Florida disaster relief giving exceeds $1.2 million

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Though the “ravages” of four hurricanes have spurred a wounded sense of security in many Floridians, $1 million in donations to the Convention’s disaster relief fund illustrates the faith of God’s children in the weather-beaten state.

Click Image for Related Coverage

While a portion of the contributions—which are sent in checks, cash and via credit card transactions—have come from around the country, many Florida Baptists and their churches have demonstrated selfless giving, offering others financial support despite their own personal hurricane-related hardships.

“Think about the scope of these storms,” said Cecil Seagle, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Missions Division. “With the exception of Miami-Dade, no area of Florida has escaped the ravages of these storms.

“In spite of that, our churches have given over and above anything I could have imagined,” he said.

To date, the Convention has received a total of $1,256,449 in disaster relief funds for victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. The total includes designated and undesignated gifts and a contribution of $300,000 received from the North American Mission’s Board’s disaster relief fund.

A separate $200,000 grant from the Christ Is Our Salvation Foundation was received for use in a special $500,000 church loan fund.

With the help of these funds, more than one million meals have been served and financial assistance has been provided to help in a variety of ways including minor repairs on homes, family assistance, pastoral assistance and churches’ operating expenses and reconstruction, where needed.

“The needs, as in all major disasters, stretch us beyond our natural abilities,” said Seagle. “But we make this commitment— Florida Baptists will do all we can for as many as we can for as long as we can.”

The commitment is worthwhile to volunteers motivated to help hurricane victims in Jesus’ name, Seagle said.

FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Barbara Peckham, 90, is comforted by Barbara and Richard Schmitt, members of First Baptist Church of Barefoot Bay, as the older woman makes plans to move out of her condemned home in the Barefoot Bay community after Hurricane Frances tore the roof off and Hurricane Jeanne ripped the side wall and floor.

“Thousands have been assisted with food, clothing and counsel. Hundreds have come to know Jesus Christ as Savior.”

But nearly two months after contributions first poured in to aid victims of Hurricane Charley, the gifts are now, “coming in a much slower and smaller pace than at first,” said Scott Holt, director of the Florida Baptist Convention Accounting Department.

Still, Florida Baptists are giving.

Even after receiving nearly one million dollars for disaster relief efforts according to Holt, Florida Baptist churches to date have still averaged more than $3 million a month in Cooperative Program giving and through the month of September contributions to Maguire State Mission Offering are slightly ahead of giving compared to this time last year.

“I think it is noteworthy that Florida Baptists give where their convictions lie and still are able to help those in need around them,” said Holt.

The State Board of Missions, during its Sept. 24 meeting, initially earmarked $677,000 of the contributions for relief efforts in southwest and southeast Florida. The Board also authorized the transfer of $300,000 in reserve funds for use in assisting churches and church staffs negatively affected by the hurricanes.