St. Vincent Disaster Response

Pastor Kenyatta is a pastor Mission of Hope has worked with since the fall of 2017 when Hurricane Irma devastated the Turks and Caicos Islands and Mission of Hope provided disaster response. The opportunity for the Haitian people to be able to step in and serve their neighbors was incredible during that time, and we’ve maintained great relationships with the people in TCI and pray for continued opportunities to serve together. Pastor Kenyatta remains our main church contact in the TCI.

Fast forward to April of 2021 when a devastating volcano erupted on the Island of St. Vincent and displaced families who were in its path. Pastor Kenyatta is actually from St. Vincent, but he now lives in the Turks and Caicos pastoring a local church. He happened to be visiting his family in St. Vincent when the volcano erupted and had the ability to step in and immediately began addressing needs and figuring out how to best mobilize disaster response.

Pastor Kenyatta remembered Hurricane Irma and the logistics and mobilization that occurred when the local churches, organizations, and government worked together. The evening the volcano erupted, he called the Mission of Hope team, and we immediately reached out to our longtime partner, Convoy of Hope. The reality of this volcano eruption was devastating to the small island of St. Vincent. The population is around 110,000 people and all pipe-borne water was shut off to the island for several weeks. The immediate need for water was the most critical need for the community.

Pastor Kenyatta connected us immediately with the president of the evangelical church network, consisting of over 100 pastors. We were able to set up the distribution arm of the response, completely remote—all working through the local churches and leaders. Convoy of Hope sent two 40ft containers of bottled water, close to 3,000 cases of water, and food was procured locally.

Past disaster response opportunities prepared us to be able to help brothers and sisters across the Caribbean, helping make connections and set up plans so they could effectively and efficiently meet needs. Over 1,000 boxes were put together for local families with groceries. Working together with organizations, local businesses, leaders, and all through the local church—this is how to get things accomplished and equip the body of Christ to meet needs!

Every single thing that has been distributed has gone through the church. That’s incredible! Pastor Kenyatta has extended his stay in St. Vincent and is able to serve his homeland and be the literal hands and feet of Jesus as he helps the churches work together to meet each others’ needs. The clean-up process is starting to happen, and the next critical need is hygiene kits to help families. Please continue to pray for our neighbors who live on St. Vincent, Pastor Kenyatta, and the other local pastors as they meet needs, and blessing on Convoy of Hope as God continues to use them to step in and meet the needs of people who have experienced tragedy.

We are continually amazed at how God allows Mission of Hope to connect friends, brothers, sisters, organizations, churches, and businesses to help bring life transformation to every man, woman, and child.