In the early hours of 25 May, rains increased throughout the Recife, Brazil, metropolitan area, and the entire community was affected by significant flooding. The Church of the Nazarene in the Jardim Atlântico neighborhood of Olinda was heavily hit. 

The church lost office and kitchen cabinets, tables, refrigerators, armchairs, as well as documents, food from the social project, toys, teaching materials, and speakers. Members and neighbors whose homes flooded lost furniture, appliances, food, gas cylinders, and more, among other material damages. 

The situation caused many people to leave their homes to sleep in churches and shelters. Small businesses lost their goods, and the chance of infection has increased due to the rats, small snakes, and various insects that have invaded the houses. 

“A child in our church was stung by a scorpion, and many elderly people were rescued in boats,” said Pastor Jadilson.

The local leadership is trying to start the renovation of the building in order to better serve the church and its needs. The main improvement will be to the entrances of the church to try to stop the flow of flood waters in the future. In the 20 years the church has been located in the building, it has flooded five times. 

The church hopes to use its space and involve the members to meet the basic needs of the community, especially the families that rely on the church’s social project, which provides resources donated by church members and a few partners. 

Immediate needs include food, medicine, mattresses, stoves, clothes, shoes, sheets, and foods like soup, bread, and milk. The local church’s Nazarene Compassionate Ministry has already started mobilizing, as has the Nazarene Youth International, and other district churches want to be a part of this response. 

“As a church, we invite you to pray for each of the families affected,” Jadilson said.

--Church of the Nazarene South America