I’m Not Trained, But I Did Stay at a Holiday Inn Last Night

Believers often ask in Disaster Relief, “Why do I have to go through training to serve as a
volunteer?  Why can’t I just go help people?”

Preparation is important in any area of ministry, because it enables us to be more effective in
ministry.  The wisdom writer in Ecclesiastes 10:10 declared, “If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength, but wisdom brings success.” Sharpening the blade will enable the tool to be more efficient, just as training helps believers to serve more effectively in response to the survivors of disasters.  Through your gifts to the Cooperative Program, the Kentucky Baptist Convention is able to provide training in disaster relief that prepares Kentucky Baptists to be ready to serve in positive ways during times of disaster.

Top ten reasons to be trained:

1. Training prepares us in our understanding of disasters and the needs that arise in times of disaster.
2. Training enables us to respond in appropriate and effective ways.
3. Training prepares us to understand our role as part of a team.
4. Training enables us to sharpen our abilities, in order to be an asset not a hindrance in the response.
5. Training helps us to understand hazards and safety concerns in disaster areas.
6. Training prepares us to understand, in a deeper way, some of the trauma that victims face, so that we might be able to offer appropriate compassion.
7. Training prepares the heart for ministry by increasing awareness of the need and different opportunities to minister.
8. Training prepares the hands to be ready to serve effectively.
9. Training prepares the head by gaining knowledge.
10. The greatest reason to train is that God deserves our very best in all that we do.  In order to achieve this, discipline, effort, and knowledge are required.  Trainings are an opportunity to grow as believers, so that we are ready when God calls.

Several years ago, there was a popular commercial that showed a man preparing to do surgery when everyone began to realize that perhaps he was not up to the task.  The man’s response to their concern was, “I may not be a doctor, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.”  I cannot answer for you, but I really do not want that man doing surgery on me. Yet, sometimes we are that way when it comes to ministry.  “Hey, I am not really prepared to minister to you, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.”

Disasters will come.  Therefore, let me encourage you, be prepared to serve by being trained.  Victims deserve that.  Other disaster relief workers deserve that.  But most of all, our God deserves that!

Check out these opportunities for training in 2016:

• January 16, 2016 at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Beaver Dam
• February 13, 2016 at Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington
• March 12, 2016 at Crestwood Baptist Church in Crestwood
• April 9, 2016 at Calvary Baptist Church in London
• September 24, 2016 at Clarkson Baptist Church in Clarkson

For more information or to register go to http://www.kybaptist.org/dr.