TAG Region Bookmarks Available...But There's a Catch!

I don't know about you, but I love a good bookmark. I have several in my bible right now, from one that my mom tucked inside a birthday card many years ago to one that a children's Sunday school class made for me almost that long ago. My favorite is one that my youngest son gave to me on my birthday in 2008 when he was 12. It was clearly used at the time--a little rough around the edges--which to me indicated that he had given me something that he was using. This was not a gift from a store shelf, but a gift from the heart. And I am still enjoying his gift seven years later. You see, a good bookmark can come in handy and serve you for many years.

That is why we had bookmarks printed to distribute when we visit churches for training or to meet with church officers or missions committees asking the church to support this work. I wanted something that people would keep in their bible and use on a daily basis--something that would remind people of the ministry and my need for prayer.

Our bookmarks (shown here on the right) remind you of four actions you can take to support God's work through this ministry:

Pray - We ask that you pray that God would be glorified and that people would be drawn to Christ through this ministry. As always, I am happy for you to pray for me specifically and all the details that come with serving through a ministry. But then end goal is that people would come to Christ and that God would be glorified.

Serve - There are many ways in which  you can serve through this ministry. And there is something for everyone. You could:

• assemble flood buckets
• sponsor a fund raiser or special offering to raise funds for this ministry
• go on a relief trip
• help organize a training session at your church

If you don't know how you might serve, I encourage you to contact me and I'll be happy to share suggestions. I plan to include a list on the website soon, but don't hesitate to contact me. 

Prepare - A significant part of my job is training and coaching churches in starting a disaster response ministry. Consider hosting a workshop on one of the topics listed on our "Prepare" page. I am excited to get out into the region to meet those who are already doing or wish to start doing disaster response. I enjoy teaching and I love to teach about that which I am passionate. Everyone should have a disaster plan for their family, so allow me to share some simple steps you can take to establish such a plan.

Give - This ministry will operate through the financial support of those who value what we do. Please consider a one-time or regularly occurring gift to support this work. No gift is too small to impact the kingdom, as I will mention in another post in a few days. Please consider joining us as we undertake this work together.

So about the bookmarks...Here's the catch!

The preferred way to distribute these is in person when I visit your church to provide a training workshop or to talk to your church about the ministry. I would love an invitation to do just that. Family night supper, Wednesday Night Bible Study, Men's Breakfast, Women's Gathering, Vacation Bible School, Mission Conference, the list goes on...Just invite me!

But if none of this works but you want a bookmark anyway... Send me an email with your postal mailing address and I'll send you a few. No catch. No obligation. No salesman will call.

In all seriousness and above all, please pray that God would be glorified in this ministry and that people would come to know Christ as we share the story of His grace and mercy.

Last Minute 2015 Donations Information

This ministry depends upon the contributions of people who value this kingdom work. As a new ministry, funds are needed for every aspect of the work at this time.

It is not too late to contribute to this work and take advantage of tax deductions for 2015. In order to satisfy IRS requirements for a 2015 donation, all checks mailed to MNA Disaster Response must be dated no later than December 31, 2015 and postmarked no later than December 31. Checks should be written to MNA and designated in the memo line to Disaster Response - TAG Region and mailed to: 

Mission to North America

MNA Disaster Response - Mike Kennamer PO Box 890233 Charlotte NC 28289-0233

Online donations must be made by December 31 through the MNA Donation site.

Thank you for considering joining with us as partners in this work.

Email Alert

This update was emailed to subscribers of our email newsletter on December 27, 2015. To subscribe to our list, fill in your name and email address in the form on the right side of this page. 

December 2015 Storms

The past few days have brought heavy rains, flooding and tornadoes to our region. While I have tried to make contact with some of you who I know were near the heaviest impacted areas, I do not yet have contact information for all churches. Please let me know if you or those in your churches have needs that we can help you address. You may call me at 256-899-4966 or email me at mkennamer@pcanet.org.

Church Contact Info.
One of my initial goals is to gather contact information for each of the churches in our area. While we typically have church phone numbers and email addresses through the PCA, I would like to have contact information for one or more individuals in each church so that we can make direct contact in the event of a disaster in your area. Would you consider designating one or more people from your church as Disaster Response Key Leaders and provide us with emails and cell phone numbers? Please be sure to include the name and city of your church. Please send information via email at mkennamer@pcanet.org. 

Some of you are Disaster Response Key Leaders and have been so for many years. If so, would you kindly send me an email to let me know what church you are with and to provide your current contact information? 

We plan to provide training for new key leaders in the coming months. Watch our website for more information. 

Connect with Us!
Please connect with us by following us on Twitter or liking our page on Facebook. Also, check out our website and be sure to share our information with your friends. 

Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

Like MNA Disaster Response TAG Region on Facebook

Did you know that we have a Facebook page? Please check it out and click 'Like' so that our news appears on your feed. And let us know what is going on with you! Are you interested in disaster response? How can we help your church get started in disaster response? Let us know how we can help.

Sign Up For Our Email List

Would you like to stay current with the activities of MNA Disaster Response TAG Region? Just type your name and email address in the form on the right side of any page of our website and you'll receive both our quarterly newsletter and any announcements regarding opportunities to serve. It's fast and free.

Follow @mnadisastertag on Twitter

Hi, everyone!

If you are on Twitter, be sure to follow @mnadisastertag to keep up with the latest news from the TAG (Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia) Region. Our goal is to get the word about this ministry and the services we provide out to as many people as possible. Please consider following us, retweeting any tweets that interest you, and telling your friends and followers about us.

This is also a great time to follow Mission to North America.

Web Site Pre-Launch

Hi, everyone!

I am pleased to present a pre-launch of the TAG Region website. Please let me know if you see any issues about how the site performs on various devices or platforms and/or have recommendations for content. Once we smooth down some rough edges, we will launch the full site.

In the meantime, please connect with us on social media.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mnatagregion

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mnadisastertag

Introducing New TAG Region

Dear PCA Family,

It is with great pleasure that I announce to you that Mission to North America (MNA) has called Mike Kennamer to provide regional disaster response leadership in the TAG Region (Southeast Tennessee, Northeast Alabama, Northwest Georgia areas). The TAG Region includes the entirety of Tennessee Valley, Northwest Georgia, Providence, and Evangel Presbyteries. His primary responsibility will be to work with key leaders and member churches in the assigned presbyteries to coordinate disaster response within the region.  He will be responsible to resource PCA churches and presbyteries in the following ways:

• Strengthen and build awareness for this vital ministry through consistent communication and education 
• Train and coach presbyteries and churches in disaster response preparedness 
• In the event of a large disaster, coordinate first responders, make assessments and assist affected churches and presbyteries in planning for long-term relief 
• Assist churches and presbyteries as they develop traveling disaster response teams that would serve both locally and travel to other areas affected by disasters 
• Function as the conduit between those affected by disasters and MNA 
• Facilitate state level VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) memberships in all assigned states 
• Upon occasion, assist in other regions as needed.

When disaster strikes, MNA has the high privilege of coordinating the PCA message of God’s love to those affected. We assist churches and presbyteries by helping them prepare for the certain coming storms. When storms arrives and the needs presented are beyond the ability of the presbytery to respond to on its own, MNA is available to assist. Since 2004 MNA Disaster Response has provided leadership in responses in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Haiti. We have mobilized more than 110,000 volunteers, assisted thousands of families in desperate need and provided direct assistance to rebuild 19 PCA church physical plants. We bring awareness, leadership, training, prayer focus, volunteer recruitment and mobilization, and channel relief funds to storm affected PCA families and diaconates – empowering them to meet insurance deductibles and other budget obligations when necessary.

Mike, a PCA Ruling Elder, and his wife Trisha live in Henagar Alabama and attend Grace Community PCA, a new and growing congregation in Trenton GA. They both have a deep and wide relationship with MNA Disaster Response spanning over ten years.  Mike, who is a licensed paramedic, serves as an administrator at a local community college and Trisha is a jewelry artist and volunteers with animal rescue.  Working as a team, they organized and managed disaster response efforts for MNA for sixteen months after deadly long-track tornadoes ripped through Alabama during the April 2011 Southeast Tornado Outbreak.  They are parents of three adult sons.

MNA stands committed to bring the hope of the Gospel to the disaster-affected communities of our PCA churches. Mike is a demonstrated strong leader and has proven abilities to do just that, and his deep desire to see God’s Kingdom advance throughout the PCA communities in the TAG region makes him a logical choice for us when we recognized a need for additional staff in this way. I am thankful for God’s provision in bringing Mike to join the MNA staff.  Please pray for Mike and Trisha as he undertakes this much needed work.

Mike will be joining MNA in a missionary status and is charged with raising his own support in a similar way as other MNA staff.  I commend him to you.  Please consider providing a startup gift designated for Mike and adding Mike to your annual budget. The constant news reports seem to indicate that disasters are happening more frequently, so the need is great for the type of leadership that Mike brings, please welcome him as a worthy co-laborer in advancing God’s Kingdom. Please invite him to visit with your diaconate and missions committee.  We consider it a privilege to have Mike in our leadership.

Sincerely in Christ,

Arklie

Arklie Hooten

MNA Disaster Response Director

Mission to North America / Presbyterian Church in America