1 Florida United Methodist Review Online

Bishop offers support to pastors, victims of Georges

Photo -- Bishop Henderson Visits the Keys

Photo by Micahel Wacht

Florida Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson (left) listens as Donzell Leggett (right), treasurer of Newman United Methodist Church in Key West, des- cribes his church's ministry to its community during and after Hurricane Georges. Despite thousands of dollars in damage, including the loss of several stained-glass windows, the 112-year-old church was still able to provide relief supplies to hurricane victims.

By Michael Wacht

BIG PINE KEY -- Driving past piles of debris that now line US highway 1 from Marathon Key to Key West, Florida Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson carried a message of encouragement to areas of the Florida Keys most affected by Hurricane Georges' landfall there Sept. 25.

"When the world is at its worst, the people of God rise to be at their best," Henderson said as he presented Miami District Superintendent Clarke Campbell-Evans with a $6,500 check donated by Christ Church United Methodist in Ft. Lauderdale toward hurricane relief efforts. "People are working together for good."

Henderson met with United Methodist clergy and volunteers on Big Pine Key, the area hardest hit by the recent hurricane, and Key West. He said the purpose of his visit was to "give support and to collect information."

The American Red Cross recently published damage estimates at more than $250 million in the Keys, with approximately 1,500 families sustaining moderate to severe damage to their homes. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it has distributed more than $1 million in emergency housing funds.

The Rev. Nathan Steury, pastor of Community Church United Methodist in Marathon, said that no one is sure of the total extent of damage because many residents are scared to ask for help. "The Keys have a high concentration of people hiding from the system: illegal aliens, people who haven't filed an income tax return for years," he said. "It's hard to get them the news that there are organizations that want to help."

As the cleanup effort continues, the relief effort is just getting underway, according to the Rev. Richard Derreth, pastor of Big Pine United Methodist Church. "Most of the clergy from the area have gotten involved," he said. "We've formed an interfaith group to put some kind of organization to it and to get the best effort out of the combined resources of the religious community."

In addition to the interfaith group, the United Methodist churches have also joined with Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, FEMA, Catholic Charities and others to form an unmet needs coalition for the Keys.

In Key West, Henderson met with the Rev. Willie Alexander and several members of Newman United Methodist Church, the southernmost United Methodist church in the continental United States. Alexander is the church's part-time supply pastor.

Although the church suffered thousands of dollars in damage during the hurricane, Alexander said, "we provided canned goods, water, ice and generators to the community."

Henderson praised church members and their pastor for their efforts. "Your commitment to ministry is quite commendable," he said, adding that despite the church's losses, it was generous to its community and the conference, paying 100 percent of its apportionments this year.