Bishop Brian Cole interviews Michael Hensley, Development and Sustainability Officer for Appalachia Service Project, on the ongoing efforts in Hurricane Helene recovery. Our diocesan-wide Advent appeal seeks to raise funds and support for the work of Appalachian Service Project, to continue showing up for our neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene flooding, and being light and warmth in the cold and dark season of Advent and winter.
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Transcript
Bishop Brian Cole: Hi, I’m Bishop Brian and I’m here today with Michael Hensley. Michael works with the Appalachian Service Project. Michael, tell us again your title with Appalachian Service Project.
Michael Hensley: Yes, yes, Bishop. Thank you. So I serve as our development and sustainability officer. ASP, of course, is headquartered in Johnson City. And we’ve been around since 1969 and our three pillars are home repair, home rebuild, and disaster recovery. So that’s our focus and it’s a volunteer model. So we rely on volunteers from across the country to come alongside us to be part of the work.
Cole: And you’re a member at St. John’s Cathedral?
Hensley: Yes.
Cole: And native of East Tennessee.
Hensley: Yes.
Cole: We’re now all living in the second year of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. It did extraordinary damage in West North Carolina, but it also did real impact here in East Tennessee. What’s the latest on Hurricane Helene Rebuild?
Hensley: Yeah, well, first we just want to express our gratitude for your leadership, Bishop, for the leadership of the diocese, how you all came alongside ASP to be part of the solution and to work with these families. Your all’s partnership really sent that message to the families that they aren’t forgotten, that they’re not alone, that we see them, that we love them, and that we’ll do everything you know, within our power to walk shoulder to shoulder with them on that long road to recovery. You know, I think the fact that the riverbed of the Nolichucky River is permanently changed as a result of this storm.
Cole: Wow.
Hensley: Right? And that really is symbolic of the family’s lives that are forever changed as a result of this storm. When you look at the lives that were lost, when you look at the homes that were washed away, the businesses that were lost, the property that was lost, right? We’re working with homeowners right now who simply no longer have that plot of land that has been in their family for generations, right? It was either completely washed away or it’s now just part of that riverbed. So we know that we can’t restore everything that’s been lost, but we know that we can at least make sure that these families that are still grieving have a home that is warm, a home that is safe and dry. And that really has been the heart of ASP’s ministry going back to ’69. So even really before those flood waters receded, ASP was on the ground working with the homeowners, assessing the damage. And that was really why right out of the gate we made that initial commitment of 200 homes. We knew that was a a God-sized goal. Our CEO Melissa likes to use that term, but we also know, right, that we serve that God who sometimes ask us to step out of that boat and into that water and to take that leap of faith and just to cast that vision out into the world and to trust that when we cast that vision out, that God will send those partners that want to be part of the work. And that’s really what we’ve seen this last year. We’re 34 homes in, we right now have 36 homes that are in progress. So that’s the progress that we’ve seen the last year. And again, we’re just so grateful for the investment in the work and for the partnership.
Cole: Thank you for what you’re doing, and you all remain in our prayers and we’re going to encourage our folk during advent to, at the end of this video, you’ll see a chance to give directly to the Appalachian Service project. The diocese will also be directing some funds as well. So I would encourage you to join us in continuing to help rebuild East Tennessee in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene as we enter the season of Advent. The story of Jesus coming into the world, often not being able to find space, not being able to find refuge. To help people right now in East Tennessee and Appalachia in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene is to help reincarnate the incarnation in a new way here in the mountains of East Tennessee. So thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you do and supporting your parishes, outreach ministries in your communities. Let’s stretch together with the people of Appalachian service project. Again, Michael, thank you for the work that you’re doing, the call that you’re responding to in East Tennessee. Thank you all.