SPDR

Dear Synod of the Sun, Please take care to be sure your homes and church buildings are winter ready. This weekend, we are expecting freezing temperatures and precipitation around all of our Synod. Meteorologists are noting similarities to the 2021 Winter Storm Uri. See the attached images from a meteorologist who presented during a VOAD meeting today. Some northern areas in our Synod are anticipating over 8 inches of snow! Here are important winter readiness suggestions from

Hello Synod Disaster Partners! Welcome to the SPDR Web , a regular update to share with you something I’ve learned. Sometimes it’s weather, sometimes its disaster readiness advice, sometimes it’s a resource to be shared. Back by popular request – the 2026 Church Disaster Preparedness Calendar! Making sure your church is ready for whatever comes may seem like a daunting task, but it can be divided into smaller tasks to complete each month! Each step will ensure your church has

Libby Janes, SPDR Director Hunger is an ongoing crisis in our country that has been intensifying during the 43-day government shutdown and the temporary suspension of SNAP and WIC benefits. Churches around the Synod of the Sun have been courageously growing their ministries in creative ways to meet sharply increasing needs in their communities. Arkansas Presbytery’s Disaster Preparation and Response Team quickly responded by offering grants of up to $1,000 to support Arkansas

After a thorough search process, the Leadership Team of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery (SPDR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth “Libby” Janes as the new Director.   Libby is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in hospital, counseling, and community social work settings. She holds a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a Master of Social Work from Texas Tech University, and a Bachelor of Arts f

Many across the Synod of the Sun have held the people and places dear to our hearts in ceaseless prayer since the deadly flooding of the...

Wynne Tornado - Long Term Recovery Update On March 31, 2023, an EF3 tornado hit the town of Wynne, AR. Wynne Presbyterian Church...

Last year, the Religion News Service published an article  about the challenges many churches are now facing as insurance coverage...

"The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members. – William Temple, former...

During the month of March, 34 wildfires raged across the state of Oklahoma. Four died, over 200 injured, and hundreds of homes and...

by Sandra Murray, SPDR Liaison Many years ago, I was in a church that was devastated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The one thing I...

A whole year ago, we started off with what felt like a blank slate. Three hundred and sixty five days later, how did the events of this...

Did you know your presbytery has a designated SPDR Liaison? This past September, some of our SPDR Liaisons, along with members of the...

This past June, two congregations in Tres Rios Presbytery participated in a pilot initiative to increase Church Safety & Crisis Response...

Cindy White looks over the devastation inside her home in North Carolina caused by Hurricane Helene. Only a tiny number of households in...

September is National Preparedness Month September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual public service campaign to remind...

Dear SPDR & Presbytery Leaders, As you are well aware, Hurricane Beryl has impacted millions of residents across our Synod and beyond. I...

July 2024 The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season is already underway, and the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery (SPDR) is hosting an...

The church is no stranger to the brokenness of this world, but Lord help us when something at the church breaks! In January, Oklahoma saw...

This past March, I spent a week in Oklahoma with a group of Presbyterians from Iowa. Together we worked on storm damaged homes through a...