United after the storm: Florida Baptists reach out

FBC Photo by Gary Langhammer

Florida Baptist disaster relief volunteers prepared 148,798 meals in Hattiesburg, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina swept through the Gulf Coast.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–The unified purpose of Florida Baptists, readily seen in their commitment to the Cooperative Program and the mission and ministries of the Florida Baptist State Convention, is perhaps most clearly illustrated by their response in times of disaster.

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Only God knows the scope of the involvement of Florida Baptists and their congregations in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita this fall.

Churches across the state quietly and with little fanfare responded sacrificially to the dramatic needs of storm victims across the Gulf Coast—with money, volunteers, trucks of food and commodities and shelter for the homeless. Many Florida Baptist churches joined hands in partnership with churches along the Gulf Coast which were seriously affected by the hurricanes. And as the region of displaced persons made new lives in Florida cities, Florida Baptists once again opened their hearts with resources. No accounting for all that has been done is available, except in the heart of God.

The Florida Baptist Convention disaster relief team quickly responded after the storms stationing its mobile kitchens in Hattiesburg, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina and in Lake Charles, La., after Hurricane Rita—only hours after the storms passed. Their seven-week efforts included:

• 1,305 volunteers representing dozens of associations

• 412,000 meals prepared

• 1,650 clean up and recovery jobs

FBC Photo by Gary Langhammer

Victims of Hurricane Katrina request clean-up and recovery assistance from Florida Baptist volunteers at Main Street Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Many others gave sacrificially to help fund the disaster response. Florida Baptists contributed over $2,683,047 by mid October through the Florida Baptist Convention. The money has been designated:

• $75,000 sent immediately after Hurricane Katrina to Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama state conventions for use in their relief efforts;

• $50,000 to purchase $200 gift cards for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students who had lost their home and belongings;

• $25,000 to the Choctaw Baptist Association in their efforts to shelter storm evacuees;

• funds are being used to pay bills incurred by Florida Baptist disaster relief efforts in Mississippi and Louisiana; and

• the remaining funds will be used to assist churches with non-insurance losses.

• Another $600,000 from anticipated Cooperative Program overages were also designated for hurricane relief by the State Board of Missions:

• $250,000 to assist faculty, staff and students at New Orleans Seminary to replace clothing, libraries, furniture and other personal items;

• $125,000 each to the Louisiana and Mississippi Baptist conventions for ministerial/staff salary assistance and human needs.

• $100,000 to assist in Hurricane Rita disaster relief and response.

FBC Photo by Gary Langhammer

A morning prayer undergirds Florida Baptist volunteers for a day of strenuous and exhausting labor in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Meanwhile at home, the Florida Baptist Convention is continuing to assist in the rebuilding of homes in Southwest Florida after the storms of 2004. Working through the Florida Baptist Disaster Rebuild 5,123 volunteers have repaired 1,289 homes. Impressed with the Convention’s organization and volunteers, Samaritan’s Purse provided $1 million to purchase construction materials for the rebuilding effort.

In Hardee County alone, 498 families still live in FEMA trailers and face a Feb. 13 eviction date. The community organization “Christians Helping in the Recovery Process (CHIRP)” is partnering with Florida Baptists to rebuild the homes of families still trying to piece together life after last year’s storms struck Florida.

After undertaking “40 Days of Community,” a church-wide spiritual growth campaign, Temple Terrace Baptist Church in Tampa is working with CHIRP to rebuild four homes during a 40-day window.

“When we have hurricanes people generally rush to meet the immediate needs,” Paul Alonso, the church’s pastor to adult ministries, said. “But it is eye-opening when we are nearing the end of 2005 and there is still a need to help those who were the victims of a hurricane from the summer of 2004.”

Ladonna Perry, CHIRP’s volunteer coordinator hopes more churches will follow in Temple Terrace’s example over the next few months. “Our clients will end up homeless if we cannot find volunteers to help rebuild their homes.”