We've all been impacted by what we've seen and heard about Hurricane Katrina. Please keep those families affected in your prayers: That God would comfort and sustain them, that the love of Jesus would be shown through the relief efforts and that people can somehow begin to put their lives back together. In light of all this, what can we do?

Pray
Pray for the men, women, and children in New Orleans who are still without basic necessities like water and food. Pray that stability will be restored to the New Orleans area as crime is rampant at this time. Pray for all the states victimized by this natural disaster like Mississippi, Louisiana, and others, and that they would be able to rebound from the devastation.

Adopt-a-Family
Students, eager to help in the New Orleans relief effort, are calling churches in the Salem area to suggest to them that the church adopt a family from among the 1.5 million displaced people who are suffering under increasingly hostile conditions – see foxnews.com for “The Equivalent of Armageddon”. For more information or to help in this effort, please contact Jonathan Hall, Student Ministries Coordinator at 503-375-7010.

American Red Cross and the Salvation Army
You can volunteer or give money, click either link below and you'll be redirected to a page that has information on how you can help. Due to the volume of people wanting to help, you may experience some short delays when attempting to access their website; please be patient.

God bless you for joining with us in this effort to bring comfort and resources to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Practical steps to take to help you cope with tramatic events

• Pray and read your Bible, read about those who faced trials, difficulties so that you may find comfort and peace. Pray even when you don't know details of the situation, pray for the families and individuals effected by these events, and be assured the Holy Spirit will help you.
  
  And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
  --Romans 8:26 NLT
  
  
• Give yourself a break from the news reports.
  
  Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father's. Then in your time of need, you won't have to ask your relatives for assistance. It is better to go to a neighbor than to a relative who lives far away.
  --Proverbs 27:10 NLT
  

• Take some time for yourself to process the events.
  
  To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.
  --Proverbs 19:8
  
  
• Talk to a friend, neighbor or your Pastor or someone about what you are feeling, your thoughts and your emotions. We all will have some grieving to do and that's okay.
  
  I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.
  --Psalm 35:14
  
  
• Take care of yourself. Eat properly, exercise and give yourself a break from the stress.
  
  Now I can rest again, for the LORD has been so good to me.
  --Psalm 116:7