On average,  a church is within walking distance of every American. What would happen if we connected them all together into a response network?

Christian Emergency Network (CEN) is organized into Chapters that work locally to network and prepare Christians and churches to respond to emergencies, big and small. Chapters set up and operate Activation Areas: geographic areas of approximately 100,000 in population in which the Church is capable of reaching every resident within an eight-hour period. Chapters pay small monthly dues to receive training, support and a communications infrastructure from the CEN national network (sometimes referred to as "CEN National"). Chapters adapt methodologies to fit the needs of their constituents, recruiting and providing member churches and organizations services and opportunities to serve.

Chapters Connect Christians to Serve in Emergencies Through:

1. Network Leader Development - recruiting and training local Christian leaders in the principles of Biblical Readiness, and in how to organize and mobilize Christians to support the efforts of community leaders and emergency managers while sharing the love of Christ in word and deed.
2. Network Building - convening willing participants to plan, set protocol and support a community-wide Christian response to crisis or disaster.
3. Network Initiatives - campaigns and other efforts to build the response capacity of Christians and Christian churches. For example, the Ready Church Initiative mobilizes Christians to prepare and learn how to help others. CEN-member churches get access to resources for instruction & activities, tools for networking-preparing-and-responding to personal or community-wide emergencies, training to set up and operate a Church Emergency Team, and resources to complete a four-week campaign.
4. Network Communications - Ready Christians and Ready Churches opt in to receive alerts and advisories from CEN National and their local Chapter to celebrate successes, stay abreast of current needs, and to receive invitations to respond to emergencies outside the local Activation Area. Members may also communicate with the CEN national network requesting support in emergencies.
5. Network Mobilization - CEN coordinates the efforts of Christians and their churches when they are called into action by directing resources and volunteers to areas of need. CEN Chapters provide crisis communications services to members in the event of an emergency.

CEN Chapters fill the collaboration and communication gap that exists between the various Christian organizations (local churches or ministries called upon to provide volunteers and services) that respond to emergencies and the local Emergency Managers at all levels.  The Chapter helps manage Christian support and seeks the ability to mobilize Christians effectively.

Christian Emergency Network operates in a non-traditional structure. Member groups are self-organizing, self-funding and self-mobilizing. CEN provides the structure, the principles and the pathway to effective service. Members opt in to support as much as they are willing and able. The CEN Charter establishes minimum requirements for Chapters, leaving lots of room for Chapters to adapt to local conditions.

We invite Christian leaders who demonstrate an ability to lead, have access to relationships with local leaders, exhibit a commitment to community-building and community-reaching efforts, and affirm the CEN Statement of Faith to inquire about launching a Chapter.

Sign up now. It’s free to get started.