Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) teams may have been on opposite sides of the country in December, but volunteers in both California and Florida brought welcomed help to regions affected by disaster in 2018.
In mid-December, a team of six ABDR chaplains served in and around Magalia and Paradise, California, two towns devastated by the massive Camp Fire in November. Three Southern Baptist churches in the area — Magalia Pines, Paradise Ridge and First Baptist Paradise — survived the fire, and chaplains from Alabama, California and other Baptist conventions were assisting the churches with recovery stations, aid and other needs, said Mark Wakefield, disaster relief strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
Wakefield said the Alabama Baptist team staged out of Magalia Pines Baptist Church. The church made headlines during the fire when the building and the 30 or so people taking refuge there survived even as structures all around them burned. Magalia Pines has been serving a hot breakfast and lunch for weeks, as well as offering coffee, water and snacks for those who want to stop by and visit for a while.
The survivors all have stories to tell, Wakefield said, and the chaplains just let them talk.
“What we observed is that people showed up to just hang out,” Wakefield said. “They are hungry for some kind of community, and they are open to having a chaplain sit down with them and pray with them.”
The chaplains also were there to encourage the pastors and church members in their response effort, Wakefield said. With church members scattered, homes destroyed and businesses closed, the churches are struggling but they have not given up hope.
“We met some incredible believers out there,” Wakefield said. “They are trying to do what they can where they are to minister to folks.”
Magalia Pines had a full house for worship on Dec. 16, many of them visitors, pastor Doug Crowder told Wakefield. And in addition to the three Southern Baptist churches that survived, other churches made it through the fires as well, Wakefield said.
“I know the Lord has a purpose for that,” he said.
Wakefield said Alabama Baptists can continue to pray for the pastors and churches in the region as they assist community members. The spiritual and emotional stress is heavy, he said.
“They are carrying a pretty tough load,” Wakefield said.
He urged prayers for those who have lost their homes too, since it will be a while before they can rebuild. Many residents were just beginning to see the damage done to their homes, and chaplains accompanied some of them as they took a few minutes to sift through the ashes in search of anything that might have escaped the flames. Wakefield heard of a few people finding jewelry, and one resident found a collection of coins that had melted together.
“It’s rare to find personal items because the fires burn so hot,” Wakefield said.
Alabama Baptists have assisted financially with the Camp Fire recovery effort with funds given through the Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering. Those who wish to help the California churches in the fire affected communities can do so through the California Southern Baptist Convention at www.CSBC.com/give, Wakefield said. Donations should be designated for the Camp Fire recovery effort.
“If people want to give, that’s a great way they can help,” Wakefield said.
Meanwhile, several ABDR teams were also serving in Panama City, Florida, in December and others are expected to serve in the new year. Chainsaw teams from Etowah Baptist Association Calhoun Baptist Association and Salem-Troy Baptist Association were all working on tree removal in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The teams were utilizing the ABDR heavy equipment, including a man lift and skid steer to move large trees.
Calhoun Association disaster relief coordinator Scotty Duke said residents were “overwhelmed” by the love and compassion poured out on them by volunteers.
“Some residents shed tears and expressed great surprise there was no financial charge for the work,” he said.
Duke said team members led some residents to receive Christ, which was a “great joy.”
For more information about Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief training opportunities and giving, go to www.SBDR.org.
Share with others: