2015 Crisis Preparation Expo

Hello Church Family and Friends,

It is time for our 5th Annual Crisis Preparation Expo for Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. This event is on the third Saturday of February each year. I know that it is a surprise for some of us that many in church family are still unaware of the Expo after all this time. One dear church member who had not been involved with the event in the past noted this past Sunday that this year was the first time they had paid any attention to it. So, for those who are just becoming aware, let me catch you up on this event. The group that puts this together is all volunteer who work with me on planning. The volunteers are Christians from our area that believe in living a wise lifestyle in caring for their families. These people are not all members of our church. Some of them have professional experience in crisis preparation, but most are just grassroots practitioners.

The goal of the event is to help people know how to make common sense every day kinds of choices that would help them do well during unexpected problems. Some of this is like hurricane preparations. In other cases, it is preparedness that would serve one well if they lost their job. Some of the training is about sustainable living like gardening and animal husbandry. So, you will hear everything from FEMA recommendations on basic preparedness, to how to use solar power, or how to have your own hive of honey bees. Some of the vendors in the Expo hall will have things to help with all of these projects including things like essential oils to help with health and well being. Others will show you how to find edible plants in the woods, or teach hunting and fishing for those who like to learn survival skills.

So how much does it cost? There is no charge for the event. That's right, the classes and the Expo hall viewing is free. We really want people to come so that we can give them information about being prepared not only for life but for eternity, too! Many of our vendors will be sharing the Gospel and the class teachers will also. If you have lost friends, bring them along. One question that we get asked from time to time is whether there will be a gun show. The answer is 'No'. We will not risk the church family or our guests with the possible issues that could come from this addition. We do believe in protecting the families that God has given us, but there are other gun shows and stores in the community. We will have people on site that are concealed handgun class instructors that will be telling people what they might want to know to get started in the security area.

But one might ask, "Isn't all of this a lack of faith?" I usually find out upon asking that these people have life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, home insurance, flood insurance, fire insurance, dental insurance, cell phone insurance, etc. I suppose all of that insurance is a lack of faith too, if food insurance, water insurance, heat insurance and light insurance are a lack of faith. No, the scripture calls us to take care of our families. In fact, to not take care of our families needs makes us worse that an unbeliever in the eyes of God. (1Timothy 5:8) The book of Proverbs is full of verses calling us to work hard and store up for needs as an agricultural community would. We do not have the guarantee that the grocery stores will always be full or that we will always have a job. Proverbs 27 12 says "A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

I hope that you visit this blog again later this week as I present some of the reasons we encourage people to prepare and the common sense thinking behind it all.

David