Hello everyone,

A friend of our ministry, Kevin Olson, feels that God has laid it on his heart to write a book about Hurricane Katrina and the Christian Volunteer Response.  Christian Life Center is sending this email out in full support of Kevin and what God is doing in his life right now.  We believe that this book can help raise awareness of not only what God has done, but what He is doing in and through His people.  Please read below and if you would like to be a part of this, please contact Kevin at ittookastorm@gmail.com.

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It is with humility and compassion that I am writing to you today.  A year and some ago I spent a week in Waveland that has changed me forever.  It has taken me some time to process how God is wanting me to be used but I truly believe that He has started a revival in this land and has called His children into action!
 
One day a few weeks ago God spoke to me and asked me to write the story of how He used a storm to affect lives for Him.  ((Let me say for the record that I never hear God speaking save for that still small voice that lingers in one's head and heart!)  I have been spending a lot of time in commune with God asking what it is that He is wanting of me.  I truly want to be in His will and doing for His Kingdom.  Once you open your heart and soul to listen to Him.....He fills us like no other time in life!)  As I felt I was being led to write the stories, I wondered if I caught a message headed for someone else as I have no formal writing skills and surely this must have been meant for somebody other than me?!  It was during this time of questioning that I had "It Took A Storm" pop into my head.  This was to be the title of the book!  When I got in front of my computer I wrote three paragraphs and then called a friend of mine and read them to him......I wanted to test the waters and see if he thought this sounded intriguing!  It was a reaffirmation of what has been laid on my heart to get the reaction that I did from those first three paragraphs!  As an encouragement to you to share your tale I will share what I wrote that day:

It Took a Storm

By Kevin Olson

 
The warning bells had sounded for days and yet so many people did not flee. Most of them thinking of the previous storms that they endured and counting on this one to pass too without losing their everything. Man, were they wrong!
 
August of 2005 changed thousands of lives immediately and continues to change lives daily, but maybe not in the way you might think. As Hurricane Katrina came ashore and devastated homes and cars and lives, there was an awakening across America. Thousands of volunteers traveled thousands of miles to help with the clean up and rebuilding efforts. Thousands of God’s people still do! Their efforts have and are paying dividends, but not in the way you would expect! Some of God’s children were hurting and that made the whole body of Christ ache. What we have seen happen can only be attributed to His hands for His cause.
 
Come along with me on a short journey into just some of the stories to arise from the shredded ruins that Hurricane Katrina left behind. My prayer as you read this book is that God is at work in you, tugging at your heart to reach out to those who are in need. Those people that He calls His children who are suffering.
 
 
I feel that the story needs to be told of how God is changing hearts and lives through the volunteer efforts that have occurred because of the hurricane called Katrina!  How many of the news channels ever talk about the ongoing efforts?  How many residents have said that if it were not for the volunteers that have come in the name of Christ that they would not be nearly as far along as they are in recovery!  So many of the volunteers that I have talked to have told the same story.  A story of coming to serve others only to be surprisingly affected themselves by the changes that took place in their hearts.  God has called us to revival and we need to keep this effort growing and "finish well" in His name.
 
Here is where you come in my brothers and sisters in Christ!  I need your stories of how God showed Himself to you during your time in Waveland/Bay St Louis.  In order to tell the story well, the book must include some of the life changing, life shaping ,heart wrenching tales that your time volunteering in the south will provide.  I believe that this book is to be used to keep the volunteerism efforts going and keep the hope alive for the people of the south that live with the aftermath of the destruction of the hurricane.  I have been asked to speak in churches on behalf of a disaster relief group that has been born out of this effort, to make our neighbors aware that the need is real and the call is rewarding!  I hope to use this book to fund some of the volunteers that have the time to go but maybe not the funds to make the trip.  I have visions of being able to use the book as a fundraising tool while speaking in the churches.  (Don't we like to get something right away for the monies that we are donating sometimes?)  My quiet prayer is that this book will be desirable and bring glory to our Father and help continue the efforts of rebuilding the south!
 
Are you ready to write you story for this effort? I would encourage you to write an email today and send it off to be considered as subject matter for this book.  Write your story in your words but include the following:
 
What made you decide to go to Waveland?
What was your mindset....to help others?  To get a vacation in a warmer climate?
How did God use you in your time of volunteer service to Him?
How did God affect your life during and after your time there?
Has your heart been changed by the time spent there?  How?
What are you now doing for God that you were not doing before?

Can I use your first name in the book if I write part or all of your story?
 
As the purpose of this book is mainly to glorify God and help recruit and fund the volunteer efforts that are still needed, There will be no financial rewards for sharing your stories.  By writing back in answer to this call, you are acknowledging that you will not be compensated financially for your stories.  I have no expectaions for this book other than to say that I know it is being called of God!
 
Please write your stories and send them to ittookastorm@gmail.com

May God continue to bless each and every one of you as you seek His will!

Kevin Olson