Mela Kamin – 4:10 Ministries

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It’s safe to say that if I could be anywhere but here at home, I’d choose Nashville. I am blessed to get to make music there, I have some dear mentors there and some truly think-of-them-as-family friends in that area. I just stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in February for the Blissdom Conference. It’s a beautiful, enormous structure. It’s like the size of the Mall of America or bigger – seriously HUGE.
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I was at a retreat in a rural area of central Wisconsin over the weekend, participating in and performing at a women’s retreat. It was fabulous, soul-nourishing, fun and uplifting. I was unplugged, only checking my iPhone at night to see if I had a voicemail and I only was able to check in with my kids in the morning before worship.
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Then, I came home and plugged back in.
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While I don’t watch the news, my Twitter feed is filled with many Nashvillians and I was utterly stunned as I read about and saw videos and pictures of the devastation. That gigantic hotel I stayed in? Flooded. The Grand Ole Opry House I watched the DOVE Awards at last year? Water is over the pews.
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I immediately checked on my friends. Were they ok? Were their houses spared? Do they have friends who lost everything? What can I do to help?
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This video by Ed Stetzer answers that question. As I started watching it, I was struck by how awesome it is that the body of Christ is able to glorify Him through their actions – during and immediately after the storm and now in the midst of the damage, recovery and rebuild efforts.
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I want to do something. I called my parents and am in the process of scheduling a trip with my Dad down to Nashville. The funny thing was that my Mom had talked to my Dad about this very thing just this morning – great minds think alike!
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Watch the video. Consider how you can help. Donate to the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse or through the relief efforts of a specific church, like CrossPoint.
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Here are some highlights from the video:
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Pete Wilson, Pastor of CrossPoint Church, Nashville
“God is most powerfully present even when he seems to be most apparently absent. If this is a 1,000 year flood, this is an opportunity we’re only going to get every 1,000 years as a church to step up and reach people in the name of Christ and show them His love, His grace and His passion.”
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Rice Broocks, Pastor of Bethel World Outreach Center, Nashville

• “(this type of event) brings us into awareness of our vulnerability”
• “He is lifted up high especially in a storm.”
• “Sometimes on our way to something else, we bump into a need. – Good Samaritan lesson”

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Much of the country didn’t know anything about the flood and the media coverage has not been stellar. As you know from other disasters, once the media puts attention on something else, help and support goes with it. Please remember to pray for Nashville and the surrounding communities. And, consider helping if you can.
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I’ll keep you updated on my trip plans.