Below you’ll find the show notes for episode 92, Leading Through Tragedy: How to Support Your Community During Difficult Times, from the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast.

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Leading Through Tragedy: How to Support Your Community During Difficult Times

As I planned out the topics for this new series on loving our ladies well, the topic of responding to a local tragedy wasn’t on my list, but I see how it fits. We love our ladies well when we care about the people and things they care for.

I’m writing this post a week and a half after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, western South Carolina, and parts of Georgia. Hurricane Milton is projected to hit Florida head on as a category 5 hurricane. Unless God intercedes, it will be devastating, too.

While you may not live in an area that could be hit by a hurricane, tragedy can strike anywhere at anytime.

I’ve had leaders in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Facebook group ask for advice on how to respond when tragedy hits your community or in a nearby community.

Today, I’m going to share some practical ideas for you to prayerfully consider when leading through tragedy. I’ll share what our women’s ministry team is doing now and how we might help in the future.

A Little Background

We live in Charlotte, NC which is about a 2-hour drive from the western North Carolina mountains. We were fortunate not to lose power and only had to deal with heavy rain. We have friends and family who live in the affected areas. Thankfully, all have minimal damage, but there are so many that were not that fortunate. Entire homes and communities were swept away. There are still people searching for loved ones.

Our women’s ministry retreat is held in the North Carolina mountains every fall. We were in Black Mountain just weeks before Helene hit.

While we aren’t physically in the midst of the devastation, our church is responding now and in the long-term to the needs.

How can you help? How can you help your women respond well?

Everyone can pray. Pray for first responders. Pray for needs to be met. Pray for Christ’s love and the gospel to be shared. Pray for healing.

Most of your women will want to take action. That’s been frustrating for me. I had obligations that have kept me from going and serving. I’ve felt guilty. I’m thankful we were able to host family members who had lost power for a few days. We sent some supplies to help them dry out.

How can you support and channel those feelings?

1. Honor and align with your church’s plans. Promote any donation drives and service opportunities. If you’d like to add to those efforts, please get approval first.

2. Share denominational resources and para-church ministries your church supports. Unless you serve on staff or in a leadership role may not know about established denominational organizations your women can donate to and serve with. For our church, it is NC Baptist. Samaritan’s Purse is an organization your church staff may want you to recommend.

3. Social media can provide a space for your women to process and pray. You can post specific pray requests and updates. We have a private Facebook group for the women in our church and it’s seen a lot of activity in the last week and a half.

Our women’s ministry director created a post for women to share the names of family and friends who have been affected by the hurricane. She is praying for each one by name and several of our women have joined in praying too.

I’ve created social media graphics that focus on hope in hard times. (Click here to purchase the Hope in the Hard Social Media Pack.) I’m posting discussion questions, Bible verses, and inspirational quotes.

We’re providing a space for women to share and be encouraged. Most importantly, we are pointing women to Jesus who suffered and understands.

4. Pivot your next event if appropriate. We had a paint night scheduled for later this month, but it will now be a morning for prayer, letter writing, and donations. We’re collecting feminine products, new bras and new underwear. One of the women on our team grew up in the Asheville area and she is taking the lead on this event.

5. Think long term. Our women’s ministry team will pray about ways we can love and support churches and women in those communities.

What might that look like? Maybe we’ll invite ladies from church in western North Carolina to join us at our next retreat. Maybe God will prompt you to take a retreat or conference to women affected by tragedy.

Maybe God wants you to adopt a women’s ministry team or your church to adopt a church. May He’ll prompt you to help with rebuilding efforts, replenish a Bible study library, pray for specific needs or send cards. 

I’ve been in awe as I’ve watched people rally to send supplies and donate money to help all those who have been affected. This last Saturday the roads to the mountains were filled with trailers delivering supplies and people volunteering to mud out homes, deliver supplies, and continue rescue efforts.

The devastation is heavy, but there have been glimpses of God’s love and hope as people have shown up. God has been glorified.

A Word of Caution

When you respond to a tragedy, please do everything you can to help preserve people’s dignity. The pile of trash by the road contains precious memories and personal belongings. Protect people’s privacy. Only share the things they’ve given you permission to share.

If you’re donating items, please don’t donate things you wouldn’t want or wear. Give your best, not your leftovers. No stained clothing. Donate food you love to eat. Share the gospel. Share stories of hope. Shine a light in the darkness.

We love our ladies well when we care about the people and things they care for.

You may also want to view:
What Should Women’s Ministry Leaders Say on Social Media When Tragedy Strikes
Hope in the Hard Social Media Pack
60 Service Project Ideas