Baptists in Europe and North America responded with relief efforts to Saturday’s earthquake in Ecuador, which killed more than 500 people and was described as the worst disaster the country has faced in 60 years. Rescue and relief professionals from…
Flooding draws minister back to hometown — with youth disaster workers
When Bobby Catt, minister of students at First Baptist Church in San Angelo, Texas, discovered a student mission trip opportunity in Wimberley in the Texas Hill Country, he knew he had to sign up his youth group right away. Catt…
Disaster relief volunteer dies after heart attack
A Southern Baptist disaster-relief volunteer died March 29 while on a flood recovery mission in Leesville, La. Don Fulkerson, 77, a member of First Baptist Church in Galatia, Ill., died from a heart attack while serving on a team of…
Lessons from storms past and present
Early this morning, I drove north on Scenic Highway, one of the most beautiful coastal drives in America. And yet, as the sunrise glistened over Escambia Bay, the picturesque Florida scenery was scarred by nature’s whim. Stately oaks were uprooted,…
Disaster recovery in full swing in wake of N. Texas twisters
By Jeff Brumley Disaster recovery forces have swung into action to help the victims of tornadoes that struck North Texas the night after Christmas, killing 11. Much of the work is being led by faith-based organizations, with organizations like Texas…
Faith-based groups gearing up for Texas tornado response
By Jeff Brumley Damage assessments are only beginning to come in, but some disaster responders say rebuilding the Texas communities clobbered by tornadoes over the weekend will require relief work on par with the 2013 Oklahoma twisters. Among the worst…
Disaster recovery remains a busy ministry for some Baptists
By Ken Camp Faith-based disaster relief agencies have enjoyed relative calm around the nation. But that’s not true everywhere — and certainly not in Texas. Faith-based groups, including Texas Baptists and Texas Baptist Men, are busy helping residents recover from recent…
Volunteerism, vital for missions, transforms individuals and churches
By Brian Kaylor The leaders of faith-based disaster relief agencies know it as they respond to catastrophic weather in Texas. And so does Greg Morrow, pastor of First Baptist Church of California, Mo. What they and others know is that…
Army of aid mobilizes as storms, flooding pound Texas, Oklahoma
By Jeff Brumley Folks in the Southwest have just about had it with the weather during the past month. Oklahoma and Texas in particular seemed to have been singled out for meteorological abuse in the form of tornados, hail storms…