Crisis Response Units

A  Crisis Response Unit (CRU) is a chapter of CRI that meets on a regular basis for training and mobilization purposes, works to network with local officials first responders and disaster response, helps provide regions a context for personal and neighborhood preparedness as well as establish places and or communities of refuge.

What do they do?

CRUs (Crisis Response Units) are autonomous chapters of CRI that provide a context for responders, churches or ministries to respond to crisis and disaster in their own communities. CRUs meet on a regular basis for ongoing training, mobilization and preparedness purposes. CRUs network and partner with local and state officials, local relief efforts and the response community at large. CRUs is a local expression of CRIs vision and values to reach the harvest in crisis and build communities and places of refuge. Built upon the foundation of relationship, CRUs can tap into the values and resources of a global family of responders who long to see great demonstrations of God’s mercy and love in the midst of crisis and disaster.

What is a CRU Meeting?

CRU meetings provide responders with times of Holy Spirit impartation, training, fellowship, and prayer surrounding local, national and international deployment readiness as well as personal and community preparedness. They integrate sound biblical theology on how to develop an apostolic response to crisis through the 4 phases of disaster (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery). A CRU is built upon a foundation of prayer and intimacy with Jesus sharing the values and vision of CRI in a local context so we can reach the harvest in crisis together!

Why prepare?

Our purpose is to prepare you to be ready to serve God and others with a faith filled response in times of crisis. It is our desire for churches and ministries to be prepared practically for times of crisis and to become “places and or communities of refuge” for times of crisis. Our mission is “harvest focused” not “survival focused”. Life in the Kingdom is not about self preservation but rather laying our lives down and giving our resources away for the sake of sharing His love and mercy.

What are the benefits?

Training and responding with CRI puts you in a recognized ministry and disaster response organization.   The government recognizes Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).  When spontaneous, untrained volunteers respond to a crisis, the government calls it the “second disaster”.  CRI has a database of trained responders who desire to bring the Kingdom into crisis with respect to how the government responds.

The power of having prayer support in times of response and rebuilding is without a doubt one of the biggest benefits of working together.  Within CRI, relationships form in a place of shared values and resources that manifest the glory of God being brought into crisis.  Another advantage of being able to stay connected with fellow responders is hearing what others may be doing to prepare their homes/communities for times of crisis and disaster.

Requirements to be a CRU leader:

• complete a CRI Basic Disaster Relief Training or an ARC School
• complete either one Deployment, Deployment Exercise or an Advanced Training.
• fill an application and be approved by Crisis Response International
• attend CRU Leadership Summits
• follow Crisis Response International deployment protocol

Requirements of a CRU:

• have a desire to work in relationship and in the values of Crisis Response International.
• be willing to work with other CRI chapters and work towards their betterment.
• hold at least one monthly meeting.
• promote CRI trainings and deployment exercises.
• provide resources and training in the area of preparedness and deployment readiness in their own community.
• exist to be a place of refuge or deploy to their own communities.
• work in relationship and a spirit of service to their own community and local disaster response agencies.
• allow anyone to join your local CRU meeting (however an individual cannot deploy until he/she has been CRI trained).

Download a CRU application now!

Official Crisis Response Units Contact Info

Arkansas

“SS ARK” Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Terry Meythaler
tmeythaler@hotmail.com
479-524-4182

Or

Wade Baker
wadebaker11@gmail.com
The Pointe
1013 S. Maxwell St.
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
Visit our Facebook Page

California

Big Bear Lake, California
Jason Robillard
jtrobi@yahoo.com
909-856-7770

Florida

Tallahassee, Florida

Todd Jackson
pt13@me.com

850-241-2344

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
CJ Swickey
CJ@okccru.org
405-740-0882

Virginia

Fredericksburg, Virginia
Scott Bradshaw
sbradshaw@theprayerfurnace.org
540-424-1544

West Virginia

Hurricane, West Virginia
Chuck Reber
cru@shilohhop.org
304-757-1022

Wisconsin

Crisis Response Wisconsin
Matt Collins
matt@crisisresponsewisconsin.com

Brazil

Brazil
Paul Cull

(22) 8149 0601
Postal: Caixa Postal 74.299
Aricanduva
São Paulo – SP
CEP 03579-970
Brazil

https://www.facebook.com/CRUNF

Uganda

JENGA Community Development Outreach - Uganda
Robby Keen
robbygkeen@hotmail.com
www.jengauganda.org
robbykeen.whereareyou.net
PO Box 993
Mbale – Uganda – 00256
(0) 39 294 7516
Registered Ugandan NGO 5518 and UK Charity 1117877

 

Check the Crisis Response International Facebook Fan page for more info and latest updates.

Crisis Response Units are financially separate entities from Crisis Response International but share the same heart, vision and values for preparing the church for disaster and reaching the harvest in crisis.