When Baptists in Etowah and Calhoun counties emerged after the deadly outbreak of tornadoes April 27, one set began assessing the damage and the other started gathering tools to go help.
There were really no reports of damage in Etowah County, said Gary Cardwell, director of missions for Etowah Baptist Association. But neighboring Calhoun County was hit pretty hard in two major areas.
As far as churches, Wellington First Baptist Church was severely damaged while Mamre Baptist Church, Gadsden, was destroyed.
“We are partnering with Sid Nichols and Calhoun Baptist Association to do whatever they need in their area,” Cardwell said.
Nichols, director of missions for Calhoun Association, said the resources coming from Etowah Association have been a major help. Cardwell has sent tarps, food, chain saw teams and other resources, Nichols explained.
And while it might seem normal for neighboring DOMs to work this way, this is not an unusual sight in moments of disaster all across the state. In fact, the recent tornado devastation demonstrated just how well greased the associational missions disaster relief effort is.
Many of the associational disaster relief units are deployed and working before the disaster has actually passed, an official with Alabama Baptist disaster relief noted.
Cleanup and recovery teams, including chain saw teams are typically in their vehicles headed to the disaster locations within hours of the destruction taking place.
And feeding units begin rolling out by the next day.
Other trained disaster relief volunteers are moving just as quickly.
Nichols said there was “a tremendous amount of volunteers pitching in at various sites. They’ve since addressed most issues with trees on houses and placing tarps on damaged roofs.”
In Marshall Baptist Association, Director of Missions Randall Stoner also reported a unified effort among churches and individuals as they worked to dig out from the storm damage.
“Chaplains are stationed at various sites,” Stoner said, noting cleanup efforts were still quite involved and some areas remained without power at press time.
David Patty, director of missions for Sand Mountain Baptist Association, had a lot to do in his area but the disaster relief system was working like it was supposed to work.
“Churches are helping churches and neighbors are helping neighbors,” said Michelle Stiefel, ministry assistant at Sand Mountain Association.
In Pickens Baptist Association, DOM Gary Farley said churches were working hard in cleanup efforts. Most of their efforts were focused on rural parts of the Pickens County, he added.
The associational office also collected donated items and organized a system to distribute them.
In Madison Baptist Association, disaster relief workers were being assisted by volunteers from Michigan and South Carolina. Huntsville-area churches were helping feed workers and have been collecting and distributing supplies.
Church connection
“First Baptist Church, Huntsville, has also been a tremendous help, serving as a center taking donations and walk-in volunteers,” said Ron Lynch, church ministry director for Madison Association.
Whitesburg Baptist Church also has been active, serving as a Red Cross shelter and opening it’s The Place up to serve as a collection center for supplies.
In Franklin Baptist Association, First Baptist Church, Russellville, also served as a Red Cross shelter.
Barry Holcomb, pastor of First, Russellville, reached out to the nearby hurting communities of Phil Campbell and Hackleburg right away and has been active in helping.
“We volunteered to be a Red Cross shelter by calling and letting them know we were available. They then sent a representative out to evaluate our facilities and formulate an agreement,” he said. “We have signed a two-year agreement so we can be activated more quickly in the future.
“Our folks at FBC have worked night and day serving food and providing hospitality,” he said. “It has been amazing to watch.”
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