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Methodists Look to Scripture for Holiday Comfort

This Christmas season, the United Methodist Church will be coupling scripture with the internet to help those suffering from a crisis or recovering from disaster.

This Christmas season, the United Methodist Church will be coupling scripture with the internet to help those suffering from a crisis or recovering from disaster.

The new online resource, “Stories for Survivors,” is a collection of Bible stories that address essential questions survivors of disasters may ask through the holidays.

According to the Rev Kwasi Kena, a staff member of the UMC’s Board of Discipleship, the “stress factor” increases exponentially during Christmas season for those who are homeless or separated from loved ones. In particular, the pain may be amplified for the surviving victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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“There are so many challenges involved with reaching displaced people: Where are they now? Where will they be next week?" he said to the United Methodist News Service.

The Stories for Survivors are therefore geared for those in need of hope.

"Sharing Bible stories with people in distress is a gift of hope and strength and faith that we can offer to people who are trying to rebuild their lives,” Kena said.

One such story is that of the prophet Elijah, who met God on Mt. Horeb. This story was chosen to address the questions raised by those who feel the hurricanes were a manifestation of God’s judgment on the sinful.

“When Elijah met God on Mt. Horeb, there was terrible wind, and earthquake and a fire, but God was not in them. God spoke with a quiet whisper,” Kena explained. "The people in the Gulf region need stories of hope like these.

"The Bible stories, the life lessons from the Bible story and the discussion questions are catalysts to enable the survivors to discover or rediscover faith through the Bible and to discover their own faith stories that witness of God's grace at work in their lives through the disaster,” he said.

One unique aspect of these Bible stories are the way they are taught. The stories are told without commentary and gives room for small-group discussions.

“Hearing and discussing Bible stories encourages people in crisis to see their unique challenges as stories of faith, struggle and perseverance,” Kena said. "By simply telling the Bible story and allowing people to mine the truths for themselves, we leave room for the Holy Spirit to teach, inspire, convict and comfort people. Sometimes we get in the way of the biblical message."

For more information on the internet Scripture lessons, visit: umcevangelism.org.

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