April 27, 2011, through mid-June is a “complete blur” to Rod Ward, pastor of Berry Baptist Church, Berry, in Fayette Baptist Association.
It was a fast-paced time of providing for the needs of people who suffered in the late April tornadoes.
Berry Baptist — along with many other churches and groups — worked to get one hot meal to the affected people each day.
Ward’s wife, Kim, and Christy Bonner, whose husband is pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church, Bankston, were among the people spearheading the endeavor to feed the hurting, Rod Ward said.
The meals were prepared by several groups and approximately nine churches — including Arbor Springs Baptist Church, Reform, in Pickens County, he said.
At first, the meals were available at Berry Baptist both for volunteers and affected individuals. Later in the relief process, the meals were delivered to Boley Volunteer Fire Department and into the communities, with Bonner heading up efforts at the fire department, Ward said.
The Sunday right after the storm, Ward’s church held its morning service, then suspended activities the rest of the day to clean up in the area and sort items that had been given to help those affected by the storms.
Grace Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, both in Fayette, and Shady Grove Baptist were among the churches that assisted Berry Baptist in this ministry effort. Ward said volunteers from Freewill Baptist and Methodist churches and other denominations also came to help.
In addition, volunteers from the churches assembled boxes of supplies for affected households. The helpers worked with the volunteer fire department to distribute items, Ward said.
Berry High School’s field house also was opened for showers. The different churches took turns with the responsibilities there, he said. Another opportunity arose to help build a house for a lady and volunteers assisted.
“I was very proud of the town of Berry and the greater faith community” and how they responded to the needs after the storms, Ward said. “The community really stepped up to be the hands and feet of Christ.”
Volunteers “didn’t stop until we knew all needs were met” and then branched out, serving in other places. Hard-hit Phil Campbell and smaller areas that had been otherwise overlooked became the focus of relief efforts, Ward said.
“We helped folks in Berry and it kind of branched out from there for about a month and a half,” he said, noting he and his wife lived in southern Mississippi at the time of Hurricane Katrina. They grew to understand just how far even a cup of cold water goes in helping people. “I think God let us go through Katrina to be prepared for April 27.”
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