MINNEAPOLIS (BP) – When devastating floods hit the Houston area in April, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers did what they normally do in the face of crisis. They responded.
Those efforts were recognized May 20 when several disaster relief teams were acknowledged during this year’s National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD or VOAD) conference in Minneapolis. The organization presented SBDR with its National Member of the Year award.
“It is a privilege to bear witness to the willingness of our volunteers to provide help, healing and hope to individuals, families and communities everyday as they serve as the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Mickey Caison, executive director of disaster relief for the North American Mission Board said.
“The love and compassion expressed by our volunteers’ hard work, along with emotional and spiritual care, are used by our Lord not only to assist in recovery following a disaster but also to impact eternal relationships with Him.”
For 46 years, more than 100 organizations like NAMB and the SBDR have cooperated through VOAD to serve people and communities impacted by natural disasters. Initiatives within each disaster relief organization, like the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program (the SBC’s unified channel for funding missions and ministry), have helped bring even more aid to disaster-stricken communities during the last half-century.