Water was everywhere. It seeped through closed doors and windows; it covered cars and drowned basements. Disaster was upon us, but God had a plan.
Floods are just one disaster that Adventist Community Services Disaster Relief (ACS DR) responds to. If you examine the devastation throughout the country, ACS DR from all over North America has provided relief through supplies, prayer, coordination, delivery, rescue and more. Minnesota ACS DR had been actively engaged in disaster relief for more than 10 years, providing necessary aid to hurricane-damaged New Jersey in 2012 and to flood-ravaged Minnesota in 2024.
More than a decade of ministry
In response to the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012, ACS DR mobilized to provide critical aid to New Jersey’s hardest-hit communities. Les Morrison, the director of Minnesota’s ACS DR team, spearheaded the effort to bring relief from the Midwest, responding to the needs of survivors with a well-organized team and essential supplies.
During their efforts, the team witnessed or experienced multiple miracles. “One such miracle was when we knocked on a
survivor’s door to let her know what we had for her,” shared Morrison. “She interrupted and said: ‘I knew you were coming! I saw you last night on Channel 12 news and they said that the Adventists were bringing goods out to the survivors.’ We were all amazed by this because we randomly picked that town, or so we thought. God had other ideas for us.” Later, the team tried to find out if they had been featured on Channel 12 and were unable to confirm the report. No one else saw it.
In June of this year, Watertown, Minnesota, was severely impacted by higher-than-average rainfall and flooding. The South Fork Crow River overflowed its banks, and the community experienced a natural disaster that hadn’t been seen in the area for decades.
Morrison has a slew of impeccable contacts, training and skills to employ in moments like what befell Watertown earlier this year. With a crew of dedicated volunteers, Morrison opened a distribution warehouse in collaboration with state and local governments. This warehouse provided necessary supplies such as clean water, bleach and box fans. ACS DR served the community for approximately two weeks, stocking, managing and distributing goods to the community at large as needed.
What does it take to serve in ACS DR?
Serving in disaster relief requires training, which Morrison regularly provides to interested volunteers. In 2024, we have witnessed multiple natural disasters in North America, precipitating a need for our ACS DR team to expand. If you feel a call to get involved with disaster relief, please contact Morrison at leslie.morrison@mnsda.com or visit our website at www.mnsda.com.
