Nazarenes in two regions recovering from Hurricane Dean
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Kingston, Jamaica
Nazarenes in both the Caribbean and Mexico/Central America (MAC) Region are picking up the pieces after Hurricane Dean caused considerable damage to Nazarene homes and churches this week.

Perhaps Dean's most significant damage was done when the Category-4 storm moved over southern parts of Jamaica on Sunday, August 19, directly hitting Kingston, the capital. The storm was slated to move down the central corridor of the island, pounding both sides. However, Dean changed to a more westerly direction and then jogged to the south and spared resort-filled Montego Bay (located on the northwest part of the island) from much of the anticipated damage.

Kingston did, however, receive the full brunt of the storm and electricity and phone lines continue to be down in the south and eastern parts of Jamaica.

In his latest report, Jamaica East District Superintendent Ron Grey states 16 Nazarene families suffered significant damage to their homes, including losing their roofs. These individuals were from the Green Acres, March Pen Road, and Preddie churches.

In addition to the individuals affected, the Treadlight Church of the Nazarene had its roof cave in and the roof was blown off the Seaforth Church of the Nazarene along the southern coast.

Lionel Brown, superintendent of the Jamaica West District near Montego Bay, reports the Mandeville Church of the Nazarene’s roof was completely destroyed. Also, standing water was present throughout the Mandeville Center as of Monday, August 20. This is a multipurpose campus which also serves as the District Education Center for all pastors on the Jamaica West District.

In addition to these Nazarene losses, Brown reports that large numbers of homes around the Mandeville area have lost roofs and all crops are damaged or destroyed, including banana and coconut crops.

Dean hit Jamaica after passing over the Caribbean islands of St. Lucia and Dominica. These areas survived Dean with little damage to buildings, but residents will be without income for several months because many crops were damaged or destroyed.

The hurricane also caused damage in Haiti. The Caribbean Region Communications Office is continuing to try and reach Nazarenes on the island for reports.

Earlier in the week the storm took the roof off the Morne Vonte Church of the Nazarene in Martinique. This is a prominent and historical church in Martinique.

After the storm did its damage to Jamaica, Dean hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday morning, August 21, downing trees and causing floods. The storm's eye passed just south of the resort areas of Cozumel and Cancun, hitting a rural and sparsely populated area near Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Wind damage resulted in the loss of electricity for the area, which included the northern portion of Belize.

Belize District Superintendent John Tzib told the Caribbean Region Communications Office, “The northern part of our country was severely affected. There was great loss in the agriculture sector since fruit trees and crops were severely damaged. Thank God there were no fatalities."

Tzib also reported several Nazarene churches in Belize were damaged due to the high winds. These include:
  • The Altamira church who lost all its roofing. According to Pastor Emilio Guerra, the roof caved when the trusses broke. Pastor Guerra's parsonage also suffered water damage when his roof was peeled back, exposing it to the heavy rains.
  • The Corozal (English-Speaking) church lost 16 sheets of roofing and received water damage to the ceiling and contents inside.
  • The New Jerusalem Church of the Nazarene in Corozal (Spanish-speaking) lost the roof over its Sunday School classrooms and suffered damage to the classrooms' contents. The pastor also lost the roofing on his house.
Also, the Nazarene school in Sarteneja, Belize lost the roofing on its auditorium.

Tzib lastly reported that, in addition to these damages, many church members had water damage as their roofs were ripped off. These people also lost much of their crops and fruit trees, which are the main source of income for many residents of Belize.

After briefly veering into the Gulf of Mexico, Dean hit Mexico’s Gulf Coast as a Category-2 storm on Wednesday, killing four people. Trees were downed, electricity knocked out, and residents continue to battle flooding from the rains.

The MAC Region received damage reports from three MAC districts located within the path of Hurricane Dean. All three districts in Mexico—Olmeca, Gulf, and East—have reported damage to homes. Some churches in the Yucatan Peninsula have lost roofs due to the high winds. Flooding remains a concern.

In total, the storm is being blamed for 13 deaths with fatalities reported in Jamaica, Haiti, Martinique, Dominica, St. Lucia, and now Mexico.

"It will take the church time to recover from the physical damage caused by Hurricane Dean," World Mission Director Louie E. Bustle commented. "Continue to pray for those affected and their recovery efforts."

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation for Caribbean relief efforts can mark their checks "Hurricane Dean Response -- ACM2006:NCMPRHD1:4002" and mail them to the General Treasurer, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3. Immediate donations may also be made online at www.ncm.org.

In addition to monetary donations, Crisis Care Kits are urgently needed. For more information, Click Here.
--Caribbean Region Communications Office, NCN News-MAC (Slideshow available)