Since hurricane Sandy hit, our team at FFEA (ffea.tv) has been traveling up to Staten Island non-stop to help out with the devastation. We have been working with a church there called Oasis Christian Center for the last six years doing ministry in the surrounding community. I remember my first summer there, we spent three weeks at the church doing ministry. I loved it. I love the church, the pastors, the people, the community, the area. It since then has dug a deep place in my heart year after year. When hurricane Sandy hit and I went up to see it with my own eyes for the first time I was heart broken. If I could have I would have chopped off my left arm to help take some of the devastation away from that church and community.
I have since come to see something so beautiful come out of all of this, that only God himself could orchestrate. People have been donating loads of items since day four after the hit, so much so that the church had to start turning away some donations. People have been coming from all parts of the Island, Manhattan and all over the United States to help this community recover. People giving up their jobs and families to help others with families and full time jobs. The community itself in the midland beach area has never been more connected. Neighbors helping neighbors and becoming friends. Making a bond that will never be forgotten.
Oasis is at the center of this all. The church itself has lost its basement, the parsonage has lost it's basement and first floor, and many families in the church have lost their entire homes. But in the midst of the devastation they are the "Oasis", a refuge, a place of hope and peace in their community.
God is doing something amazing in this community. He is touching lives, He is breaking down walls, He is connecting people to the "church" that would never have anything to do with it before, He is saving lives, He is restoring families and friendships. We might be physically restoring homes, but He is restoring lives through this disaster. People who have lost everything now have to turn to the One who can give them EVERYTHING. It is one of the most beautiful things to be apart of.
I am blessed right now, not because I am some "hero" because I have had the privilege of going up there to help. I am blessed because I am able to see all that God is doing after the "storm". I am able to see from the outside a church and community standing firm in the "storm" and say "God is still God. God is still good. God is still worthy of all honor and praise." I am blessed to help this church and community during this time. It is a huge reminder to me not to hold onto "things" in this world because they can be taken from you in a moment.
Please join with me to continue to pray for the pastors of Oasis, the church members and community as they continue to long journey of recovery.
"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36
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