Harvest Through Hope

Through the kindness of His people comes the greatest light in the darkness...

The people of Western North Carolina were unprepared for the devastation Hurricane Helene would bring. Striking as a tropical storm after a fierce journey as a Category 4 hurricane, Helene left a path of destruction never before seen in the region. Roads and bridges collapsed, power lines and trees fell, and flash floods inundated or completely destroyed homes and businesses in a sea of mud. Entire communities found themselves cut off from basic necessities. Yet, amid the chaos, the stories of resilience, compassion, and faith emerged—stories of neighbors becoming lifelines and faith communities rising to serve.

In the immediate aftermath, David Graham, Community Services and Disaster Response (ACS DR) Director, coordinated efforts from Fletcher Adventist Church, which became a hub for disaster relief. The initial two weeks of cleanup were led by Jim and Becky Ingersoll of 2Serve, with support from trained Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Students from Southern Adventist University, Fletcher Academy, Mount Pisgah Academy, and Highland and Heritage Academies joined the effort, clearing debris, mucking out homes, and distributing essential supplies.

Adventist World Aviation (AWA) also stepped in, using its planes to transport supplies to remote areas inaccessible by road. Over 12 days, AWA pilots delivered critical items like food, water, baby supplies, and even medical equipment to communities cut off by the storm. Their work ensured that even the most isolated received aid.

Across the region, church members displayed remarkable selflessness. At Upward Adventist Church, Pastor Cesar Perozo and volunteers provided meals, showers, and charging stations to over 100 residents. Foster Adventist Church, in collaboration with other denominations, organized a distribution site to serve their community. Despite losing their building to the flood, members of the Swannanoa Spanish Church joined relief efforts, embodying resilience and hope.

Mount Pisgah Academy has mobilized teams daily to help with cleanup, and have opened their doors to those who need showers and laundry facilities. Southern Adventist University students also contributed tirelessly, from clearing debris to assembling flood buckets, while Fletcher Academy volunteers jumped in to do whatever needed, including deliver water to areas with limited access. Pathfinder Clubs across the Conference have been collecting needed items, and have gone door to door to fundraise for hurricane victims.

Local pastors played crucial roles as well. Pastors Art Dmytriev (of Erwin Hills) and Marcos Bernal (of Swannanoa), tirelessly served their community, providing food and supplies. After running low on resources, they experienced a moment of divine providence when three trucks filled with food and water unexpectedly arrived—a testament to the power of prayer.

Pastor Josias Flores of Boone and Banner Elk, along with Darryl Bentley, associate ministerial director, launched the “Bring the Heat” campaign, providing kerosene heaters and blankets to families facing dropping temperatures. Donations for this initiative came from as far as Michigan, underscoring the widespread support for the region.

Adventist Community Services Disaster Response has been instrumental in sustaining these relief efforts. In addition to coordinating cleanup and supply distribution, ACS DR has an exclusive relationship to set up a central Multi-Agency Warehouse (MAW) in Statesville. This warehouse, managed by David Graham, as well as several pastors and volunteers, now serves as the primary hub for disaster response across Western North Carolina, supplying smaller warehouses and Points of Distribution (PODs) in affected areas. Working with the National Guard, the warehouse processes and delivers essential supplies such as food, water, and hygiene kits to those in need. The MAW has become a cornerstone of the region’s recovery efforts, streamlining aid and ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

Emotional and spiritual support is equally vital. Virtual trauma counseling sessions, organized in partnership with Andrews and La Sierra Universities, is helping students process their experiences. Using biblical stories and trauma-informed care, the program offered tools for resilience and healing.

And there is so much more. Miracle after miracle has been witnessed through this tragedy. We cannot begin to tell all of the stories that need to be told about what God and his followers have been doing to help this devastated community. The response to Hurricane Helene reveals the true essence of evangelism—being the hands and feet of Jesus. Through acts of kindness, selflessness, and unwavering faith, these caring souls have demonstrated the transformative power of love in action, shining a bright light in the darkest of times.

—Rebecca Carpenter