Disaster Relief boss offers thanks
JEFFRSON CITY – After overseeing 50 days of recovery after record ice storms ravaged southwest Missouri, Danny Decker wants to say thank you… at least 6,409 times. That’s the number of “heroes” in yellow Disaster Relief hats who volunteered to prepare 33,430 hot meals, complete 2,962 chainsaw jobs, clean 53 loads of laundry and offer 393 showers to beleaguered utility and other relief workers. In addition to the 24 professions of faith Decker cites below, volunteers presented the Gospel 590 times, handed out 101 Bibles and prayed with 109 households.
Decker, who is the director of Disaster Relief for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), issued this letter of gratitude:
“The eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives a list of some Old Testament ‘heroes of the faith.’ These godly saints showed their faith more by how they lived than by what they said.
“Recently, the ice storm that struck Missouri in January has surfaced some modern day heroes. Individuals, churches, and associations across Missouri showed their faith by sacrifices they made as they served the Lord by serving others in His Name. During the 50 days of Disaster Relief recovery 24 individuals made professions of faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and many other individuals had their faith strengthened. We still have some clean-up to do, but the heaviest work load has been done.
“If I started mentioning names I know I would leave someone out and I wouldn’t want to do that. So I simply say, ‘Thank you, Missouri Baptists, for your sacrificial giving of your time and labor and for your financial giving. I also say thank you to the families who sent their loved ones to work in the recovery effort.’ Many lives have been changed because you cared, because you gave, and because you put ‘feet’ to your faith.
“May God richly bless you and may His grace enrich your life.”