BATON ROUGE, La. – It’s not as glamorous as wielding a chainsaw or cranking through a few thousand meals a day, but chaplains are playing a role in Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) as volunteers bring help, hope and healing to Louisiana flood victims. Tony Lee, a volunteer chaplain from First Baptist Church, Salisbury, worked alongside a crew doing mud out and debris removal. Like all DR chaplains, Lee was responsible not only for listening to the homeowner, but also for observing and … [Read more...]
DR volunteer dies while serving in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (BP) -- Working as part of his church's disaster relief team, Sonny Ellis died while doing what he did best -- serving people. "He was showing the people of Denham Springs, La., an example of what Jesus would do," said Roy Hill, pastor of First Baptist Church in Satsuma, Ala.. On Sept. 1, Ellis had just placed a load of laundry in a washing machine with his church's disaster relief laundry unit, which was in operation helping flood survivors of the historic flooding … [Read more...]
Mo. DR volunteers care for kids
ST. LOUIS – As the young mother scooped up her son after a morning of Southern Baptist preaching and business, Angie Hurd couldn’t help but overhear the conversation surrounding their reunion. “The three-year-old said, ‘Mommy, I cried and I cried and I cried and then I loved it,’” said Hurd, Childcare Coordinator for Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (DR). “That’s why we do what we do. This program allows moms the opportunity to stay and take part in the annual meeting without having to … [Read more...]
National award recognizes SBC disaster relief volunteers
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 … [Read more...]
Historic floods draw Baptist relief efforts
HOUSTON (BP) -- Southern Baptists of Texas Convention disaster relief leaders had "boots on the ground" in Houston Thursday (May 28) following a month of historic rains and tornadoes across Texas and Oklahoma that led to deadly flooding over Memorial Day weekend with at least 15 dead and hundreds evacuated. While images of separated families in raging waters, floating cars, submerged intersections and uprooted caskets caught the nation's attention and caused an outpouring of concern, … [Read more...]
Washington fire survivors see God work through Baptist Relief volunteers
TWISP, Wash. – Patty Wetzel already knew the life-altering devastation that can come when fire strikes her home. She remembers well the night 37 years ago—as a young mother—when she and her family were forced to flee their burning home while still in their pajamas. Her family lost “everything” that night. Last month fear gripped her as she was given 20 minutes to leave her Twisp, Wash., home before the fire she could already see in the horizon reached her property. “It was just pure … [Read more...]
Baptist help continues for Washington fire survivors
CHELAN, Wash. - Gerry Roe can't help but wipe away a tear when she thinks about it. An older gentleman limped on two crutches into an American Red Cross (ARC) feeding station servicing fire survivors at a senior center in Twisp, Wash. Though Roe was told later he was partially paralyzed, he wasn't looking for food for himself. He wanted to take the meals provided by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers to others in the community in need after fires in eastern Washington state … [Read more...]
Documentary on Joplin Tornadoes
JOPLIN – Where is God in the midst of a storm? Specifically, where was God in the 2011 EF5 tornado that killed 158 people and caused more than a billion dollars in damage in Joplin? What about the 2013 EF5 tornado that killed 24 and inured nearly 400 in Moore, Okla. last year? A new documentary, “Where Was God? Stories of Hope After the Storm,” attempts to answer that question. During an interview with The Pathway, Oklahoma film maker Chris Forbes said the short answer is that He was … [Read more...]
Baptists minister to fire victims in Chile
Daniela Ramirez/Baptist Press VALPARAÍSO, Chile (BP) – Baptists in Chile are providing food, supplies and the hope of Christ to victims of a large and fast-moving forest fire that has killed 15 and displaced at least 12,000 people in Valparaíso, Chile. The fire broke out April 12 and rapidly spread through some of the 42 hillside neighborhoods that comprise the historic city, Chile’s chief seaport. Because of strong winds, firefighters have had difficulty containing the blaze, which has … [Read more...]
DR responds in Arkansas, other tornado-stricken states
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - As residents of the South and Midwest braced for more violent storms Monday, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers were already responding to needs in Arkansas, Oklahoma and in other states impacted by devastating tornadoes that struck over the weekend. The hardest hit area in the suburbs of Little Rock was the focus of continued search and recovery efforts Monday as SBDR volunteers prepared to serve hot meals to rescuers and storm survivors. "We have … [Read more...]
Church responds to landslide
OSO, Wash. -- Oso Community Chapel is the only church on a 30-mile stretch of State Route 530 - the roadway, which was sliced in half March 22 by a massive landslide. The disaster along the Stillaguamish River claimed at least 14 lives and destroyed some 50 homes Church planter Gary Ray, pastor of Oso Chapel, reports that none of his 80 members were injured in the slide, and none lost their homes. But they all know people who did in the rural community of 500. "We are the only church … [Read more...]
Healing, DR relief continue in Philippines
Caroline Anderson*/Baptist Press CEBU, Philippines (BP) – From the rubble, a nation is still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan’s devastating effects last November. Much of the press and publicity have moved on, but Baptist Global Response (BGR) continues relief efforts. “Baptist Global Response is gearing up for long-term development as the short-term relief organizations pull out,” says International Mission Board missionary Stan Smith. He and his wife, Dottie, minister on the island … [Read more...]
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