Following one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the islands of the Caribbean at the end of last month, and Jamaica in particular, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has sent £20,000 in emergency funding to support the relief effort of United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
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Presbyterians respond to Melissa’s devastation
Hurricane Melissa
Encouraging Presbyterians to continue to pray for the people of Jamaica and the Caribbean, and to donate to the relief effort, PCI’s Moderator, Right Reverend Dr Trevor Gribben said, “Hurricane Melissa brought widespread destruction and devastation to the Caribbean at the end of last month. In Jamaica, the western and central parts of the island bore the brunt of this category 5 hurricane, which has devastated houses, hospitals, schools, churches and the general infrastructure of the island, causing the deaths of at least 30 people so far.
“It is my understanding, that initially around half a million people were left without power and 27 communities impacted by extensive flooding, resulting in some 2,500 people still being cared for in the 180 shelters that have been opened across the island. For many years our Church has had a longstanding relationship with United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. One of my predecessors as Moderator, Dr John Dunlop, served with the church in the 1960s and 1970s. He was among 30 Presbyterians who, at the invitation of the United Church, were commissioned to serve alongside the people of Jamaica as mission partners.
“While this is not a ‘Moderator’s Appeal’, which is normally only triggered when there are nationwide appeals launched by charity umbrella groups, I know that the prayerful and financial support of Presbyterians across Ireland will be much appreciated in these difficult times.”
Prayer Points
The Moderator encouraged the Church to pray:
- That the nation of Jamaica, especially those who are grieving, traumatised and enduring great loss, would know God’s comforting presence, sustaining grace and faithful provision as they try to make it through this disaster
- For those giving leadership to the nation through this crisis, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who had declared the country to be a disaster area and also for the Jamaican Defence Force mobilised as part of the search and rescue efforts, and
- For the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, especially for ongoing relief work being coordinated by their Hurricane Response Team.
Donations towards the relief effort can be made via this website here: Global appeals | Presbyterian Church Ireland