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.

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Mission and Ministry

The Rev. Ayoub Samuel Ali Kori, district superintendent in Nasr City-Ramses United Methodist Church, joins church members during a joint Christmas carol service organized by Arbawnus United Methodist Church at a rented venue in Zahra, Egypt. Despite not having any physical church buildings, Arbawnus and two other United Methodist congregations in the region have become a sanctuary for refugees fleeing war in Sudan. File photo by Fifiana Ayoub.

Churches help refugees in Egypt find belonging

Despite the lack of facilities, three United Methodist congregations near Cairo provide physical and spiritual nourishment to those who need help.

Disaster Relief

The Rev. Godfrey Gaga (right,) Malawi Provisional Conference superintendent, removes the ribbon from the door of Annie Katumbi’s new home in Ngabu Village in Chikwawa, Malawi. The house was built as part of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Phase 2 recovery efforts after Cyclone Freddy devastated the area in 2023. Photo by Francis Nkhoma, UM News.

3 years after cyclone, recovery continues in Malawi

Phase 2 of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Cyclone Freddy recovery initiative is delivering long-term shelter, clean water and agricultural support across cyclone-affected districts.

Disaster Relief

Heavy rains accompanied by balls of ice destroyed the roof of Kuziva Stephen Makunike’s home during the Oct. 5 storm that swept through Masvingo town in southeastern Zimbabwe. Estimates were yet to be made, but church members believe property damaged will need thousands of dollars to repair and rebuild. Photo by Pastor Samuel Maunga, UM News.

Zimbabwe hailstorm destroys churches, homes

United Methodists in Masvingo town are counting their losses after a severe hailstorm smashed church properties and members’ homes.

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