More than seventeen hundred homes were affected by the tornadoes that struck Owensboro, Kentucky and surrounding rural areas January 3. More than 400 homes were destroyed or received major damage. Disaster response workers in the Kentucky Conference are assessing the damage and working with other churches to develop recovery plans. Your gifts to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670-1 ensure that UMCOR has the resources to respond to this and other disasters within the United States.

   Rebuilding continues in Oklahoma from the tornadoes last May. Two more newly built houses have been dedicated. In the Bahamas, volunteer teams are working in conjunction with Methodist Churches to help rebuild from the damage caused by Hurricane Floyd. Financial resources and volunteers continue to be needed in these areas and in North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey as they recover from last year's devastating floods and storms. Please give to the Churchwide Appeal for Major Storm Devastation '99, Advance 982460-1. Volunteers, please call (800) 918-3100.

   UMCOR is providing financial support for ongoing humanitarian assistance in Venezuela following the floods and landslides. Joining with our ecumenical partners, UMCOR will provide assistance for long-term recovery work. Please give to UMCOR's International Disaster Response #982450-8.

Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583.Credit card donations are accepted. (Read more about how you can help UMCOR's emergency responses.)

    Please pray for all who suffer from natural and human-made disasters, hunger, and poverty.