Dear Friends,

Many of you may know that my wife Cindy and I founded ReNew late last year to respond to the devastation of the 2017 Hurricane Season. ReNew, a not-for-profit organization, has a threefold goal: 1) To mobilize individuals, churches, and groups to respond to disaster needs; 2) To localize aid, responding to individuals, families, and specific neighborhoods; and, 3) To stabilize the lives of those who have suffered loss.

This work has begun in earnest in the town of Caguas, Puerto Rico, with “Gosen Iglesia De La Familia” (the Gosen Family Church). Gosen is a Protestant, Pentecostal church with several hundred members (pre-hurricanes), pastored by Jésus and Julia Madera. The congregation conducted an extensive community-based ministry, and their building served as a major “service center.” ReNew is currently rebuilding Gosen’s building, and in turn, restoring their community-based ministries.

Rebuilding Gosen’s facility will involves the following major considerations:

1. Raising $50,000 for building materials, in-territory labor, furnishing destroyed or looted, and execution of the project (a full Budget is available). This includes all necessary materials to restore Gosen’s worship space, educational wing, and administrative offices.
2. Mobilizing and sending four to six construction teams to complete the work. If adequate volunteer teams cannot be mobilized, additional funds would have to be raised to pay in-territory contractors and /or builders.
3. Time is of the essence, as the facility has been in shambles for months. It is impossible, in this condition, to minister effectively. Further, the 2018 Hurricane Season looms large on the near horizon. Ideally, the project will be completed by mid-summer 2018.

Here is what you can do:

Give. The Caguas project is reliant upon funding. All donations to ReNew for this project will be used for charitable purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal EIN: 82-2916148). Giving can be done by mailing a check to: Renew; 16400 Highway 331 South; Suite B2, Box 275; Freeport, Florida, 32439. You can also give by online means.

Go. Four to six teams are needed in Puerto Rico over the next six months. This translates to 50 – 100 people able to do tear-out, light construction, frame, paint, and be able to meet physically demands of a tropical monsoon climate. Contact Team Leaders John Skinner (jbs30a@gmail.com) or Al Stewart (alstewart13@bellsouth.net) to join a team.

Guide. Become a leader who will organize, recruit, coordinate and lead a mission team to Puerto Rico. This can be from your church, work, school, friends or family. ReNew will assist you in this process.

Thank you for giving and for going.

Additional information is always available at www.ReNewFlorida.org.

Ronnie and Cindy McBrayer