Bishop Visits Coastal Bend

Disaster Response Coordinator Eugene Hileman briefs Robert Schnase on efforts on Gregory.

Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Annual Conference traveled Friday, Sept. 1 to visit with community members and relief workers in areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

"It was heartbreaking to see the devastation first hand in communities I’ve long been familiar with," said Schnase. “So many have lost so much."

Schnase, along with Disaster Response Coordinator Eugene Hileman and Outreach Vitality Director Abel Vega, toured churches damaged by the storm and met with Emergency Response Teams, pastors, and homeowners.

"On behalf of the Rio Texas Conference, I was able to express thanks to many of the volunteers already at work from our churches and other conferences," said Schnase. "Meeting with Eugene Hileman and his team of Disaster Response Coordinators, with District Superintendent Robert Lopez, local lay and clergy leaders inspires hope."
 

Bishop Schnase visits with Corpus Christi site coordinator Jim Callis at First UMC, PORTLAND

Early Response Teams have been on the ground since last week and have joined forces with state and local officials as well as other volunteers in the area.

"It was also inspiring to see the many volunteers pitching in their time, strength, and resources to help begin the long process of recovery," Schnase remarked after the visit.

Early Response Teams are still needed. Learn more.

You can support the work of our Disaster Response Team by giving to Rio Texas Conference Disaster Response Fund - Conference Advance #2057.

Click Here to give to Rio Texas Disaster Response’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

More photos of the bishop's visit to the Coastal Bend

Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Annual Conference; Jim Callis, Corpus Christi Area ERT Site Coordinator; and Eugene Hileman, Disaster Response Coordinator, tour a relief staging area in Gregory, Texas

Bishop and ERT

Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Annual Conference listens to a report from an ERT on a worksite in Gregory, Texas

Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Annual Conference, surveys damage in Refugio, Texas with Rev. Jason Fry, pastor of Grace UMC, Corpus Christi; and Rev. Robert Lopez, Coastal Bend District Superintendent.

Robert Schnase, Bishop of the Rio Texas Annual Conference surveys damage at First UMC, Rockport, Texas with Director of Outreach Vitality, Abel Vega.