Hurricane Harvey Relief Opportunities

Calvary Church in Longmont, Colorado, sent a group of six to Ingleside, Texas, to assist Calvary Relief in clean-up from Hurricane Harvey, for one week in November 2017.  This area between Rockport and Corpus Christi, Texas was in the center of the eye of the hurricane and sustained substantial damage and are still trying to recuperate.  Not only was there damage from the winds of the hurricane, but over 70 tornados hit the area during the hurricane.  Many homes and businesses were totally destroyed.  Some structures were so damaged that when the rains came, they were unprotected and then the interiors were damaged as well. Even now, over three months later there are still huge piles of debris to be cleaned up and many structures to be repaired.

The group from Longmont spend the week replacing a roof for Jerry, who is a disabled Vietnam veteran and his son.  Clean-up was done in his yard and several other homes to pick up debris from the hurricane.  There are many areas of service needed when responding to a disaster.  There are no unimportant jobs or unimportant people; it is a team effort.  There is always something for everyone to do.  Over the week in Texas, relationships were developed, and there was the opportunity to share the gospel and invite those who were helped to the local church on Sunday.  The community was so grateful for the work that is being done to help them.

Calvary Relief is a non-denominational ministry that responds to areas that have been hit by natural disasters.   Pastor Curt Hencye and his wife Mary Jo aim to assist the elderly and those lacking resources for repairs to their homes.  Calvary Church became connected with Calvary Relief when Curt and Mary Jo came in the area to help in the Lyons and Longmont area after the floods in the fall of 2014. This ministry stays in disaster areas for months at a time to develop long-term relationships and especially to reach unbelievers through their work.    They are always in need of volunteers and donations for their ministry.  If your church is interested in helping, please check the Calvary Relief website (www.calvaryrelief.com) for more information.

Connecting Church to Church

In the mid-1990’s Tom and Sheri Luksha, with their two sons, acted upon a deep sense of calling to leave Charlton, MA and travel West to plant a church in rural Montana.  The Lord led them to establish a Gospel outpost, naming it Grace Community Church, in the Ruby Valley of South Central Montana. They have now served faithfully for over 20 years.

Workers from First Baptist Church of Basin, WY

Hidden amongst arguably some of the most spectacularly beautiful landscape in God’s creation are people who are fiercely independent and acutely rugged. But also, like everywhere else, they are people who are often broken in spirit, isolated relationally, and overwhelmed by a sense of hopelessness.

Tom and Sheri have given themselves to not only share the gospel through the establishment of the church, but to share their very lives with the community.  Tom is a Chaplain with the Sheriff’s department, and the Luksha’s are known throughout the Valley as a resource of care and compassion. They have come to learn that rural ministry is best expressed not only in sermons on Sundays, but in life-on-life relationships. Then again that is what real ministry should look like in a suburban and urban context also.

The Luksha’s have been working for many years to give Grace Community Church a place to call home.  For most of the church’s existence, they have been meeting in rented space at the small country school in Alder, MT.  A number of years ago they were able to purchase property with a vision for ministry opportunity.  In addition to their home, they have developed a Bed and Breakfast ministry called Elijah’s Rest and have been working to convert a barn on their property into that church home for Grace Community Church.

Work nearly completed!

Recently, some men from First Baptist Church of Basin, WY, under the leadership of RMCN Area Coach Kent Dempsey and Pastor Aaron Gesch, traveled to Sheridan, MT to do additional work on the future home of Grace Community Church.  Their goal was to finish the exterior of the building before the onset of another harsh Montana winter.  This included the installation of backing board, siding, and a window.  Additional work was done on the interior of the building.

Your support of the Rocky Mountain Church Network can help bring together resources to aid one another in Kingdom expansion and Gospel impact.