‘Give Help, Share Hope’ is the reassuring slogan of the international organisation, Convoy of Hope. A powerful humanitarian partnership has developed between this non-profit organisation based in Springfield, Missouri and the Assemblies of God in Guyana, bringing relief to communities affected by the 2021 flooding in Guyana. The United Nations has reported that the impact of climate change could cost global economies as much as US$300 billion annually, with shifting weather patterns threatening food production and increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding. The 2021 flooding in the highland regions and some coastal villages of Guyana were a stark reminder that climate change is real. Families were displaced, livestock and agricultural produce lost, and the cost is still being calculated several months after the waters have receded.
In the face of such challenges, the visionary leadership of the Assemblies of God (AOG) in Guyana has created a national Task Force for Disaster Management to coordinate community relief. In a humanitarian partnership with Convoy of Hope, 5000 families have been reached with high protein food packages, cleaning agents, water purifying powder, masks and 99 mobile generators.
The Early Appeal
We caught up with the Chairman of the Task Force, Dr Wilbert Lee, who gave a snapshot of how the project got started.
Dr Wilbert Lee: “Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organisation with close ties to the Assemblies of God Headquarters. They respond to disasters around the world and assist in bringing relief where there are food shortages. Our General Bishop, Dr John O. Smith, leveraged his network and the Task Force provided sufficient background on the impact, needs and capacity of the AOG Guyana to manage the logistics of such an operation. We were already providing relief through cash donations from our local churches to distribute hampers in the areas most affected, i.e., regions 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10. It was clear that we had a viable and effective system that met international standards; hence the joint project was approved, and we received two 40-ft (intermodal) containers of supplies which have been distributed by AOG Guyana volunteers since June 2021. The shipments augmented what we had started, leveraging our presbytery structure across 14 sub-regions to reach affected families in the respective communities.”
1st shipment with high protein food
2nd shipment with water purification powder to protect water supplies, face masks, cleaning agents, sanitisers for clean-up efforts, as well as 99 mobile generators (2000 watts)
A Heart of Service
In probing about his journey leading the team, Dr Lee recalled a presentation he made on Convoy of Hope for a Missions Day program at his local church, First Assembly of God Wortmanville. This was innocent research done by him more than eight years ago. Faith or fortuitous, it was not lost on him that he had now come full circle, working alongside the very organisation to serve communities in Guyana. Here are some additional insights on his journey managing this assignment:
Dr Wilbert Lee: “While we leveraged our AOG network of presbyters (i.e., leaders responsible for organised churches in 14 sub-regions of Guyana) who provided rapid needs assessment and logistics for distribution of care and food packages, there was a greater coordination effort ongoing with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other institutions. Coincidentally, I had been posted by the Guyana Defence Force as a Senior Officer to take up the role of Operations Manager within CDC to coordinate the 2005 flood efforts. Though not keen, I went ahead and served, which paved the way for education on coordinating humanitarian efforts. Once I was appointed Task Force Chairman by the AOG Guyana, the experiences came back to me. They re-opened doors to a network of persons and information, such as maps of the disaster area for rapid deployment of resources to those most affected even before the flooding was declared a national disaster. The Convoy of Hope international team even drilled me on push-pull logistics systems amongst other things and declared me the ‘man for the job’, but I was just grateful to serve.”
We Can All do our Part
– “Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King Jr.
In wrapping up the interview, it was striking to note that Dr Lee and the team captured the spirit of empathy, equity and accountability in managing the project. There was concern for the communities (empathy), a system of community leaders ensuring the care packages reached the most vulnerable (equity) and comprehensive reporting to the international donor (accountability). These are essential values to embrace as our footprint is enlarged globally. Curious to know what is next and how you can contribute to this ongoing effort? Here were the parting nuggets.
Dr Wilbert Lee: “Well, the project is now in the recovery and restoration phase. It is critical to recognise that people are still recovering even if people tend to focus more on the issue at the peak of the disaster. Convoy of Hope has released additional funds to procure locally sourced food items for further distribution. This adaptation to use locally sourced items will also help with uptake as persons will be receiving products more suited to their taste buds which was one minor drawback in the earlier rounds of distributing packages from overseas. Support is also needed given livestock rearing and farming communities have suffered economic hardship. As for the AOG Task Force, it is permanent and plans to continue soliciting donations to respond in the future. In the past, the US Government has stockpiled items in strategic locations, and our future planning should include items such as inflatable or aluminium boats, generators, tents, blankets, and food items with extended shelf life. The Task Force also contributed to the national CDC efforts by donating approximately GY$ 1,300,000 (in cash and kind) with ten generators included as part of the package. We are simply preparing as a fellowship to continue serving communities, while bringing leadership and solutions to national issues.”
Persons can donate to the AOG Disaster Relief Fund by contacting Dr Wilbert Lee using the following coordinates, where you will also be able to access banking instructions for deposits.
- Contact person: Dr Wilbert Lee
- AOG Contact Number: +592-226-6752
- AOG Address: 210 Almond St Qtown, Queenstown, Guyana
- Contact Email for Dr Lee: supermajor100@yahoo.com
This project of hope indeed shows how local churches can partner with corporate and national entities to serve communities. This Convoy of Hope has also planted seeds of evangelism in the labelling of their care packages which include scriptures to encourage the beneficiaries. We should all be inspired to become a community of givers, with the biblical mandate found in Luke 6:38.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)
