Fingerprints of Compassion:
Heart to Heart's Lay Ministry in the Katrina Disaster

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast region, thousands of Nazarenes mobilized for action. Christians and non-Christians alike were affected by the storm's fury. Nazarene laymen were there to offer a cup of cold water in Jesus' name. Here are some of their stories:

• Dr. Charley Hardison, a family physician serving in a creative access world area, was back in the U.S. keeping up-to-date with the latest medical practices when Katrina hit. He had worked with Heart to Heart International on one of our overseas projects and offered his services. We took him up on his offer and flew him to Jefferson Parish, just south of New Orleans. Dr. Hardison forged an instant bond with the director of the Emergency Operations Center in Marrero. By demonstrating Christ's love and compassion, Charley made Heart to Heart shine in a very difficult situation. He worked tirelessly to provide medical care to more than 3,000 emergency workers - many of whom were stranded by the storm. While many emergency workers in other counties were abandoning their posts, the Jefferson Parish employees kept helping their fellow residents - knowing that Charley had their back.

• Stephanie Kuhlman, a pediatrician from the Wichita area, was another great volunteer with Heart to Heart. She worked in our open-air clinic in Slidell, one of the hardest-hit areas north of New Orleans. She also traveled with our mobile medical team to Orange, Texas, after Hurricane Rita hit
and provided care to the wounded immediately after the storm passed. Though she couldn’t calm the storm, Stephanie’s calming touch restored hope in those she served through the day and into the night.

• When members of Richmond, Virginia, West End Church of the Nazarene set up a feeding station in Vidor, Texas, they were following Christ's call to feed His lambs. Church members fed an average of 2,500 people a day immediately after Hurricane Rita struck this tiny town east of Beaumont. As the Heart to Heart team provided medical care in a makeshift clinic, we watched in awe as the West End laymen were feeding the body and soul through their compassion.

• We cannot discount the value of thousands of everyday church members who assisted in the relief effort by assembling a Crisis Care Kit. These kits provided personal hygiene products for an entire family for up to two weeks. Working with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Heart to Heart delivered more than 35,000 care kits in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Many people thanked us for giving them some control over the chaos. One elderly lady told me that it was wonderful to just wash her hair, saying that it gave her something normal to do as she waited in an evacuee center.

I find it heartening that I serve in a church that cares for hurting people. When disaster strikes, Nazarenes are there. The way we care for disaster victims - providing care for the body, soul and spirit - allows us to be a witness by leaving a fingerprint of compassion on each person we touch through our service.

I encourage you to find a place of service, so that you can be a blessing to someone in need.

by Gary Morsch