Calvary Chapel Mercer County

Before, during, and after the storm. God is here!

Calvary Chapel Mercer Mobilizes During Hurricane Irene
August 27 & 28, 2011

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people-the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world-just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. - Colossians 1:3-6

God shows His grace…

On Saturday night I was given the assignment to reach out to several people to make sure they were safe and prepared for the storm and also to pray for them. One of the people I called was Grace Cooper. Grace explained to me how she was having drainage problems in her house. She was preparing to go to Loews to buy sandbags and put them around her house to avoid or minimize water getting into her house.

When I called her, she was shocked! She told me that literally seconds before I called she prayed that God would help her. My call to her was timely and definitely Godly. I was blessed to be used by God to answer her prayer.

Erik and Andy came to her rescue and she had no water enter her house. Praise God.
- Tito Reyes

I want to share that God touched my heart when I was able to reach out by phone to brothers and sisters at church who I knew very well as well as some I didn’t know at all. Although most conversations were brief, I know every person we reached out to was happy we did.

On a side note, I was staying with my sister and brother-in-law during the storm, and my brother-in-law overheard me talking to some people, he kinda made fun of me, saying the care team is on that all through yesterday afternoon! But he knows my heart for Christ, and my sister shared with me that he said, with Melissa here praying for us, we’ll be safe!

I can say there is such a difference in how a believer and a non-believer looks at things like hurricanes, there was so much peace that God would protect us, and for others it was panic and worry! It was a blessing and honor to reach out to our church family as well as my family during this time

To GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER!

- Melissa Erny

It was a blessing to serve on a care team. Although I was nervous about calling people I have never met before, through prayer God was able to calm my nerves and allow me to focus on serving others. I heard from several people how much they appreciated receiving a call, praying together over the phone, and being able to pray later for specific concerns individuals had at that time.

When I woke up this morning I found water beginning to flood our basement. Although Dave had planned to serve on an action team, it turned out that we were the ones in need. Doug Gowton drove over an extra shop vac and actually stayed to help us. We had two of our son’s friends stay overnight with us during the storm and they were impressed with the way the church reached out to help. Many blessings came from this storm and it provided another opportunity to see God show his love, compassion and caring for us through his servants.

- Noelle Schappell

God touched me when I saw the gratitude on the faces of the people we were helping. One individual was so touched that tears of joy streamed down her face, this really impacted me. To me, showing the love of Christ in these practical ways can be more effective than the words we speak.

- Dan Flansburg

I was just around corner from my house and three of my neighbors were out. They all lived right next to each other. They were really grateful the Action Team was there pumping out about 11 inches of water from one of their basements. I hadn’t met any of them. I didn’t know their names and honestly I have already forgotten them. These were my neighbors… these were part of my mission field. I had never helped them, served them or even met them before… I know God wants to touch their lives.

How? What could I do? God didn’t answer me that question. I know I need to spend time and really set up a battle strategy on how to love these people well. I know there isn’t any time but how can I hope to be used by God in powerful ways if I won’t take the time to do the hard work? Did I get good grades through school that way? NO! I Prayed! I Studied! I got bad grades, I worked harder! I got discouraged! I sought the LORD! He lifted me out of my pit! I persevered! I graduated and received a scholarship for academics! Did it look grim? OH yeah! Was it hard? YEAH! How did I find time? I made time! That meant a lot of stuff bearing little or no fruit had to go!

When it was all said and done and those four years of school were finally complete, dressed in a long flowing robe and a square funny hat on my head, holding a diploma in one hand, a presidents education award I received for being in the top percent of my graduating class, and knowing I would receive the scholarship so that I could continue on my path, I knew with every fiber of my being it was all, all worth it. (A small glimpse into what heaven will look and feel like if we are willing to put the hard work in today.)

LORD, burden my heart for an even greater desire to represent your name to my neighbors. Help me and show me how? I am lacking knowledge LORD… Is there anything too much for you? Are you not all-powerful? Does your spirit not live within me? MOVE! God MOVE! For your glory, for your name and for your renown! Lord, give me strength and heart to do whatever your heart desires.
- Tim Brown

What a great time of ministry being the hands and feet of God. A couple if highlights for me involved surprising people with our generosity as a body of believers. People seemed to understand that we would help people within our congregation, but when our care, concern and efforts caused us to begin helping their neighbors and strangers, they were really blessed.

I had the pleasure of being the first on the scene to help Bruce, a 70+ year old in Lawrence. Bruce is my older brother’s neighbor. I was in the neighborhood pumping water out of my brother’s basement (thanks to Charlie Hunt’s generator) when Bruce came over to ask if I did this for a living. I told him ‘no’, but I would come take a look. Bruce had mounds and mounds of books, papers and other basement ‘junk’ that accumulates under about 6 inches of water. With the power out, neither of his sump pumps would work.

With Charlie’s generator running, we were able to get the pumps working and deal with the water, but I could tell Bruce was a little overwhelmed about the ruined debris. I called Erik, the emergency response leader, and he sent two crews over (about 15 people).

Within an hour all of the debris was removed, the water was gone and we were packing up and on to the next job. Bruce was greatly encouraged and we were blessed in the process for the opportunity to serve.
- Gregg Downs

God touched my heart yesterday, when we were helping out Bruce an older widowed gentleman in Lawrence Township. Here he is all alone in his home, and his basement is flooded, his electric is out and he has this big mess, and he was so excited to see us there to help him. He said we were truly doing the Lord’s work. I know that the Love of Christ was shining through us at that time, and Bruce was touched by it. It was really cool!
- Doug Gowton

God truly blessed me when we were finished cleaning up Valerie Williams house. We took time to pray with her, her mom, and her older sister. Her older sister had streams of tears running down her face and we all gave each other hugs in Jesus’ name. It was truly a beautiful moment. I also am also humbled to serve. She said they were believers, but I gave her a church bulletin and told her if she needed more help call me.
- Peter Brown

I was part of the Care Team and I called everyone on my list Saturday. I left a few messages. I was calling a member of the body and reached her roommate instead. She offered her cell number and said if we need any help she would be available to help. She also said she had been invited to church in the past and she now thinks she’ll come to visit. She was very touched that as a body we were reaching out to everyone to make sure they were okay.
- Nancy Foss

It was amazing to see the amount of people serving during the storm. Team one, Doug, Justin, my Dad and me stopped at one lady’s house. She was not a member of our church. She had a HUGE tree that fell on her car and about a foot of water in her basement. We got out and asked if she needed help.

Immediately we got to work. Peter Brown and his team were there with us. We were able to clear the smaller stuff pretty quickly. About halfway into our efforts, I looked around and there were about 20-30 people helping. We had 4 sump pumps going in her basement, a bucket crew of about 10 people and another 10 working on the tree.

I felt God in that moment. People that this lady didn’t even know were treating her like a member of the family. God was there, in the hearts of the people serving. 4 hours later the tree was cleared and her basement was only damp from the residual water. I was blessed to serve with the people there and to be a part of that cleanup.
- Andy Lydick

I think God touched me (ever so slightly) when I was vacuuming water from Val’s basement. As I started to approach the 36th or 37th trip up the bilco door steps to dump yet another load of water in the backyard I thought to myself, “It’s getting late, I only slept a couple of hours, there is still some water in my basement, and Jeannie is probably wondering where I am. Maybe I’ll stop at 40 trips.” Adding to my frustration was the water at that end of Val’s basement didn’t seem to recede much after all those buckets of water.

Finally, I reached my 40th trip to the yard with the wetvac and was faced with stopping. After a short silent prayer, I pressed onward with another set of 10. I drew perseverance from the realization that my efforts were a small sacrifice compared to so many others’.

After a while longer, I approached 48 trips up those steps and something surprising happened — the volume of remaining water had started to decrease. It was taking longer and longer to fill the wetvac each time. When I returned to fill my 50th load of water, I was searching for water to vacuum — I was done. If I had stopped earlier, I would have left without finishing the task. Pushing myself a bit more than I had intended or wanted might have brought me a little closer to where He wants me to be.
- Frank Sconzo

This mission was God given.

This never seemed like a question for me. Could we do this? Would the body come together? These questions never came to thought. The need to help was not a request, but a given delegation predestined by God as an extension of His heart to His people. This was something that was going to happen. The Lord designed this effort. This mission was His plan. The plan was made complete from the beginning, without much thought, the entire matter was settled, two main teams, two efforts, one goal… show them love. People came together seamlessly.

I saw things during this weekend that made me praise God and his grace. I never wondered if we would be protected, I knew God was with us. He guided us to Valerie’s house. It was out of the corner of my eye I saw this tree, a block and a half away. We knocked on her door; she never called us.

I was very concerned about the safety of the people that were helping. I assigned leaders and gave them instructions; keep an eye open for safety issues, keep looking. At our largest effort, I assigned three people to watch for safety issues. Multiple chain saws, shin deep water, electricity still on, pumps, two large crews working seamlessly. At one point I looked around and saw maybe 30 people working, one goal… show them love.

God was there. And just like every mission I have ever been on, God made His presence known. Those that sought Him found Him there. His heart was loving and evident. His hands were working. His feet were standing strong, even His voice was heard in prayer. God spoke to many of the mission team that day. From the throne, God reached down and said to Calvary Mercer, feed my sheep and Praise you God, we heard Your sweet command and I pray we continue to heed Your voice and show Your heart actively.

His world needs to hear, see and feel the truth. A sinless Savior died for us, and empowered us to display in action and voice His heart in Mercer County. I praise you God. I praise you Son and Spirit. I humbly pray you continue to empower Calvary Mercer to be your hands and feet, your voice and heart. Praise you God, Lord of our lives.
- Erik Lydick

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Calvary Chapel Mercer County Church Office
76 Hopatcong Drive Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648
Office Phone: 609.530.9524
Office fax: 609.771.8003
Email: Connecting@welcometocalvary.org

If you are in Mercer County, NJ you can visit one of our services or fellowship groups. We are a wonderful contemporary nondenominational Christian church. There are 2 campuses and you can attend services in Ewing or Robbinsville. It is a friendly and welcoming group!

http://www.welcometocalvary.org

We are fortunate to have two wonderful pastors and their families at our church, Pastor Scott Turansky and Pastor Gregg Downs.