Bringing Order to Chaos
by Jeanne Rogers

“…the wall was finally finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun.
When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they
were frightened and humiliated. They realized that this work had
been done with the help of our God.” (Nehemiah 6:15-16, NLT)

“The government needs to …”
“If I were there I would…”
“What that city needs is…”
“Someone needs to take charge and…”

Complainers and “armchair quarterbacks” analyze and scrutinize the problems surrounding the rescue and clean-up operations from the recent hurricane disasters. But God in is his mercy and wisdom is calling men and women to be modern-day Nehemiahs—leaders who will not only discuss the problems but take action to bring order to the chaos.

The problem Nehemiah faced was staggering: uniting and motivating the Jews in a fractured homeland to rebuild Jerusalem’s protective wall. He left a responsible position in the Persian government because he knew God could use his talents. He organized, supervised, encouraged, met opposition, confronted injustice, and kept going until the walls were rebuilt.

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, some Mississippi and Louisiana pastors saw things falling through the cracks as government agencies faced bureaucratic obstacles in organizing the massive job of disaster relief. They took action and created an organization called Pastor’s Resource Counsel and Compassion (PRCC). Their purpose has been connecting communities of compassion with the enormous needs in the areas affected by the hurricanes. Each pastor had networking capabilities to get funds and volunteers, but a Godly administrator -- a modern day Nehemiah -- was crucial to get the national, state, local and faith-based organizations’ plans into action.

Gary Van Wagner was an airline pilot on the eve of his retirement when he was called upon to help coordinate relief efforts for Katrina victims. He worked many long days to organize effective relief in the Gulf Coast area. He finally returned home to Texas for a short weekend with his family -- and that was when hurricane Rita hit.

On the following Monday, as Van Wagner drove back to Louisiana, he admitted, “I’d rather be on the front lines doing the physical labor or ministering comfort to displaced individuals, but I know God has given me the skill to communicate and organize resources. The workdays had just shortened from 15 hours to 12 before Rita hit. I won’t know until I get there if we are starting over. Daily, I feel I am in situations beyond my ability, but I trust Him to help me to bring order to the chaos and I am thankful for the leadership team he has put together.” 

Under his team's leadership, the mission of PRCC has accomplished many great things:

• FEMA directly asked churches to shelter victims.
• 82 churches in their coalition operate shelters.
• 400 truck drivers volunteer to transport supplies to the 18 relief distribution points. 
• 600 out-of-state volunteers have been housed, fed and deployed.
• 1500 doctor-patient encounters have been facilitated.
• 2,500 in-state volunteers helped their neighbors in need.
• 10,512 displaced citizens have been housed, fed and received ministry.

God desires to work through His people to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. He looks for servants who will pray and yield their talents to Him. Nehemiah’s interceding, planning and motivating kept the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall on track despite great opposition.

It is interesting that a great spiritual awakening came among the people of Judah during the rebuilding of the wall. Van Wagner, also a man of prayer, possesses the character and the persistence to deal with opposition and coordinate God’s resources. God gives him discernment about the many needs that cry for his attention. He believes as PRCC rebuilds physically and emotionally, they are breaking down the enemy’s strongholds in people’s lives.

As in Nehemiah’s day, this could be the beginning of a great spiritual movement as churches help hurricane victims. I pray that the world will behold the Church of Jesus Christ serving in oneness and love to help rebuild the lives of devastated people.

This Week
You have the experiences and training, personality and characteristics that are useful in God’s kingdom. Talk to God, and welcome Him into your thoughts. Share yourself with Him and be available to put His word and His will into action.

Prayer
“Lord, help me set my heart and mind to do more than complain about the chaos. Help me take action using my gifts and skills to serve hurting people around me.”

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