Conference Hires Assistant for Disaster Response

By Tamica Smith Jeuitt, Sr. Communications Specialist, Mississippi Conference    

Photo right: Mellie Jordan is the daughter of Rev. Mike Childs, Louisville First UMC in Louisville, Mississippi. 

Mellie Jordan believes that for the last decade, the Lord has been preparing her for her new job with the Mississippi Conference as the disaster response administrative assistant, through the Office of Connectional Ministries.
Some examples of her testament are out of her experiences from helping a friend and his family who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Jordan said she spent long hours mucking out the family's home and even joined them in accepting the kindness of strangers who would drive-up with meals while they were working. In addition, she had been an advocate for a Burmese community that was vulnerable to predators in Texas, where she once lived. Jordan often accompanied people to places such as banking institutions. She even led a small ministry for the young Burmese mothers.

Nevertheless, it was after the April 2014 tornado that devastated Louisville-Jordan's hometown in Winston County, Mississippi, that she was convinced there was a Devine plan for her in disaster response.

Jordan said she had been back in Mississippi only one month when the deadly twister swept through roughly 35 miles of Louisville. Once again, Jordan, the daughter of a United Methodist pastor, put her faith into action as a volunteer. She was eventually named "Woman of the Year" by the Chamber of Commerce for Winston County for her contributions as a United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) case management coordinator. 
In her new role, Jordan will continue serving in the ongoing disaster response to the tornado that hit North Mississippi before Christmas Eve 2015.
"My goal for my new position is to use my experience so that every ugly disaster in a community is turned into a beautiful storm by helping a community come together, equipping local United Methodist churches to be the hands and feet of Christ and advocating for the most vulnerable the disaster leaves behind," explained Jordan.

A portion of Jordan's salary is being funded through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. She is a wife and a mother to three children ages 4, 5, and 7-responding to  her calling.