Disciples Volunteering

Disaster Response

Purpose and philosophy

• The purpose of Disciples Disaster Response Ministry is to provide a means whereby individuals and groups may be responsive to human need following a disaster. 
• Regardless of location, size or severity of damage, the church strives to be immediately available. 
• We seek to express the faith that has called us together in Jesus Christ by being accessible to all whose needs can be filled by compassion. 
• We seek not to either compete with or replace other agencies. 
• We thereby work together with other expressions of the church ecumenically and society in general. 
• We are called to serve and be faithful by being immersed in the Spirit and changing lives. 
• In all the work that is done in response to disaster, we seek to affirm the value of those in need as well as the ministry of those who respond to that need. 

Core values

• People called into mission in partnership with neighbors in need.
• Everyone is a child of God and therefore their life and well being are to be valued.
• We are instruments of healing in a broken world by being the hands and feet of Christ.
• Faith in action makes a difference.
• With Christ like eyes we meet people as they are.

Best practices

• Standard church building use form for mission station;
• Standard organizational and communications chart;
• Standard training of leaders;
• Standard registration and volunteer protocol;
• Regular review and update of disaster response manual;
• Volunteers- do we have repeats;
• Provide leadership, training and resources for mission trip leaders;
• Identify and prepare possible mission station for the future;
• Working in partnership to maximize resources (play well together);
• Emphasize safety in all aspects of our work;
• Encourage spiritual reflection;
• Leaders taking time for mental health.

Contact information

To schedule a work group or request information, contact Brenda Tyler at (888) 346-2631 or (317) 713-2642.

Work trip grant applications can be downloaded from the Week of Compassion Web site.