FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
NEW ORGANIZATION, FINDSHELTER.ORG, ESTABLISHED TO CONNECT HURRICANE VICTIMS TO CHURCH SPONSORS FOR LONG-TERM RECOVERY
Rocketown Records artist Shaun Groves signs on as spokesperson
(09/08/05) - Through the cooperation and inspiration of Christians from various denominational backgrounds, a new organization has been established in the past week to provide assistance for Hurricane Katrina victims. FindShelter.org is dedicated to helping families affected by Hurricane Katrina by connecting them with churches and other organizations willing to assist them with long-term recovery.
Rocketown recording artist Shaun Groves joined with the organization this week as both a spokesperson for their work and a partner in the daily planning needed to make relief possible. “Under the oversight of the North American Mission Board, we are matching up families devastated by hurricane Katrina with churches or other Christian groups willing to ‘sponsor’ them for a full year,” Groves said. “Sponsorship would entail meeting every need present in the family: food, shelter, employment, spiritual and psychological counsel, health care etc. We believe it is the Church’s responsibility first and foremost to aid these families in need. Only the Church can meet the needs of the whole person, both physical and spiritual. And we hope to be one of many lifelines between the hurting and the Church, helping the helpers find the needy.”
FindShelter.org was established by business partners Carsie Denning, Jr. and Brian Bell with the help of a large, nationwide network of Christian friends. According to Denning, “It has been absolutely amazing to see how God is pulling this effort together through the service of so many people and organizations. Our desire is to bring glory to Him though our efforts to serve the displaced families.”
For more information on how churches and organizations can sponsor families, please visit http://www.findshelter.org or email . Interested parties may also call 910-341-8410.
Team member Bill Bangham, director of photography at the Southern Baptist International Mission Board and board member, along with Denning, of the American Belarusian Relief Organization, is handling media inquiries. He can be reached at or 804-519-4288. Shaun Groves is also available for questions and interviews and can be reached at or through Rocketown Records at 615-503-9994 x29.
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My Friends,
As many of you know, Houston has now become home to a large number of the refugee’s from the devastated Gulf Coast region. The majority are forced to start over from scratch, enroll the kids in school, and start a new life. Ecclesia will be working towards building bridges to bless, nurture, and encourage our new neighbors. If you would like to partner with us we would be especiallly grateful - the needs are vast and overwhelming for our fledgling community. One of the greatest needs is a displaced Children’s Home. We are searching for a place where we can secure multiple homes together for the children and their caregivers and many other families. I am including a music video that we are using in our worship service tommorow, it is very moving. If you would like to partner with us let me know. We will need people as well as financial resources to minister the thousands of families during such a tragic time. Checks can be made to:
Ecclesia
Katrina Relief Effort
2115 Taft
Houston, Tx 77006
Thanks to all of you and blessings!
Chris Seay
P.S. This is the link to a music video download (made by Travis Reed) that tells the story of the loss of so many this week. The song is based on Psalm 137 and is from “The Voice” (a retelling of the scriptures I am working on with World Publishing). The text and song were written by Lori Chaffer (of Waterdeep) and recorded for a unique worship project based on the reteeling of the Psalms - it will release in 2006.
www.highwayvideo.com/pub/DontMakeUsSingThis.zip
From CBS’s blog about Katrina
Sept. 8, 2005
“9:24 a.m.
(CBS) — Americans are largely dissatisfied with the response to Hurricane Katrina, and blame all levels of government, according to the latest CBS News poll.
In a dramatic change from the public’s reaction immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29, President George Bush’s overall response to the hurricane meets with disapproval today. Only 38 percent of Americans polled approve of Mr. Bush’s efforts. Sixty-five percent of Americans say the president’s response to the disaster was too slow.
Critique fell not only on President Bush, but on FEMA and other government agencies. Eighty percent of those surveyed said the federal government as a whole did not respond as fast as it could.”
We live under the umbrella of a benevolent and wealthy government here in America, which grants us physical freedom and protection to a great extent from physical harm and injustices of many kinds. But this poll and this catastrophe are a conspicuous reminder to the Church (all Christians world-wide) and to me that even the best governments cannot replace the power of us. Only we are large enough in number, great enough in wealth, powerful enough at heart, varied enough in skill, and omnipresent enough geographically to meet the physical AND spiritual needs of all the least in every society at all times. We cannot eradicate all suffering and fear but only we are commanded by God and empowered by God to try.
Those angry with the government expect too much of their political leaders and not enough of themselves and their church. The government only does what the Church won’t, what the Church thinks it can’t.
Here’s how one church is responding to hurricane Katrina. More examples to come.
Adapted from a Gospel Music Channel e-mail to artists and labels. I will not be in attendance due to a previously contracted obligation.
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GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO DEVELOPING KATRINA CRISIS WITH BENEFIT CONCERT OF HOPE
SUMMARY:
On SEPT. 22 the Gospel Music Channel™ and Gospel Music Association Present “Gospel Angels”— a Live Concert Nationally Televised on Gospel Music Channel and Paxson Communications’ i Network
WHAT:
Gospel Angels is the gospel music industry’s outreach to the tens of thousands of people torn from their homes by Hurricane Katrina. The Gospel Music Channel is partnering with the Gospel Music Association, Paxson Communications Corporation’s i (formerly PAX TV), and veteran promoter Peter Conlon to launch this live nationally televised concert featuring Gospel/Christian music’s brightest stars.
“America is facing an unprecedented crisis of people torn from their homes and left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. It’s critical that we step up to meet this next phase of the crisis in their lives, providing tangible assistance as well as hope, which gospel music communicates like no other music,” said Charley Humbard, co-founder of the Gospel Music Channel which is producing Gospel Angels.
Gospel Angels will be staged at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park with additional live performances originating from massive victim shelters across the country. The concert will be broadcast nationally on the Gospel Music Channel and i. Check local listings or visit http://www.GospelMusicChannel.com.
100% of funds raised through ticket sales and donations from concert goers and viewers of the national broadcast will go to organizations meeting the basic living needs of tens of thousands of hurricane victims, including World Vision and Feed the Children.
Gospel music has always been about love, hope, and inspiration. Today, people from the Gulf Coast region are in desperate need of those three things, as well as basic living necessities like food, clothing, and housing. Gospel Angels will help meet those needs.
For more information on Gospel Angels, please visit www.GospelMusicChannel.com.
WHEN WILL IT AIR:
Thursday, Sept. 22
Gospel Music Channel 7:00pm – 10:00pm EDT
i (formerly PAX TV) 8:00pm – 10:00pm EDT
MMORE ABOUT THE GOSPEL MUSIC CHANNEL:
The Gospel Music Channel is the first and only 24-hour all-music television network devoted to the best of Gospel/Christian music. From the soulful sounds of Aretha Franklin to the country roots of Randy Travis, to the contemporary stylings of Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, and Jars of Clay, the Gospel Music Channel celebrates a musical genre that crosses cultures and generations and delivers a fan base so large it deserves its own network.
Download and watch this quicktime or windows media video invite to get involved with findshelter.org. Then please pass it on to your pastor or church group leaders to consider.
Thank you,
SG
