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

Sister Confianza, a member of the Amigas del Señor (Women Friends of the Lord) Monastery in Limón, Honduras, rides her bike through the village alongside a neighbor. Originally from the United States, Sister Confianza founded the monastery with another woman in 2006. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

2025: The year in photos

United Methodists around the world are living into the denomination’s new vision to "love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.” UM News, the denomination's official news service, documented a year in the life of United Methodism worldwide.

Disaster Relief

Volunteers prepare trees for planting as part of a reforestation project on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The flood relief project is sponsored by UMCOR and the Manila Episcopal Area. Jhoanna Ragasa reports.

UMCOR supports tree-planting project in Philippines

United Methodists are planting native trees in a flood-prone area on the island of Palawan. The reforestation project is a joint venture between the United Methodist Committee on Relief and the Manila Episcopal Area.

Disaster Relief

Members of Floris United Methodist Church help Barbara Douglas remove debris from her home in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

Natural disasters fade quickly from the headlines, but recovery often takes years.

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