American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware

OGHS Funds Released in Response to Tornadoes, Flooding in Midwest, Central Plains

American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has released two rounds of One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) disaster-relief funds, on behalf of American Baptist Churches USA, in response to recent deadly flooding and tornadoes in the Midwest and Central Plains.

To aid in recovery efforts, ABHMS distributed $10,000 to American Baptist Churches of the Central Region.

“We need to help our people in a tangible way,” says American Baptist Churches of the Central Region Executive Minister the Rev. Dr. Gregg Hemmen, noting that funds will provide for needs that insurance does not cover.

An additional $20,000 to American Baptist Churches of Nebraska followed $10,000 that ABHMS released to the region in March as part of a $25,000 distribution to the Midwest in March.

When ABHMS staff members visited Nebraska in March, American Baptist Churches of Nebraska Executive Minister the Rev. Dr. Robin Stoops reported that two-thirds of the state was flooded.

In addition to home and church repairs, funds are being used to provide temporary housing for those who have been displaced. The region, Stoops says, is relying on “local congregations to identify those most in need.”

ABHMS is also in the process of releasing funds to American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region Area 5 in response to the tornadoes that touched down in Eldon, Mo., and Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital.

“Jefferson City was hit pretty hard,” says the Rev. Muriel L. Johnson, regional associate minister of American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region. “We have numerous ministry partners who have been reaching out for help, and we are bracing for flooding of the Mississippi River that is likely to occur in the St. Louis metro area.”

How you can help

Please pray for relief efforts in the affected regions.

Donations can be made via your church or online at abhms.org.

  • You can give through your church's missions giving by designating your contribution for "OGHS-2019 Midwest Floods." Funds will be processed with your monthly church mission donations.
  • You can also give via our ABCOPAD on-line giving web page. Go to our on-line giving web page, and select OGHS - and in the comment section type in: "2019 Midwest Floods".
  • You can mail your check to ABCOPAD Treasurer, Caryl Casey: PO Box 421, Hatboro, PA 19040.
  • You can also give to the ABCOPAD Disaster Relief Fund. This fund helps our mission teams when we send groups to assist in disaster relief. Simply designate your contribution for the ABCOPAD Disaster Relief Fund either on-line or on your check.

You can also send checks, designated to "OGHS-2019 Midwest Floods," to the attention of Leda Carter at American Baptist Home Mission Societies, 1075 First Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406. If you send your check directly to ABHMS, make sure to include the church name on the check to ensure your church receives credit for your gift.

One hundred percent of donations are allocated to these relief efforts; no funds are retained for administrative costs.

One hundred percent of your donation will be allocated to relief efforts; no funds are retained for administrative costs.