A jewel of a chaplain and a model example in disaster relief ministry.”
That’s how James Dendy is identified in Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) and also is part of why he was awarded the Disaster Relief Lifetime Achievement Award on April 10.
The office of global missions of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) presented Dendy with the award during the annual DR training held at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega.
Dendy, of Cropwell, serves as a disaster relief chaplain in St. Clair Baptist Association and is a member of First Baptist Church, Pell City.
“James ministers to people during crises and then takes upon himself to follow-up on those people long after the crisis,” Mel Johnson, SBOM disaster relief strategist, said of Dendy. “As a result he’s led many people to the Lord.”
‘He loves the Lord’
Glenn Pender, also a DR chaplain from St. Clair Association, expressed his appreciation for Dendy. “In my opinion, James is the best disaster relief chaplain. He loves the Lord Jesus and wants to see people saved.”
Pender pointed out that Dendy’s leadership has been instrumental in assisting the St. Clair team to be one of the best equipped in the state.
Johnson agreed.
“Since serving with the St. Clair team, Dendy has helped shape that team into one that our state relies on often. The St. Clair team has invested heavily in disaster relief training and equipment,” Johnson said.
DR ministry started for Dendy in the early 1970s when a tornado struck Center Point, where he was living at the time.
Dendy said, “A bunch of us volunteered to help with cleanup and ministry to some of the people affected by the storm. I sensed back then the need for a formal disaster relief ministry.”
Later Dendy was involved in formal DR ministry when a storm rolled through Atmore in 2002. He served on the chainsaw team.
Dendy also ministered after the string of 2011 Alabama tornadoes, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the tornado that hit Athens that same year.
When asked why he gets pleasure from chaplain ministry, Dendy said, “I enjoy seeing relief and hope on people’s faces when they see us come in. Our army of yellowshirt volunteers makes a powerful impact on people. Victims of disasters hug you and thank you.”
One of Dendy’s most memorable ministry experiences occurred in Athens, he said, after a tornado destroyed many homes there.
“Our team from St. Clair was taking down a tree that was about to fall on a mobile home. I got to talk with the family and saw three of them come to Christ. Later I followed up on them. They are attending a church today,” Dendy said.
During the recent DR training at Shocco Springs Dendy addressed participants. “As a disaster relief chaplain you must listen to people before you can minister in action.”
Dendy, who is almost 84, doesn’t let his age stop him. He serves as chaplain for the Pell City Police Department, conducts a monthly chapel service at a nursing home and gives a weekly devotion at an assisted living center.
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