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Baptist and Reflector
Photo: NOAA.gov
BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptists have been asked to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on Oct. 4, causing massive destruction before hitting Cuba later that night. The damage in Cuba was not as extensive as first expected but some areas were hard hit.
In Haiti, at least 478 deaths have been attributed to the massive storm and the number is expected to rise. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
Image: NOAA.gov
BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist disaster relief volunteers are on alert, awaiting word from Southern Baptist Disaster Relief as to where and when they will be needed in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on Oct. 4, causing massive destruction before hitting Cuba later that night. The damage in Cuba was not as extensive as first expected, according to news reports.
Associated Press reported that at least 11 deaths have been blamed on Hurricane Matthew, which at one time was a Category 5 storm, making it the most powerful hurricane in the region in nearly a decade. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
Image: NOAA.gov
NASHVILLE — The Weather Channel is predicting that Hurricane Matthew will have a “catastrophic” effect on Haiti. The hurricane, which is predicted to make landfall on Oct. 4, also is expected to impact Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas, according to the weather network.
In addition, the hurricane is anticipated to strike the East Coast of the United States between Florida and Virginia.
If the dire predictions pan out, southern Haiti could receive up to 40 inches of rain. Western Haiti and eastern Cuba could get up to 20 inches of rain. The heavy rain could cause flash flooding and mudslides. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
MOUNT JULIET — An urgent need still exists for Tennessee volunteers to help flood victims, according to Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief specialist.
Volunteers with different gifts and skills are needed. “Almost anyone can help,” Jones added.
In West Virginia, anyone with some construction skills — whether or not they are a disaster relief volunteer — can help the many flood victims there get into their homes before winter comes. [Read more…]
By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources
As Louisiana recovers from historic flooding, LifeWay Christian Resources wants to help churches, pastors and other victims. Part of the effort includes restoring Bible study material and pastoral libraries lost in the floodwaters.
-Photo provided by Baptist Message.
NASHVILLE (BP) — As Louisiana recovers from historic flooding, LifeWay Christian Resources wants to help churches, pastors and other victims.
Part of the effort includes restoring Bible study material and pastoral libraries lost in the floodwaters.
“LifeWay provides biblical solutions for life,” said Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. “We want to support these pastors and churches during the good times, but even more during the difficult times. Replacing some of what was lost is a way for LifeWay to stand with pastors and churches through these heartbreaking circumstances.” [Read more…]
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers pause Sept. 1 during their work with homeowner Mary Hillen in Denham Springs, La. They are members of a team led by Woodland Baptist Church, Brownsville. From left are Lee Eyster; David White; Hillen; and Bill Cox, pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Brighton.
DENHAM SPRINGS, La. — Bert Porch of Woodland Baptist Church, Brownsville, felt for Mary Hillen of Denham Springs. As she stood in her gutted living room, Hillen, a widow, explained that her family and friends had helped her but couldn’t do it all.
She still needed help and didn’t have flood insurance to pay for it. The disaster relief team of 11 led by Woodland Baptist began removing commodes, shower tile, and insulation and then sprayed for mold.
“There was mud on her chandelier,” said Porch. The water in her house was about 7 feet deep as 31 inches of rain fell in a few days, he added.
“When you see the amount of damage our help was definitely needed. There’s no way in this size of disaster for people to completely help themselves,” said Porch. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
AREZZO, Italy — Prayer is the greatest thing people can do in response to the 6.2 magnitude earthquake which devastated several towns and villages in central Italy Aug. 24, said Tennessee native Charlie Worthy.
Worthy, who hails from Memphis and is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and his wife Shannon are Southern Baptist International Mission Board missionaries in Arezzo in the Tuscany region of Italy. The Tennessee Baptist Convention has been in a partnership with evangelical believers in Italy since 2013. The Worthys coordinate volunteer teams from Tennessee that travel to Italy for missions opportunities. [Read more…]
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Kay Thompson of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage, in metropolitan Nashville, prepares to do some laundry in the shower/laundry unit of the church in Gonzalez, La. Thompson is part of the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief effort to help flood victims in Louisiana.
MOUNT JULIET — “A lot of humanity is suffering because so many people are without their homes,” said Don Kohanski, disaster relief director of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage, who has served recently in Gonzalez, La., leading a shower/laundry operation.
“What we are doing is being backup for the teams who are really doing the work and helping the public. … We’re trying to help the people, giving them some kind of relief.”
The shower/laundry unit and its volunteers are set up at First Baptist Church, Gonzalez. The unit began serving Aug. 19.
Kohanski described seeing neighborhoods of houses in Gonzalez with almost everything that was in the house pulled out and placed on the street including insulation and drywall. He could see water lines on houses showing how high the water had been. Though most of the flood waters are down, he heard of residents who still had water, up to four feet, in their houses. Gonzalez is located about 25 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. [Read more…]
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Home of the pastor of Still Waters Baptist Church in Hammond, LA. Photo: Lonnie Tucker
MOUNT JULIET — Two Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief shower trailer units are serving flood victims in Louisiana and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams who are willing to do mud out are needed, said Wes Jones, director of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.
Also, assessors and chaplain units are needed, added Jones. If the mud out or flood recovery teams have equipment, that would be helpful. Trained volunteers are preferred but not required in this case, Jones said.
The situation is that most of the experienced and readily available Tennessee Baptist DR volunteers have responded a lot this year and some are still serving in Rainelle, W.Va., said Jones. [Read more…]
TN Baptist Disaster Relief
Photo: NOAA.gov
Slow-moving storms are causing record flooding and significant damage as they move across South Louisiana. Thousands of residents have evacuated, at least three people have died and there is significant property damage and loss to more than 50,000 homes. At least three interstates are closed by the flooding of the Amite River and much of Louisiana State University’s campus is covered by water.
The rising water is the result of more than 27 inches of rainfall over a 36-hour period near the city of Baker, just northeast of Baton Rouge. [Read more…]
