Lexington Baptist Association

April Storm Cleanup

There were several severe outbreaks of storms and tornados went through the Southeast of US in April. Recovery units from Lexington Baptist Association were sent to AL and GA. In addition to being deployed to GA, the First Calvary Baptist Church was also deployed to Chester, SC to help with cleanup effort. Two shower units from SC, including the unit from Swansea Baptist Church were deployed to Tuscaloosa. The units are scheduled to remain on site to support churches housing rebuild teams through the summer. Tennessee and North Carolina chainsaw teams continue working as leaders in both states are putting rebuild plans in place.

Midwest Tornados

Joplin, MO was struck by a tornado on Sunday, May 22. Southern Baptist disaster relief sprung into action immediately. Five to six crews from MO have already been activated. An Incident Command center has been established at the Baptist Student Union of Missouri Southern State University with shower and communications units. OK chain saw team was dispatched.

Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri and their volunteers will continue to assess the damages and provide opportunities for disaster relief ministries.

Central US Flooding

From Montana to Louisiana the Mississippi and other waterways are out of their banks or threatening to overtop their banks in the coming days. Shower and laundry units are on hand to support the efforts of the National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers as they monitor the levees in Louisiana. Oklahoma as well as two South Carolina mud out units are scheduled to join the MO teams already working there.

Kentucky mud out teams are working in five Associations in the Ohio River Valley areas. Illinois mud out teams are working with teams from MI, OH and VA in Metropolis, IL.

New England Flooding

New England Baptists have established an Incident Command team in Burlington, VT. More than 500 homeowners have already requested help cleaning out their flooded homes in the Lake Champlain area. Initial assessments are underway and mud out units is beginning their work.

Japan Tsunami

Baptist Global Response has requested a two-person team to go into the devastated city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. The team will assess rebuilding needs for 5-10 houses and will assist with mud out operations. The request is for the team to travel early in June and to spend a week working with staff and volunteers from Tokyo Baptist Church.

Haiti Earthquake

Teams of volunteers continue to rotate in and out of the country. Weather conditions are described as “brutal.” Temperatures are soaring, making it more difficult on teams. Excellent health continues to be a requirement for volunteers. Southern Baptists are assisting churches in the demolition of their damaged structures as well as homeowners with their homes. This is hot, strenuous work. Teams are also partnering with Samaritan’s Purse in erecting temporary housing structures.

What can LBA do?

1.     Continue to pray for the victims and survivors of these natural disasters. Pray for the volunteers who will be there to provide relief and present the Gospel.

2.     Go – Pray God will send you to join hundreds of other Baptists to be a part of providing relief and hope.

3.     Give – Give so that others can go. Your giving will also provide tools and material that are needed to provide relief and to rebuild these communities.