Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has been asked to send flood recovery teams to First Baptist Church, Huffman, Texas, located on the north side of Houston, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Imelda.
Imelda dumped about 40 inches of rain on southeast Texas last week. An estimated 4,000 homes were flooded, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
MOUNT JULIET — After several days of wondering if and when Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief would be called on to respond to Hurricane Dorian, Wes Jones made it official on Sept. 6 when he notified leaders across the state that all units are “standing down.”
A feeding unit from Sullivan County had been deployed to New Bern, N.C., but was recalled before they had traveled very far. [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: Continue to monitor baptistandreflector.org for the latest updates on Hurricane Dorian and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.
Baptist Press
Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Cone and Watches/Warnings and Initial Wind Field — Graphic from www.nhc.noaa.gov
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Hurricane Dorian finally completed its pounding of the Bahamas on Sept. 3. After intensifying to a Category 5 before devastating the islands, Dorian weakened to a Category 3 as it continued its slow trek toward Florida. Early reports describe the damage as historic, and five deaths had been reported in the Bahamas.
Baptist Global Response (BGR) has purview over the Bahamas and will be assisting with disaster relief efforts once the storm passes and damage assessments have been completed. Jeff Palmer, executive director of BGR, said he is in contact with the Bahama Baptist Convention and the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been placed on alert status for possible deployment to Florida in response to Hurricane Dorian.
As of Aug. 29, Hurricane Dorian was a Category 1 storm but is on course to be an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm if it makes landfall on the eastern coast of Florida early next week, according to the National Hurricane Center. [Read more…]
By Ashley Perham
Baptist and Reflector intern
WARSAW, N.C. — The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions makes it possible for Tennessee Baptists to pass the torch of service down to the next generation through intergenerational missions.
“For almost three years now, Tennessee Disaster Relief and The Baptist Collegiate Ministries in Tennessee have begun to work together to respond to disasters. We know that students have the desire to help,” said Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board disaster relief specialist. [Read more…]
By Brandon Elrod
Baptist Press
After enduring two earthquakes — one July 4 followed by a second July 5 — Immanuel Baptist Church, Ridgecrest, Calif., needed to cancel Sunday services. Parts of the ceiling came down throughout the church building. Volunteers from the church had cleaned up much of the damage from the July 4 earthquake only to have their efforts erased by the second quake. Photo courtesy of Immanuel Baptist, Ridgecrest.
RIDGECREST, Calif. — A group of local, church volunteers had finished a day of cleaning up and repairing damage to Immanuel Baptist Church, Ridgecrest, Calif., following a 6.4 earthquake on July 4. The next night, the 7.1 earthquake undid their hard work and then some.
“I was at home with my wife for the 7.1,” said Bill Logan, pastor of Immanuel Baptist. “There was a 5.0 that happened first. When it hit, we wanted to be out of the house. Then, about three minutes later, the seven hit, and all our neighbors were screaming.” [Read more…]
By Ashley Perham
Baptist and Reflector
DR volunteers Carl Baldwin and Sam Matthew, along with the homeowner, survey the damage done by the storms in the Clarksville area.
CLARKSVILLE — The Cumberland Baptist Disaster Relief Team is normally busy. They have been deployed five times in the past six months to areas outside Middle Tennessee, according to Carolyn Watson, the team’s director.
However, this past week, they have been assisting much closer to home. The team has been removing trees that fell down in the June 21-22 storms in Clarksville.
Watson said that her team completed two downed tree jobs on Sunday and had 14 more to do, although there would probably be more calls. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief flood recovery teams are needed, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Arkansas Baptists have requested teams to assist with flood recovery. “They are having historic flooding in the state,” Jones reported. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
MOUNT JULIET — The ability to be flexible is a must for disaster relief volunteers, observed Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Just two days after requesting chainsaw teams “as soon as possible” to respond to tornado damage, Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief canceled that callout on May 28. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
DR volunteers gather for prayer with staff and members of La Plaine Baptist Church on the island of Dominica.
FRANKLIN — More than 17 months after Hurricane Maria left its devastating signature on the Caribbean island of Dominica, Tennessee Baptist disaster relief teams are still going strong in their efforts to help residents recover from the deadly storm.
And they won’t be slowing down any time soon.
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board disaster relief specialist Wes Jones said DR teams will continue to routinely travel to Dominica for the foreseeable future. [Read more…]
