SBC DISASTER RELIEF AT WORK

As a follow-up to our stories about a month ago regarding the tornadoes in central Massachusetts, we just wanted to share a bit of insight on how valuable these Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are in ministering to urgent needs in emergencies. 

The pictures included here were taken at Brimfield, Massachusetts, just about 35 miles west of Northborough where we are living this year.  The beautiful old church building houses the Friendship Baptist Church which became the site of a disaster relief command center immediately following the outbreak of tornadoes on June 1st.  The trailer pictured is from the New York Disaster Relief Team in partnership with Baptists in Georgia and Utah), one of many states who responded to the disasters with chain saw units, feeding units, chaplains, and other services.  These folks are already well trained and committed to their tasks and serve all over the US when needed. 

In addition to the Southern Baptist disaster relief teams serving in Massachusetts, currently we have
teams at another site in Vermont which for weeks has been responding to residents who have been  affected by the flooding of Lake Champlain.  Thousands of volunteer hours are expended in assisting during these disasters, and many of these volunteers have the opportunity to share the gospel message.  Our teams find that often these disasters "get people's attention" like nothing else and tend to make hearts receptive to the gospel.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are highly respected by the other organizations who are involved worldwide in these efforts.  In fact, we understand that Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
is the third largest provider of these services worldwide behind only the Red Cross and Salvation Army!  What an opportunity for prayer, outreach, and service!  Many thanks to dedicated these servants!  Please add them to your prayer list as our men and women respond to disasters all over the world, including the recent tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, AL, and Joplin, MO. 

The Friendship Baptist Church in Brimfield, MA, showing a disaster relief trailer. Before the storm the church was surrounded by tall trees---now snapped by the wind's fury as shown beside our parked car! 

  Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams to the rescue!  This trailer belongs to the New York team and became a beehive of activity inside as volunteers from all over came to field requests for assistance, dispatch assessors, and then send chain saw teams to begin the clean-up.

This banner on the road in front of Friendship Baptist Church alerted bewildered passersby of this vital ministry provided by Southern Baptists.  The story of SBC Disaster Relief even made the front page in the Worcester paper! What an opportunity to share Christian witness in spiritually dark New England!  John Scoggins, the Disaster Relief White Hat for all of New England (that means he's the final go-to in this area) declares that in ordinary situations, it takes about 23 "touches" for a person to be receptive to the gospel.  In times of disaster, on the average, persons affected by the disaster become receptive after six only "touches!" WOW!!!