Help Others During Difficult Times - HELP OTHERS IN THE FACE OF DISASTER

 If you are a group overseer, do not wait for a disaster to occur before making sure that you have accurate contact information of all your field service group who offer it.  Make a list and keep it up-to-date. Then in the event of a disaster, you will be in a position to contact each publisher to assess his needs.  Forward this information immediately to the coordinator of the body of elders, who will contact the circuit overseer.  The combined effort can  make a difference.  After the fire, Margaret's circuit overseer stayed awake for 36 hours, coordinating the elder's efforts to contact and to care for some 450 misplaced brothers and sisters.  (Corinthians 11:27)  Thus,  all who need a place to stay were provided with shelter.

 Providing spiritual and emotional help is part of the work done by Christian elders.  (1 Peter 5:2) In the face of a disaster, elders should first make sure that each brother and sister is safe and has food, clothing, and shelter.  But for many months thereafter, survivors will likely  need spiritual and emotional support.  (Read John 21:15) "It takes time to recover," says Harold, who serves on a Branch Committee and who has met with many brothers and sisters affected by disasters.  "They may begin to get over their losses, but members of a lost loved one, a treasured heirloom, or a narrow escape can persist.  These memories may trigger feelings of grief all over again.  That is not a lack of faith but  a normal human reaction." 

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