Pastors Meet for Prayer and Training

Pastors from the area surrounding Cedar Rapids have been meeting at St. Mark’s United Methodist in Cedar Rapids and the First United Methodist in Marion every morning at 9:30 AM for prayer and training to offer a first wave of pastoral care to residents and business owners in the effected neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids. Each day they have been deployed into the areas most recently opened by inspectors to offer a presence on behalf of the local churches for those “seeing” their properties for the first time. The stories of grief and loss are countless. The frustration of those who cannot yet be let into their home, even when they can see it is great. Conversation, counsel, prayer and the simple presence has been an important first wave in our UM ministry.