Can you share a bit about your background and involvement in the church?
Shelley is a lifelong UM; Roy joined soon after we married. The usual activities – VBS, decorating for Christmas, chili suppers, United Women in Faith, every board, every committee. All in McCrory until 1998, then Cabot, Booneville, Jacksonville, back to McCrory, then Pinnacle View.
What draws you both to serve together in disaster response ministry?
While we have a few individual interests (hunting for Roy, quilting for Shelley) DR was the one thing that used all our gifts in different ways. A perfect couple experience. Shelley’s years in organizational leadership, Roy’s years in trucking and law enforcement, and our mutual love of construction and remodeling came together. We built a house out of a little barn in 1998!
In what ways do you complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses in teamwork?
Shelley is more organized so keeping the Hub straight or setting up team functions is right down my alley. Roy is not afraid of jumping in and getting his hands dirty to do whatever the job requires. But we always test and discuss an idea with the other before we do something.
You were both recently certified to be trainers for Disaster Response. How was this accomplished, and what does this certification allow you to do?
Even though ARUMC DR had two trainers at the time, we knew that having two more in Central Arkansas would be beneficial. (Now we are the only trainers.) So, when UMCOR staff encouraged us to go to Topeka for Train-the-Trainer, we jumped at the chance. After losing our two trainers, the pressure was on to get our first, UMCOR-evaluated training scheduled – this happened on September 20. Having passed this evaluation (the best score the evaluator had ever given), we not only have 17 brand new Early Response Team (ERT) members ready to go, we set the stage for future training. Our goal is one ERT training per district per year.
How do you stay spiritually and emotionally grounded during crisis events?
When the March 2023 tornado hit a mile south of our home, we knew we had to show up, mentally, physically, and spiritually for at least three weeks of Early Response. We prayed each morning and night for guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit and we had the faith to believe we could organize and implement a successful response to the crisis. We supported each other each moment, problem-solving from dawn to midnight.
How do you view disaster response as a form of ministry or evangelism?
Not all ministers stand up and preach. Our ministry is showing up with supplies and volunteers during the worst time in a survivor’s life. The shock and despair on the faces of survivors and how that changes to gratitude for this ministry keeps us moving forward. The fact that the United Methodist Church puts this level of care, effort, and money into Disaster Response speaks more loudly than words.
What plans do you have to increase awareness and participation with ARUMC VIM and DR in the upcoming year?
We will make the Ingathering more interactive and shamelessly promote the Ingathering, encouraging churches to become Five Star Churches by participating. We will ask churches to host ERT trainings. We will ask churches to support volunteers working in their area. We will reach out to certified ERTs from the past and renew that connection. We will contact all VIM projects in the Conference to see how we can help. We will contact those churches who support international projects. Our booth at ARUMC Annual Conference and our remarks during our mission presentation will pique interest and encourage participation.
What are the best ways to support Disaster Response and VIM in Arkansas?
Become a certified ERT. Show up to deployments as often as possible. Come to the Hub and help organize. Become a VIM Team Leader for your own church projects. Donate to both ARUMC DR and UMCOR. Create UMCOR Disaster kits at your church. Celebrate UMCOR Sunday and VIM Sunday. Come to Ingathering. Pray for those impacted and those responding.
Is there anything else that you would like to share?
In 2014, the Central Arkansas tornadoes hit Mayflower and Vilonia; we lived 10 miles from Ground Zero. We desperately wanted to help and had skills and equipment to do so. But we were untrained, unbadged, and not affiliated with a specific disaster response organization. When we retired in 2017, we took care of that and got ERT certified through ARUMC DR. That one act led us on this fascinating, heartbreaking, rewarding, tiring journey. We’ve been deployed to hurricanes, floods, derechos, and tornadoes in six states over seven years. God and the United Methodist Church have been with us every step of the way.
