1. DETERMINE POLICIES AND LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT
“Weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15
Disasters take us all by surprise, so it is essential to plan now how you would like to be involved with Sheds of Hope. This will give you time to work with any committees, groups, or governing bodies to establish any necessary policies so that you can respond quickly when the time comes. It also helps us to be more efficient during a disaster, as we can contact you directly with a specific need.
What is a Level of Involvement? It’s based on your location.
If a disaster happens within 100, 200, or 300 miles of your church, we invite you to pre-build sheds and get them ready for transportation. It’s up to you to decide the radius (100, 200, or 300). The larger the radius, the more opportunities you may have. Note: Beyond 300 miles is a bit far for us to transport the sheds economically, but you can always send teams to help set them up.
If a disaster happens within 50 miles of your church, rather than preparing sheds, we encourage you to make plans to allow Sheds of Hope teams to bunk at your church, or to allow your parking lot be used as a staging area. You might also allow the presbytery to place a shower trailer on your property for use by Sheds of Hope volunteers.
Next …
2. SET ASIDE THE $$$ FOR BUILDING AND DEPLOYING SHEDS
$1K = 1 Shed; $2K = 2 Sheds; $3K = 3 Sheds
If you are outside the 300-mile radius, instead of using the funds to build sheds, you might choose to get involved by using those funds to send a team to set-up Sheds of Hope that were built by other churches. This is a policy decision, so it’s good to decide this ahead of time.
Next …
3. TRAIN THE PEOPLE
Contact us to schedule a training event, or to join with other churches in a combined event. For a Pre-Built Shed, you will need 8 People for 8 Hours of training. For a Pre-Cut Shed, you will need 3 People for 3 Hours of training.
Now, wait for the call … when a disaster strikes, it takes about two weeks for teams to be allowed into the disaster area. You will use that time to pre-build the sheds you planned to build so they will be ready for delivery to the disaster site within two weeks.
Things you can do now to be ready …
4. PREPARE FOR ACTION IN THE CALM BEFORE THE DISASTER STRIKES
a. Recruit a Leader and Communicate the Opportunity to the church
c. Order one Shed-in-a-Bucket for each shed you plan to build (Coming Soon – Everything you will need to fasten a shed together.) These buckets can be stored at the church and opened when you get the call to build your shed(s).
d. If your church is within 50 miles of a current disaster, and you were planning to build sheds in the area, you can sign up to be part of our:
Two-Year Follow up Plan
• A shed and a family may be assigned to your church
• Paint the shed within one month of set-up, and if possible paint more than one shed during the same morning. Allow 1 hour per shed (Youth can paint a shed, but always have at least 2 adults with them)
• After you have painted your allotted sheds for the day, gather all the volunteers and families and have a lunch/dinner together. Example: bring Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and drinks for everyone and have the families share their stories and specific prayer requests. Take note of any follow-up needs and see that necessary actions are taken.
• Your church will be responsible for these families over the next two-years.
• You will go back to re-level and fix anything broken at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months from the set-up date and see how the families are doing. Each time, repeat the opportunity to have a meal together, have them give an update on how things are going, and ask for prayer requests. Note each of the prayer requests and remind them of any answered prayers, as your church has been praying for them.
Last, but not least! …
5. CONTACT US
Contact Us Directly Through Our Contact Form
John Browne
MNA Disaster Response Specialist, Sheds of Hope
Mission to North America
Download and Print John’s February Mission Trip
My first trip was a tremendous encouragement and blessing in three ways:
1. MNA – My first trip showed me the great respect and love PCA churches and members have for MNA. I received my first shirts a few days before my trip, and the Logo alone put pastors and church staff at ease. I saw a joyful willingness in others to have the opportunity to share the message of Sheds of Hope.
2. Church Reception – Churches that I visited along the way want more information and are excited be on the list for helping to provide Sheds of Hope in the event of a disaster within their Disaster Zone.
3. Sense of Call – I was deeply humbled and encouraged as I met with pastors and friends along the way. I felt your prayers, and with each stop I was emboldened to share about the work of Sheds of Hope. More than once, God put me in the right place at the right time. What a joy to see the delight in people’s faces as they caught the vision for helping others in times of disaster.
Praise:
- Many contacts were established along the way
- 3 Sheds were built on this trip (One of the sheds is being donated to a family whose trailer burned the week after the church had built the shed. They sought to train their people to be ready to build a shed after a disaster, and the Lord already had a place for it.)
- 20 People were trained and will be able to build a Shed of Hope for their Disaster Zone
- 9 Churches want to help build Sheds of Hope for their Disaster Zone when they are called upon
Prayer:
- Building a Sheds of Hope storage shed at Bethel PCA
- Disaster Response Workshop April 17-18
- Follow-up with churches from first mission trip
- Planning for second mission trip
Support:
One Time Gifts or Monthly Support can be given online through the secure website of MNA then
- Click on “MNA Disaster Response – Sheds of Hope (Browne)” and
- Press “Continue.”
Blessings, John
Following the devastating tornadoes in 2013, Mission to North America (MNA) Disaster Response built 200 sheds in and around Moore Oklahoma. This site was closed down in September 2014, and the remaining materials are being stored in Oklahoma and Texas. I’m in the process of getting one of the trailers for North Texas Presbytery outfitted for its next deployment with Disaster Response.
After 18-month deployment in Moore, Oklahoma. Note: I had already taken 4 ladders out before taking this picture.
Ready for its make-over
Starting on the outside – washed and ready for new signage
Outside Make-over complete!
Watch for Part 2 – the inside make-over.
Great for the Whole Family! Food, Information, Giveaways!
Help your family be ready in the event of a disaster. Mission to North America is offering a family focused Disaster Response Workshop at Bethel Church, 17990 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, 2015.
Schedule:
- Friday, April 17 – 5:30 – 8:00 – FREE BBQ Dinner followed by Workshop One
- Saturday, April 18 – 7:30 – 11:30 – FREE Continental Breakfast, followed by three more workshops
Some of the Workshops being offered:
- Teaching children to prepare for disasters through interactive activities
- Equipping your church to respond to disasters
- HAM radio and social media during disasters
- Preparing your family for disasters
- Building Sheds of Hope
- Assembling your 72 hr family kit
- Introduction to CERT
- Responding to disasters
Register Now! Click HERE
- Submit One Form for Each Person in Your Family 4 Years and Older Who Will Be Attending the Disaster Response Weekend.
- Child Care Is Available upon Request
You are welcome to invite family, friends, and neighbors to take part in this Disaster Response Workshop!
Download our Disaster Response Workshop PDF Posters. This printable file includes a 11 x 17; and a 8.5 x 11; these are great for bulletins boards. Also, included are a 5.5 x 8.5 and a 3.5 x 8.5 flier for use as bulletin inserts.
Contact Rick Lenz at rlenz@pcanet.org or 817-690-8107 for more information.
Text to ponder this week
Hebrews 11:39-40 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Thoughts to ponder this week
- Is my future reality a present comfort in the midst of current suffering?
- Is my future hope in the finished work of Christ alone?
Text to ponder this week
Hebrews 11:35b-38 Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Thoughts to ponder this week
1. Humanity is in rebellion against God and in that state, judges faithful followers to be unworthy of life.
2. Our depravity as a human race is seen at its depth against those who are created in His image and live by faith.
3. Depravity is the absence of grace.
Text to ponder this week
Hebrews 11:32-35 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.
Thoughts to ponder this week
1. Don’t allow personal failures to rob you of living the rest of your life by faith.
2. Don’t be quick to disqualify others because of personal failure; they may very well be living by faith right now.
I have been pastoring in the Presbyterian Church in America since 1989. Missions has always been close to my heart, and it has been my joy to lead numerous mission trips overseas and in the USA. Over the last year, I have been working with Disaster Response, primarily in Oklahoma.
Drawing upon my training and experience in carpentry, I designed a new shed that could be built remotely, so that more people could be involved in ministering to families after disasters. This design allows churches to pre-build 8 x 8 sheds, giving their people an opportunity to “mourn with those who mourn.” Prebuilt sheds are then flat-packed and transported to the disaster area where teams can set them up, providing much-needed storage for those who are gathering up the bits of pieces of their lives and memories. What a joy it has been to see that this shed plan is now being widely used in disaster response areas!
Since designing the shed, I have worked with teams in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi to pre-build, transport and set-up sheds.
Just a few days ago, I got back from Oklahoma, where over 400 young people and adult leaders came from all over Texas to help build sheds. I worked with one group in the warehouse where some of these volunteers pre-built fronts, backs and sides to be assembled. I also went out and helped set-up 2 sheds.
One of the families that received a shed had just moved into a new home built by Habitat for Humanity. Before the tornado hit, they had been planning to have an old, dead tree removed from their back yard. Ironically, the only thing left standing after the tornado was that tree!
Now it stands proudly in their yard reminding them of God’s protection in the midst of the storm. The children were at school when the storm hit, and took shelter with their classmates as the storm brought death and destruction all around them.
The team in this photo came in from Saint Louis to work for Friday and Saturday. Their first pre-built shed was set-up in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Great teamwork! The homeowner and her son and daughter are to the left, in front of the tree.
With every trip I have made to work with Disaster Relief, my love for this work continues to grow. Sheds of Hope is growing by leaps and bounds, and there is much to be done to enhance the effectiveness of this rapid-response ministry.
Update to this Post as of February 11, 2015
MNA has called me to work with Sheds of Hope. All three parts of the call have been approved 1. My internal call to work in this ministry 2. MNA’s call to work along side them in this ministry and 3. My Presbytery has now approved MNA’s call, and my acceptance of the call has been recorded, as well. Praise God! As of February 7th, all three of these have been confirmed and approved. I am now able to move forward as full time MNA Disaster Response Specialist, Sheds of Hope.
Prayer requests:
• For safe travel on the road this month
• For new contacts with churches and individuals during the trip and training events
• For safety, good weather, and good participation during the training events
• For good health
• For additional prayer and financial support
Online Giving Link:
For those who are able to give financial support, you can access my online account through the MNA website.
Gifts toward my support can be received into a designated MNA account. If you have pledged to my support in the past, you may start giving now.
• Here is the link to my online donation account through the MNA website:
• Online Giving Link
If your church has a missions committee, I would love to get in touch with them, as I still need additional monthly support and one time gifts. Just let me know who to call!
Shed of Hope – Mississippi Church Request
Available today is a new 8 x 16-foot shed plan.
A church in Louisville, Mississippi requested the longer shed following the tornado that came through the state in early May. Sheds of Hope provides 8 x 8 sheds to people who have been effected by storms.
The unique request came from a church who needed to store pews that are too long for the 8 foot long sheds. A team of volunteers will build the extra long 16-foot shed and set it up at the church in the next couple of weeks.
If you would like to help provide teams for Mississippi or Oklahoma, let us know at Sheds of Hope. Groups can also pre-build 8 x 8 sheds that can then be transported to the areas that have been hurt by the recent storms.
After months of planning and thinking about the design, we finally purchased the wood for the new Pulpit, Communion Table, Baptismal Font and Advent Candle Stand for First Church. Shedua wood was chosen for its beautiful natural color and striking designs in the grain.
The joy of coming up with a design that would work for the church and all that was involved in building it was the most demanding and time consuming part. There is no short cut to this step.
The staff at the church knew what they wanted for the overall look. They had selected and purchased a handmade glass bowl for the Baptismal Font. Now, the design and framework had a central focus that flowed into the rest of the design.
The grain of the piece of Shedua wood that was used for the communion table reflects the natural tones and colors that are seen from every angle. A clear natural finish was used to protect the wood, while at the same time allowing one to see its beauty.
All four of the pieces needed to flow as one on the platform and be easy to remove, as the church sanctuary is part of a multi-use building.
Building and finishing all the pieces of furniture took about 120 hours, not counting the time for the design.
We were very excited to be able to deliver the furniture in time for the first Communion Service in 2014.
We are reminded during this season of the church calendar of the visit of the Wise Men. “And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2: 9a-11 May the people who come each week be brought to Jesus, seeing him, and not just the things our hands have made.
God has given gifts to each of us. Will you ask him today how you can use yours to help bring people to Jesus?
Sheds of HOPE 