Photo from MySanAntonio

As Hurricane Harvey’s flood waters continue to rise, we are watching and praying to know how to help. We pray for the people of Texas, many of whom are experiencing the loss of all their earthly possessions, and we are watching to determine how best to help. (“Ready…Shoot! Aim” is a poor strategy.)

Here are some answers to the many messages we have received in the past 24-48 hours:

YES. We do have strong partners on the ground with whom we can serve.

YES. We are open to organizing teams to serve on the ground in the areas most impacted.

YES. It is too soon to know exactly what form our help will take. But whatever form, it will most certainly end up coming alongside local churches/believers on the ground to strengthen their serve.

What can you do now?
1) Pray.

2) Go. Consider whether God would have you join an Encompass team to travel to the damage site to help. More about this to come.

3) Give. Although we do not yet know specifics, you can trust us to use and/or channel your funds to help the people of Texas recover from this disaster.

Be among the first to give to help:

-By check  

• Made out to: Encompass World Partners
• Mail to: Encompass World Partners, PO Box 3298 Monument, CO 80132-3290
• Write on note line: Hurricane Harvey/7847

-Online Giving

• Give by credit card here:

IF you or your church is interested in partnering with us to send a team (or a team member) to help, please contact Barb Wooler at bwooler@encompassworld.org .

PLEASE let us know of your plans to send teams so we can get the word out to others, uphold you in prayer, and celebrate with you as God uses you.

Syrian children in refugee camp in Turkey

With 1 in every 120 or so people on the planet living as refugees, there is no shortage of need or opportunity for the Church to rise up to serve displace people. Surely, God is bringing the world to our doors!

This month the Encompass Crisis Response director, Barb Wooler, will meet in Europe with leaders from several ministries working with refugees. We are in search of ideas as well as quality, like-minded partners.

Please be in prayer especially this week (Aug. 15-20) for these meetings, that God will guide us to the right people, and that we will gain greater insight into how we can best serve – and perhaps even be used by Him to reach – refugees.

Barb Wooler interviews Ralph Justiniano

Our first ever Crisis Preparedness Seminar was excellent!

Based on feedback, the goal of the July 28th event in Fremont, Ohio – that we would all leave with practical next steps towards crisis preparedness – was largely achieved.

The seminar was divided into three sections:
1 – Crisis: What do we see? (Barb Wooler)
2 – Crisis: What do we do? (Alan Weisenberger)
3 – Crisis Response: How do we do it? (Vernon Higaki & Ann Sweet)

Be watching for this material to be developed into an online course that will be available this fall.

This is just one more way we are striving to come alongside the Church to help us serve in crisis as only the Church can. 

Please join us for a powerful time together thanking God for what He has done and preparing for serving in the future.

Please RSVP so we have enough seats and lunch for everyone. RSVP at this link.

Contact Barb Wooler for more information. (bwooler@encompassworld.org)