Festival of Homiletics: Nashville Update--Please Pray and Help
From David Howell at theFestival of Homiletics:
We have asked Pastor Frank Lewis of Nashville how we can help with the flooding emergency in Nashville. Below is his response. We have an opportunity to assist in the relief efforts going on now in Nashville. Please forward this information to members of your congregation and community. Place the text on Facebook and Twitter pages. Together we can make a huge difference in Nashville!
From Pastor Frank Lewis:
First Baptist is still dry and capable of hosting the Festival of Homiletics.
The flooding has really hit our city hard. Entire neighborhoods are flooded. People lost everything.
I think it will be good for the city of Nashville to have the prayers of Festival of Homiletics participants not only from a distance, but here in our city as well in the coming weeks.
**Here is what pastors and church members can do:
Money.**
Anyone wishing to donate can give to the Red Cross and designate Nashville. If they want to assist us specifically, all donations given to First Baptist Nashville, 108 Seventh Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37203, designated to Flood Relief will be used to provide assistance to the efforts in our city/community. We anticipate that there will be long-term cleanup efforts in our community not unlike what took place following Katrina. We will seek to provide water, food, first-aid, blankets, and housing as needed.
Volunteers. We are putting together a leadership team today and will be able to use volunteers during the Festival of Homiletics for an afternoon clean-up project. Volunteers will need to have proper clothing (It will be hot and humid) and work gloves. If they can bring tools, things like a crowbar, hammer, etc. for drywall removal would be helpful. Volunteers could be used to simply drive through the areas where others are doing dry-wall removal and distribute water and offer a prayer or a kind word.
Big Need Is Water. Our Mayor has asked everyone to go on immediate water restrictions using 1/2 the water they normally consume. We are canceling a baptism this week!!! If anyone is driving to Nashville, bring bottled water. They will probably need it, and if they can bring water to assist with our relief efforts, it would be great.
Shipping. If anyone wants to drop ship bottled water to our church, our address is
First Baptist Nashville
108 Seventh Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37203
Thanks for everyone's prayers for our city and extended community at this time.
Blessings,
Frank R. Lewis
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Nashville
www.firstbaptistnashville.org
Notes for FOH Attenders:
If any guests were registered at the Opryland Hotel (see below for alternative hotel), they need to find new accommodations. It is 6 feet under water and won't reopen for months. Same with The Grand Ole Opry House and Opry Mills.
Sheraton Nashville Downtown is extending $139 (all) until May 6, (615)-259-2000, 623 Union Street, 10 minute or less walk to FBC; reserve:
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=1003297905&key=67CCC
**Festival of Homiletics
PO Box 843
9179 Washington Street
Amelia, VA 23002**