Our world continues to experience devastation and destruction annually. Man-made events as well as natural disasters continue to challenge our minds with “why.” Why has this happened? Why me? Why my community? As Believers, we cannot answer the “why,” but we can respond with love and compassion as we help those affected know that they are not forgotten by God.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is one of the three largest disaster response entities in the United States. Trained volunteers stand ready to respond when disasters hit across our globe. Disaster Relief ministry provides an opportunity for believers to be the hands and feet of Christ to hurting people.
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief began ministry in 1984 and is part of the larger Southern Baptist Send Relief network of 42 state conventions, the North American Mission Board, and Baptist Global Response. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief is supported by gifts of Kentucky Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Eliza Broadus Offering for State Missions. This ministry offers opportunities for believers to be on mission for Christ during times of crisis.
The Apostle John instructed us:
“Let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
In times of crisis, people need more than empty words. They need someone to come alongside them with genuine help and real hope. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief brings practical help, the healing grace of Christ, and the hope of the Gospel to those devastated by disaster. More than 4500 Kentucky Baptists are trained as disaster relief volunteers. Volunteers can staff mobile kitchens designed to provide thousands of hot meals, move in with a chainsaw after a tornado, assist homeowners in cleaning up a flooded home, offer spiritual care as a chaplain, and provide many other disaster services.
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are trained in:
- Bulk Supply Distribution
- Chainsaw Ministry
- Chaplain Care
- Emergency Childcare
- Damage Assessment
- Flood and Wildfire Clean up
- Mass Feeding
- Roof Tarping
- Radio Operations
- Shower and Laundry Ministry
- Water Purification and Well Repair
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief has a host of resources that can be mobilized during times of disaster. Resources that can be deployed are:
- 4 Mobile Kitchens with the capacity to prepare 68,000 meals a day for disaster survivors
- 27 Chainsaw/Flood/Fire Recovery Trailers
- 2 Mobile Communication and Command Units
- 7 Mobile Shower trailers
- 1 Mobile Laundry Trailer
- 2 Mobile Childcare Trailers
- 3 Mobile Water Purification Units
- 1 Mobile Roof Tarping Trailer
- 1 Kuboda Skid-Steer
- 1 Mobile Lift
- 2 Fork-lifts
To learn how you or your church can get involved in this Kingdom ministry go to http://www.kybaptist.org/dr, or call (502) 489-3527. Our next Disaster Relief training is at Lifepoint Church in Franklin, Kentucky on September 14. You can register for this training at
http://www.kybaptist.org/drtraining/
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