The Church of God in Christ pays homage and salutes Madiba.

 

Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, the founder of the Church of God in Christ, has been selected by AT&T to be included in its 2013 African American History Calendar.

The 12-month calendar profiles individuals from across Tennessee who have contributed to improving people’s lives. The calendar is distributed at no cost to middle schools across the state and private educators with a resource for teaching students about African American achievements.

Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. says, “The Church of God in Christ is grateful that our founder Bishop Mason is receiving this honor.  Bishop Mason’s tenure as senior bishop was marked by his support of African-American education, ecumenism and civic engagement. Under his leadership, The Church of God in Christ sponsored primary and secondary schools in Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee and Alabama along with a junior college in Mississippi.”

Honorees for the 2013 African American History Calendar were recently announced and the calendar unveiled in Nashville, TN.

On behalf of Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., the General Board and the entire Church of God in Christ we would like to offer our prayers to the many individuals who have been affected or displaced by recent storm Sandy.

Please share the following with those family and friends who need this information.

Individuals along the East Coast and areas inland should continue to monitor their local news and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio for updates and directions provided by their local officials.

President Barack Obama declared major disasters for Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, making disaster assistance available to those in the heaviest hit areas affected by the storm.  Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties in those states can begin applying for assistance by registering with FEMA online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585(TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.  Shelter assistance from your local Chapter of the American Red Cross can be found by calling 1-800-733-2767, press 1.

Even as the storm begins to clear impacted areas, there will be many challenges to staying safe while making repairs and cleaning up debris after a storm.  Emergency workers will be assisting people in flooded areas. You can help them by staying off the roads and out of the way.

FEMA and its federal partners, through our regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, remain in close contact with emergency management partners, and are embedded with state teams to support response efforts and assess unmet needs. Priority remains on life-saving and life-sustaining activities. Search and rescue teams have been deployed.

Mortgage Relief Assistance

Government-sponsored mortgage backers Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) are offering mortgage relief to some borrowers whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.  The relief is available to borrowers whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy and which are located in jurisdictions that President Obama has declared “major disaster areas.”  HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages.  Homeowners in need of disaster relief should contact their servicers or call one of the numbers below.

Freddie Mac - 1-800-373-3343; Press Release

Fannie Mae - 1-800-732-6643; Press Release

FHA – 1-877-622-8525;   New York –  Press Release

FHA – 1-877-622-8525;   New Jersey –  Press Release

FHA Disaster Relief Information

To find more information about HUD and FHA disaster relief options.  Please also visit the HUD disaster resources site at http://bit.ly/FHADisasters

Where can I find general information about assistance for victims of hurricanes?

HUD has general information about recovery assistance for victims of hurricanes on the following HUD website:  http://bit.ly/FHADisaster

If your home has been affected by a natural disaster (hurricane, flood, tornado, wildfire, etc.) it is important to identify the resources available to assist in your recovery. Most federal disaster recovery efforts are triggered by the designation of the area as a presidentially declared disaster area. To obtain the latest information on available programs, eligibility criteria, and declared disasters visit the national disaster recovery site, located at:http://bit.ly/DisasterAreas

For more information, you may also contact the HUD Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at partnerships@hud.gov or 202-708-2404

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those in the Mid-Atlantic States who’ve been affected by this storm.