11/10/2019
AG Way Forward Operation Hurricane Dorian
The Lord is our Refuge and Strength.
Thanks be to God that we can report that all our Senior Pastors in Abaco and Grand Bahama are alive.
However, four (4) of our pastors in Abaco have suffered utter devastation and has lost everything.
Pastor Stafford Symonette and Pastor Rudy McKinney (Full Gospel) are still in Treasure Cay.
Pastor Clyde Bain (Hope Town) and Pastor Ryan Forbes (First Assembly) have since evacuated to Nassau.
Our Grand Bahama pastors have all suffered some damage but are all still in their homes. One of our
associate pastors (Min Dudley Francis, Calvary Temple) has suffered catastrophic damage to his home.
Many of our members from Abaco have since evacuated to Nassau.
The Superintendent has met with all Pastors in New Providence and laid out the 5 Phase Plan for the Way
Forward in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
Phase 1 has been activated, which is the distribution of Food and Water Family packs for all in the affected
areas.
Our Pastors in New Providence are all working together to assist our brothers and sisters that have
suffered the onslaught of Hurricane Dorian.
The Superintendent was able to fly to Treasure Cay on Friday on a 4-seater, along with our other partners
IsraelAid, distributing a few packages and solar lights and checking on the state of our brothers and sisters.
On Saturday, the Superintendent was able to deliver more than 30 packages by Air to Freeport, along with
IsraelAid’s Disaster Recovery Team.
One hundred Family packs were given to the New Birth team to take by boat to families on Morse Island,
Abaco, where a number of Marsh Harbour evacuees relocated.
Today, we need to activate Phase 2 of the Way Forward, as we also continue with Phase 1.
Monday morning, September 9, at 9:30 a.m. all Executive Committee members, who are able, will travel
to Abaco (departing from Jet Aviation), as we continue to take family packs to affected areas and to
comfort our remaining brothers and sisters in the Abacos.
On Tuesday, September 10, at 12 o’clock we would like to meet with all New Providence District Pastors,
to strategize and roll out Phase 2.
We can also report that we have received assistance from Convoy of Hope (our AG USA partners) and AG
World Missions. Three (3) Convoy of Hope members have been on the ground since Tuesday. We have
been able to assemble 250 family packs with the help of Volunteers from several of our churches.
We now need to Appeal for more Volunteers to assist with packaging next week, after 5:00 pm. At the
National Office.
The following are the other ways in which Members of our Congregations can Help:
1. Volunteer time
2. Clothing of all sizes and types (many evacuees were left with nothing)
3. Accommodations – rooms with families, apartments for rent etc.
4. Monetary donations for evacuees to handle small purchases/provisions (see Banking information
below)
5. Cooked meals (contact your local WMs President)
The National Office is the centre for all drop offs and questions.
Natural disasters can be painful, but it is also an opportunity for us to come together and work together
to: “Let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is
in Heaven”.
We deem Hurricane Dorian as a natural Act of Nature, therefore, we wish to encourage all of our pastors
and churches to continue to look to God who is our Refuge and Strength.
Prayerfully,
Superintendent Patrick Paul
