MNA Disaster Response is deploying Sheds of Hope in Sevier County TN in response to the recent wildfires. Staff are loading sheds at the MNA Charles H. Jones Family Disaster Response Warehouse tomorrow and will begin assembling the sheds this Saturday April 16, 2022.

The Hatcher Mountain fire began Wednesday, March 30 in Sevier County TN in the Wears Valley Community and burned nearly 2,500 acres and incinerated 219 homes. This is the area just west of Dollywood, a popular theme park, and short distance from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the nation’s most visited national park with more than 14 million visitors each year. Further to the west in Seymour another fire consumed another 700 acres and burned more structures. Thankfully no one died as a result of the fires, but several firefighters and a few civilians were injured battling to bring the blazes under control.  

After the fires were contained and it was safe to enter the area, Evergreen Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor Wes White reached out to MNA Disaster Response asking for help, specifically for MNA Disaster Response to deploy Sheds of Hope (SOH). Evergreen PCA is lovely community of believers located in Sevierville TN, the mountainous county-seat of Sevier County. The county also includes Gatlinburg TN and Pigeon Forge TN, well known destinations for folks seeking recreation and fun in the beautiful Smoky Mountains.

MNA was ready to respond and quickly put together a plan with Evergreen leadership. Volunteers from several churches will descend on Sevier County on Saturday to assist Evergreen Presbyterian Church deliver a strong measure of God’s Shalom to this devastated community. The following congregations are mobilizing to help.

• Evergreen PCA Sevierville TN
• Covenant PCA Oak Ridge TN
• Redeemer Church of Knoxville PCA Knoxville TN
• First PCA Crossville TN
• Restoration Presbyterian Church PCA Dacula GA

Please pray for final planning. We are transporting the sheds and tool trailer from our Rome GA warehouse, and staff from AL, FL, and TN to train volunteers how to assemble the sheds. Regional Specialists Mike Kennamer and Keith Perry will train and supervise the teams during the first builds.

Please pray for this opportunity to assist the Wears Valley Community and Evergreen Presbyterian Church. Pray for good weather this Saturday, and for safety for the workers. Pray for MNA Disaster Response and Sheds of Hope as sheds and equipment are transported from GA into the area. Most of all, pray that our service will be acceptable to the King, and to the saints. Romans 15:31.