GATLINBURG FIRES CREATE CHALLENGES

Tennessee Baptists find ways to minister in Sevier County

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

SEVIERVILLE — Though homes, businesses, and churches in Sevier County are in ruins, residents of the area know it could have been much worse.

“Had it not rained the night of the fire (Nov. 28), Sevier County would not be here,” said Robert Nichols, director of missions for Sevier County Association of Baptists.

And God did not stop there. Additional rain on Nov. 29-30 quenched the fires that devastated the Gatlinburg area.

As of Dec.1 there were seven confirmed deaths and an estimated 45 people injured. Additionally, numerous people are still unaccounted for. The Tennessee National Guard spent all day Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 searching for victims or survivors.

More than 700 buildings were damaged or destroyed, according to news reports. Among them are Roaring Fork Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and Banner Baptist Church, all in Gatlinburg. All the facilities were destroyed at Roaring Fork while the sanctuaries at First Baptist and Banner Baptist were spared. First Baptist lost its youth building while the fellowship hall at Banner Baptist was destroyed.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, noted that his heart “breaks for folks in Gatlinburg, Sevier County, and people in all the counties on the eastern end of our state affected by these wildfires. That area, and especially the people, are obviously very dear to Jeanne and I and our entire family” said Davis, who served as pastor of FBC, Sevierville, before assuming his present position.

Davis exhorted Tennessee Baptists to continue praying for the people in the affected areas and for ongoing relief efforts. “I’d also encourage folks to offer a tangible financial gift through Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief as we are already deploying teams to that area to help in the relief effort.”

Gifts can be given online at TNDisasterRelief.org/contributions or mailed to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024. Indicate Disaster Relief on the check.

Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief specialist, said county residents face a long-term challenge. “This will not be a quick recovery,” he predicted.

As of Nov. 30, people had not been cleared to return to the evacuated areas and many had no idea if their homes survived. Disaster relief volunteers were only permitted limited access so no extensive assessments have been made.

Don Owen, disaster relief director for Nolachucky Baptist Association, was on site Nov. 29-30 and was allowed into Gatlinburg the day after the fire. Unlike flood recovery there is not much left to clean up, he said. “The destruction is total. Homes are in ash. In some cases, only the chimney or block walls are standing.”

Owen said a large number of volunteers are not yet needed. The first step is to assess the damage, he said,  and that will determine how many teams are needed and what they will be needed to do.

Jones agreed. “We know there are people eager to come, but until residents are allowed to return to their homes and damages are assessed, there is little that can be done,” he noted.

Jones said that John and Kaye Thomas of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, will serve as incident commanders for the relief efforts.

Serving

In the meantime, local volunteers have served in whatever role that has been needed. First Baptist Church, Sevierville, opened its doors to evacuees on the night of Nov. 28. Most of those evacuees were able to return to their homes the following day or moved to one of the designated evacuee centers in the county.

First Baptist DR volunteers, led by John and Kaye Thomas, have been working in conjunction with the American Red Cross, said Craig Mintz, associate pastor of equipping at FBC. Initially, the church provided 1,400 volunteers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Mintz said. Then, the church was asked to shift it efforts to serve Tennessee National Guard troops who were called into the area.

Mintz said there has been an outpouring of offers to help from church members, neighboring churches, and churches from all over the country.

“We are making a list of all the organizations and churches that have offered to help so we can get them involved in the long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts,” Mintz said, adding that First Baptist will continue to be involved. “This will be a long-term process. This is our community and we want to do whatever it takes to get our neighbors back on their feet.”

Bill Black, director of Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries (SMRM), a ministry support by Sevier County Association of Baptists, was evacuated from his home on Monday night as fires encroached. He left fully expecting not to have a house as the fire was literally within a few feet of his home. Miraculously, he learned two days later his home was spared.

Meanwhile, Black and other SMRM volunteers began serving at one of the evacuee centers. He noted volunteers included members from Roaring Fork and First Baptist, Gatlinburg, whose facilities were destroyed, and others who lost their homes.

“It has all been about serving,” Black stressed.

Jones said three shower units from Holston Baptist Association; First Baptist Church, Concord in Knoxville; and Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville, were scheduled to arrive and be used at the evacuee centers.

Nichols said his office has been inundated with phone calls from all over Tennessee and as far away as California from people who want to serve.

The association office has received numerous donations of supplies and needed items. While these donations are welcomed, Nichols said donations of gift cards to Lowes, Home Depot, or Wal-Mart are practical items that can be given to families who will need to replace items once they return home.

Gifts can be given online at TNDisasterRelief.org/contributions or mailed to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 37024. Indicate Disaster Relief on the check.