Rev. Bill Crawford

But then we were able through First Presbyterian Roots to have somebody come in and help coordinate that. We had teams that were going out without me being there. And so Ida was probably one of our, not our largest operation, but probably one of our healthiest teams. more involved across the church spectrum.

But then we were able through First Presbyterian Roots to have somebody come in and help coordinate that. We had teams that were going out without me being there. And so Ida was probably one of our, not our largest operation, but probably one of our healthiest teams. more involved across the church spectrum.

And that is certainly something small churches can do because we don't wait for a formal proclamation to occur to begin to act. Yeah. And then it's incumbent on those leaders, whether it be the ruling elders, teaching elders, to go, hey, there's something happening here. Let's grab this and run with it.

And that is certainly something small churches can do because we don't wait for a formal proclamation to occur to begin to act. Yeah. And then it's incumbent on those leaders, whether it be the ruling elders, teaching elders, to go, hey, there's something happening here. Let's grab this and run with it.

But I will say, as a caveat, because we've been talking around church growth stuff, disaster relief work does not really grow a church numerically. No, it doesn't. It has the potentiality to significantly grow a church spiritually, and certainly in the sense of its trust in the sovereignty of God.

But I will say, as a caveat, because we've been talking around church growth stuff, disaster relief work does not really grow a church numerically. No, it doesn't. It has the potentiality to significantly grow a church spiritually, and certainly in the sense of its trust in the sovereignty of God.

But that work is challenging and hard, and people do not, fortunately in a way, I guess, people do not respond to your church's ministry and disaster relief as your church's ministry and disaster relief. They see it as the body of Christ, which is beautiful.

But that work is challenging and hard, and people do not, fortunately in a way, I guess, people do not respond to your church's ministry and disaster relief as your church's ministry and disaster relief. They see it as the body of Christ, which is beautiful.

So that person that you help, they may come into the kingdom as a result of the work, but there's no guarantee at all that they're coming to your church. So this is, again, one of those things you don't do because it's effective to grow the church. You do it because it's the right thing to do.

So that person that you help, they may come into the kingdom as a result of the work, but there's no guarantee at all that they're coming to your church. So this is, again, one of those things you don't do because it's effective to grow the church. You do it because it's the right thing to do.

Yeah, and there's a rhythm to that. And so if you are in a small church and you're ever hit by a disaster, I actually have a decision making document that I've written that it's kind of an oral kind of document. written document that you can walk through and read through and begin to think through the process.

Yeah, and there's a rhythm to that. And so if you are in a small church and you're ever hit by a disaster, I actually have a decision making document that I've written that it's kind of an oral kind of document. written document that you can walk through and read through and begin to think through the process.

It actually gives you supplies you might need at the 24-hour period, 36-hour period, 72-hour period, one week, two weeks, and I kind of break it out from 20 years of doing this, but it also gives you moments to go reflect, what do I need to be doing? How do I need to rest? It's absolutely true, though, that that pastor needs to as much as possibly be in the pulpit

It actually gives you supplies you might need at the 24-hour period, 36-hour period, 72-hour period, one week, two weeks, and I kind of break it out from 20 years of doing this, but it also gives you moments to go reflect, what do I need to be doing? How do I need to rest? It's absolutely true, though, that that pastor needs to as much as possibly be in the pulpit

early on, comforting the people, speaking to the people. They need to see you. They need to hear from you. Don't worry about the quality of the message. Don't worry about the quantity of the preparation. Worry about the quality of the love and the message and the gospel in that. But then, yes, they do need time. If they're running operations, if they're involved in

early on, comforting the people, speaking to the people. They need to see you. They need to hear from you. Don't worry about the quality of the message. Don't worry about the quantity of the preparation. Worry about the quality of the love and the message and the gospel in that. But then, yes, they do need time. If they're running operations, if they're involved in

daily work that they do need some time out of the pulpit so they can focus on ministering the gospel in their community. And that's a hard rhythm for pastors to figure out because they also are deeply aware of how much their people need to hear comfort and peace. And sometimes you bring people in and they missed the mark. I mean, they're not really reading the scene very well.

daily work that they do need some time out of the pulpit so they can focus on ministering the gospel in their community. And that's a hard rhythm for pastors to figure out because they also are deeply aware of how much their people need to hear comfort and peace. And sometimes you bring people in and they missed the mark. I mean, they're not really reading the scene very well.

But nonetheless, God always works. And if they're preaching the gospel, it really doesn't ultimately matter if they made a mistake. And so, yeah, you should let that happen. But I do understand the challenges of it as well. Do appreciate that.

But nonetheless, God always works. And if they're preaching the gospel, it really doesn't ultimately matter if they made a mistake. And so, yeah, you should let that happen. But I do understand the challenges of it as well. Do appreciate that.