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
