Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, our General Superintendent gives the following update on Hurricane Sandy as well as ways you can get involved! See the end of this post for ways to contribute online or through your cell phone!    She writes..."Thanks to the many pastors and church families who have been praying for and asking for direction about the best way to support those affected by Hurricane Sandy along the east coast. Here is the current situation for The Wesleyan Church.

District Superintendents have reported that all damage to churches has been minimal. Some roofs have been disturbed and a number of churches have some water damage. However, there does not appear to be major church building damage at this point in time. Most, but not all, churches have reported in to their districts.

However, the greatest need is with our church families and individuals in the heavily affected regions of coastal New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island. To this end our executive team has begun to coordinate relief efforts in partnership with the Church of the Nazarene, which also has numerous churches in this region.

This morning at 8:30 an assessment team was mobilized to meet in Jersey City and begin an evaluation of the damages through onsite visits in the areas I have mentioned. District Superintendent Karl Eastlack has joined this assessment team to represent The Wesleyan Church today in this planning group. Their task will be to agree on and establish staging areas for volunteers to be hosted and to coordinate relief efforts. They will establish a list of priority needs to respond to with the financial gifts and offerings received for these specific relief efforts. Their goal is to have this priority list, staging areas, and the first responders lead team established early next week.

As you are no doubt aware, only official search and rescue efforts and utility teams are authorized to be in these affected areas at this time. But we want to be prepared to offer a clear, safe, and effective way for the many volunteers to serve who have already contacted my office. As soon as we have that information we will post it on the Wesleyan.org home page.

Pastors, please share with your church family that all gifts given by individuals or churches for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts will be used and directed by our approved leadership team on the ground in the affected area. All funds received will be used completely for these efforts.

Donations may be made in several ways.

1. At Wesleyan.org you will find the button marked “Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.” This offers an option to give online immediately.

2. There is an option to give by text message via cell phone. Text 104Sandy to 20222 to give $10 for Hurricane Sandy relief.

3. Finally, I have heard of many churches that are planning to take up an offering during a weekend service. Please let your treasurer know that any donation by checks can be made payable to The Wesleyan Church and should be noted in the memo line for Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. As is our usual practice all such gifts may be mailed to The Wesleyan Church, PO Box 50434, Indianapolis, IN 46250.

The initial feedback from the assessment team today indicates a great need for bottled, safe water and for bleach to stop mold. We have arranged for two key churches to help deliver these necessities to the first approved staging site in Jersey City, New Jersey, as soon as possible. Your gifts and offerings will be used to purchase the water and bleach for this delivery and other needs as soon as they arise.

We will have regular updates on Wesleyan.org, in WesLife, and on Wesleyan Pastors Facebook page.

Thank you for your prayers and your incredible generosity. This is the Wesleyan way!

Jo Anne