An interview with Gaylord Hanson, volunteer MAUC director for ACS-DR

What’s the most exciting thing that happened in your ministry during the past quinquennium?

Seeing local leaders and volunteers receive outstanding recognition for their leadership and ministry during various disaster responses.

What do you find most fulfilling about what you are doing?

Knowing that people who had their world turned upside down by various calamities began to see and believe that it is possible to have a new normal life—with the help of dedicated and compassionate volunteers.

Looking forward to the next five years, what are the greatest opportunities before you?

Building the capacities of each conference to minister in response to the disasters that will increasingly befall us as the end of time draws near. We also have a fantastic opportunity to work with our Native American nations to enhance their response plan and develop a training program that fits their needs.

Additionally, we will have opportunity to witness to hundreds of people as we work to rebuild the lives and communities of our friends, family and neighbors and plan for future events.

The newest ministry of Adventist Community Services is the Adventist Crisis Care Network. Crisis Care Responder and Community Chaplaincy are two initiatives of special interest for our constituents or pastors.

What are the greatest threats you are facing?

Not having the capacity to respond to another multiple-disaster situation like in 2008, when the tornado in Greensburg (Kansas) was followed quickly by catastrophic flooding in Iowa.

How can Mid-America’s members, pastors and leaders be more supportive of your ministry?

Become involved through financial giving, praying for the work, and being active in the wonderful ministry that is Adventist Community Service Disaster Response.

What do you hope to accomplish in your ministry during the next five years?

Over the next five years—with God’s help and with capable conference coordinators—we hope to see the disaster response capacity of each local conference continue to develop.  We also want a close partnership with Native American nations in regards to their response plans.  Our goal is to have a Mid-America response training program that is second to none, with strong, active and growing volunteers. We also want to build an Adventist Crisis Care Network for our members, pastors and other leaders.

What’s the difference between “ACS” and “ACS-DR”?

Adventist Community Services (ACS) serves ongoing community needs, whereas ACS-DR facilitates “disaster response” to calamities such as tornadoes or floods.

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