EUREKA – Even before the waters receded in Eureka, the people of the town knew that the flood of April 2017 was going to be different than their experience just months ago in December of 2015. Michael Bagwell, co-regional coordinator for the East Central Region of the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief and member of Central Baptist Church, said the main difference was preparation. “I knew the sandbagging did not work last time,” he said. “So, we decided to look at a more practical … [Read more...]
Update: Salem storm takes out FBC’s gym
SALEM – Severe storms May 27 damaged several homes and tore open the gym of First Baptist here, though no injuries have been reported and power has been restored to most of town. It has not been determined if the damage was the result of a tornado or straight-line winds. “I want to thank everyone so much for the outpouring of prayers in light of all the events at our church,” Pastor Michael York wrote on Facebook. “The storm damaged our building but God is strengthening our church. It … [Read more...]
Dozens of DR teams fan out across southern Missouri
VAN BUREN – The seemingly non-stop showers that brought flooding to southern Missouri weren’t all that unusual. What was unusual was just how widespread the flooding and subsequent damage became. The rains that began at the end of April and stretched into the first weeks of May inundated much of Missouri south of Interstate 44, leaving closed roads – and flooded homes – from Neosho in the southwest all the way to Eureka in the St. Louis area. Teams from all across Missouri – including … [Read more...]
Yeats issues DR plea
John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, issued an immediate call to support DR efforts and pray for flood victims. “I’m writing to ask you to support Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in the wake of significant flooding across southern Missouri,” he said. “Further, we are learning that a number of Missouri Baptist churches are under water. I am in contact with the pastors of these churches, and am seeking to reach out to more of our local churches that … [Read more...]
DR’s witness pops up during late night flood duty
It was somewhere between 2 and 5 a.m., April 30. It was cold, wet, and windy as I watched the waters of the Osage River creep ever closer. When the Cole County Sheriff activated his posse (a ready-to-go group of trained civilian volunteers… no, we don’t chase after cattle rustlers, but my fingers are crossed) for flood duty, I changed into my uniform and immediately confirmed my availability. I thought I might spend the afternoon rescuing stranded citizens trapped in their flooded homes. … [Read more...]
Update: Missouri flooding damages churches, calls DR to action
VAN BUREN – The flood waters are just now beginning to recede, and while many Missouri Baptists are water-logged, they are ready to help their communities dry out. With some parts of the state seeing rain for four or five straight days and clocking more than a foot of precipitation over the weekend, Gov. Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency April 29. The Mississippi River reached 17 feet above flood stage near Cape Girardeau, within six inches of the all-time record. The Meramec … [Read more...]
Disaster Relief showcases CP, MMO at work
JEFFERSON CITY – The word “missionary” typically conjures up images of a church planter, tattered Bible in hand, plodding through the jungle to bring the Gospel to some unreached people group. But there are 1,743 vetted and trained volunteer missionaries in yellow shirts working in Missouri who are equally at home toting a chainsaw or prepping tens of thousands of hot meals. Few ministries show Missouri Baptists’ cooperation at work like Disaster Relief. The Cooperative Program (CP) funds … [Read more...]
DR responds after deadly storms roll through state
PERRYVILLE – Storms in the South and Midwest left at least four people dead, damaged church buildings and led to deployment of Baptist disaster relief workers in four states, including Missouri. The Feb. 28 storm system killed three people in Illinois and one in Perryville, Mo., where Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Disaster Relief immediately began offering help, hope and healing to the community. Approximately 55 MBC DR volunteers deployed to the Perryville area. The bulk of the DR … [Read more...]
Baptist Builders tap new leader
MARSHALL – Mike Hibbard, a long-time volunteer in Missouri’s Disaster Relief and Baptist Builders programs, is taking over the reins of the construction ministry. Leighton Clemons, a layman from Independence, is “retiring” from the leadership role, but will continue to be involved as a volunteer. “I can’t do what Leighton has done,” Hibbard said, “but I hope to continue to get the information out there about Baptist Builders. People simply don’t know about it.” Baptist Builders offers a … [Read more...]
First-time DR trainee responds to hurricane
WHITEVILLE, N.C. – When he arrived in Jefferson City for disaster relief training Oct. 7, Jeremey Wallace had no idea just how soon his new found skills would be put into practice. “I thought, ‘I’ll go to the training and see what this is all about,’” the pastor of Second Baptist Church, Bowling Green said. “Once I saw just how much Disaster Relief did, I knew this is something I wanted to participate in.” Just days later, Wallace joined up with a convoy of dozens of Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
‘Flexible, flexible, flexible;’ MBC DR volunteers roll with the punches responding to Hurricane Matthew
WHITEVILLE, NC - The motto for Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief? Be flexible, be flexible, be flexible. That motto was put to the test as volunteers prepared to respond after Hurricane Matthew swamped the East Coast. The original deployment to Florida scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 9 was pushed back to Monday. Then it was pushed to Wednesday. Then it was switched to South Carolina. Then it was switched to Tuesday. Then it was switched to North Carolina. When they finally set off, a blown tire … [Read more...]
Labradoodle joins DR in childcare ministry
ST. CHARLES – One look at the lovable face of Steele the labradoodle and Missouri Baptist children were put right at ease. “We like to hang around at check-in because many of the kiddos are anxious and Steele will get them excited, or at least a little distracted, to go into the childcare room,” said Ann Stevenson, Disaster Relief (DR) volunteer, member of First Baptist Church, Richland, and Steele’s handler. Steele is a professional therapy dog and has been part of the Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
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