Disaster Relief Update - Tuesday, September 29, 2009
"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love". 1 John 4:7-8 (HCSV)
The love of God – Southern Baptists are loving people through word and deed. Lives are being changed by the love of God. What an honor to be a part of what God is doing today.
Georgia Flood
From reports from the field, we know that God has added names to the Lamb’s book of life. Volunteers are sharing the hope of Christ with those affected by the Georgia floods and if nothing more happens, we can still celebrate with angels for 3 people that have been added to the kingdom. The work of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is far greater than mudding-out homes, cooking meals and the myriad of task that we do. The bottom line has always been, and should continue to be, seeing lost people brought face-to-face with the truth of the Gospel and seeing God perform His wonderful work of salvation.
Teams continue to work in Georgia. Assessors are working along with mud-out teams. Georgia feeding units are feeding the volunteers and in conjunction with the American Red Cross are feeding residents. In addition to Georgia, volunteers from AL, Baptist General Association of Virginia(VBMB), FL, KY, NC, SC, Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV), and Texas Baptist Men.
In photo at right Kenneth Bryant, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer works in a flood damaged home.
For more information visit the Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief ResponseSite Update website.
Georgia Flood Response Stats To Date
| Professions of Faith |
3
|
| Chaplaincy Contacts |
241
|
| Gospel Presentations |
105
|
| Other Decisions |
2
|
| Ministry Contacts |
332
|
| Volunteer Days |
457
|
| Meals Prepared |
4,554
|
| Mudout Jobs |
47
|
Floods in the Philippines
Typhoon Ketsana slammed into Manila and surrounding provinces Sept. 26, dumping a month's worth of rain in just 12 hours. Relief organizations say it is the country's worst flooding in 40 years. At least 284 people have been reported dead or missing and nearly 380,000 people have sought shelter in evacuation centers, according to news reports.
Southern Baptists are assessing ways to address relief needs in the wake of the storm, said Jim Brown, U.S. director for Baptist Global Response. The organization is communicating with ministry partners in the Philippines and interacting with Southern Baptist disaster relief teams on standby for emergency response.
"Local ministry partners went to work immediately after the storm, providing emergency food and water provided by the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund," Brown said. "After receiving preliminary assessment information from local field partners, we are gearing up for a major response in the wake of this typhoon."
Disaster Relief Directors of the two conventions "on call" for an initial international call out in September are being kept abreast of developing plans.
California 49er Fire - Auburn, CA
Don Hargis, State Disaster Relief Director for California reports that they have finished their work on these fires. The work took place between September 1 and September 24. A total of 349 CA volunteers cleaned 14 home sites and most importantly saw 1 profession of faith. In addition they report:
| Ministry Contacts |
80
|
| Meals |
353
|
| Showers |
66
|
| Laundry Loads |
2
|
Earthquake Spawns a Tsunami Striking American Samoa
An earthquake measuring 8.1 spawned a tsunami that sent powerful waves crashing into American Samoa and threatening the Hawaiian Islands Tuesday. Late Tuesday reports were beginning to trickle in with initial accounts reporting 39 deaths and dozens missing in American Samoa, U.S. Territory that is part of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.
Conversations between Mickey Caison, Hawaii-Pacific Baptist Convention State Executive Director/Treasurer Veryl Henderson, and National American Red Cross and FEMA leadership late Tuesday night were aimed at laying the ground work for a potential response to American Samoa.
According to Veryl Henderson, the Seafarer's Center in Pago Pago is destroyed, ships were moved out of the harbor onto land, and most buildings in Pago Pago are destroyed. President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the island nation, home to 65,000 residents.
Your prayers are your most important contribution to all of these relief efforts. Pray for victims, volunteers and leadership.
Support Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Efforts
Your prayers are your most important contribution to all of these relief efforts. Pray for victims, volunteers and leadership.
You can also support Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts with your financial gifts online or by contacting your State Baptist Convention Disaster Relief office.
2009 Activity Reported as of September 29
| Professions of Faith |
93 |
| Gospel Presentations |
621 |
| Chaplaincy Contacts |
1195 |
| Ministry Contacts |
8,136 |
| Other Decisions |
164 |
| Volunteer Days |
24,133 |
| Meals Prepared |
233,936 |
| Mudout Jobs |
478 |
| Chainsaw Jobs |
6,625 |
| Repair Jobs |
56 |
| Roofing Jobs |
34 |
| Children Cared For |
31 |
| Showers |
6,178 |
| Laundry Loads |
1,374 |
| Water (Gallons) |
6,137 |
| Messages |
105 |
National Disaster Relief Leadership
- Bruce Poss, Disaster Relief Unit Coordinator
- Terry Henderson, Disaster Relief Operations Consultant
- Karl Ragan, Disaster Relief Planning Consultant
To contact the Disaster Operation Center, call 1.888.462.8657 or e-mail dr_offsite@namb.net
| 
