In the last few hours, the state of Alabama has witnessed some of the most devastating severe weather I have ever seen. The cities of Tuscaloosa, Pleasant Grove, Pratt City and the North part of Birmingham were hit very hard. 194 deaths have been confirmed in Alabama (well over 200 in a 5 state radius) and counting have been confirmed so far. Millions are without power. As we see the pictures and the videos ( http://www.alabamawx.com/?p=47087 ), emotions range from heartbreak to awe to shear sadness. Church, this is an opportunity to, truly, love your neighbor. Here are some ways you can help people in this trying time. 1) Be there If you know people who have been affected by the storm, be there, listen, be a shoulder to cry on. Be an encouragement to them. Mourn with those who mourn. 2) Pray Pray for those who have lost loved ones. Pray for those who lost homes, businesses, etc. Pray for our state leaders who begin to start to put the pieces back together. Pray for churches and believers to be mobilized to do relief work. 3) Volunteer Find opportunities to clean up, remove debris, serve at shelters, etc. I will update this blog with opportunities as I become aware of them. If you would like to volunteer in the Tuscaloosa area call 205-561-4169. Check out this website. It is the most comprehensive I have seen for opportunities to help out. http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/04/alabama_tornadoes_how_you_can.html 4) Meet Basic Needs I'm sure things like toiletries, socks, clothing, food, will be needed for those who lost homes. Be prepared to give of yourself and your resources. Doing it through the Red Cross is the quickest way to get it to those in need. Serra Mazda in Trussville, Urban Standard Coffee Shop http://www.urbanstandard.net are taking donations for clothing, non-perishables, tools, etc.