Connecting Neighbors - Disaster Response Training
West End is hosting an UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Disaster training called Connecting Neighbors here at West End on September 11. The Connecting Neighbors curriculum consists of an overview of disaster ministry, three units and supporting handouts. You can sign up for one or all three of these modules. Read descriptions and then sign up below.
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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: Everyone.
Time: 1-3 p.m.
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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. Participants will (1) identify one or more steps to take in order to mitigate against disastercaused damage to property; (2) 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 (3) be able to assess the utilization of church property following a disaster within or near the community of the church.
Target Audience: Everyone, especially church leaders including, but not limited to, pastors, trustees, Sunday school superintendent, lay leader, missions coordinator, treasurer and finance committee members, young adult and youth representatives, and others.
Time: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
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Dinner break - dinner provided by West End for those who are staying for Module 3
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Module 3: Ready Response encourages churches to explore their capacity for various disaster response ministries and to consider ways to engage community partners.
Objectives: Participants will (1) 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; and (2) 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.
Target Audience: Everyone interested in disaster-ready congregations and communities, particularly mission and outreach personnel, lay leaders, United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, youth ministry leaders, lay servants and Stephen’s Ministers!
Time: 6-8 p.m.