More reports are coming in from Florida from Grace Brethren Churches in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Javier Forero, pastor, Iglesia Comunal la Esperanza, Valrico, Fla, who has also worked with church planting in the Bahamas:
As far I know , I have found that 7 churches in Haiti were destroyed. One in the Bahamas was destroyed too. The people are ok, but the situation is very sad and hard. I’ve sent a picture of the last church I preached at on my last trip to the Bahamas (see right).
Dr.Rich Schnieders, pastor, Friendship Grace Brethren Church, Fort Myers, Fla.:
All Grace Brethren churches in Florida have reported in and Praise the Lord we have weathered Hurricane Matthew with very little damage. Two churches were the closest to Hurricane Matthew and his brush with the Florida East Coast, Suntree Grace Brethren Church in Melbourne and Ormond Beach Grace Church in Ormond Beach just north of Daytona. Power loss, limbs down and derbies clean up but no real damage to either building. The church families also fared well. God is good, all the time!
Jason Brown, pastor, Grace Church, Suntree, Melbourne, Fla. (in a message sent via Facebook to Barb Wooler)
We are in the clear Barb – we received minimal damage to our greater coastal areas. Thanks to you, Encompass, Andy Shank & SEEDNet for reaching out days before the storm hit. Our focus has turned to the Caribbean to see how we (Florida District) can serve. Great to be a part of a true Fellowship!
Grace Brethren ministries that operated in the Caribbean are collecting donations to be used in helping Grace Brethren people there. They include Encompass World Partners, Breathe Partners (formerly CPR-3), Caribbean Vision Ministries, and Three Strands.