Southeastern Virginia Tornado Response

Damage Assessment Teams conducted Preliminary Damage Assessment (with escort from local law enforcement on Day 1 (4/29/08).  A total of 301 damaged homes were assessed with the following results; 

Affected - 39

Minor - 126

Major - 112

Destroyed – 34                                 

Over the next 5 days, our recovery teams worked throughout the area, primarily conducting chainsaw operations.  The teams completed 30 job asignments and one howmeowner prayed to recieve Jesus as his Savior. 

A total of 141 volunteer man days were donated by our DR workers.  Southside Baptist Church, Suffolk, was our base of operations.  They allowed our teams the exclusive use of  the church parsonage, where most of our workers were housed and all of the meals were prepared.  In addition we placed one Bunkhouse and one Shower Unit at Southside Baptist Church for overflow workers.

Operations were wrapped up at 6:00 pm on Saturday May 3.

Thank you to all of you who volunteered , worked behind the scenes or made donations in support of the Disaster Relief ministry.

DONATIONS:

The SBCV is also accepting monetary donations to assist with the disaster response:
Make Checks Payable to:

Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia or (SBCV)
"VA Tornado Relief Fund"
4101 Cox Rd., Suite 100
Glen Allen, VA 23060 

2008 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Of the eight training events scheduled across our state there is only one left.  Everyone who desires to participate in the SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief Ministry must attend one of these events.  The event begins Friday at 6:30p.m. and run until 9:00p.m.  Training resumes on Saturday morning at 8:30a.m. and concludes at 3:00p.m.  The cost for the training is $30 and includes your t-shirt, hat, ID badge, course materials and Saturday lunch.  Click here to register.  All present Disaster Relief volunteers must be recredentialed every two years.  Make sure that your ID card will not expire before hurricane season.  Recredentialing costs $15.00.

Register today for our final DR Training for 2008:

REGISTER HERE

June 6-7  Thomas Road Baptist Church,
1 Mountain View Road, Lynchburg 24502

==========================================================

In addition you can contact your local community Emergency Manager and ask about Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training.  This is a 24 hour program that provides insight into how to respond in your local community when an event occurs.  It must be noted, C.E.R.T. is not a replacement to SBC of Virginia Disaster Training.  It is a tool to assist you in fulfilling Acts 1:8~~"and ye shall be witnesses unto me."

NEW ORLEANS still needs your help!
Click here to see how you can assist.

Stats for 2007
Number of volunteers serving - 95
Number of volunteer days - 351
Meals Served - 8,280
Jobs completed - 15
Showers - 3,363
Assessments - 65

Stats for 2006
Number of volunteers serving 137
Number of volunteer days 485
Meals served 7,315
Showers 4,455
Jobs completed 64
Assessments 138
Salvation decsions 2

Serving Christ in Crisis
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
NAMB News Letter