Our prayers go out to the Rio Texas Annual Conference and the surrounding area as they navigate the aftermath of devastating floods in their area last week. We are holding them in our hearts as many have lost loved ones, have friends and family who are missing, and are still discovering the impact of the flooding on their towns, homes, and communities.
Bishop Escobedo-Frank shared Saturday morning that “As United Methodists, we have a connection that holds us together. When one conference suffers, we all suffer. Please take a moment to pray and to send a donation to the Rio Texas Conference fund to help them in their loss and in their future rebuilding of lives, camps, and towns.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
UPDATE 7/14/25: You can now give online to support disaster response efforts across the Rio Texas Conference. Your generosity is already making a difference—and now, giving is even easier. Every gift will go directly toward helping families recover and rebuild.
💻 Give Online: https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Form/d75eba46-8507-43eb-9823-5e6c47232ce9
You can donate using:
- Debit/Credit Card
- ACH Bank Transfer
- PayPal
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Venmo
📱 Text to Give:
Text GIVE to 210-762-4200
The Rio Texas Conference shared on Facebook that as they continue to assess the impact of the flooding along the Guadalupe River and surrounding communities, one of the most effective ways you can help right now is through financial gifts.
Bishop Harvey and the Disaster Response Team encourage churches and individuals to contribute to the Rio Texas Conference Disaster Response Advance #2050, noting “Guadalupe River Flood” on your gift.
How to give:
- Churches: If taking an offering, please send collected gifts to the Rio Texas Conference office, designated to Advance #2050 — Guadalupe River Flood.
- Individuals: You may give through your local church, or mail contributions directly to the conference office at:Rio Texas Conference, 16400 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78248
Your generosity will support immediate needs in the affected areas. They are also working with UMCOR on securing an initial grant to aid our response.
The conference will continue sharing updates on their Facebook page and disaster response website at: https://riotexasresponse.org
UMCOR has also committed to providing response to this disaster, and you can give to their US Disaster Response and Recovery fund at this link.
CONTINUE TO PRAY:
The following prayer was shared by Rev. Adam Knapp, pastor of First United Methodist Church of San Marcos, Texas:
Lord, we lift up to you all those in the path of flooding along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas. We pray for those who have lost property, stability, security, safety, and loved ones in this crisis. We pray for towns of Comfort, Hunt, Kerrville, Bandera, and many others who are experiencing devastation today. We pray for the children’s camps along the river and the staff who are working to calm and protect many frightened campers.
We pray mostly for the poor and the vulnerable, those with no safety nets who are exposed to the full weight of this tragedy. We pray for those who feel helpless and those for whom helplessness is the struggle of daily life. We pray for the first responders and the churches who are serving as your hands and feet today.
We pray for the hearts of people to be turned to compassion to respond to this disaster. We pray for disaster response teams and organizations such as UMCOR who will labor in these towns alongside the victims to bring dignity and hope. We pray that in the midst of disaster we might see the dignity of all those in need and serve without restraint in the way you have shown us. We pray this in the name of the Eternal and Triune Lord.
Amen.
