Disaster Relief Revelation In USA TODAY: Churches Don't Just Hold Bake Sales

"It is impossible to keep your faith to yourself. What you believe impacts what you do," Tim Keller shared on Twitter with a link to a USA TODAY revelation that churches provide the bulk of disaster relief in coordination with FEMA.I've got news for USA TODAY: the enormous disaster relief efforts we've seen recently, and at most times in general, are provided by Christians, whether in churches, organizations, mission teams, or individually, and have gone way beyond the scope of "coordination with FEMA," but by working together with many.Be sure to watch video on "In Jesus Name" ministry below!

In a disaster, churches don’t just hold bake sales to raise money or collect clothes to send to victims; faith-based organizations are integral partners in state and federal disaster relief efforts. They have specific roles and a sophisticated communication and coordination network to make sure their efforts don’t overlap or get in each others’ way. - USA Today

The USA Today article serves as a critical piece of information to the world that mistakenly believes that the media is the problem. No it's not. We learn many factoids about Christians and disaster relief efforts, including this one:

"About 80% of all recovery happens because of non-profits, and the majority of them are faith-based," said Greg Forrester, CEO of the national VOAD. The money is "all raised by the individuals who go and serve, raised through corporate connections, raised through church connections," and amounts to billions of dollars worth of disaster recovery assistance, he said.

Below are five Christian relief organizations (along with contact information) that are most always at the top of disaster relief efforts in the U.S. and in many cases, internationally.Samaritan’s PurseFounded in 1970 by Bob Pierce, this evangelist and journalist traveled throughout Asia in the years following WWII. During a trip to China, he met a group of brave women who lived among the lepers and orphans in order to help them and share the love of Jesus Christ through selfless service. Pierce was so moved by these women that he dedicated his life to finding other Christians who were willing to care for the poor and suffering around the world. After seeing children suffering on the island of Kojedo, Korea, he created Samaritan’s Purse to meet emergency needs through evangelical missions. After his death in 1978, Franklin Graham took the reins and expanded the ministry for the next 30 years to help those suffering from earthquakes, hurricanes, famine, and wars, following the Biblical example of being the Good Samaritan.West Coast Regional (Operation Christmas Child) contact: 714-432-7030 or occwestcoast@samaritan.org Website: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/Salvation ArmyWe are all familiar with The Salvation Army’s bell ringers that pop up at every retail store around the holidays each year. However, have you thought about where your spare change is going and whom it is helping? The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting global human needs through service and the love of God. With your donations, The Salvation Army provides hunger relief, housing assistance, homeless services, Christmas assistance, and after school programs for children and families throughout the country. They also support a variety of unique adult programs, such as substance abuse rehabilitation, veterans affairs, prison ministries, elderly care, anti-human trafficking programs, and missing person services.Southern California contact: 562-264-3679 or infosocal@usw.salvationarmy.org Website: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/Convoy of HopeAs a faith-based, nonprofit organization Convoy of Hope has helped more than 85 million people throughout the world by sharing food, water, emergency supplies, agricultural know-how, and opportunities that empower people to live independent lives, free from poverty, disease and hunger. Convoy of Hope does this through the following: mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers each year, partnering with churches, businesses, individuals and other humanitarian organizations who are intent on doing good work among the impoverished and suffering.In the past 20 years, Convoy of Hope has been active in 48 states and providing disaster response, conducting community outreach events, and directing nutritional programs and sustainability projects. Since Convoy of Hope was established it has brought help and hope to 114 countries and counting. This has been made possible, in part, thanks to Convoy of Hope Europe.Los Angeles contact: 562-412-8788 or convoyofhopela@gmail.com Website: https://www.cityofhope.org/Compassion InternationalIn 1952, the Rev. Everett Swanson went to South Korea to minister to the American troops who were fighting in the Korean War. While, in Seoul, he witnessed hundreds of war orphans living and dying in the streets, abandoned by society, he vowed to find a way to help them. Starting with a single orphanage, he created a program that provided food, clothing, medical care, shelter, and a Bible-based education to these unwanted children. Within two years, the mission grew into a sponsorship program where American individuals, groups, and churches could care for these children with small monthly donations. Today, with the support of 14 sponsor countries around the world, nearly 2 million babies, children, and young adults are released from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty through Compassion International’s Christ-centered, child-focused, church-based programs.Main Office (Colorado Springs): 800-336-7676 Website: https://www.compassion.com/Operation Blessing InternationalOperation Blessing was founded in 1978 by Pat Robertson as a way to help people in need receive the clothing, appliances, vehicles, and other items that were donated by the viewers of The 700 Club. As the need grew, the organization expanded to include a fleet of refrigerated tractor-trailer trucks to distribute disaster supplies across the U.S., and an L-1011 airplane named the Flying Hospital that was used to fly medical missions to other countries in need. Today, faith-based programs have been developed to provide disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water, and orphan/vulnerable child care to suffering communities around the world.Main Office (Virginia Beach, Virginia) 757-226-3401 Website: https://www.ob.org/