Florida Baptists respond as firestorm sweeps state

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STARKE (FBW)—Responding to raging wildfires Florida Baptists in the past weeks have opened their doors to fire suppression crews and residents of their communities, providing shelter, food, and staging facilities.

While more than 163,000 acres have burned in more than 225 fires throughout Florida, the firestorm—fueled by lightening strikes and arsonists in severe drought conditions—forced evacuations and closed down major highways, causing traffic jams throughout Mother's Day weekend.

Peppering 57 of the 67 counties in Florida, the fires, spewing acrid smoke into otherwise mostly clear skies, are being fed by unusually dry air and wind gusts related to a number of storms moving through various parts of the state. Anticipated rainfall has come up short in areas directly affected.

At Hope Baptist Church in Starke, in a community where two large fires converged to char more than 18,000 acres, over 350 firefighters and other public safety personnel and leaders worked out of the church round-the-clock for nearly a week to contain fires in the area.

Dozens of fire trucks, forestry bulldozers, tanker trucks and other fire-suppression related machinery and workers were entering and leaving a large unpaved lot just west of the church, with Salvation Army feeding vans, Florida State Highway Patrol and other command center vehicles and media trucks on the east side.

The largest and "most sturdy" building in the immediate area, the church has never staged such a massive effort, although it was used as a shelter for some families during fires in 1998 and in 2003—and for hurricane relief efforts in 2004—according to the church's senior pastor, Eugene "Gene" Coons.

"We've never had this kind of an organization," Coons told Florida Baptist Witness May 10. "You're looking at practical Christianity instead of merely professing Christianity."

Hope Baptist got involved when members of the Theressa Volunteer Fire Department in Starke first responded to the Bradford County fire May 7. Over half of their personnel—whose station is about a block away—are members of the church.

Firefighter's wives and families joined with other members of the congregation to immediately begin feeding and housing fire-suppression personnel and those displaced by the smoke and flames.

"They saw the fire and knew it was going to get out of hand and they started cooking," Coons said. Utilizing the church's large kitchen and walk-in refrigerator, a rotating crew cooked 24/7 to serve meals in the fellowship hall where round tables seat up to 400 people.

At one end of the room, long tables offered lip balm, toiletries and other emergency care supplies. On each round table was a small stack of "Coon" tracts—the plan of salvation presented in the words of Pastor Coon. Outside the church doors were pallets of bottled water and chests full of ice. Throughout the weeklong ordeal, the church received donations of food from the Salvation Army, individuals and area businesses.

"It's been a community effort, but primarily led by our church," Coons said. "Our people are just doing what comes natural for people who walk with the Lord."

In a growing, mostly rural community between Gainesville and Jacksonville, the church has about 600 regulars with 300-400 in worship on Sundays and about 200-250 in Sunday School. Coons said the description of the community as "rural" doesn't really account for the caring attitude of his congregation.

"It's not a city/country thing; it's a Jesus-or-no-Jesus thing," Coon said. "Christians care. There's no way you can have the Holy Spirit living in you and not care about people.

"Jesus cares about people and if we love Jesus, we love people," Coons continued.

Gesturing at the carpet, Coons acknowledged the church's facilities will have gotten a workout with weary firefighters tracking in soot and dirt—in order to pick up a hot meal. No regrets, however, looking about the room where state and local officials huddled together over maps, and issued orders.

"These firefighters are not only saving properties by putting their lives on the line, but they're saving lives," Coons said of the personnel, many of whom are in volunteer fire departments. "These folks don't have to be here and we are just grateful that they've come and left their families and their jobs."

A byproduct of the crisis for his own congregation is the "camaraderie" developed as members work together serving others, Coons said. Although the church does not currently have a trained Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team, Coons said he thinks it's ironic they had already signed up for a training session in May.

"Now we will have twice as many go," he predicted.

Outside, Coons walked around encouraging firefighters and making himself available to pray with them.

Starke Sheriff Bob Molner, a member of Madison Street Baptist Church in Starke, at the command center May 10, called Hope Baptist a "great spiritual fortress" in Bradford County and said he is not surprised by their efforts.

"I think a lot of the fire suppression and public safety personnel that responded to this incident have absolutely seen a side of godly people that they may not have seen before if they don't go to church themselves," Molner told the Witness. "Undoubtedly this has been a great witness for the Lord."

THE FIRE

Outside the facility May 10, crews were working to find "hot spots" and problem areas left after earlier efforts to contain the fire.

David Griffis, a founder of the Theressa VFD and member of Hope Baptist on a tour of the area where fires had raged heavily, told the Witness that officials suspected arson as the cause.

"Look at how the wind is blowing again," Griffis commented, stopping in an area at the edge of Little Lake Santa Fe in Bradford County where nearly two dozen of the most expensive estates are perched lakeside.

Dirty air lingered throughout the area—where a dirt road is the barrier between acres of burned forest and the preserved homes. Spots of charred grass were evidence of a large wall of fire held back by diligent crews working from firetrucks parked in each of the driveways, according to area resident Ron Blake.

Flanked by the charred ruins of a forest which once grew to the rear of their workshop across the street from their home, Sondra Blake marveled at the efforts which spared their structure, but completely destroyed a large shed about 100 feet away. She also pointed to the house next door, where the fire had burned through part of the dock, devoured a sail boat and danced through the grasses right up to the back door—stopping just short of destroying the wooden residence.

"It's a miracle; that's all you can say," Sondra told the Witness. The Blakes attend Lake Area Bible Church.

FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR RESPONDS

Speaking to reporters May 9 at the Florida Army National Guard Aviation Complex in Jacksonville, Gov. Charlie Crist warned Florida residents to "be vigilant" and stay informed.

"Nobody has had the kind of natural disasters we have had in the last 4-5 years," Crist said. "Nobody's better at it than we are."

Flying to Jacksonville from Starke in a Blackhawk helicopter, Crist credited the National Guard with being prepared to offer safety support in the form of helicopters specially equipped to drop water into inaccessible fire zones.

Crist also praised the efforts of volunteers.

"They serve with a servant's heart, whether it's providing food [or] being volunteer firefighters," Crist said, noting the "careful" and trained volunteers throughout the Sunshine State.

"We've got smoke; we've got fire, but we haven't lost any Floridians yet," Crist said. "Thank God for that."

Traveling with the governor was his advisor, Air Force Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett, who is also the director of the Department of Military Affairs for Florida.

Burnett, a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, said he had just been at Hope Baptist with the governor where he saw one family, covered in soot and just in from the heat of the fire, helping to serve others.

"It's a community effort and I don't think it's anything different from the values this country has," Burnett said. "We just reach out and help others."

As for what people can do to help in the effort, Burnett said faith teaches about perseverance.

"Over the past five years we've been fighting wars on two fronts with Floridians," Burnett said. "The theme of the day is: Persevere and hang on."

BULLDOZERS AND FOOD

In Starke, Griffis said forestry crews from North Carolina had brought in large bulldozers over the weekend to move tall trees which were creating a back draft into the Santa Fe Swamp. Meanwhile the crew at Hope Baptist had dwindled down and the last meal served was breakfast May 14.

At First Baptist Church in Glen St. Mary, Bernice Yeats, the church receptionist, said they fed and housed as many as 30-40 residents who evacuated their homes. Food was donated by individuals and area restaurants—as well as church members.

"We feel that we are really blessed by doing this," Yeats said. "Because this is what Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep.' So that's what we are trying to do."

Further south, at Rima Ridge Baptist Church in Ormond Beach, George Lyons said the church opened its doors for about three days to over 100 firefighters who came through for food and water. The American Red Cross provided meals onsite one day, he said.

"We were privileged to do it," Lyons said.