Mission
In Chesapeake Conference Territory, Maryland and Delaware, we have the vision to “Love our Neighborhood”.Creating new partnerships and new opportunities in the actual environment, ACS-Chesapeake is looking to bless others and to show the love of Jesus in their lives as true disciples and be a blessing for their neighborhoods. The ACS-Chesapeake team is strategically creating new approaches that can make Our Church buildings be used as centers of services where the community around the church building can see and find new ways to make a difference and be a positive influence around. Therefore, became a Centers of Influence that will offer resources and opportunities to the neighbors that eventually will connect with discipleship strategies locally.
Additional Links:
Online training is available. Requests should be sent to acs@ccosda.org
Maryland Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
Delaware Volunteer Organization Active in Disasters (DEVOAD)
Howard County Community Organisation Active in Disasters (Howard COAD)
American Red Cross National Capital Greater Chesapeake Region
It is the practice of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in response to the command of Jesus Christ, to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the poor, heal the sick, and comfort the widow and orphan. Seventh-day Adventists cooperate in the Adventist Disaster Response program, giving their time, talents, money, and goods to serve the victims of disaster.
Adventist Community Services Disaster Response is a program, under the umbrella of Adventist Community Services (ACS), which expands the role of ACS during the time of disaster in the local, state, and national arena. The Disaster Response program provides a pathway through which the local church ACS can become involved and play a significant role at each level of government. All disasters occurring within the confines of the Chesapeake Conference, which includes MD, DE, and three counties in WV, are the responsibility of the conference. The execution of this responsibility comes under the direction of the Conference Disaster Response Director and the Conference Disaster Response Coordinators.
The requirements to become involved, even on the local level following a disaster event, have increased as a result of the 9-11 tragedy. It is the responsibility of the Conference Disaster Response Organization to provide proper training, execute necessary exercises, and provide the tools to prepare volunteers to carry out assigned tasks when called into service. Our response generally takes the form of operating collection centers, distribution centers, and multi-agency warehouses. The Conference Disaster Response Director will oversee the setting-up of these operations, arranging for their continued management, and the closing out of the operation at the proper time.
Adventist Community Services Disaster Response is known nationally to be one of the primer organizations involved in Donation Management. This is not by happenstance; it is through an outstanding training program and much networking throughout the Disaster Response world. ACS Disaster Response operates under Memorandums of Understanding with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, and many state emergency management agencies. It is also a founding member of the inter-agency compact called National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and the affiliated state VOAD’s.
Chesapeake ACS Disaster Response success depends on many well-trained and committed volunteers in every area of the conference. Jesus calls each one of us to service – Matt.22: 36-40, Matt. 25: 31-46. ACS Disaster Response is here to help prepare you for service in the 21st Century.