CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers are on the ground and others are on standby after weekend tornadoes and flooding killed five people and damaged homes in five states. Two disaster relief teams have been deployed in Tennessee; Illinois is assessing a response to flooding there; and teams are on standby in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio, according to reports from state DR representatives and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). About 25 volunteers … [Read more...]
Generous gifts bless Texans in aftermath of Harvey
BEAUMONT, Texas – In its 69-year existence, East Gill Baptist Church here has survived four catastrophic events. But last August, when Hurricane Harvey ripped through the gulf coast, the church’s building met its match. After the storm passed, Pastor Jearon Chew took a boat to the sight of the church. “We were only able to see the roof of the building,” Chew said. For seven days, the church – located in a lower-income area of Beaumont – sat under water. Once the waters receded, they … [Read more...]
FEMA sets Feb. 4 cutoff for Harvey aid applications
WASHINGTON (BP) - Texas churches wishing to apply for federal disaster aid funds following Hurricane Harvey have until Feb. 4 to do so, according to a notice from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Though such funds long had not been available to churches and other houses of worship, FEMA announced a policy change Jan. 2 amid the pressure of a lawsuit by three small Texas churches and urging from both President Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Now houses of worship … [Read more...]
Missouri university students repair homes in flood-ravaged Houston during the holidays
HOUSTON – Turkey and all the fixings on the table at grandparents house in late November. Nope. For students in Baptist Student Union groups across Missouri and several other states, it was a trip in church vans to Houston, Texas, to begin the rebuilding process for homeowners who were hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. Twenty BSU students from Southwest Baptist University, Missouri Southern State University, Missouri Western University, Missouri Science and Technology University and the … [Read more...]
FEMA: Churches now eligible for recovery funds
WASHINGTON (BP) – Churches whose facilities have been damaged by natural disasters now are eligible to receive relief funds from the federal government, according to a Jan. 2 announcement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Private nonprofit houses of worship will not be singled out for disfavored treatment within the community centers subcategory of [public assistance] nonprofit applicants," FEMA Recovery Directorate Assistant Administrator Alex Amparo wrote in a guide … [Read more...]
Missouri DR intern shares Jesus in Houston, earns college credits back home
MARYVILLE – Maddy Atwell spent her entire summer preparing for a disaster that never came. A member of Laura Street Baptist Church and a collegiate intern for Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief, she spent her summer training to respond however she was needed, whether in mass care, childcare, laundry, mudout, chaplaincy chainsaw or incident command. And while nobody would complain about a disaster-free summer, it was a little bit ironic when the wettest hurricane on record hit Houston … [Read more...]
Green light given for Puerto Rico relief
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board's Send Relief ministry has been asked to manage the disaster response on behalf of the Convention of Southern Baptist Churches in Puerto Rico. "We have officially requested Send Relief to coordinate the disaster relief response in Puerto Rico," said Jorge Alvarez, who leads the Puerto Rican convention. "The needs here are unprecedented, and we need our entire Southern Baptist family to help Puerto Rico during this tragic time." David … [Read more...]
‘God is real,’ Harvey survivor blesses Mo. DR workers with testimony
TEXAS CITY, Texas – Days spent responding to Hurricane Harvey were long, humid and exhausting. But ask any one of the hundreds who answered the call to bring help hope and healing, and they would most likely say the sacrifice was worth being a blessing to someone else in need. Often times, in fact, they are the ones who come away blessed. Such is the case of those volunteers who were fortunate to meet Maria Renovato and hear her testimony one evening. “Before the Hurricane,” she told the … [Read more...]
Hard, hot mudout work yields one-on-one ministry
TEXAS CITY, Texas – Rosalie Archer-Knehans never goes on a disaster relief job without a Bible, even if the person they’re serving is already a believer. One such survivor of Hurricane Harvey God had in store for Archer-Knehans was Elesia. Though she had been rescued by boat, water only got up three or four inches into house. Still, Archer-Knehans saw it as a God-made appointment. “She just needed someone to love her,” she said. “She was broken, alone and had lost her joy.” … [Read more...]
Interim DR leader Parry gets trial by fire during Harvey
JEFFERSON CITY – When Dwain Carter, the director of the Mission Baptist Convention’s disaster relief program left to take on a similar role in Texas, he knew he was leaving the ministry in capable hands. Tamara Parry, a member of Union Hill Baptist Church, Holts Summit, had served as the DR ministry assistant for three years and was ready and willing to step into the interim role. Then, just two weeks into her new responsibilities, the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history made … [Read more...]
Missouri DR workers to provide childcare at annual meeting
RAYTOWN – Volunteers from Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) will provide childcare on Monday and Tuesday of the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting here, Oct. 23-24. Space is limited to 40 children, and registration is required. The registration deadline has been set for Oct. 1. There is no cost for the childcare. Childcare is being offered for children from birth through 7 years of age. It begins at noon, Oct. 23, and ends after the Tuesday evening session, Oct. 24. Although … [Read more...]
After Irma, Baptists already issuing food in Caribbean
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (BP) -- Food and water shortages in the Caribbean are being relieved by Southern Baptist partners and disaster relief workers nearly a week after Hurricane Irma trampled islands and killed at least 38 people. Baptist Global Response (BGR) is already distributing food in Cuba, where Irma hit 13 of the 15 provinces. The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) … [Read more...]