Silver lining (idiom) A Silver lining is a metaphor for optimism in vernacular English, which means a negative occurrence may have a positive aspect to it.

Silver lining (noun) A Silver lining is a sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation; a bright prospect.

On March 24, 21 people were killed when a EF-4 tornado slashed a 59 mile path across the Mississippi Delta. Silver City one of the hardest-hit communities, is located midway between Yahoo City and Belzoni, communities where the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has a strong presence. Silver City is about 70 miles north of Jackson MS on US-49.

An equipped MNA Disaster Response (MNADR), in God’s providence, and without delay quickly mobilized our team and begin transporting Sheds of HOPE kits from our Rome GA warehouse to the Delta at the request of the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley’s Mission to North America Committee.

Each Sheds of HOPE kit weights about 1,500 lbs including shingles and the cinder-blocks that are used to support the shed when assembled on site. We normally transport 4 or 5 kits at a time, but when necessary we can transport 6 at a time. The combined weight of a trailer load of kits and the heavy-duty trailer is approximately 12,000 lbs total, but MNADR has the equipment to accomplish the task.

As soon as rescue teams cleared the area, MNADR sent Specialist Mike Kennamer to Silver City to meet the first load of Sheds of HOPE and to train presbytery leaders on best practices to safely and efficiently construct the sheds. The ole see one, do one, teach one method that is so effective. PCA teams from the presbytery began rotating into Silver City to set up the Sheds of HOPE on displaced homeowner properties. Each week MNADR would transport another load of sheds into Silver City, and within 2 months 42 Sheds of HOPE were constructed. Marty made at least 8 trips to Silver City.

Take a look at some pictures from our work in Silver City.

So far, Presbytery of the MS Valley-PCA teams running on the Gospel-fuel of love-driven sacrifice have constructed more than 40 sheds on survivor’s properties, a yeoman’s effort without question. Maybe you have heard, ‘Team work makes the dream work”. What really makes it happen is good leadership. The presbyteries efforts were led by a strong team including PCA Teaching Elders Bob Penny (African Bible College) and Richard Wiman (First PCA Belzoni), and Ruling Elders Todd Barrett (Madison Heights PCA), and Bob Bailey (First PCA Yazoo City). They have been working non-stop to facilitate the response through leadership, organization, volunteer coordination, resource development, and prayer focus. It has been a joy to work with these servants to marshal relief to impacted families in the Delta. 

But the PCA didn’t do it alone, churches from all over came to assist, including a team from First Baptist Church of Calhoun City MS. Take a look at this video of the lovely team of servants assembling a Shed of HOPE, you will be encouraged by their joyful spirit as they render aid. Thank God for these servants.

The 2000 census indicated that Silver City was home to 337 people, 124 households, and 76 families. But by 2020 only 223 people lived there, a 33% decrease in population. Almost every household suffered catastrophic damage from the storm. Sheds of HOPE has constructed sheds for 42 of those families that were still living there at the time of the tornado. Or to say it another way, at least 33% of the families were assisted. This is no small number. In addition, a large number of chainsaw and debris cleanup teams have been assisting.

Keep praying for the folks in Silver City as they navigate the matrix while trying to return home. And pray for your Sheds of HOPE ministry. MNA has furnished approximately 65 Sheds of HOPE in the last few months to recovery sites in KY, MS, NC, and TN. Having Sheds of HOPE ready to deploy is a best practice. The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season is here; please pray we will be successful in raising the funds necessary to replace the shed kits that we recently deployed. The cost for each shed kit is nearly $2,000 each. If you would like to help us please contact Sherry Lanier at slanier@slanierpcanet.org .

MNA Disaster Response and the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley, working together, were able to deliver practical help and HOPE to a hurting community. This HOPE is the Silver Lining for Silver City.