The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is coordinating the deployment of college students to respond in the wake of Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey.
“The opportunities for short-term mobilization will be ongoing because the need is so great,” said Susan Peugh, a NAMB staff member who coordinates volunteer opportunities and helped pull the initiative together. “It is great to see this partnership come together to assist the people affected by Sandy.
“We know students want to help and have seen the excellent ministry they have provided in the past,” she said. “The opportunities to serve here will be life-changing.”
The first wave of students, expected Dec. 7, will lodge at Staten Island’s Arlington Warehouse.
The students will work with trained Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers, primarily assisting residents affected by Sandy to clean up their properties. They also will receive video instruction and hands-on training prior to starting work.
Campus student directors and college students interested in ministry opportunities in the area may register at regonline.com/collegiatedr (use code “collegiatedr”).
A mobilization coordinator will contact those expressing interest and connect them with ministry opportunities.
SBDR volunteers surpassed the 1.5 million meals prepared mark Nov. 23. Kitchen operations will continue to decline as power is restored, but the recovery efforts, like those with which the students will assist, will continue for months into the new year, according to NAMB Disaster Relief Executive Director Fritz Wilson.
Volunteers also have reported 57 individuals who have made professions of faith in Christ as a result of SBDR ministry.
NAMB is also coordinating church-to-church partnerships in the region. Churches interested in assisting churches in the areas affected by Superstorm Sandy can email disasterrelief@namb.net to submit their requests for partnership.
(NAMB)
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