SBC disaster relief expands to six states as Hurricane Jeanne approaches east coast

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – More than 1,500 Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers from 25 states are cooking meals, cutting-up fallen trees, and providing childcare in six states hit hard by last week’s hurricane that left a path of destruction from the Florida panhandle to the Midwest.

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And, disaster relief officials are keeping an eye on the fourth hurricane in a month to threaten Florida as Jeanne, several hundred miles east of the Bahamas, is migrating toward the southeast coast of the U.S. where it could hit the first of next week.

“The last few days, we’ve prayed Jeanne wouldn’t come ashore at all, but now it to be headed for the east coast of Florida or the Carolinas,” said Jim Burton, disaster relief director of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) which coordinates the SBC’s response. “At least if it does come ashore on the east coast, we probably wouldn’t have to evacuate our units as we’ve done twice the last few weeks because we’re working in western Florida, Alabama, and further west.”

Burton said Southern Baptists are providing an average of 50,000 meals a day in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Ohio. Recent operations in South Carolina, Louisiana and Tennessee have been closed down.

SBC volunteers, the third largest disaster relief force in the country, have been actively responding continuously for nearly seven weeks providing to-date 1.2 million meals and completing more than 4,000 clean-up and recovery projects. In addition, they’ve been asked to help both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army staff their mobile kitchens and drive their delivery vehicles.

“And, today Southern Baptists put in an order for enough food for 1.2 million more meals,” Burton said. “We’re going to be doing this for a long time, and we haven’t even started the long term re-building process that will probably take years.”

Disaster relief officials continue to ask Southern Baptists to pray for the victims and for the thousands of volunteers serving in extremely adverse conditions to minister and witness to the millions affected by the storms.

“Please pray for the continued strength and safety of our disaster relief teams,” said Robert E (Bob) Reccord, NAMB president, in an email to thousands of Southern Baptists. “Many have traveled a long way to cut fallen trees, counsel discouraged people, clear debris and cook meals in Jesus’ name. God is powerfully blessing their ministry of compassion as many people are accepting Christ.”

NAMB has prepared an up-to-date two-and-a-half minute video to serve as a prayer resource for individuals and churches. It’s available for viewing and downloading at www.NAMB.net, and would be appropriate for showing during Sunday worship services and Wednesday prayer meetings.

Since August 1, Southern Baptists have given nearly $400,000 to NAMB to help cover the cost of this unprecedented disaster relief response. Gifts may also be given to associations and state Baptist conventions involved in the response. Donations to NAMB can be made on-line using a credit card at www.NAMB.net.