Disaster Relief Update - Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Ministry to West Virginia
A team lead by Carl and Bonnie Perry from Enon Baptist Church have responded to Matewan, WV.  The 8-person team is working in this small community to bring Hope and relief to those impacted by the floods that occurred two weeks ago.  They have conducted numerous disaster assessments and worked at several homes removing mud and debris from homes and basements.  Additionally, Eddie Urbine of Old Powhatan Baptist Church is Incident Commander (IC) for the Matewan response.  He is working with former SBCV missionary, Delton Beall, in the coordination of all relief efforts in the area.  Along with the SBCV team and IC, there are teams from TN, New England, GA and soon to be arriving a team from MD/DE, working together to show the love of Jesus in a practical way.

Southern Baptists and Swine Flu

We have all been following the news reports of the spread of swine flu. We are not at pandemic levels, but the situation is being monitored by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leadership. There has been frequent communication between Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leadership and officials from FEMA and the CDC.

Southern Baptists should use this time to consider what their response will be when a pandemic outbreak does happen. As with all disasters, planning is the key. Health officials have said that at some point there will be a pandemic flu outbreak and the recent news should be another reminder to the church to plan to be the people God has called us to be, even in the midst of difficult situations.

Your Family -- What happens with your family? Do you have enough food and water to last for two weeks? What about communication? These are good things to think about for any kind of disaster. View more information on family preparedness (http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.238537/k.C979/Family_Preparedness.htm).

Your Church -- How does the church respond? In the event of Pandemic Flu, congregations could not meet together for worship, Sunday school or other events. Pastors would not be able to visit in hospitals or homes. How will the body of Christ continue to function in these situations? How will the church be the conduit for ministry? How will she minister to families who experience the loss of a loved one? Read more about church preparedness (http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.238538/k.D40C/Church_Preparedness.htm).

The Department of Health and Human Services has published a checklist to assist churches and faith-based service organizations in preparing for a pandemic or other disaster. (http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/pdf/faithbaseedcommunitychecklist.pdf)

The greatest tool we have is direct access to the Father. Please pray for individuals, families, churches and communities affected by this flu outbreak. Please consider making plans for your family, church and association should an outbreak occur.

The US Centers for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu) has information about the current outbreak and how to protect yourself and your family from infection.

Specific information on Pandemic Flu is available at www.pandemicflu.gov

The World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/faq/en/index.html) is maintaining updated information on the situation around the world.

Click Here for a valuable Downloadable Resource.

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DISASTER RELIEF TRAININGS!  We have completed trainings for 2009 in each Ministry Area!  Hundreds of volunteers completed initial training or re-certification.  Thank You for taking time to be prepared.  As we have entered Hurricane Season, we stand alert to any need that might arise. 

Stay tuned to our website for information about trainings for 2010. Churches should plan for and train their members to work with individuals caught in crisis.  There seems to be no area of mission action that requires more rapid response than a time of disaster.  Are you prepared?  

Click Here to view our 2009 Volunteer Travel Handbook.  

Questions?  Email disasterrelief@sbcv.org

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Here is a brief summary of SBCV Disaster Relief responses in 2008;

Jan - Ice storm in Missouri
Feb - Wild Fires in Virginia
Mar - Feeding teams to New Orleans
Apr - Tornado in Virginia
May - Floods in Maine
Jun - Floods in Indiana and Wisconsin
Jul - Floods in Iowa
Aug - Tornado in New Hampshire
Sep - Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana
Sep - Hurricane Ike in Texas
Oct - Hurricane Ike in Texas

As you can see our teams have been busy (at least one team out every month).  Please be in prayer for our Disaster Relief Volunteers as they minister in His name.

There seems to be no area of mission action that requires more rapid response than a time of disaster.  The disaster comes unexpectedly, as does the opportunity for immediate ministry.  If we are unprepared when it strikes and delay action, the opportunity passes with the urgent need.

We believe that Southern Baptists are under scriptural and moral obligation to all mankind to provide a positive witness of the love of Jesus Christ.  Disasters affect many people.  Christians naturally respond to the hurts of those around them and feel an obligation to minister in the name of Jesus Christ.  He calls for His people to demonstrate love in the relief of victims in disasters through the efficient and immediate use of the resources, time, and talents entrusted to us by our Lord.  Christians working together can accomplish much for the glory of God.

Serving those whose lives have been disrupted is the very act that Jesus commanded in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).  Jesus ministered to people He met each day.  The miracles He performed were answers to the needs of those with whom He came in contact.  There were times when He ministered to the masses with miracles (feeding the 5,000 and 4,000), but most of His miracles were performed for individuals with specific needs.

Churches should plan for and train their members to work with individuals caught in crisis.  They also should plan and prepare for disasters that may affect their communities.  As you become involved in Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, you will see how you can lead your church to becoming involved in planning and serving the world we live in.

SBCV Disaster Relief Goal
To assist churches in preparing for disaster by developing a strategy to minister to their communities during crisis through readying their facilities, training their members, securing supplies, and developing protocols that will activate their disaster response plans.  Our ultimate goal is to be able to share the love of Christ through sharing the Gospel.  Interested in knowing what happens after disaster relief efforts roll out?  Check out all that the Baptist Builders are doing right now in the Gulf!

North American Mission Board (NAMB) Disaster Relief Web Site:
NAMB