Pray for Those in the Path of Hurricane Ian

Story by Margot Bass

Please pray as Hurricane Ian, currently a Category 4 storm hoisting 150-mph winds, pounds the western coast of Florida today. Ian has made landfall, with heavy rainfall causing major flooding in affected areas.

“Pray that God will use the storm to strengthen our faith,” said Danny Hodges, pastor of Calvary Chapel Fellowship of St. Petersburg, FL. “Also pray that God will open doors for believers to be able to minister to people and share the hope of the Gospel in ways not possible apart from this situation. And pray for God’s mercy, that He will be merciful to all those impacted by the storm.”

He specifically requested prayer for The Rock Church, a Calvary Chapel in Punta Gorda, FL, where the hurricane’s eye was focused Wednesday afternoon. “Pastor Aaron Smith called me earlier today because he was concerned that the storm was coming directly at us. Aaron told me, ‘I’m praying for you. We have a disaster relief team with first responders, and the first place we’re coming is your place in St. Petersburg. And if we can’t get hold of you, we’re just going to show up and look for you.’ You appreciate that kind of heart.” The great irony, Danny said, is that the storm's greatest impact moved from St. Petersburg to the Punta Gorda area.

He concluded, “One of the last things we pray for is in the aftermath, that it gives us opportunity to get out and help people and really minister to them in very practical ways.”

The Rock Church, Punta Gorda, FL: therockcalvarychapel.org
Calvary Chapel Fellowship of St. Petersburg, FL: ccfellowship.com

                  

Photo above: This GOES-East GeoColor satellite image taken at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, September 28, and provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows the eye of Hurricane Ian approaching the southwest coast of Florida. Hurricane Ian's most damaging winds began hitting Florida's southwest coast Wednesday, lashing the state with heavy rain and pushing a devastating storm surge after strengthening to the threshold of the most dangerous Category 5 status. (Photo: NOAA via AP)

All verses above are quoted from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

© 2022 Calvary Chapel Magazine (CCM). All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.