{"id":7416,"date":"2021-12-16T17:39:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T17:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salarmyeds.org\/?p=7416"},"modified":"2025-06-24T17:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T17:47:01","slug":"a-ministry-of-presence-in-western-kentucky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salarmyeds.org\/index.php\/2021\/12\/16\/a-ministry-of-presence-in-western-kentucky\/","title":{"rendered":"A Ministry of Presence in Western Kentucky"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paducah, KY\u00a0<\/strong>–When Lieutenants David and Brittney Donegan went to sleep on Friday, December 10, they didn\u2019t know that by morning their ministry to meet human needs in the name of Jesus Christ would be desperately needed. They didn’t know that a catastrophic tornado would sweep through four states and destroy almost everything in its path. They didn’t know they would be woken up late that night by a frantic phone call from one of their church members.\u00a0

They just didn\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when they learned about the tornadoes, they knew what they had to do. They had to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Salvation Army\u2019s ministry is a ministry of presence,\u201d said Lieutenant David Donegan, commanding officer of The Salvation Army in Paducah, Kentucky. \u201cWe are here and we are ready to help our community any way we can.\u201d After the Donegans received the call from their church member their day began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They immediately sprang into action to be there to comfort and pray with their church members as they received the devastating news about loved ones. \u201cIt is tough because you see the hurt in the eyes of the people you see day in and day out \u2013 the people you care about. But you know the love of Jesus Christ provides hope and, in that moment, in that place, you are the hands and feet of Jesus,\u201d said Donegan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their day continued early Saturday morning when they got word that people who fled their homes needed clothing \u2013 so many arrived with only the clothes on their backs. Armed with a Bible and a stack of clothing vouchers they made their rounds to the local churches that were providing temporary shelter. They wrote clothing vouchers all day Saturday and into Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople left their homes in the middle of the night wearing their pajamas. The best way we could provide hope at that moment was to meet their immediate need \u2013 clothing, coats, shoes. We opened our Family Store and began giving clothes away and we haven\u2019t stopped,\u201d explained Donegan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their service did not stop there. Currently, they are working with community partners to determine the needs of the community as the shock from the tornadoes wears off and people will have to figure out a new plan. \u201cThey’re trying to figure out their next steps. They’re asking what do I do now? And The Salvation Army is here to point them in the right direction. This is why we were called into ministry to be Salvation Army officers – to help people whenever we can, wherever we can, and however we can.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can work alongside The Salvation Army to help people impacted by the Western Kentucky tornadoes through your support. Donate online at www.HelpSalvationArmy.org<\/a> or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY and designating \u201cKY Tornado Relief\u201d with your gift.  Monetary donations will ensure The Salvation Army can meet the immediate needs of people impacted. The Salvation Army uses 100% of all disaster donations to support disaster relief.<\/p>\n

The Salvation Army <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paducah, KY\u00a0–When Lieutenants David and Brittney Donegan went to sleep on Friday, December 10, they didn\u2019t know that by morning their ministry to meet human needs in the name of 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