Isaias is a form of Isaiah, a prophet in the Old Testament whose name translates to “God is salvation.”
“Every time a media person says it, writes it down or they do a news article on it, every time they say the name of the hurricane, they’re saying God is our salvation,” Rogers said. “In the middle of the storm, before, during, and after, God is our salvation.”
Rogers said he has been holding on to Isaiah 41:10 since the storm. He often signs letters with the verse.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness,” Rogers said, quoting scripture.
He told the Santa Rosa Press Gazette that he has been sharing the verse with people and praying with them in the parking lot as they wait for supplies, a hot meal or shower, or while charging their phone.
“I would pray that in the middle of this crisis, people would not let this be just a storm that came through that created chaos, but that they will see God,” Rogers said.
He said that residents should expect more hardship ahead, even as the skies outside were blue with not a cloud in sight.
“Storms are going to come, and this is not the last one,” he said. “But if you have God to hold on to, it is the peace that passes all understanding.”
Rogers said every member of his staff who can reach the church is working, from directing traffic at a distribution site in the parking lot to loading supplies into cars.
He described one man on a bicycle who rode away with supplies, and a neighbor with a disability who recently lost his mother and rode out the storm alone, and now faces downed trees and no power.
“That’s the look of overwhelmed,” Rogers said. “So that is where the church has got to step up and be the church.”
Nearby, Brandon Acree, the pastor of Crosspoint Church in Pace, said residents dealing with damage to their own property still have the responsibility to help others.
“Even though we all have our own personal stuff to figure out with our homes, as Jesus followers we aren’t called to just look out for ourselves,” he said. “We’re called to love, serve, and be helpful neighbors to anyone God puts in our path.”
