by Cal Skinner
Arlington Heights resident Pam Reed went to the area just north of New Orleans early last September. She went before the Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church had an organized effort.
The denomination’s relief efforts were based out of Trinity EFC in Covington, Louisiana, under the leadership of Pastor Michael Sprague.
After coming home, Reed went to the church’s web site again and again.
The draw was letters from Pastor Sprague.
Let me put in Reed’s words:
“A year ago my sister and I were so moved by the 24/7 news coverage of the hurricane and its aftermath that we felt we couldn't stay away.
“So we cleaned up our basement to bring home an evacuee, asked friends in Baton Rouge to help us find someone, loaded the van with diapers and car seats for a major pregnancy care ministry in Baton Rouge, and checked with our church about connecting with our denomination in that area.
“We were given the address for Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Covington, Louisiana, and supplied with 75 New Testaments to give to Trinity for distribution.
“We jumped in the van and drove the 1000 miles, knowing there was a room for us at a friend's home. We stayed two days and found no one to bring home but continued our connection with Trinity Church by visiting its web site.
“Pastor Sprague was posting letters reaching out to his scattered flock and telling inspiring stories of the work being done by teams sent from all over the country by the Compassion Ministry of the Evangelical Free Church of America.
“As I read the letters, I sensed that these were stories of God's love that needed to be told more widely than a web site.
“I started putting the book together and let the pastor know, when he wrote in a letter that people were urging him to write a book, that he already had a book in the works!
“We've been in communication through email ever since. We've never met or even talked on the phone. But God has blessed the process, and the book is coming off the press this week.
“The stories are inspiring and focus on relief, recovery, and redemption. They include ‘divine appointments’ and hope offered in the midst of despair.”
If you would like to order a copy, send $20 check/money order (sorry, no credit cards) made out to “Trinity Church” and mail it to P.O. Box 351, Prospect Heights IL 60070.
Reed has put up her own money for printing the books, so, if you would like to include a donation to help defray her costs, feel free to write the check for an increased amount to her name (Pam Reed). She’ll make sure Trinity gets the full amount for the book. The same address works, since she’s taking care of the book’s distribution.
