WHAT

The Joseph Pledge is a partnership among Christian ministries who are working together to help churches across the United States prepare for and respond to the growing challenge of disasters in our changing world.

Disasters have occurred since the beginning of recorded time. The Bible teaches us to prepare for unexpected times ahead and have a plan of action to address both spiritual and physical needs.  Churches and Christians should be leading the way in our communities when a crisis does occur, working alongside our neighbors and our government leaders. 

Joseph's story is about the community and nation. Our churches should be outward focused, sharing God's love and message with those around us. Please join us in The Joseph Pledge and prepare for increasing extreme weather events that increasingly threaten our children and their future.

WHO

The Joseph Pledge is jointly spearheaded by Wheaton College's Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) and the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN). See our "Partners" page for more info and updates on other collaborators as they become available.

HOW

HDI and EEN are in the process of convening a core group of ministry partners who share our vision and will join us in recruiting signatories to The Joseph Pledge and equipping them with available expertise, training, networks, and resources. We will keep this site updated as the project progresses but, in the meantime, feel free to contact us at support@creationcare.org or hdi@wheaton.edu.

Why

Since the 1980’s there has been roughly a 400% increase in natural disasters (Guha-Sapir, Vos, Below, & Ponserre, 2011). Disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, and terrorist attacks can strike a community with little or no warning. The unfortunate reality is that many congregations in this country may be touched either directly or indirectly by a disaster of some kind at any time.

Research has shown that, when disasters strike, many people turn to faith and to local congregations for help and answers (Aten, Gonzalez, Boan, Topping, Livingston, & Hosey, 2011; Whittington & Scher. 2010). We may not always realize the critical role of churches in responding to disasters but, if your doors are open after a local disaster strikes, people will be coming to you for help (Koenig, 2006). Knowing what to do when faced with a crisis can be the difference between calm and chaos, courage and fear, and life and death. When a crisis strikes, it is already too late to get prepared. By getting ready now you can save lives, reduce damage and extend your ministry to those who need help in a disaster.

Supporting The Joseph Pledge is fundamentally about engaging in the biblical call to mercy and justice. While there’s truth to the saying that “disasters don’t discriminate,” they do nonetheless reveal and exacerbate existing injustices. It is the vulnerable and those living on the margins of society who suffer disproportionately from all types of disasters. The poor, fragile, very old and young, and people with fewest resources and connections are at greater risk and have a more difficult time recovering. The church has a biblical and missional responsibility to engage here, and The Joseph Pledge is an opportunity to do so.