March News and Updates
Mission Trip to Guatemala
The recent trip to Guatemala was an incredible and unforgettable experience for the United Rescue Alliance team. In collaboration with Convergence Church, they organized meaningful community outreach efforts that brought hope and essential resources to local families. During their time in Guatemala, the team distributed valuable items such as solar headlamps, solar-powered Bibles, Lechem (Bread of Life), Willy Nilly books, Lion of Judah cards, and Little Jesus figurines—gifts that not only provided practical aid but also carried a powerful message of hope and faith. In addition to these efforts, the team had the privilege of sharing the gospel and engaging in discipleship with the military and national police, offering spiritual support to those who serve the country. This journey was truly life-changing, not only for the United Rescue Alliance team but also for the people of Guatemala. The connections made and the impact seen in the lives of those they served will be cherished, and the team is grateful for the opportunity to continue bringing hope and transformation to the communities they reach.
Abilene Gives
On May 6, United Rescue Alliance will be participating in the Abilene Gives giving event, a one-day online fundraising campaign aimed at supporting local nonprofits that make a difference in our community and beyond. This event is a critical opportunity for supporters like you to contribute to the vital work we do, ensuring we can continue providing life-saving assistance to those affected by disasters around the world. Every donation, big or small, allows United Rescue Alliance to continue to offer disaster relief to survivors in times of crisis. With your generosity, we can expand our reach and make an even greater impact, from disaster response training to resource distribution and health clinics in vulnerable communities. The funds raised during Abilene Gives will directly support our mission, helping us continue to equip volunteers, provide essential services, and offer hope to those who need it most. We encourage you to mark your calendar for May 6 and consider making a gift to United Rescue Alliance—your support is what allows us to carry out our life-changing work and bring hope to those in desperate need.
Angel Poorman Joins Texas VOAD Board
We are excited to announce that Angel Poorman, the founder of United Rescue Alliance, has joined Texas VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) as a board member! This is a significant step forward, as Angel's extensive experience in disaster relief and her deep passion for helping communities in crisis make her an ideal fit for this important role. As a board member, Angel will play a crucial part in strengthening collaboration and improving response efforts across Texas, helping to ensure that communities affected by disasters receive timely and effective support. We are confident that Angel’s leadership and commitment to disaster relief will have a lasting impact on Texas VOAD and the broader network of organizations working to serve those in need. We are excited to see the positive changes she will help bring about in this new position and look forward to the continued growth of United Rescue Alliance’s partnership with Texas VOAD.
URA Guatemala
This month, United Rescue Alliance Guatemala has been busy making a significant impact through a series of training and prayer initiatives aimed at empowering those who serve their communities. In addition to the amazing work done with URA America and Convergence Church, URA Guatemala provided teaching on Leadership and Honor, followed by a powerful prayer session for agents at EEPOL, the School of Specialties of the National Police. In addition to this, strategic meetings were held with high-ranking police officers inside the academy, further strengthening the relationship between URA and law enforcement. The team also met with the Director of the Superior Education Academy for the National Army, offering prayer and support for the leadership of the country’s military forces. One of the highlights of the month was teaching Leadership and Honor to 170 officers of the Guatemalan Army, followed by a prayer session, reinforcing the values of integrity and service in their roles. Additionally, URA had the opportunity to teach Leadership and Honor to an impressive group of 1,600 cadets training to become police agents, instilling these essential principles early on in their careers. Through these impactful sessions, URA Guatemala continues to strengthen the leadership, honor, and faith of those in positions of authority, ensuring they are equipped not only with professional skills but also with a strong moral foundation.
SOS Attitude
United Rescue Alliance is excited to share that its founder, Angel Poorman, recently met with SOS Attitude, an organization that specializes in providing post-disaster tents. The meeting focused on exploring future opportunities for collaboration between the two organizations to better support communities affected by disasters. SOS Attitude’s tents offer much-needed shelter and protection for displaced individuals and families in the aftermath of a disaster. The discussion highlighted the potential for combining efforts to provide essential resources like emergency shelter to those in urgent need. United Rescue Alliance looks forward to working together with SOS Attitude in the future to strengthen disaster response and recovery efforts.
Silk Workshop
In collaboration with URA and Beltway Park Church, Jennifer Jones hosted a "Silk Workshop" event at the URA Camp Barkeley Training and Equipping Center. The event provided a meaningful opportunity for worship through creative arts, bringing people together for a special time of reflection and celebration.
Introducing Cecilia
United Rescue Alliance is pleased to introduce our new intern, Cecilia! Read her bio below to get to know her!
Hello, my name is Cecilia Onesmo Kisanga originally from Tanzania who is currently residing here at Abilene, Texas. I am a recent Masters graduate in the School of Public Health under the Emergency and Disaster Management program at the Tel Aviv University in Israel. I am passionate about working with children, youth, adults and everyone in any given community to ensure that they are impacted with love, I enjoy logistics and supply chain as this is a great tool to ensure needs are met and overall I am passionate about every paradigm of humanitarian action as it’s all about responding and caring for survivors who have gone through atrocities.
Before joining URA, I intern with GADRA back in 2024/25 for a year under the same field of study while case managing 4 different Disability Led Organizations (DLOs) from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Afghanistan. During my Bachelors program in Cyprus where I pursued Psychology (Hons), I volunteered with several organizations including Caritas Cyprus an NGO whose beneficiaries are asylum seekers, refugees and human trafficked victims.
Board Updates
United Rescue Alliance is excited to announce the addition of Paul Beale from Taylor Telecom to our Board of Directors. Paul brings a wealth of experience and expertise and the team is thrilled to have him join the board. His insight and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand our efforts to provide life-saving support and resources to communities in need. We look forward to the positive impact Paul will have on the future of United Rescue Alliance.
Additionally, the United Rescue Alliance Board of Directors will be holding its quarterly meeting to review progress, discuss upcoming initiatives, and strategize for the future. This meeting is an important opportunity for the board to ensure that the organization remains on track in fulfilling its mission to provide life-saving support to communities in need.
Israel 365 Event
Angel Poorman recently attended the Israel365 event, which focused on the important mandate Christians have to stand with Israel. The event highlighted the biblical and spiritual significance of supporting Israel and emphasized the call to stand in solidarity with the nation. Angel was honored to be part of this gathering and deeply moved by the inspiring message of unity and faith in support of Israel’s people and their future.
Warehouse and Shoe Shipment
The URA Warehouse at Chike continues to be filled with generous donations from our incredible partners, including Good360, whose support is essential in enabling us to provide disaster relief to communities in need. These donations play a vital role in ensuring we have the necessary resources to respond swiftly and effectively during times of crisis. The warehouse serves as a key hub for organizing and storing these resources, allowing us to be fully prepared for any disaster that may arise. We are deeply grateful to Chike for generously providing the space to house these vital supplies and to Good360 for their ongoing commitment to supporting disaster relief efforts. Thanks to the collaboration of these organizations, we can strengthen our disaster response and continue offering support to those in need. We sincerely appreciate their generosity and the opportunity to work together to make a lasting impact on the lives of disaster survivors.
In addition to the ongoing donations at the URA Warehouse, we are excited to share that a shipment of shoes is on its way to Greenville, North Carolina. These shoes will be distributed to those affected by recent disasters in the area, providing much-needed support as they begin the process of recovery. We are grateful to Good360 for their generous contribution and for helping us bring comfort and relief to the people of Greenville.
Join Us for Worship!
Every Tuesday night at 6:30pm, URA hosts a night of worship and prayer at the Camp Barkeley Worship Center. All are welcome and invited!
