Anton Kapusi – Pueblo, Colorado … Crises arise suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving people in vulnerable and needy places. One of the main goals of Adventist Community Services Disaster Relief (ACSDR) in the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) is to have church members ready to swiftly and competently respond to a given emergency.
Cathy Kisner, RMC director for ACSDR, in collaboration with Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church ACSDR director Kathy Hayden, has organized the second training session for willing volunteers. Earlier this year, a group of volunteers completed the Donations Operations Course and prepared to participate in assisting individuals in crisis through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Inc. (ICISF) training program.
W. Derrick Lea, North American Division (NAD) ACS Executive Director, was the guest speaker and instructor during the two-day training, which took place November 19-20. His presentations made the training thought-provoking and informative while being pragmatic and realistic. At the same time, with her local insights, Cathy made the examples even more tangible.
All nineteen participants completed the course and earned a Certificate of Completion in Special Issues in Emotional and Spiritual Care (2.0 Contact hours) by NAD ACS and a Certificate in Assisting Individuals in Crisis (13 Contact hours) by ICISF and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). This training opened the way for those willing to assist in a crisis.
Crises makes people vulnerable and can hurt them physically, emotionally, socially, and in many other ways, including spiritually. As the stewards of God’s gifts, we are responsible for looking for ways to aid and serve those in immediate need of assistance and help.
ACSDR gives the opportunity and opens the way for volunteers to serve and care for those hurt, just as Jesus did. To quote the Adventist Church’s founding pioneer, Ellen G. White: “A uniform cheerfulness, tender kindness, Christian benevolence, patience, and love will melt away prejudice and open the heart to the reception of the truth. Few understand the power of these precious influences.” (Evangelism p. 543). The power of kindness, compassion, love, a giving hand, and a listening ear, especially when people are most vulnerable, should never be underestimated.
–Anton Kapusi is pastor of the Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.
