CCC’s ministry to the people of Houston continues
By Craig Fitzgerald, Christopher de Movellan, Silvia Karlsson, Michael Froelich, Stephanie Caponigro, Pastor Manisha
“And after seven days the waters of the flood came on the earth. … In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.” – Genesis 7: 10-12
Just days after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston last year, Father Bill called on Christ Church Cranbrook parishioners to support a special effort with The Episcopal Diocese of Texas: raise $75,000 and then be paired with a companion parish to provide immediate relief to those in need in that area. Our partnership with the amazing, resilient people of Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo in Houston was born.
In mid-December 2017, we traveled to Houston to meet with ministry leaders and people of San Mateo, get a sense of the devastated area, and determine San Mateo’s needs, all the while seeking opportunities for hands-on projects. Here is what we learned:
A. The people of San Mateo know how to welcome strangers as if they were angels! They rejoiced at meeting us, they celebrated how God brought us together, they shared everything with us and they had deep joy despite the difficulties they faced.
B. The emergency relief money we have sent is a Godsend for so many. They are using it to feed the community with large breakfasts and lunches. They are giving it to people who need food, rent assistance and cars after theirs were flooded. Since most people in the community surrounding San Mateo are renters, they are waiting on landlords to do the work of renovation. We heard stories of people waiting for months.
C. One of the most important ministries for San Mateo is meals. They create warm, delicious nutritious meals for the community every week and the hurricane destroyed their kitchen. The insurance will not pay for a complete renovation. They have had to figure out how to make do with what they have.
D. We learned that San Mateo’s top two priorities are (1) reconstruction of the physical buildings to get back the spaces needed to deliver its ministries, and (2) finding a solution for the existing gap between their church budget and projected revenues.
E. We found a way to do a mission trip to Houston! Our youth are invited to Houston June 24-30, 2018. Please consider sending your youth on this important trip. Learn more and register here: http://cccrsvp.org/houston
In situations like the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the focus on rebuilding goes far beyond merely restoring structures; it is about creating safe, functional, and welcoming spaces where communities can gather, receive support, and continue their essential ministries.
Damaged roofs, compromised walls, and outdated building systems often pose immediate safety risks, while also slowing down the ability to provide meals, education, and other services to those affected. Addressing these challenges requires careful planning, durable materials, and skilled workmanship to ensure that restored facilities can withstand future events and serve the community effectively for years to come.
To achieve this, working with trusted experts such as Lee’s Roofing can make a significant difference. Their experience in repairing, replacing, and reinforcing roofs ensures that buildings are not only structurally sound but also energy-efficient and resilient against future storms. By combining these services with broader renovation efforts, devastated areas can be transformed into safe, reliable, and welcoming environments where ministries can resume uninterrupted and communities can rebuild with confidence and hope.
As these physical spaces regain their strength, homeowners facing their own challenges often look for paths that offer clarity and ease. For those dealing with damaged properties, unexpected expenses, or the simple need to move forward quickly, selling directly for cash becomes a practical solution.
In the middle of exploring these options, a website can naturally guide sellers toward a process with no repairs and no delays, allowing them to bypass the stress of traditional listings. This kind of straightforward transition can be especially meaningful when time, resources, or circumstances make conventional selling difficult.
By choosing a route that prioritizes speed and simplicity, homeowners can step confidently into their next chapter while leaving the burdens of a distressed property behind.
For homeowners navigating financial strain or sudden life changes, the reassurance of a direct cash sale often brings a sense of stability at a moment when uncertainty feels overwhelming, and many begin exploring whether they can streamline the process even further by choosing an approach that helps them avoid foreclosure sell fast NY while still maintaining control over the outcome.
This kind of clear, step-by-step path removes the pressure of repairs, inspections, or unpredictable timelines, replacing it with a transparent process that lets sellers move forward without hesitation, knowing they can close quickly and focus their energy on rebuilding what comes next.
As we move forward with the Hurricane Harvey Mission, one of our church’s ten Community Partners, we are working with the good, warm people of San Mateo to determine next steps. We are hoping for some additional hands-on service opportunities, which are harder to find for renters. We will keep you informed what God reveals.