Like many of you, I’m praying for those impacted by Hurricane Florence.   Flood damage, especially in NC, has been catastrophic with some areas receiving close to 40 inches of rain.  Fourteen people have died in the Carolinas, the latest being when a truck lost control on a flooded SC road.  A 61 year old Union County, SC woman died when she drove her car into a fallen tree.

Here in Rock Hill and York County, things were not as bad as they could have been.  For that I’m thankful.

But there were issues.  The York County Sherriff’s Office reported that last night between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am emergency officials responded to 27 calls where trees were blocking roads, 18 calls for downed power lines, and 5 calls where a tree was on a house.  The Rock Hill Police Department also responded to several calls for downed trees, including some on houses.  As of 10:15 pm last night more than 2,100 York County homes were without power.  Monieca and I lost power for about an hour yesterday afternoon.

I’m ready to say “good-bye” to Hurricane Florence.

Before I do that, I’d like to say a few things:

• Our Baptist Disaster Reliefs ministry will work alongside others to help those in need in affected areas. We’ll keep you posted on needed supplies and ways you can help.  If you’d like to be a Disaster Relief Volunteer, our church is hosting state wide training on October 12-13.  For more information or to register, visit this link http://www.scbaptist.org/dr/ and choose “Disaster Relief Training – Midlands, Rock Hill First Baptist Church”.
• This coming Sunday I’m going to interrupt my current sermon series and teach a Bible lesson on why things like hurricanes happen. That’s what I had planned to do today if our services had not been canceled.  Please bring your Bible and a pen for taking notes.  We need to know what God’s Word says on this important subject.
• We are going to gather as a Family of Faith this coming Sunday evening (September 23) from 5:00 – 6:15 pm to pray. Don’t miss this holy time.  There is much we need to take to God’s throne.

Remember – we are here to love God, love people, and make disciples.  That is what the people of our city and the Carolinas need from us now as much as ever.

Pastor Steve Hogg