Posted by 
The Winning Men ministry of the United Pentecostal Church hopes to use its recently donated tractor trailer to transport supplies to situations needing disaster relief. Lufkin Daily News
Lufkin, Texas – June 11, 2010. Members of the United Pentecostal Church have teamed up to create the Winning Men ministry, a disaster-response group dedicated to providing emergency supplies to all of Texas in the event of a disaster.
According to Rev. Mike LaBrie, Campmeeting coordinator, the Winning Men ministry was formed after the Pentecostal Campground became a temporary evacuee facility during hurricanes Ike and Rita.
“We have always been active in the community,” LaBrie said. “We have 60 acres here, and RV hookups, but we wanted to go one step further.”
In response to that desire, the ministry obtained an 18-wheeler trailer through a donation. A member of the Pentecostal church who owns a fleet of semis then donated the use of any of his vehicles to transport the trailer from one location to another, whether to help an entire community or a single church in need of disaster aid.
“We are currently raising money to stock the trailer so that when there is a disaster in the state, we can bring the truck and activate the ministry to help the community or the church recover from the disaster,” LaBrie said.
Once the funds are available, LaBrie hopes to fill the trailer with items such as generators, flashlights, tarps and saws, or other supplies depending on the individual needs of the church or community.
Ideally, LaBrie added, the trailer could be used as a tool to transport supplies to neighboring states in disaster situations. During Hurricane Rita, LaBrie said, members of the Pentecostal Church loaded U-Hauls with supplies and transported them to places in need.
“This ministry is intended to meet the need for a disaster response team and help out communities and churches,” LaBrie said. “We want to be a blessing.”
Larissa Graham’s e-mail address is lgraham@lufkindailynews.com.
Lufkin Daily News
