When the world groans under the weight of disaster—whether it's a hurricane ripping through homes, a wildfire consuming entire regions, or an earthquake flattening cities—we are reminded of our shared vulnerability. And beyond natural disasters, the world is crying out from the pain of humanitarian crises: wars that displace millions, famine that starves the innocent, refugee camps filled with families who have lost everything, and economic systems that leave entire communities behind. In these moments of overwhelming need, one truth rises above the chaos: IT TAKES ALL OF US.

No government, no nonprofit, no single church can answer the cry of humanity alone. It takes hands joined in compassion. It takes people who are willing to pray, to give, to go, and to stand in the gap for those who cannot stand on their own. From volunteers on the ground to prayer warriors in the pews, from donors with resources to students with time and energy—IT TAKES ALL OF US.

And isn’t that also the heartbeat of the Great Commission? When Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), He wasn’t speaking to individuals in isolation—He was commissioning a movement. A body. A people. Just as disaster response and humanitarian relief require a community effort, so too does the work of discipleship. Making disciples means entering into the messiness of people’s lives, walking with them through hardship, and pointing them to the hope found only in Christ.

In a world shaken by disaster and marked by crisis, the Church must rise not only with aid, but with answers—not only with relief, but with relationship. We cannot meet the needs of this broken world without one another, and we cannot fulfill Christ’s mission without each doing our part.

“Disaster relief is being present for people in the most vulnerable moments of their lives—not just meeting physical needs, but offering the hope that is only found in Christ. As Global Methodists, we respond to these needs seeking to mirror the love of God to a hurting world, binding up the brokenhearted and meeting the physical needs we possibly can.”— Bishop Leah Gregory

Because when we respond together—not only do we rebuild homes, we rebuild lives. Not only do we provide shelter, we offer salvation. Not only do we meet the need of the moment—we sow seeds for eternity.

IT TAKES ALL OF US—to respond, to restore, and to make disciples.

Rev. Linda Davis serves as the Disaster Response Chair for the Kingdom Advancement Commission. She is the Pastor of Boynton Chapel Methodist Church in Houston and an Elder in the Global Methodist Church with a background in labor and employment law and decades of ministry experience. Rev. Davis is a passionate advocate for community engagement and social justice, leading numerous initiatives to improve health equity and support underserved communities through faith-based partnerships.