Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB, speaks to attendees at the Arise and Build meeting on Oct. 18.
GREENEVILLE — Approximately 50 pastors, directors of missions and other church leaders gathered with community and business leaders Oct. 18 for the initial meeting of Operation Arise and Build, based on Nehemiah 2:18.
The meeting was sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and hosted by First Baptist Church, Greeneville. Attendees also included Monty Burks and Suzanna Hendricks of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Division and Carol Agee, partnership marketing/community relations specialist for Dollywood Parks and Resorts.
“Operation Arise and Build will take unprecedented commitment, cooperation and resources,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of TBMB.
Davis shared the story how Nehemiah prayed after the walls of Jerusalem were turned into rubble. He related with his people how God supplied what they needed through the king’s provisions and the people responded, “let us rise up and build.”
“Today is the launch of Operation Arise and Build,” he said.
Davis noted that according to information provided by the Tennessee Emergency Management Association, there are 535 total buildings destroyed. Hurricane Helene also heavily damaged 1,680 additional buildings.
“This is monumental, but just like God supplied what Nehemiah needed through others, I really believe that God’s going to supply everything we need,” Davis said.
Monty Burke, deputy director for the state of Tennessee governor’s faith based and community initiative, connects withGene Nelson, Harvest Field 6 leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and Beth Moore, TBMB compassion ministry specialist, about getting into areas of greatest need. Both Nelson and Moore have been active in locating communities and churches that have suffered extensive flood damage as a result of Hurricane Helene.
As of Oct. 17, $1,263,000 has been given for East Tennessee Hurricane and Flooding Relief, according to Joe Lovell, chief financial officer for TBMB. In the first 21 days of the response, $260,000 has been distributed and used.
Several pastors and directors of missions shared firsthand knowledge from the hardest hit areas of the state.
Jeff Idell, a deacon at First Baptist Church, Greeneville, reported there were 55 homes destroyed in Greene County along with 45 homes that had major damage.
“This is going to be a long-term recovery,” he said.
Idell is president and co-founder of Aidnet of Greene County, a nonprofit organization that was founded several years ago to help tornado victims in Greeneville and Greene County.
Kay Thomas, along with her husband, John, are playing a leadership role in the recovery efforts. The couple also did so in 2021, when more than 17 inches of rain fell in Waverly in the early morning hours of Aug. 21.
Though the area affected was much smaller than the devastated areas in East Tennessee, Tennessee Baptists coordinated and helped more than 100 people return to their homes, including 69 families whose homes received extensive damage.
Mike Hensley, director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association in Cocke County, reported 192 homes were destroyed and 108 were damaged. In addition, two churches — Riverview Baptist Church in Newport and Denton Baptist Church in Cosby — received extensive damage.
Riverview housed The Bread Basket, a local food ministry that the association’s churches helped support.
Hensley said they are in the process of getting the food ministry relocated to another building so it can become operational again.
Before the hurricane, The Bread Basket fed about 1,400 a month, he said.
Mike Hensley, director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association, talks to Dan Spencer, pastor at First Baptist Church, Sevierville, about the damage to houses in churches in the Newport area. FBC Sevierville will be hosting fall festivals in the area, providing relief and support to families.
Davis said the next step is to form a steering team comprised of five to nine people to give direction to a rebuilding effort in East Tennessee. He asked participants to share their responses to the following questions:
• What can you bring to the table to rebuild?
• What will the next step be in the rebuilding process?
• Who (types of people) need to be on a steering team?
Davis said the answers will be compiled and shared with those who attended.
Keith Malone, pastor of Enon Baptist Church in Jonesborough, ended the meeting with a report on his church which sustained extensive damage.
The church can’t be repaired, he noted, because it is in a flood plain so it will have to relocate. Yet, the pastor was upbeat and excited.
“We have had such an outpouring of support. It’s amazing to watch God work within the community. We are seeing revival in a community that has been devastated.”
Donations are being accepted for relief efforts at tndisasterrelief.org by clicking on “Contributions” and choosing East Tennessee Hurricane/Flooding Fund. B&R
