Church becomes emergency shelter after Harvey

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, Houston native and pastor of the city's 17,000-member Windsor Village United Methodist Church, reflects on Hurricane Harvey, where he sees God in times of disaster, and how his church transformed into an emergency shelter.

Find more stories about churches' responding to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma below.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Faith Stories
Jay Cardwell. Photo courtesy of the author.

Remembering 9/11 at John Street church

A longtime member and church trustee looks back on visiting the United Methodist church in Lower Manhattan on the day of the Sept. 11 attacks and how United Methodists responded.
Disaster Relief
A disaster site hit by a massive debris flow along a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River is seen in Bidur, Nepal, on Aug. 28. Nepalese police said the death toll had reached 469 as of the morning of Aug. 28 after catastrophic flooding and debris flows struck the Nepal-Tibet border region. Photo by Yomiuri Shimbun, via AP.

Churches mobilize after deadly Nepal-Tibet floods

Churches and mission partners are responding after catastrophic floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, as Asian Christian leaders call for prayer, humanitarian support and sustained solidarity with affected communities.
Disaster Relief
The Rev. Heather J. Zisengwe, superintendent for The United Methodist Church’s Bulawayo Midlands District in Zimbabwe, holds a baby at a transit camp set up by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches for migrants who have left South Africa amid anti-immigration protests. The temporary center in the sanctuary of the United Church of Christ in Southern Africa in Njube was the hub for humanitarian efforts by mainline churches in Zimbabwe. Photo courtesy of the Rev. Heather J. Zisengwe.

United Methodists respond to South African migration crisis

The United Methodist Church supports thousands of undocumented migrants fleeing anti-foreigner protests in South Africa.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved