Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Update
Thursday, June 24, 2010
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youth may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
SBDR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/SBC-Disaster-Relief/248933738262
SBDR on Twitter http://twitter.com/SBDRnet
SBDR Web site http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.224451/k.A400/Disaster_Relief.htm
SBDR Donations https://www.kintera.org/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.238330/k.942/Disaster_Relief_Fund/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=9qKILUOzEpH&b=238330&en=hiIJLVOGJjIOIUMDJiLPKUNGJnI3I8NMKpJ0J8OGJeISK9MTJwE
Share Your Story http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.5183849/k.1CC/Share_Your_DR_Story/apps/nl/newsletter3.asp
Haiti Earthquake
If you go to the National Hurricane Center website (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/), you will see a large circle that indicates a major “rain maker” sitting over Haiti today. Fritz Wilson, incident commander for Haiti, has reminded us all along that God’s timing is perfect and that He is faithful. Southern Baptists have been involved in a disaster relief marathon, not only in sending volunteers but also regarding the Buckets of Hope to Haiti. The race is not over, but a hurdle has been overcome. The waiting was not easy, but it was necessary. God’s glory, once again, is evident in His faithfulness and His timing. We will not grow weary, but soar on wings like eagles, not for the glory of an individual or our denomination, but for the Father’s glory.
Proclaimers Are Making a Difference
The organization Faith Comes by Hearing is partnering with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to bring electronic bibles in the Haitian-Creole language to the people in Haiti. The electronic bibles, called Proclaimers, are sent to Baptist volunteers who are able to give them to Haitian pastors and other leaders who then use the solar powered devices to play scripture passages. The devices are loud enough to be heard by groups as large as 300. North Carolina volunteers gave Proclaimers to several people last week. One of them, a man named Innocent, spent the week using the Proclaimer to share the scriptures with patients at a medical clinic.
You can learn more about the Proclaimer and the ministry of Faith Comes By Hearing by going to their website: http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/proclaimer.
Watch a CNN report on the Proclaimer in Haiti: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bLEfSTzUKU.
Learn more about the Faith Comes by Hearing “Every Church Every Village Project” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MafATtSGZoA.
Pray for Haiti
The last five Haiti virtual prayerwalks are available on the Pray4Haiti Web site at http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.5948415/k.2DEA/Pray4Haiti.htm. Please continue to join with others in covering Haiti with fervent prayer through this interactive journey on the Web.
Fifteen virtual prayerwalks have been created, thanks to the efforts of Steve Nelson, who went to Haiti for several weeks to create these prayerwalks. He took the photos, talked to many Haitian pastors and other leaders to learn about their situations and prayer needs, and recorded the latitude/longitude coordinates of the various prayerwalk sites so they can be viewed in Google Earth.
Minnesota Tornados
Tornados, reported to be the largest on record, swept through Minnesota on June 17. At least three deaths have been attributed to these storms. Dave Wedekind, disaster relief director for Minnesota/Wisconsin, reported that two chainsaw teams have responded. Please pray for these volunteers as they work and as they share God’s love.
American Samoa Tsunami Rebuild
Randy and Ronda Corn are back in American Samoa (AS) as the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) incident commanders. SBDR has been blessed by great leadership in AS. We wish to thank Ed and Loretta Greene of New Mexico for their faithful service. The Tennessee team members presently in AS have worked this week in cooperation with volunteers from Mennonite Disaster Services (MDS) and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC).
Next month, SBDR is sending a Crisis Response Team for Children to American Samoa. This team is made up of child care workers who will spend time helping the children cope with the trauma brought on by last September’s tsunami. Team members include Tracy Barber (Texas Baptist Men), Kay Cassibry (Mississippi), Barbara Henderson (Georgia), Fondra Magee (Utah-Idaho), and Donna Swarts (Mississippi).
Deepwater Horizon – Gulf Oil Spill
Next week, SBDR leaders from the Gulf States will meet in New Orleans. These meetings will include discussions with American Red Cross, FEMA, The Salvation Army, and other local, state, and national organizations. The goal of this meeting is to address what is being done currently and how the oil spill will affect response efforts associated with hurricanes. Please pray for these leaders as they meet.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Activity Reported to Date
Professions of Faith 1,250
Gospel Presentations 10,003
Patients Seen 30,717
Ministry Contacts 41,445
Volunteer Days 17,114
Meals Prepared 142,274
Mudout Jobs 958
Chainsaw Jobs 105
Repair Jobs 83
Roofing Jobs 3
Children 24
Showers 1,442
Laundry Loads 1,176
Water (Gallons) 3,808
Messages 15
Chaplaincy Contacts 331
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Donations
Support Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Efforts (https://www.kintera.org/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.238330/k.942/Disaster_Relief_Fund/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=9qKILUOzEpH&b=238330&en=gqLHJPMvEcLIIOPALeLELWNIInKZK3OBLhJMKRPyFfIMJWMGIuG)
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief responds to disasters across the US and around the world. Donations are fully tax deductable and 100% of all gifts are used to meet the needs of hurting people in the wake of disasters. Donations can be made online, by phone (866) 407-6262, or by mail - checks should be made payable to "North American Mission Board" and sent to Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543.
Donate via Text: If you like the simplicity of making a donation via cell phone and text message, you can now do so to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Text the word nambdr to 40579. A $10 donation will be charged to your cell phone account and sent to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
National Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Leadership
Bruce Poss, Disaster Relief Unit Coordinator Terry Henderson, Disaster Relief Operations Consultant Karl Ragan, Disaster Relief Planning Consultant
To contact the Disaster Operation Center, call 1.888.462.8657 or e-mail dr_offsite@namb.net
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/SBC-Disaster-Relief/248933738262
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief on Twitter http://twitter.com/SBDRnet
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Web site http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.224451/k.A400/Disaster_Relief.htm