Christian Emergency Network (CEN)'s Ready Church Initiative Helps Churches Respond to Crisis Events

[ Note: Italicized words and phrases in the following article are Frontline Resources.

Food for Thought:  If persecution here in the U.S. becomes our Chrsitendom reality becomine a "Ready Church" or "Ready Believer" may have beneficial application beyond that which is addressed in the article.  Ready to help believing and non-believing victims of natural disaster, pestilence, etc. may well serve as entry level prepartion to help one another under persecution.]

CEN Recommends Christian Citizens Respond Spiritually Wise to Pandemics, Natural Disasters and other Crisis Situations

A biblical response is the most important response to any crisis.  Whether emergencies are large or small, life’s concerns trigger the need for information and a “cure.”

The Ready Church Initiative - launched in 2009 - by CEN chapters across the nation seeks to help churches prepare and respond to life’s emergencies with a powerful and effective approach.  Learn what a Ready Church is...

Christians are uniquely gifted to be responsible citizens in the area of general preparedness, and are especially called to a Christ-like response of prayer, caring, and the sharing of the truths of the Bible.  The government relies heavily upon local churches and ministries to model calm spirits and come to the aid of their communities.  Eighty-nine (89) percent of all volunteers in any emergency are faith-based.  Whether it has been responding to the flooding in Fargo or now calming those concerned about the swine flu next door, you are putting a face of Hope within emergencies of all kinds.

The Bible explains our human nature to try to make sense out of this world and its tribulations.  It teaches that the world will have many disasters, wars, persecution and other “emergencies” before the Lord is promised to come again to rescue His people into heaven.  We believe God is increasing His efforts to gain the attention of the non-believers.  The believing Church needs to continue to voice God’s story of the Bible to help others know and understand how vulnerable our lives are here on earth.  For the believer, emergencies are God’s opportunities.

We know that God chooses to use the Church to bring His message to the world.  What a privilege!  Emergencies like the flu pandemic or the economic earthquake are unpredictable.  Though we don’t welcome crisis events into our lives, we are uniquely gifted to accept them, knowing they serve a higher purpose.  We also know that we have the love, hope and “cure” for those troubled with spiritual questions surrounding a crisis event, whether it’s the serious illness of someone we know or how one city can be destroyed by a tornado while another is not.

A Ready Church:

*  Knows how to spiritually respond to questions such as “Where is God in this?”

*  Brings calm to anxious citizens

*  Has assessed how to function within its local community’s response system

*  Has attendees who are personally prepared

* Sees life’s crisis events as unique evangelism opportunities whether at a bedside or on national media

*  Has spiritual tools to help those in crisis

*  And more….

The readiness of Christians includes being aware of the facts of any emergency/disaster, by being ready personally, and by being “there” for those who are affected or who are concerned and involved by caring for and sharing Christ with them from afar and/or on site.  “Aware, Ready, There.”

Sign up now to receive Ready Church information and updates, and contact us to visit personally about your interest in a local CEN chapter that can present initiatives and campaigns like the Ready Church Initiative in your community.