Getting started….DAY 1

The Cabinet teams of Bishop David Graves’ Kentucky-Tennessee Episcopal Area gathered in Canton, North Carolina on Sunday evening. Communities across Western North Carolina were devastated by Hurricane Helene. The rescue phase was extended for over one month and long-term recovery is just beginning.

We have been given a special assignment, tied to rich heritage. It is a story where one local church made a courageous decision that will impact the next several years of recovery in this area.

Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in late September 2024. This area of Western North Carolina received 30 inches of rain. The rescue phase of response began immediately by UMCOR-trained and badged disaster response teams. Winter was focused on surviving, as the same area experienced 8 significant snow storms.

The Spruce Pines UMC was immediately established as the Disaster Recovery Center and every week there have been 10-20 people come to serve and assist. Last week, the Middle Tennessee Wesley Foundation, led by Rev. John Weaver, spent spring break on mission here. His reflection on Sunday night via Facebook post: “The devastation was immense but so was the deep gratitude of the people. Our students would love to share about their experience and how local churches can still help! We appreciate our cabinet in their efforts!!”

Our special assignment…

Our special assignment? A second recovery center is being established: Reeves Chapel Recovery Center. This site will host teams for the next several years. Bishop Graves and his Cabinet teams often talk about the work we are doing as being important for the impact it will make on the next several generations. The church as we have known it is changing; God is doing new things within and among us. Spiritual discernment and trusting the wisdom of God to be granted in the moments of need are critical. It is a pattern of prayer, service, trust, and action. This week we will do the physical work that will impact teams that come to serve this community. It is practice and pattern. We often call this discipleship – lived through the disciplines that shape our lives.

But there is so much more to this story! It didn’t begin with us. It didn’t even begin with Hurricane Helene last fall. Centered in our assignment is a local church by the name of Reeves Chapel United Methodist. In January 2025, the congregation of about twelve members voted to close. They also expressed excitement to offer their facilities to the Western North Carolina Conference to develop a long-term Disaster Recovery Center. This will include office space, volunteer housing, and a fellowship hall.

What a courageous and generous repurpose of this historic and sacred space, which was established as a local congregation in 1880. We are humbled and grateful to be a part of preparing this new Disaster Recovery Center. It begins with deep cleaning, removal of trash and clearing of items, and painting. The teams that follow us will begin construction. Perhaps we will return in another year and stay in the very place we are preparing.

Our why…

We asked Bishop Graves: why did you want your teams to do this? “It’s what we do. When you’ve been a Bishop experiencing a disaster you know what it means for people to come and help. I experienced several disasters in my previous episcopal areas. Now we can return that assistance by helping here. When you are in need someone is coming to help. When someone else is in need, you are going to assist. It is the strength of the connection.”

We know that spiritual leadership is grounded in the practices of prayer, listening, serving, and acting. Rev. Jerry Wallace is on schedule to offer our “Morning Watch” time of centering for the day. It is St. Patrick’s Day. It is Monday. It is 2025. And while the world often seems to be in chaos, there is ample opportunity for making a difference where we are right now. God is shaping our spirits and minds along the way. Friendships are being developed and strengthened. Maybe there are miracles in the making. More to come!

Bishop Graves serves as Bishop over three conferences: Kentucky Conference; Central Appalachian Missionary Conference; and Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.