AGENTS OF GOD’S KINGDOM
cards that they can use to pay for shelter, food, clothing, etc. The local team has traditionally had the possibility of calling in mental health Most of us deacons were ordained before specialists to deal with emotional crises, and we retired from our careers. It was a busy medical specialists to aid in replacing medicatime when we went to work, cared for our tions, prescriptions and medical equipment families and dedicated hours to our diaconthat victims have lost. The on-scene team al ministries. However, as we retired, we provides help to last until the family can meet weren’t necessarily sure of how God would with a case worker at the Red Cross facility. direct our personal gifts, skills and past At that time, the case worker will help the experiences to serve Him and His Kingdom. family in making a long-term recovery plan. The four “retired” deacons at All Saints, Case workers assess the victims needs and New Albany, have learned that we should tailor specific recovery plans to meet those never have doubted God’s intervention in needs. guiding us as we continue to fulfill our diaOn larger-scale local disasters such as conal vows: apartment building fires, the first team on As a deacon in the Church, you are to site can request more teams to process all The Rev. Fred Shirley study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishthe impacted victims. The goal in every case ment from them, and to model your life upon is for the Disaster Response Team to replace them. You are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, fear with comfort and security, division with unity treating by your word and example, to those among whom you live, all victims equally, and scarcity with abundance as the teams and work, and worship. You are to interpret to the Church the bring supplies of bottled water, energy bars, blankets and comneeds, concerns, and hopes of the world. You are to assist the fort kits. bishop and priests in public worship and in the ministration Recently, I learned that the Red Cross was adding a new of God's Word and Sacraments, and you are to carry out other team, Disaster Spiritual Care, to disaster response. With this duties assigned to you from time to time. At all times, your life new team, I have reactivated my volunteer status. When a and teaching are to show Christ's people that in serving the disaster occurs, people, regardless of their faith tradition or helpless they are serving Christ himself. (from the Ordination lack thereof, can find themselves in a spiritual crisis. The of a Deacon; BCP pg. 543) Spiritual Care volunteers come from different faith back*** grounds, but the Red Cross selects them for their experience At All Saints, New Albany, Father Jason Prati often preaches and background as persons who can serve as a calm, supporton the Empire versus the Kingdom of God. In the Empire, there ive presence, much like a hospital chaplain. is fear, division and scarcity. In the Kingdom, we find comfort, I have responded with follow-up support to two situations: a unity and abundance. single-family residence fire with two deceased, one a pre-school I had previously worked as a volunteer with the Red Cross age child; and an apartment building with 17 units destroyed Disaster Action Teams, responding to local fires. The local teams but no injuries. Both the victims and the volunteers benefited respond to residential fires and supply support on the scene to from spiritual care support. ease the suffering of those affected by a disaster. The teams supSubmitted by the Rev. Fred Shirley 12 ply financial aid that victims can use for immediate needs; gift Agent: a means by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result
