Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on 28 October 2025 as a catastrophic Category 5 storm. Melissa was the strongest storm in recorded history to ever make landfall on the island nation. 

Extremely strong winds and excessive rainfall left a trail of devastation across the western and southern sides of the island, demolishing or damaging more than 122,000 dwellings, knocking down power and communication lines, destroying crops, flooding rivers, washing away roadways, and triggering deadly landslides. 

The destruction has slowed aid deliveries and delayed restoration of essential services. As of this week, nearly 2,500 people in Jamaica remain in shelters. 

Haiti, Cuba, and other parts of the Caribbean also suffered from Melissa’s impact. In Cuba, more than 700,000 people evacuated ahead of Melissa’s arrival, and close to 7,500 people have yet to return home. In Haiti, where instability and violence are already a daily reality for much of the population, the storm has deepened existing hardships. At least 88 fatalities have been reported so far due to the storm, including 10 children in Haiti. Across the region, survivors urgently need food, water, and emergency supplies, along with emotional and spiritual care for the long recovery ahead.

Melissa’s force severely affected Nazarenes in Jamaica. A total of seven Nazarene church buildings sustained roof or structural damage, while the Mt. Shiloh, Petersfield, and Barret Hall churches were completely destroyed. Gamertsfelder Mission Center, a healthcare facility in the Jamaica West District, suffered partial loss of its roof, and thousands of Nazarene members have lost their homes.

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is coordinating with partners to ship Crisis Care Kits, medicine, and food rations to Cuba; Nazarene leaders in Haiti are purchasing food and tarps for impacted communities; and church leaders in Jamaica are preparing to receive shipments of emergency supplies once delivery is possible.

Mission of Sight, a Nazarene compassionate ministry center that provides vision and medical care in Jamaica, will partner with NCM to distribute supplies to hard-hit communities. 

Lionel Brown, pastor of Burnt Savannah Church of the Nazarene and the former superintendent of the Jamaica West District, shared his experience of the storm:

“Everything right now is a mess, but God is good, and he is daily clearing our minds and relieving us of fear that came to us as a result of the onslaught of Melissa,” he said. “When, like the disciples, we call out, God responds. We are so thankful. Many of our churches are without roofs, and in some, the roofing material has peeled off. Everything—physically, materially—is challenging. But God is still giving us peace.”

How You Can Help

Pray

Pray for each person impacted by Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean. Remember children, the elderly, people who need shelter, those suffering with illness or disability, and anyone who may experience trauma and suffering after disasters like this. Encourage those who are discouraged, exhausted, and in need of hope. Ask God to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray for churches, aid agencies, and government workers as they work to provide food, supplies, water, and other essential emergency resources. Pray for open channels for aid distribution and for essential needs to be met. To send a prayer or note of encouragement, visit ncm.org/pray.

Give

Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the 2025 Storm Response Fund. Donations will be used for immediate needs like food, water, Crisis Care Kits, tarps, and more, as well as long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

To send donations by mail:

In the United States, make checks payable to “General Treasurer” and send them to:

Global Treasury Services

Church of the Nazarene

17001 Prairie Star Pkwy

Lenexa, KS 66220

Be sure to put 140082 in the memo area of your check.

In Canada, make checks payable to “Church of the Nazarene Canada” and send them to:

Church of the Nazarene Canada

3657 Ponytrail Drive, Mississauga, ON | L4X 1W5

Be sure to put 140082 in the memo area of your check.

For any other country, give through your local church or district, designating your gift to the 2025 Storm Response Fund.

Download a giving slide for Hurricane Melissa relief to share with your congregation here.