• My husband, Stephen, is the pastor of Herren’s Grove Baptist, Woodland, in Randolph County. We recently took a trip to Hackleburg to help with the tornado efforts. It is one thing to see the pictures but another to have hands-on experience. After leaving, we decided to create a Facebook page to help get the families more attention. The page is Hackleburg Hands On ~ Families. We have 14 families so far, and eight have already been adopted. I would encourage everyone to get out this summer and help in any way you can.
Stephany Ables Dedman
Herren’s Grove Baptist Church, Woodland
• Shoal Creek Outdoors, the men’s ministry of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Deatsville, held a disaster relief bass tournament May 21 at Alabama River/Cooter’s Pond. Fifty-three boats attended and raised approximately $5,000. The money went to the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Fund to help tornado survivors.
• Despite many of its own having been affected by the storms, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Glencoe, opened its doors to minister to those in the surrounding areas. It quickly became a command post for volunteer efforts, donations, shower trailers and meal provisions partnering with Calhoun Baptist Association and its many churches to organize a relief effort.
• New Home Baptist Church, Pisgah, in Sand Mountain Baptist Association held a tornado relief benefit concert May 26 for those affected by the April 27 tornadoes. The event featured Gaither recording artist Gordon Mote and New Ground. More than $2,700 was given.
• On June 9, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials will be at Union Hill Baptist Church, Bessemer (on Taylors Ferry Road outside of the Concord community) at the request of Pastor Mickey Bell. “The residents have heard over and over the many programs and assistance available to them but for some reason they are being denied and I want to know why. Not only do I want to know why, I want FEMA officials to be the one who tells them why,” Bell said. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Bring your paperwork that you have submitted and all letters you have been sent from FEMA. For more information, call 205-491-1103 or 205-410-9067.
• FEMA reported June 2 that Escambia County has been added to the counties designated for disaster assistance to households as part of Alabama’s federal disaster declaration. This addition brings the total of number of counties designated to 43. “Adding Escambia County to the list of federal disaster counties will enable the citizens on Escambia County the maximum financial resources needed to rebuild their lives,” Gov. Robert Bentley, said. Counties previously designated for individual assistance are Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Washington, Walker and Winston.
• Mountain View Baptist Church, Sylvania, lost its building in the April 27 tornado outbreak, but the congregation plans to be meeting in its new facility by September — thanks to various Carpenters for Christ groups. Church trustee Michael George called East Alabama Carpenters for Christ (EACC) almost immediately. This group built an addition for Mountain View Baptist in 2004. The group arrived back at Mountain View Baptist on May 28, after the debris and rubble had been cleared. By the end of the first week of work, EACC had laid the foundation, framed most of the facility and dropped roof trusses into place. Pastor Brian Harris said watching this group of volunteers use their hammers and saws to rebuild the pieces of his church so quickly has been amazing. “These men love the Lord, and do their work for the glory of God.” Later in June, another group of Christian carpenters — Cherokee Baptist Association Carpenters for Christ based in Centre — will come in to complete the work on the Mountain View facility.
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