| August 2007 Newsletter |
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Greetings  Ever heard of Groesbeck, Texas? Well until January of this year neither had I. Groesbeck will be the site of our annual 9/11 Outreach. Some of you have been aware of this outreach and for others it is your first time hearing of this. Please allow me give you a little background Each year on the 9/11 Anniversary, The United States Emergency Chaplains Corps (USECC) partners with The New York Says Thank You Foundation who sends New York City firefighters (including survivors of the World Trade Center who met Chaplain Steve) to help rebuild communities around the country affected by disaster. It’s our way of saying “Thank You” for all the love and support Americans from across the country gave to New Yorkers in the days, weeks, and months following September 11. This year on the upcoming sixth Anniversary of 9/11, we are going to help rebuild the Central Texas home of an extraordinary American family. Three generations of the Vincent Family of Groesbeck, Texas have run assisted-living centers for Disabled Veterans out of their homes. They created a unique and loving environment where these men who served our Nation can live out their days in a beautiful country setting surrounded by the children of the extended Vincent family and nearly 100 animals. In addition to serving our Nation’s veterans, this wonderful family also serves their community as they represent 25% of Groesbeck’s 40-member Volunteer Fire Department. To put it plainly, the Vincents are a wonderful example of the American spirit of service. Unfortunately, on December 29, 2006 a deadly tornado ripped through the Vincent family compound, destroying the home where James and Eva Vincent lived with their 14-month son Hunter and 5 of the veterans. One of the veterans died in the twister but Eva’s quick actions literally saved the lives of her young son and the other men in her care. Because Groesbeck was never declared a federal disaster area, the family was not eligible for FEMA or other government assistance to rebuild.  While the extended family will continue to care for the disabled veterans in the home of Debbie Vincent (James' mom), James and Eva and their young son Hunter, need a home. I am happy to say all materials for the home have been donated and we are simply supplying the volunteer army to build this home. Our goal is to get at least the entire exterior, roof and siding completed in two days. As of this writing, it looks as if we will have at least 100 volunteers in addition to a great project manager. Think it's impossible? we'll see, just look for the October newsletter and the photos.  We will also have a Color Guard, bagpipers, drum and fife corps and scores of apparatus. The Memorial March will go through the center of town and include VA representation. It will descend upon the town's central park for the actual service. I don't know if you have ever seen hundreds of uniformed personnel with an entire color guard waving the Stars and Stripes in the breeze and hearing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes or not. To this day it still gives me chills to be a part of it. To officiate over these services is always an honor and I have utmost respect and a message of hope in my keynote address.   USECC should be a blessing at times such as these and we ask you help make this possible. It is our hope that each church will take up a Memorial offering for USECC on Sunday September, 9. Others can make a donation at this same time and send it to our office. It is through your generosity we can provide the ministry in this specialized settings. We are also working with the local churches in a coordinating role to guide them in this specialized event. In doing so we take no offerings from them. If you are able to make any contributions prior to this weekend to help offset our expenses for this trip is would be a huge help as summer giving is down and these outings are costly. Please feel free to contact us with any questions on this event, if anyone is curious enough to want to see this up close and personal, call at once since hotel rooms are not exactly plentiful in east Texas. In closing let me remind you to keep this nation in your personal as well as congregational prayers. Just like our own ministries, our country faces new challenges almost daily. I know in First Responder agencies, we are facing new threats that were unimaginable just five years ago. It is so easy to get caught up in our own problems that we sometimes forget the larger picture around us. In the words of President Abraham Lincoln, “ The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves and then we shall save our country”. I believe, as I'm sure you do too, God hears the fervent prayers of His people. As the 9/11 anniversary draws near to us once again and we reflect on that memorable day, let us not forget the God who delivered us then, and who will be our shield in the future. Pastors, please do not fail to personally lead your congregations in prayer that day. Let us “disenthrall” ourselves, or as the scripture says, “cast off every weight that so easily besets us” and turn our hearts once again to our Savior. May the Lord bless and protect you in all your endeavors. Until we meet again, I'll be......... Responding to the Call.........Chaplain Steve |