In the aftermath of 9/11, they were there, offering assistance, providing meals, comforting the distraught. When Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, they were there too, providing clean water, salvaging homes, and caring for children whose parents needed a break. They responded to the California wildfires as well, and as lives and homes were destroyed by the raging inferno, they helped pick up the pieces of shattered dreams and brought hope.

They are SBTC Disaster Relief Volunteers – “Disaster Relief Missionaries” – in reality, and the work they do is designed to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to those who have been affected by manmade and natural disasters. “There’s probably no better symbol of what Southern Baptists are about or what we do than the yellow disaster relief cap,” said Robby Partain, SBTC director of missions. “I don’t know of a missionary endeavor that I’m prouder of than our Disaster Relief work. Think about all the places Jesus shows up because these yellow caps show up.”

Designed to be more than just social ministry, SBTC Disaster Relief has the gospel at the core of everything it does. “At its heart, it’s missions. That’s why we do it,” said Partain. “The real reason we do it is that somewhere in all that we do we will encounter people who need the love of Jesus Christ.”

No where has this need for the love of Christ been more evident in recent years than in the SBTC response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "Hurricane Katrina/Rita was a land mark of SBTC Disaster Relief Ministry,” said Jim Richardson, SBTC Disaster Relief director.“As a result, the SBTC Disaster Relief ministry has grown to 26 units and 2000 trained volunteers.” Richardson believes that about half of the volunteers enlisted during the Hurricane aftermath are still involved with disaster relief today.

The numbers of volunteers and man hours logged after Katrina are staggering. Forty-one state conventions were activated and over 165,000 volunteer days were contributed. Disaster Relief workers prepared over 14.5 million meals and purified over 21,000 gallons of water. “Operation NOAH Rebuild in New Orleans has involved several state conventions, including SBTC,” said Richardson. NOAH has involved 17,600 volunteers and has rebuilt or repaired over 1,000 homes in New Orleans.”

Despite this massive outpouring, the need continues to be great.“It is important for volunteers to be involved in the continuing disaster relief and rebuild ministries as many families are still hurting,” said Richardson. “Our purpose in Disaster Relief is to partner with local churches to provide the hope of our Lord Jesus after disaster events and in rebuild we continue to partner with local churches to assist people in restoring their homes and lives.”

In a world where disasters fade from public view as soon as a new crisis appears, Richardson works hard to keep the need in front of volunteers. “I guess that will always be a challenge,” said Richardson. “Many disasters are local events and never make it tothe news and if they do they are only there until another big news event happens.” To keep volunteers aware, SBTC Disaster Relief contacts workers in three different ways. First, they send out periodic disaster relief reports during an active disaster to keep information fresh. Second, they send out e-mail alerts to remind volunteers of the ongoing needs. Third, voice mail alerts are also sent, making workers away of needs.

While many workers have already been enlisted, the need for more workers remains, and opportunities to serve in disaster relief are as varied as the people who volunteer to serve. According to Richardson, disaster relief is really a ministry of the local church body. “Disaster Relief partners with the local church to provide servant ministry during times of disaster in their community and then offers the opportunity for involvement in other communities when they have been impacted by a disaster event,” said Richardson.

“When disaster relief volunteers are in the community sharing the hope of Jesus, as they feed, care for children, mud out homes, cut trees off of houses, provide emergency communications and crisis intervention, lives are impacted with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus,” said Richardson. “The seeds of the gospel have been planted, cultivated

and in many cases harvested, and the local church is where the harvest is gathered.”

However, the impact of disaster relief is not just felt by those receiving the ministry. It is also keenly experienced by the volunteers themselves.“When volunteers get the vision for disaster relief, they tend to get the ‘fever,’” said Richardson. “I believe that disaster relief gives the volunteer the opportunity to be involved in missions where they can see an immediate impact on the person’s life and see where they have made a difference. The environment of disaster relief is intense and emotionally charged. The volunteer connects with the victim on a personal, emotional, and spiritual level. This impacts not only the volunteer, but his friends and family as well.

One such volunteer traveled with an SBTC Disaster Relief team last November to help after the devastating wildfires in Southern California. Ann Gaskins spent 13 days with a team of 11 volunteers, beginning the work of recovery. “Our job was to sift through the burnt homes for any valuables and then clean the site so a new home could be placed there,” said Gaskins. “The work was hard and dirty, but God had put together such a great team that we hardly even noticed. We had so much fun working together for the Lord.”

Because they developed a reputation for trustworthiness in their ministry, the group was asked to tear down the remaining walls of an old Catholic church. “While sifting for valuables, we found two rosaries that an elder member specifically asked us to look for. The smaller rosary was found still intact. An Indian woman in Arizona, he told us, especially made the larger one. It had a silver chain and forty turquoise stones. We found the melted pile of silver and all forty turquoise stones! I felt so blessed to be able to personally hand over something that meant so much to this church member. God works in amazing ways,” said Gaskins. “God had a plan for the Southern Baptists of Texas DR team in California and I am so thankful that he included me. His plan was accomplished, through us, in California.”

Just as the Lord used the SBTC DR team in California, there are places for many more DR volunteers to serve. Projects can be local, state,
national and sometimes international in scope and volunteers are needed for both short-term and long-term assignments. All that is needed is a willing heart to serve. “As one pastor observed, the DR volunteer is a church member who has had a crash course on discipleship,” said Richardson. “Their heart is in service and sharing the hope of Jesus.”

The heart of service is really the heart of Jesus himself, according to Partain. “Jesus debunks ‘sit and soak Christianity,’” said Partain.‘Believers inherit what Jesus is about as they follow his example. God’s calling us to an active faith – a missionary faith. Don’t think of disaster relief as just a program. It is ordinary people who have become missionary followers of Jesus, doing even greater works than He did in very difficult circumstances.”

SBTC will be offering several training opportunities for those who are ready to becoming disaster relief missionaries. Phase 2 Disaster Relief Training will be held at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment in Woodlake on April 7-12. Phase One Disaster Relief Training will be offered on April 18 at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin and again on May 17 at First Baptist Church, Iowa Park. A Chainsaw School will be held at Trinity Pines Conference Center in Trinity on May 30-31.

To register for these training sessions or to find out more about SBTC Disaster Relief., contact Amber Birmes at abirmes@sbtexas.com or visit the SBTC website at sbtexas.com/dr.