Operation Compassion is in Full Swing

The Church of God has one of the greatest relief ministries in America called "Operation Compassion." Recently, KP sent an offering to help relief efforts in the southwest part of the country. Below, I have provided a brief follow-up on how Operation Compassion is ministering to the victims of Hurrican Ike. If you can send an offering...any kind of offering...it will make a great difference!
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Ike’s five hundred mile diameter provided more than enough energy and power to leave much of the Texas Gulf coast a wasteland. However, within hours after Ike hit, Operation Compassion had volunteers and two semis of food and water on the ground preparing for a massive relief effort. Many survivors went to City Hall to find assistance with basic food and water. Because of the destruction, city hall was unprepared for the onslaught of survivors. As Operation Compassion showed up, we were greeted with appreciation and gratitude.

Our volunteers starting distributing food and water and twelve hours later, at 2:30 a.m., we had finished our first distribution to 1,500 cars containing multiple families. By 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, the line of cars was more than three miles long. When our second distribution concluded on Tuesday afternoon, thirty-six hours following Ike’s landfall, Operation Compassion had distributed food and water to 5,000 multi-family cars.

On Wednesday, Operation Compassion opened a second distribution site located at the Spirit of Light Church in Pasadena, TX pastured by Greg Casto. Volunteers, chaplains, God’s Pit Crew along with their heavy equipment were preparing for distribution, clean up and repair. We have a box truck that will serve as a roving distribution point, supplying churches in various communities. This type of distribution assists families that are unable to come to a central location.

Operation Compassion has delivered and distributed fourteen semis of products and supplies to the survivors of Ike. Currently there are an additional ten semis en route. By Saturday, one week after Ike made landfall, Operation Compassion will have delivered twenty-four semis to the Houston-Galveston area.

In addition to Operation Compassion, God’s Pit Crew has arrived on scene to assist residents remove trees and debris. In addition, GPC will assist residents with roof and minor repairs to help make their homes livable. GPC is a volunteer group that gives of their time, talent and resources to help storm survivors pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.

Also, assisting is the Church of God Chaplains. They are a special group of men and women trained in disaster counseling. They will be on site to listen to the horrific stories that each of these survivors will tell. Each survivor has gone through a terribly traumatic experience and will need a friendly ear to share their unique stories.

With the destruction along the Gulf Coast, many have forgotten the damage and loss of life in the Caribbean. Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic were all hit hard by the storms. Haiti was probably hit the hardest suffering damage from four of the tropical systems in the Atlantic. Hundreds are dead, thousands are without homes and countless are struggling to find food and water for survival. In fact, it has been reported that there is no longer any bottled water on the island unless it is shipped.

Currently, Operation Compassion has sent fifty semis of disaster relief goods, including bottled water and food. There are sixty-two semis en route, including ten semis of food, thirty semis of assorted beverages and twenty-two semis of tents that will house 160,000 people (40,000 tents). These products were given specifically for overseas distribution through our disaster network.

Operation Compassion needs your help to continue this massive disaster relief effort across the Caribbean and in the United States. Please help us help them! Give today!

Please send your donations to or contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
Tim Burdashaw, International Operations Coordinator
Lisa Boen, International Logistics Coordinator

114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 Office
423.728.3958 Fax
www.operationcompassion.org