The goal of Connecting Neighbors is to inspire congregations and communities to be better able to minimize disaster-caused harm to people and property and to respond to our neighbors in helpful, cooperative and caring ways on behalf of the church and in the spirit of Jesus Christ. The Connecting Neighbors material has something to excite and encourage any congregation.
It is designed in three modules so as to provide a touch-point for different audiences. Each module requires 2-3 hours for training.
See below for class opportunities!!!
Module 1: Ready Congregants
Focuses on preparing individuals and families to be disaster-ready. Participants will be inspired to take action in order to prepare themselves, their households and others before and immediately following a disaster. Target audience is Everyone!
Find out how prepared you are: How Prepared is Your Family
Module 2: Ready Churches
Emphasizes the importance of protecting church property and the people within the property, before and immediately following a disaster, and of appropriate use of church property in disaster response. Target audience is everyone, but especially church leaders, including, but not limited to, pastors, trustees, Sunday School directors, lay leader, missions coordinator, treasurer and finance committee members, young adult and youth representatives and others.
Participants will:
- Identify one or more steps to take in order to mitigate against disaster-caused damage to property;
- Identify one or more steps to take in order to prevent harm to people who are present in or on church property when disasters or emergencies occur; and
- Be able to assess the utilization of church property following a disaster within or near the community of the church.
Module 3: Ready Response
Encourages churches to explore their capacity for various disaster response ministries and to consider ways to engage community partners. Target audience is everyone interested in disaster-ready congregations and communities, particularly mission and outreach personnel, lay leaders, UMW, UMM, youth ministry leaders, lay servants and Stephen Ministers.
Participants will:
- Be able to identify at least one disaster ministry their church might be willing and able to implement before and/or after a community disaster;
- Initiate a preliminary plan to engage the church and to cooperate with other households of faith and the community in order to be prepared to respond in the event of a disaster.
If you are interested in holding a training class at your church:
- Contact Susan Luttrell, CTC Coordinator of Disaster Response, if you are interested in bringing this program to your church.