interest have long been expressed throughout our Conference for responding to natural disasters,” said Atkinson. “The United Methodist Church conferences in affected areas develop sound disaster response plans, which our conference is asked to support. Whether as members of ERT crews within a few weeks, or as members of UMVIM teams in the months and years of recovery, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference has shown great faithfulness in disaster response ministry.”

Following ERT efforts, more UMVIM teams from Eastern PA will be needed to help repair homes, churches, community centers and more in the mainland US and surrounding nations and commonwealths.

Teams are also needed to respond to other disasters in the Northeast region—including Maryland and West Virginia—as well as Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Harvey, and elsewhere.