MCALLEN, TX (August 22, 2007) \u2013 A church and children\u2019s home in Jamaica that have benefited from mission trips by Covenant churches appear to have weathered Hurricane Dean, says Dale Lusk, executive director of Merge Ministries, which helped organize work projects at each location. <\/p>\n
Merge is an arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church\u2019s Department of World Mission and connects teams with projects as well as offering assistance in preparing for mission trips.<\/p>\n
Covenant churches have sent teams to Seaview Gardens Church in Kingston and Strathmore House Children\u2019s Home in Spanish Town, Lusk says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe church’s roof was damaged in a hurricane three years ago and was replaced by Covenant mission teams,\u201d Lusk says. \u201cThey built it so well that Hurricane Dean did not rip the roof off this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seaview Gardens is one of several Jamaican churches that have developed close relationships with Covenant pastors in the Southeast Conference. Pastors from the island and Florida have traveled to each other\u2019s congregations.<\/p>\n
The children\u2019s home will be without power for several days but sustained little damage. All of the children are safe, Lusk adds.<\/p>\n
Dean, once a Category 5 hurricane packing winds of more than 155 mph, has diminished to a Category 1 storm, with top winds of 80 mph as it struck Mexico for the second time today.<\/p>\n