Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors – A Call to Serve
Because weather preparedness is an important part of any disaster ministry, Associated Churches Active in Disaster invited a representative of the National Weather Service to write an article for our blog about the agency’s Weather-Ready Nation program and how congregations can participate.
Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors – A Call to Serve
When I was approached about providing a description of the Weather Ready Nation Ambassador program as it relates to churches, I pondered how best to shape the message. The easiest way is to think about ministry and the purpose of ministry in our communities. This ministry, founded in faith, calls us forth to serve those around us and to bring people into a new faith life.
The National Weather Service, whose mission is to “save lives and reduce loss,” rolled out the Weather Ready Nation Ambassador program to establish and recognize partners who were interested in providing a unified weather message, actively reaching people and inclusively providing information to fulfill this life-saving mission. Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors are recognized as serving a pivotal role in affecting societal change; ultimately helping to grow a nation that is ready, responsive, and resilient to the impacts of extreme weather and water events.
This is where the church and other ministerial organizations can play a role. To be recognized as a Weather Ready Nation Ambassador, an organization must commit to:
Promoting Weather-Ready Nation messages and themes to its congregation and community;
Engaging with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service personnel on potential collaboration opportunities;
Sharing success stories of preparedness and resiliency;
Serving as an example by educating its faith community on workplace, worship space and home preparedness.
Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors are called to serve as change agents and leaders in the community; called to inspire other to be better informed, prepared and helping to minimize and when possible avoid impacts of natural disasters.
How to Become a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador
Any organization across all levels of government, businesses large and small, non-profit and non-governmental organizations, and academia can become a WRN Ambassadors. The WRN Ambassador initiative is intended for organizations and designed to help serve the public by strengthening our national resilience against extreme weather events.
As you consider the above to keep in mind the Letter of Paul to the Romans 12: 4-8
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Application for WRN Ambassador:
For additional information, check out the WRN webpage Frequently Asked Questions page:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/amb_faqs.html or contact Michael Lewis, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service Northern Indiana michael.lewis@noaa.gov, 574-834-1104 x726.